The Feature Story is posted with permission of the Author!!!
Atonement by BetterinTexas
Chapter 16
Don't own it
Garrett POV
I looked over the mansion from four hundred yards away. Satellites had picked up no trace of Stone or Amun. I knew Amun would not be there. I also knew the vampires I was looking for would be. The grand residence looked deserted on the outside. But they were there. It was day time. Where else would they be? Clive, Ty and I had put our sunblock on and planned to walk up to the front door. The three of us threw on robes and walked to the front of the mansion. It was not isolated, rather in the heart of Cairo. Street urchins milled around outside but scattered when they saw us.
"Ty, go around back. When the women come out make them sick. Clive please assist Ty."
"I'll be damned. I plan to…"
"Get information. That is what we are going to do. We need bargaining chips, don't we?"
Clive nodded and followed Ty around back. I hoped Ty had the stomach for this. I didn't. But it had to be done. Bella was three hours away from having Dani to complete safety, however, many other people would not be safe no matter where they were. No one expected London to be the first target. I had no idea where else he planned to strike, but considering the death toll in London it was obvious the gloves were off and nothing could be taken for granted.
I kicked the front door in. Standing in the hallway was Benjamin with Kebi and Tia behind him.
"What did he do?" Benjamin asked.
"I am sure you already know. I am sure you have an idea of what he is going to do next. And I am sure before I leave you are going to tell me every single thing you know."
"Run." Benjamin whispered. Tia and Kebi took off towards the back. We would have them momentarily.
Benjamin stood his ground.
"I don't want to fight you. Kebi, Tia and I have nothing to do with this. If it is some sort of revenge you are after take it on me. Leave the women out of this." He whispered.
He was a brave soul. I hated to do this to him.
"I'm afraid no one can stay out of this now Benjamin. It is too late. Unless you can tell me where Amun is."
"I don't know. He left. He told us to hide. He said the Volturi may come for us eventually. But we couldn't. Not…we saw the news…he did it, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"Oh no…"
"Yes." I agreed with his sentiment.
"I…no matter. He is my maker. He gave me this life. He guided me. I will not betray him."
"He has lost his mind Benjamin. He has committed murder on an unprecedented scale. He has to go down."
"Why are you here?" Benjamin asked.
"Because my home is going to be next. I would like to stop it before it gets that far." I told him honestly.
"This is a Volturi matter." He said.
"Where is he, Benjamin?"
The walls began to shake. Benjamin had a determined look on his face. Not good.
"I am sorry. I am sorry for the people of London. But I cannot tell you what I do not know, and I will not let you harm my coven."
I hit him before he could bring the walls down on the two of us. He stood his ground and attempted to fight back.
Benjamin was a good soul I feared.
And a very poor fighter.
On his fifth strike I broke his arm at the elbow. Twisting I snapped it off. He screamed. I kicked his knee and he dropped. I was behind him, arms locked around his neck. He said a prayer quietly.
"We aren't going to kill you Benjamin. We are going to kill them."
Clive and Ty walked in with Kebi and Tia in headlocks. The women looked frightened. They should be. I knew Ty was under control. He always was. Clive however was a wildcard. Clive had been turned nearly the same time I had. We fought once during the revolution. Neither of us came away a victor. He had served his country since that time as I had served mine. We became friends during World War 1 and have continued to be friends to this day. He was clever, funny, adventurous, charming, and…right now he was on the edge of killing anyone he considered might possibly be an enemy.
"Leave them alone."
"No. We start burning body parts, starting with fingers from the small one, in ten seconds unless you talk."
Clive threw Kebi to the ground and walked to the fireplace, and lit the wood inside with a lighter over the mantle.
"If you think of using that flame to attack us Benjamin I promise my friend Ty there will make you sick before the flame can rise and I will burn Tia immediately."
Benjamin said nothing.
"Ty break off Tia's ring finger." Ty looked like he was going to be sick. But he locked his face and grabbed her hand.
"No!" Benjamin shouted.
"Ty stop. You have something to say Benjamin?"
"You will leave them alone?"
"I want to leave them alone very badly Benjamin. I do not wish to harm you or your coven mates. I swear. I only want Amun. I also swear I will do what I must to get him."
Ben nodded in my arms. I let him go, grabbing his arm off the ground and handing it to him.
"Come with me." He moved quickly and I followed, as did Clive. Ty stayed with the women I suppose. I hoped he could maintain an intimidating presence.
We walked into a large study. I assumed it was Amun's. Benjamin sat and motioned for me to do the same. Clive remained standing.
"Amun…he was giving money to humans. For the last ten years or so. It started simple. He would support the families of the jihadist who died."
"Died? You mean the suicide bombers who killed themselves along with their innocent victims?" Clive asked.
Benjamin ignored him.
"Last year he began moving huge sums of money to an American. I never found out his name. Amun kept us out of his business dealings. I had no interest. I swear I don't…
"His name is Stone. Go on." I said impatiently.
"How do you…"
"Which one of those ladies should I burn before your eyes?" Clive ask.
"Clive! He is cooperating." I told him.
"Yes. I'm waiting on the telltale sign of deception. One lie Benjamin and I…"
"Clive!" I needed him cold. Not out of control.
"He started meeting with this man about once a month. I followed him once when the man came to Cairo. I saw them meet at a camp in the desert. He also met with…
"Yes? You're doing well Benjamin. You are saving those women in there and saving more lives than you can imagine." I encouraged him.
"He met with Adel Kayhat."
That would explain a lot.
"The second in command of al Qaeda?" Clive asked.
"No. He is the head now. The camp they met at wasn't a typical jihadist camp. There were buildings. Men walking in and out who appeared to be scientists. American vehicles. Vans. I saw the three of them having a discussion deep into the night. After that Amun would visit one or the other every couple months. I only followed him a few times. I…I decided I didn't want to know. The visits became more frequent until a week ago. He packed and told us to run and hide, and then left. That is all I know. I swear."
I looked at Clive. He was always better at determining deception than I was. I was a fighter. A soldier. He was a born spy.
"Show us this camp lad." He told Benjamin.
One hour later we were standing in the middle of a deserted camp. The tents were there but empty. The buildings were there though.
"Gar!" Ty shouted. I ran to the metal building he had entered. Tools lay around scattered but no clue what they had worked on.
"You see something weird?" Ty asked.
I followed his gaze to the edge of the building under a table.
Ceramic pellets. Ball bearings.
"Garrett."
I turned and saw Clive walking in holding something in his hand. He tossed it to me and I saw a simple object that sent a chill down my spine. A glass vial.
"There are hundreds of them in one of the buildings. It is a lab. I can't identify the smells but this camp has not been abandoned long. I would say a week at the most." Clive told me.
Suicide bombs undetectable by metal detectors. Nuclear bombs. Biological and chemical weapons. I had no leads, no names other than one name the entire world already knew. I had done all I could here.
"Ty. We are heading back to the States." I honestly had no idea what else to do except pray the FBI and CIA had something.
"I'm coming with you old boy." Clive told me.
"You need to go back to London Clive." I whispered.
"We both know there is no London to go back to. Bombing London was the big play. It's over there. Our colonies however need to be protected." He grinned at least. He knew I hated when he called the US his colony.
"Besides. We know where Amun is heading. He is going to the States. Nowhere else he would be. Time to go Garrett."
I nodded. We would find nothing here about the targets. But we did know what threats to look for. Every threat imaginable.
Bella POV
I watched Dani rush to her father. They both had tears in their eyes and I was reminded of my reunion with my parents. That brought my mind to Garrett. He called and told me what he found.
The President and the Government were all here under this mountain in Colorado. We were buried half a mile down, reinforced concrete bunker ten yards thick, a foot of lead above and below it. The only entrance and exit was at the top of the mountain. To attempt to get below without clearance would be a suicide. At least for humans.
"Bella I can never thank you enough." Dave said, walking up. He hugged me. I froze. Then I slowly hugged him back. I noted that every Secret Service agent, Marine and Soldier were staring at me in suspicion. Except for Connolly's team. No one knew who I was and it needed to stay that way.
"I did what I told you I would do. That's all." I whispered.
"I need to explain some things to Dani, and stress the importance of secrecy. It may take a while. Connolly can show you to a room. Is there anything you need?"
"A target." I said without thinking. My mind flashed to the agents who died and the people of London.
"As soon as I have one you will be the first to know, Bella. In the meantime are you hungry?"
I thought about it and realized I was hungry. Very hungry. Somehow it had slipped my mind though.
"Yes." I said quietly. Dave nodded to Jason who told me to follow him. We walked to a medical room and Jason closed the door, locking it behind us. He walked over to a refrigerator and pulled out a bag of blood, hesitated, and then pulled out a second then placed them both into some sort of oven.
A few moments later and the blood was warm. He sat a cup down and poured half of one bag into it.
"You should leave. I probably need to be alone." I told him without meeting his eyes.
"Nah. No one should have to eat alone. I'll sit here and keep you company."
"Jason I could go into a frenzy and kill you."
"No. You couldn't. Now eat. No telling when any of us may have a chance to do it again." He hopped up on a counter and smiled at me.
His funeral. I shrugged my shoulders and downed the cup, then another and another.
Wiping off my lips self consciously I looked at him for a reaction.
"If you expect me to be disturbed you still have a lot to learn about me." He grinned.
"I don't like sitting around." I told him honestly.
"True, but it's a big country. Can't exactly patrol the whole thing looking for guys who don't want to be found. Let the police do their job. Then it will be time to do ours."
A voice over the intercom called for Connolly.
"Looks like it is time to do our job."
I followed him to the main control room where we were directed to go into the President's office. Walking there Dani walked out. She stopped and looked at me. I suppose she knew by now.
"I don't care." She whispered and then smiled. "Thank you." With that Dani walked off.
I shook my head and walked in to see Dave sitting with military guys with a lot of bars and metals on their uniforms.
"Have a seat you two. It's started."
Oh no.
"What happened?" Jason asked.
"A silent alarm was tripped by an air marshall. It is only to be tripped in the event of a hijacking. The plane is a 747 heading to New York from LA. It will be flying over Colorado in the next hour. We are afraid of what the hijackers may have on board. We doubt the objective is to simply crash a plane. Based on London we have to assume a nuclear bomb could be aboard."
"How would a bomb get on a plane? Airport security…" I started.
"Six airline employees were found dead in a dumpster in Los Angeles. They worked in the loading area for the plane in question. Anything could conceivably be on board. We would like to avoid shooting down the aircraft. My advisors tell me that is the safest course of action. I believe we should try to take back over the place." Dave looked at me. Oh shit.
"Sir with all due respect you simply cannot board a 747 in flight!" One of the generals said.
"Connolly's team specializes in high risk operations like this. If they can intercept in the next hour they can board. Correct Connolly?"
"Yes sir Mr. President."
"Who the hell is she?" Another of the uniformed old guys asked.
"A member of my team. All you need to know sir." Jason responded.
"Excuse me son? You got a helluva ways to go before you tell me what the fuck I need to know!"
"She is a member of his team. It's all you need to know General." Dave said coldly. The general looked away. I glanced at Jason and saw he was barely holding in a grin. Idiot.
"Jason. Can you do it?"
"Yes sir."
"What do you need?" Dave asked.
"Only Bella and myself will board the plane. I need a single Airbus and a crew to fly it. I need a couple oxygen suits, an acetylene torch, and as many weapons as we can carry."
"How do you plan to get on the plane?" A guy who I think was from the Marines asked.
"Sir, I just need those tools and I need them quickly. Let me worry about how to get on."
"How are you going to get off?" A guy in a suit asked.
"I'm going to land the plane if the pilots are incapacitated." He answered.
"You are?" I asked surprised.
"Yeah. I'm checked out. I can land it. You can help. If you do good I may let you play with the stick." He wiggled his eyebrows. He will pay for that later.
Less than an hour later we were in the cargo bay of the airbus. Once Dave gave the go ahead everything moved quickly. I was given a black suit that looked like an astronauts outfit to wear over my black BDUs. Connolly was dressed the same. His team was not with us.
"Why don't you let me go up myself?' I asked him.
"Can you land that plane?"
"No. You could talk me through it."
"Can you deactivate a nuclear bomb or a biological weapon if one is aboard?"
"No…"
"You can't be talked through that. Relax. This isn't the first time I have pulled shit like this."
"It isn't?" I asked doubtfully.
"Okay. It's the first time I shot a grappling hook from the top of one plane to the bottom of the other and attempted to enter the cargo hold of the top plane using an acetylene torch and a vampire. I'm giving it thirty seconds. If it doesn't work them you rip a section open. Try to make it just big enough for us to enter."
"Why can't I just jump on top?"
"And tear the passenger cabin? Decompression, bodies flying everywhere. Trust me. I've done this before."
"You just said you hadn't."
"Exactly." He said. What the fuck? He was going to die. I was going to fall a long way but he was going to die.
"One minute to intercept." The intercom said.
"Okay. Showtime. Relax. You can't die."
"Yeah…" I had a feeling though if there was a way he would be the one to find it. We walked up to the hatch. Connolly placed his hood on and grabbed a grappling hook gun. He handed one to me. The top opened and we looked up. The wind shear was incredible. I looked up and saw…wow. There it was. A 747.
Connolly fired and the grappling hook hit the belly of the huge plane. I fired and mine struck a few feet to the left of his. We clamped the steel line to our vests. He looked at me and nodded. I grabbed his suit to steady him and pressed the button on my suit while he did the same. We shot up out of the Airbus and were traveling up. Fast. Too fast.
Halfway to the 747 the wind caught us and blew us sideways. Now we were trailing the 747. Our suits grappling system was having difficulty moving against the wind. We weren't moving as quickly now. I grabbed both lines and began pulling, helping the pulley. Another gust of wind and we were tossed sideways again. I saw something fall.
At least it wasn't Jason.
We were within feet of the plane finally. I grabbed the hook, careful not to pull it out. That would make for a long trip back to Colorado. Connolly grabbed his. He managed to get his boots on the body of the plane. The suction at the bottom was working but it wouldn't hold us for long. Too much wind. I looked at him and saw he was mouthing something. Even with my hearing I couldn't understand. The wind and the engines of the 747 and the hood he had on…
He looked at the place we were stuck to the bottom of and nodded. What the hell?"
"Tear it!" I barely heard.
I looked at his waist and saw his portable torch was gone. Guess that was what fell. I steadied myself and punched through the hull with my right fist. Ripping back a two foot section I grabbed inside and swung myself in. Connolly tried to reach the hole I made and I saw his hand slip.
I caught him by his wrist before he fell a very long ways.
Damn that was close. He fell into the hold and landed on his ass. I may have pulled a bit too hard.
Okay. We were in. In a plane that was being hijacked. Jason took off his hood and stripped out of his suit. I followed his lead. We began moving through the luggage looking for anything that looked out of place.
"They had to have heard that, right?" I asked.
"Maybe. Be ready to kill anyone who comes down. Don't shoot. We don't need to use bullets if we don't have to."
Not far away we saw it. A long wooden crate.
I gently lifted the top of the crate, popping the nails up gently.
Inside was a bomb. A big fucking bomb.
"It's not on a timer. Detonator. They must plan to crash this plane and hit the detonator right before it hits." Jason whispered.
"That means one of them has the detonator." I realized.
"Yep. Go get it. I'm going to work on defusing it from here."
Wait.
"Me?"
"Yeah. One of us has to kill the terrorists and grab the detonator before they know what hit them. I'm fast but I'm not that fast. You are."
"You want me to kill them all?"
"Either they die or the passengers do. No matter what Bella this plane cannot get near New York and cannot get close to the ground while this bomb is active. We have to do this. The only chance those passengers have is the two of us defusing this bomb. You game?"
Yeah. I was.
"Okay. I'm going up. Hope we see each other again." I mumbled.
"If we don't it's been a good ride Swan. Don't worry. We are too pretty to die." Jason started working on the bomb and I headed towards the stairway at the end of the bay.
Walking up quietly and quickly I planned to get a layout, figure out who I needed to hit first and go from there. Instead I saw scared people bent over in their seats and the backs of four gentleman who I can only assume were the hijackers with their backs to me.
"I swear I heard something down below. It sounded like tearing metal." One said.
"We checked below. No one was there. No one could get on this plane. Relax." Another one said.
"There was that plane below us…"
"That is gone now. If you are so worried go look for yourself."
"No. I don't want to be near that thing. I don't give a damn what Amun said. I don't think we can survive a nuclear bomb going off. I plan to jump before we land."
"You will complete your mission. You know we are indestructible. It is Allah's will and we are his agents. We have been blessed with this power. Do not doubt Allah."
Amun? Indestructible? Why would they think they were indestructible?
"Fine. I will go check the bottom." He would be turning towards my door. I would lose the element of surprise. I needed to kill them all now and find the detonator. I quickly opened the door and stepped inside.
The smell hit me at once causing me to hesitate.
The four hijackers turned towards me, looking at me with very red eyes.
"Who might you be?" One asked, smiling.
Four vampires. One had a detonator for a nuclear bomb beneath my feet. Plane full of passengers. Okay.
I got this.
Garrett POV
"She is doing what?!"
"Garrett it was Connolly's idea." The general told me over the secure line.
"Damn it General! I don't even know if a vampire can survive a nuclear explosion. Especially at ground zero. Who the hell talked her into this? Why wasn't I called?'
"There wasn't enough time. Plus we don't even know if there is a nuclear bomb on board…"
"Bullshit! They didn't kill a baggage crew to sneak a biological agent on board. They needed the cargo hold. That means nuke."
"Be that as it may be, they are on the plane by now. We hope."
Damn it Bella. Damn it Connolly. I'm going to fucking kill him. I hung up and cursed.
"What is it G man?" Ty asked.
"Connolly." I seethed.
"He putting the moves on your honey? I think you got her man. No worries."
"No worries? Right now your baby sister is in a 747 over middle America taking on hijackers while Connolly is probably acting like he knows how to defuse a nuclear bomb."
That shut Ty up.
"I'm going to kill that fucking hillbilly." He finally whispered.
"Let's hope we get the chance. Tell the pilot we are no longer going to Colorado. We are going to New York."
"Why New York?" Clive asked.
"Because I am going to get my woman. I just need a jet and a pilot ready on the ground. No! I need a drone. A high altitude drone. Get on the phone and make it happen Ty."
Two hours till I land. Then I would get to her. Nothing on Earth was keeping me from her. Amun could wait.
Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Don't own it.
BPOV
I stood there staring at the four vampires and tried to imagine a worse situation.
Maybe if there was…
No.
What if…
No.
No, I could not think of a worse situation. Think Bella. Because the one in front looks like he is about to attack.
The one in front. They can't attack at once. They can but they are right behind each other and there are only two aisles.
Damn it! Two just went into the other aisle. The passengers had their heads bent to their knees. I heard their sobs.
The sound of their crying pissed me off. I imagined if my mother was on this flight.
Yeah, I was going to rip these motherfuckers to pieces.
They first attacked. He was clumsy. No training. Amun turned these guys, got them over the initial bloodlust and let them go. Suicide bombers who didn't know they were going to be committing suicide.
Three swings. I dodged all three. If I blocked something told me I would get knocked back on my skinny ass. I dropped to the ground and grabbed his crotch. They were hard to find but they were there. A twist to his balls and he dropped to the ground with me. I bit a chunk of his neck out and tossed him to the side.
Now the passengers were screaming.
"Run!" I yelled. I hoped that would start a…yeah. They were running into the next cabin. The three remaining vampires made no move to stop them. I didn't figure they would. They were focused on me.
Their friend was rolling on the ground trying to hold his head to his neck. He was moaning. I kicked him in the side of the head and watched his head bounce off a seat cushion.
"Very impressive. Again, I have to ask, who are you?"
"Is my name really what is important here?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders and three vampires rushed me at once. Fuck.
Two hit me in the legs and the third head butted me. I dropped to the ground. This was not good. The one at my face was snarling. The other two were trying to break my legs. I wasn't strong enough to move.
Garrett…what would Garrett do?
I reached up and bit the one at face level. I bit his nose. I broke his skin. He turned his head and I bit his ear. He jerked up enough for me to get an arm free. I stuck a finger through his eye. He jumped back, taking one of the vampires at my legs with him. I used that free leg to kick the other one in the head. He looked up and I kicked him again in his nose. He rolled off. I rolled on top of him, punched the back of his head and bit his throat. I felt arms pulling me off but I kept my bite. His throat came off with me.
Unfortunately I was now in an arm lock with two fully mobile vampires.
"Kill her already." The one at the front said.
Let your weight go. I dropped, forcing him to hold me up on his own. It was enough to catch him off guard. Wrapping my feet on the inside of his ankles I twisted my hips and took us both to the ground. I looked up in time to see another strike coming at me from the vampire in front. I dodged and returned. I needed space. Hopping up on a row of seats I ran back to the back where I started. Maybe Jason could come out and I could throw him at one of the vampires.
Don't be stupid Bella. I would have to cut him first. He better be disarming that bomb. I haven't seen a detonator yet. I knew we were about an hour from New York at the speed this plane was traveling.
The one with the mutilated face charged me, his friend a few steps behind him. I charged him. At the last second I hopped up on a seat top in the middle row. The one in front grabbed my hand but I used my momentum to swing around and kick his friend in the face. I felt my arm rip free and managed to get my legs around the one in back's neck. Twisting in the air, like Garrett taught me, he rolled with me. When he hit the floor, I continued rolling. He was tough but I had enough speed. His head broke free.
I hopped up and prepared to defend myself against the last fully mobile vampire. The one I performed plastic surgery on.
I raised my hands in the guard position and the pain hit me, nearly taking me to the floor.
My right arm from below the elbow was gone. Venom was leaking. I could almost feel the limb still there but…son of a bitch that hurts. I looked at the guy rolling in the back holding his half torn neck and understood. This shit hurts.
Pretty boy smiled and tossed my arm behind him.
"You are an excellent fighter. Are you as good with one arm?"
"I guess we'll find out." I blocked the pain from my mind. It wasn't worse than turning. It wasn't worse than the emotional pain I had gone through. It wasn't worse than what my parents went through. It wasn't worse than the fear of the people in the other cabin and in this plane. I couldn't afford to lose. They couldn't afford for me to lose.
I angled my body with my right side forward. Dodge and block. Dodge and…damn this hurt.
He grabbed my throat and I grabbed the arm holding my throat. Then he used his second arm. Cheater.
He was smiling and I couldn't break his grip. Think Bella. Kick. Can I swing my body up to get him in a leg bar?
"Hey! Anybody hungry?"
The smell of blood permeated the air. Pretty boy released me and turned. We both saw Connolly standing at the end of the aisle holding up his forearm that he had just slashed with the long black knife in his hand.
Pretty boy charged. I jumped on his back and bit through his throat. He screamed until my teeth cut through his windpipe.
I stood up and ran to the one vampire still somewhat in one piece. A swift kick to his neck and he was no longer in one piece.
"So where are we going to burn these….holy shit what happened to your arm?!" Jason asked.
"Wrap your arm. Please. I'm begging you here." I whispered, doing my best not to breathe. To his credit he did so without further comment. At least he looked nervous. Maybe he was getting some common sense. Of course he wasn't nervous about me draining his blood.
"Garrett's going to fucking kill me. This can be fixed. He told me parts can grow back together. That's why you have to burn the vampire. We can fix this." He practically stuttered.
"We can fix it later."
'Does it hurt?" What?
"Fuck yes it hurts! Now help me pick these pieces up. That body is just missing a head and is starting to move around. It's creepy. I need to rip it up. We can't light the pieces on fire in here. We have to keep them separated."
"Duct tape!" he shouted.
"What?' I asked, hoping I didn't hear him right.
"We can take your arm, kinda tape it back where it is supposed to be and it will grow back together."
"It's not a big deal I can have Garrett look at it and he can tell me what…"
"No!"
"No? Why can't Garrett see it?" I asked.
"Look, he is going to blame this shit on me. If…when he finds out that you got injured…that you had to fight…these guys…Bella I realize you get to see sweet Garrett all day but he can be a bastard and none of us has ever seen him as intense about anyone as he is with you. So if we could fix this amongst ourselves…"
I laughed through the pain while ripping this guy's leg off. Hard to do with one arm. Damn this hurt.
"I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you Jason. He wouldn't pick on a human like that."
"Yes! Yes he would. That man holds a grudge. He has better toys than I do."
"I don't think duct tape will work. Let's just get on the ground. I'll wrap it up until then. Did you take care of the bomb?"
"Uh…"
"That bomb is impossible to disarm." A voice said from the front of the cabin.
Another fucking vampire. Looked Arab like the other four.
"How many of you fuckers are there?" I asked.
"There were five. Very nice. Embarrassing for us, but they were not true believers. I heard their doubts. They were weak. I am not."
"So you gonna try to kick my ass too?" I grinned through the pain. Make him think you are tough Bella.
Fuck it. I am tough.
"No. Unfortunately my mission must come first. I cannot guarantee that I can defeat you, despite your injury. So I am afraid we will have to ride this out for another ten minutes or so. At that point I will take my thumb off of this…" Damn it. He had a small cylinder in his hand. His thumb was pressed down on a button on top of it. I was impressed. A few months ago and I would have crushed that damn thing.
"Take him Bella. If he is going to blow it up we may as well do it over an unpopulated area."
I turned and looked at Jason, making sure I heard that right.
"Seriously. Kick his ass." He winked at me.
I shrugged my shoulders. Why not? If it blows up at least my arm won't hurt any longer. I struck him in his face with a palm strike. I thought of going for the detonator with my other arm and remembered it wasn't there. He fell back on his ass and I reached for his hand holding the detonator.
I wasn't quick enough. His thumb came up. The button popped up. He screamed. I landed on top of him closing my eyes and waiting….
We both opened our eyes and looked up at Connolly who was leaned against an aisle seat with a grin on his face.
"I made your bomb my bitch." He said to the vampire beneath me. I stood up and stood in front of him.
"You did it?" I asked, trying to keep the shock out of my voice.
"Yep."
"Thank God." I whispered.
"Yeah. Now we just have to figure out how to kill this guy."
Oh yeah. I threw Jason to the side right before I felt the vampire's fist strike the back of my head. I braced for impact before I could hit the ground. I didn't want to go through the floor. Instead of hitting the ground I was caught. Opening my eyes I saw him for the first time in days. My salvation, my love, my man.
"Garrett? How…?"
GPOV
"I jumped from the plane before it landed, ran to a base with Ty, hopped on a drone, caught a ride at supersonic speed and came up the hole you tore in the bottom of the plane."
"Wow." She whispered. Yeah. Wow.
I heard a growl. Looking up, I saw the vampire that had just struck Bella.
I kissed her hard. I needed to know she was alive. Now I needed to feel her. She practically collapsed in my arms and I sat her on one of the seats.
She was injured.
I looked up at the vampire who seemed to be preparing for a fight. Too bad. This wouldn't be a fight.
I rushed him, grabbing his throat. He tried to grab mine. I squeezed. He didn't need to breathe but his throat beginning to crack had the desired effect. He was afraid. He struck me in the side of the head. I kept my eyes on his and my hand on his throat.
"No matter what you do you’re fucked. What other plans does Amun have?"
"I will die before I tell you. Don't worry. Before two days pass you will see our power. America and her allies will fall on their knees and weep at the vengeance we will have."
I took my other hand and pulled off his ear. He screamed. He tried to get away from my grip. Wasn't happening. I was way too angry. My country attacked. Our allies attacked. The one woman, the only woman I have loved in my existence, injured. Someone would pay. Unfortunately for him he was the only one here.
I reached into his mouth. He tried to bite me and I let go of his throat to hold his jaws open. Sticking my hand in his throat I ripped out his tongue.
"Oh that's just gross." Connolly said from the side. A quick punch to his forehead and he dropped to his knees.
I grabbed his Adam's apple and pulled. The crystal beneath gave way. He may have been a newborn but he was not stronger than I was. This fucker was going to hurt ten times worse than Bella was. He closed his eyes, expecting me to finish him. Fuck that.
I put two fingers through his two eyes.
"Damn that looks like it hurt." Connolly whispered.
"Garrett?"
Bella's voice.
"Yes dear?"
"End him. Please? I want you to hold me."
I took a deep breath to center myself. I whispered to the blind vampire in my arms who was unable to breathe.
"You are a very lucky man."
Ripping his head off, I dropped his body and raced to Bella. Gathering her in my arms I finally realized her right arm was wrapped up in a towel.
"Bella?"
"It's okay. It hurts but it will be okay."
"Let me see."
I heard Connolly whisper oh fuck in the background.
"Hey I need to check the status of the pilots and the passengers so I will…"
"You aren't going a damn place. Have a seat." I told him.
I pulled back the towel and saw crystal shards where her lower arm had been. Venom was leaking to a degree, seeking the missing appendage.
"Bella… I'm so…"
"Don't say it Garrett. I had a job to do. So did Jason. Leave it alone. Leave him alone. Can you fix it?"
"Of course. But…it is going to hurt." I told her honestly.
"Just do it." She gritted.
I turned and looked at the man who would be tragically killed by friendly fire soon.
"Where is her arm?"
"Got it right here G man." He unzipped a long deep pocket on his black BDUs and pulled out Bella's arm.
"You had my arm in your pocket?" Bella asked.
"Yeah. Didn't want it getting away." He told her shrugging his shoulders.
"Your pants pocket?" She asked again.
"Don't worry about it sweetie. He won't be alive long." I told her. Bella glared at me.
"Leave him alone Garrett. I decided to come here." She told me stubbornly.
Connolly handed me Bella's arm. Without delaying I placed it against her elbow. The venom began working immediately seeking to draw the part of itself that had been lost together again. Bella screamed. I held her tightly. She bit my shoulder gently.
"Bite as hard as you need to Bella." I whispered. She nodded her head and clamped down, biting through my black wind suit. I didn't even feel it. I just held her tighter.
"I really need to go check on the passengers and see what the situation is with the pilots." Connolly said.
"So go." I told him without giving him a glance.
"Does she…if I cut myself and poured some blood in a cup would it help?" He asked.
I looked at him and saw he was serious. Maybe I wouldn't kill him after all.
"No. But thank you, Jason. Go check on the passengers."
Jason came in thirty minutes later saying he would be landing the plane at a military base outside of Buffalo and he would handle the passengers. The pilots were dead.
Bella stopped biting my shoulder. Her fingers were moving again. Her arm had mended. I licked the site of the injury to help seal the wound. She giggled and told me this wasn't the proper time for that. It made me feel good to hear her laugh, no matter how slight. She would be okay.
"No more separate missions Bella. We stick together. Okay?"
"You know that we can't promise that, Garrett. This was a start. You heard him. Who knows what Amun has planned over the next two days?"
I didn't respond. It would be a problem. But I didn't care. Between Ty, Clive and me we could handle whatever was out there. The two of us were sticking together.
"Bella…"
"You told me in New York it wasn't about us. Remember Garrett?" she whispered.
I wish she hadn't remembered.
"Yes. But unless it is absolutely necessary we will stay together, alright?"
She smiled and kissed me. "Deal."
We walked into the cabins up front. According to the Passenger manifest the flight was not close to full. Less people to deal with. Still there were about 60 passengers. 60 passengers who saw too much. Connolly was addressing them.
"You will have to sign non disclosure agreements. If you talk about this to anyone then you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Plus nobody will believe you."
"I'm not signing a damn thing." A middle aged thin man wearing glasses up front said in an angry tone.
"Then you will be considered in possession of top secret information that could affect national security. You will be held as a non-combatant until a time that the information is no longer considered top secret." Jason told him calmly.
"The existence of aliens? When the hell is the existence of aliens not going to be considered top secret?"
"Exactly, so sign the fucking agreement and go on with your life." Connolly retorted.
A chorus of "it's her" rose among the crowd when they noticed me and Bella. A male child of no more than twelve ran up to Bella and wrapped himself around her legs.
"I don't care if you are an alien. You are the coolest alien ever! I saw the whole thing. You kicked those bad alien's asses."
Slowly passengers began moving towards Bella. I stepped away. She was being hugged by most of the passengers. One whispered that her secret was safe and she would never talk about aliens. One asked if she knew where Elvis was.
"Uh no. Sorry. Haven't met him." Bella replied. Connolly went to the cockpit and we all buckled in. Bella seemed shell shocked.
"Not bad for a hot alien." I grinned.
She said nothing.
"You did this. They are alive because of you."
"Jason disarmed the bomb. Cut him some slack."
I said nothing. I suppose she had a point.
I held her and closed my eyes until I felt the wheels hit the ground. I suppose Connolly didn't need help. The pilots had been drained. The body parts of the vampires would be burned by Connolly's team and the bodies of the pilots dealt with. No other military personnel would be allowed on this flight. A few of his men posing as CIA agents would stress the importance of national security and threaten the already traumatized passengers with imprisonment once again if they spoke. We did this once before in Roswell. It worked out. At least no one suspected vampires. I will have to tell Bella about that sometime. She will get a kick out of it.
Once on the ground we exited the back of the airplane. We walked directly to the control tower that had been taken over by Ty and Clive. Ty grabbed Bella as soon as she walked in, nearly knocking me down.
"Where is that motherfucker?" He asked me, while holding Bella.
"Stop Ty. I'm fine."
"Her arm was ripped off." I added. Maybe I wouldn't hurt Connolly but I had a feeling he would be coming down with a bad case of vertigo soon.
"Leave it alone." Bella said, pulling back from Ty. He pulled her back in.
"Is anyone going to introduce me to the lady?" Clive asked. I saw he had a suit on. Typical.
"Clive Barkley, this is Bella Swan."
"A pleasure ma'am." Clive kissed her hand and smiled.
"A pleasure to meet you Clive." Bella gave me a confused look.
"Clive is the English equivalent of me Bella. The two of us fought in the Revolutionary War and fought together in World War one and two. Plus a few missions here and there that concerned both our nations. Clive works for the Queen and the Prime Minister."
"Oh. Okay."
"I understand now, your panic Garrett old boy. She is absolutely beautiful." He still had Bella's hand. I took it.
"Yeah. She is." I told him.
"So I'm sorry about London." Bella told him.
"Yes. It is done though. Only reckoning remains. Let's make sure nothing else like that happens." Clive addressed me. "How do we find Stone?"
"He's a demon. He won't be found unless he wants to be. Too good at hiding. We need to find Amun. He will lead us to Stone."
"How do we find Amun? He could be anywhere." Bella asked.
"Got him." I heard Ty say from the console. I looked and saw he had our satellite feeds from the Pentagon set up in the control tower.
"Where?"
"I checked covens he was friendly with. Started some facial recognition software on the off chance he may visit one of them. He showed up all right."
"Where?" I asked again, impatiently.
"Bella's old friends. The Cullens. Walked in the front door 90 seconds ago. Carlisle Cullen hugged him at the door." Ty said in a neutral tone.
"The Cullens have nothing to do with this. Garrett, I know they aren't perfect but c'mon. This?"
"I know Bella. It is likely Amun is using friends he has known in the past to hide him without their knowledge of what is going on." I told her.
"Edward would read his mind though." Bella whispered.
She had a point.
"I don't think he is there." Ty said.
"Why?" Clive asked.
"Motions sensors on the satellite pick up seven objects moving. There should be eight. I would bet the missing one is Edward. Amun would never have gone there if he knew Edward was there." Ty pointed out.
"Where would Edward be?" Bella whispered.
"Maybe he got so upset he left." Ty told her shrugging his shoulders.
"Upset? Why would he have been upset?" Bella asked.
"Fuck if I know Shortie! Why you gotta be giving me the third degree? I didn't do shit. You know how those pretty haired fuckers are. Maybe the local Walmart ran out of his favorite hair gel. Damn, askin me like I did something."
"I…I didn't say you did Ty." Bella said, looking very suspiciously at Ty. Have to remember to ask Ty what the hell he did later.
"Did you say a mind reader?" Clive asked.
"Yes. Edward can read minds. Why?" Bella asked.
"He doesn't know Clive. He isn't one of us." I told him immediately.
"Amun is not going to talk voluntarily. Torture would take too long. But a mind reader Garrett. Can he keep a secret?"
I said no at the same time Bella said yes. We looked at each other.
"He's right Garrett. Two days. They already tried to crash a plane in New York to deliver a nuclear bomb. What is next? We could spend months waiting for Stone to surface."
"Garrett we need him. We can always kill him later." Clive pointed out. Ty agreed. Bella frowned. I was…intrigued by the idea.
Bella wrapped her arms around me.
"I'm yours. Forever. This isn't about us. He can get us information. We have lives to save Garrett." She kissed me gently.
"Did you say forever dear? I assumed the two of you had just met. So a night at the theatre when this is over would be out of the question?" Clive asked. I looked at him and saw he was grinning.
"Sorry. I only go to the theatre with one man." Bella told him, never taking her eyes off of me.
Fuck.
"Ty, get us four fighters with pilots. We are going to Oregon and we need to get there quick. Bella, make the call."
I watched her take my phone in silence. I hated this but she was right. A guy who could read minds would be helpful right now. Edward Cullen in my opinion was a lot of things, not many of them good, considering what he did to Bella. But he wasn't evil. He wouldn't be a party to this. And he would keep a secret if Bella asked him too.
I heard him answer on the first ring. "Hello? Garrett? Is Bella okay?"
"Edward, it's Bella. Where are you?"
"I'm in…Port Angeles. I thought I would…anyway what can I do for you Bella?"
"We need your help. I need you to listen to me. I need you to believe me. Then I need you to meet me at your house in Oregon."
Silence. Then…
"Anything Bella. I'm listening."
Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Don't own it.
Garrett POV
"We go in together."
"I can handle this old boy. You stay with your lady friend and Bella." Clive replied.
Wait…
"Fuck you Clive." Ty said dryly.
"We don't know what Amun may have told the Cullen's, Clive. They don't know you. They may see you as hostile and move to protect him."
"You seriously think I am worried about them?" Clive chuckled.
"No. But they don't deserve to be injured. Carlisle is a good man, Clive. He is an Englishman as well. He grew up in London. When he finds out that he is giving shelter to the man who just murdered all of London he will be devastated. Also you don't want to harm the family of the man you yourself said we needed to help us retrieve information from Amun."
"Fine. Come with me, but Amun is mine."
"Maybe I should go…" Bella started.
"Nah. Let G man and Austin Powers figure it out. We can swoop in and kick some ass if needed." Ty told her. Bella shot him a not so pleasant look but let it go.
"Where the fuck is the ex, anyway? Think he is beatin one off so he can play it cool around you, shortie?"
Bella looked ill.
"That's disgusting Ty." She replied.
"So probably yeah then huh?"
Bella ignored him, instead focusing on the house below. We had discussed this and felt that Bella's presence would confuse the Cullen's enough. None of us knew how much to tell them. The less they knew the better. Edward would not talk. He swore to Bella. That was one oath I knew he would never break. Still he had not shown up.
"He will be here. I told him to stay back. The less they know of his involvement the less the Cullen's will bother him for information. They will already have questions about why we are here." Bella said softly.
I had to agree. I do wish she wouldn't have so much faith in him.
"Let's go to the front of the house. He does not know anyone is coming for him. Of course Stone probably knows about me and you Clive; he probably told Amun. He may well be expecting us. He may be hoping we wouldn't take him in front of Carlisle. He may…"
"Would you shut the bloody hell up?" Clive asked and then took off for the front of the house. I followed and met him on the porch. He rang the bell.
Esme Cullen opened the door, looking as lovely as the first time I saw her.
"Garrett?" she greeted me, a bit confused. She then began looking around.
"Is Bella…is she okay? Where is she?"
"She is fine Esme. This is my friend Clive. We need to come in if that is okay?"
"Of course…"
"Excellent." Clive responded practically running over her to get inside.
We caught the scent of vampires in the living room and moved directly there.
"Garrett?" Carlisle stood, confused.
Clive grabbed Amun by the throat.
"What is the meaning of this?" Carlisle roared.
"We need a word with this old boy. Kindly step back and allow me to take him and we will be on our way." Clive told him quietly.
"I'm sorry. He is being hunted by the Volturi and has come to us for protection. He is my friend and you aren't going to be taking him anywhere." Carlisle responded.
Shit. Jasper was circling around Clive.
"Carlisle, Clive is not Volturi and they are definitely not after Amun. You saw London…"
"He had nothing to do with that!" Carlisle replied
"Carlisle…We are taking him. I am sorry…"
"You took Bella and I let it go because it was what she wanted. You found her and didn't say a damn thing. But you think you can come into my home and take a friend I have offered shelter to?" Carlisle was in my face. Damn it.
"You said you weren't upset about Bella." I retorted.
"I lied!" he answered back.
"Carlisle. We just need to talk to Amun." I said calmly.
"What's it to you? You the police or something Garrett? Where is your big friend? Tracking down Edward to tell him how worthless he is again?" Emmett asked.
Wow. Okay. This was getting out of hand. Now Emmett was within a few feet of me.
"Garrett, we really don't have time to play around. I understand these people are your friends…I think they are at least. But we really need to get a move on." Clive said, his hand still around Amun's throat.
I nodded in agreement. Amun's eyes were darting around, looking for an escape route. Guess we would have to go with the abbreviated scenario.
"I don't have time to explain. Lives are at stake. He is coming with us." I told Carlisle.
Jasper moved towards me. He jumped for me and I twisted throwing him into Emmett. Clive kicked Carlisle in the head. Rose and Alice were coming towards me. I really didn't want to hurt them. It looked like I had no other choice though. I prepared to defend myself when…
"Stop!"
Bella.
"Bella?" Esme whispered. All the Cullen's stopped. I could imagine why. In contrast to how they last saw her she was different. In a short amount of time she had changed. The look of hopelessness was gone from her face. She had confidence in her voice. She was dressed in black BDUs including the Jacket. The jacket was brushed back and you could see her firearm in her shoulder holster. No doubt this would confuse a vampire who knew guns were useless against them. I should probably be thankful she didn't bring her sword.
"Bella?" Carlisle whispered this time.
"Carlisle, Amun is responsible for the bombing of London. He is responsible for the attacks on the children of the world leaders. He is responsible for the nuclear bomb that was attempted to be flown into New York. He has been financing al Qaeda along with another man, an arms dealer. We have proof."
"What proof Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"Carlisle, you are going to have to trust me. I realize he is your friend but you have to trust me."
"Bella…"
"You fucking owe me Carlisle." Bella told him.
That shut Carlisle up. He looked to Esme who nodded.
"Okay." Carlisle said.
"You're going to let this James Bond wannabe take our friend Carlisle?" Emmett asked, slightly surprised. Clive apparently took offense. Here we go again.
"Wannabe? I knew Ian Fleming personally child. Where do you think he got the inspiration for James Bond from?"
"You? You're James Bond?" Jasper asked, disbelieving.
"No. James had a license to kill. I just kill without one. Now back away. We are taking him outside to have a talk."
"I am innocent Car…" Amun choked out before Clive squeezed harder.
"What nuclear bomb in New York?" Rosalie asked. "I haven't heard of a nuclear bomb being flown into New York."
"Exactly." Bella replied, eyes focused on Amun.
"Take him." Carlisle instructed, looking at Bella and then at Amun with a look of fury. He believed Bella. I suppose we should have brought her in to begin with.
Bella, Clive and I walked outside, Clive dragging Amun by his throat.
"Ty be a good lad and let Amun know why he won't be running." Clive asked. Ty walked out from behind a tree and focused on Amun. Amun fell to the ground clutching his head and stomach.
"Let up Ty." I instructed him.
Amun continued to lay on the ground. I knelt beside him. The Cullen's were not outside but I knew they were listening.
"What else does Stone have planned Amun? What are the other targets?"
He said nothing. I placed my thumb on his eye.
"Talk Amun. Where is Stone? Where is Kayhat?"
He said nothing. I pressed my thumb into his eye. Judging by his scream it hurt quite a bit.
"Stone is in Los Angeles. Kayhat is in South America. Looks like Brazil. Hidden in the rain forest coordinating his cells. He has werewolves under Stone's employ protecting him. Stone is in a mansion."
Edward Cullen walked up
"Stay out of my head!" Amun screamed.
"Have you seen the street he is living on? I know you have seen the mansion." Edward asked him.
Amun had a panicked look on his face. He was prepared to lie. He was prepared to not speak. He was not prepared to hide his thoughts. At least not to hide them from direct questions from Edward Cullen.
"Duhurst avenue. 1134." Edward spoke.
"What is he planning?" I asked Amun again.
"Oh my God." Edward whispered.
Edward POV
I couldn't believe what I was seeing in Amun's thoughts. When Garrett asked what was planned, visions of fire, blood, screaming children…hospitals overflowing with sick, dying.
"Where is this going to happen?"
He was thinking of Egypt. Then nothing. His thoughts went away.
I turned and saw her.
"Bella?"
"Yes Edward?"
"Could you back away a bit? I believe you are blocking my power."
She nodded and backed away.
"Garrett? He may need encouragement." I said quietly. I hated to be a party to torture. But what he is planning…
Garrett pulled his eye out.
"You are going to tell us what we want to know Amun. It's only a matter of how much it is going to hurt until you do." Garrett told him, crushing Amun's eyeball before him. I looked at Bella to see her reaction. She had no reaction. No. Barely contained anger was directed at Amun. I wonder what she has seen.
Bella must have been far enough back because his thoughts rushed into my head. Kebi. Benjamin…Tia laughing in a fountain while Benjamin swirls water in the air around her.
Then a human. Arab. They discussed…a man named Stone. A messenger of Allah?
"Garrett?" I whispered.
Garrett tore Amun's right ring finger off. He then bent down to Amun's ear.
"I have Kebi." He whispered. Bella was far enough away that I could read Garrett's thoughts. He was bluffing. I saw his conversation with Benjamin. Garrett would not harm innocent women. Not unless it was absolutely necessary.
Stone is a demon? Demons? Witches? Concentrate on…Bella's arm was ripped off? Amun's newborns.
I brushed Garrett aside and stuck my finger in Amun's eye socket. I felt his brain. The venom leaking out.
"Tell us what you are planning!" I screamed.
His thoughts betrayed him finally. I removed my finger from his brain and his thoughts flowed freely.
"Los Angeles. Stone has a team that plans to release an airborne virus at midnight tonight. Chicago. Suicide bombers at Wrigley Field during a baseball game. Las Vegas. Blackout and cells will be attacking the Casinos on the strip with automatic weapons."
"Thank you Edward. When does this start?" Garrett asked.
"Wrigley field in three hours." I told him, reading Amun's silent answers he could not control. Vegas at Midnight. Same time as LA."
"Ty, can you and Clive take Vegas?"
"Yes." Ty responded.
"I will go. I can look for possible outcomes. Help you determine where exactly they are going to attack." Alice said running outside. The rest of the family was behind her.
"Bella and I will take Los Angeles. We can get Stone and stop the virus."
"Chicago?" I asked.
"Connolly's team will take them. Are they human?" Garrett asked.
I glanced at the one eyed bastard.
"Yes. They are human." I answered for Amun.
"Good. We need to move. Clive?"
The British vampire smiled. I watched him drag Amun off. He tore Amun's arms and legs off. He moved so quickly. He was faster than Jasper. How has no one ever heard of this vampire? Of course I am beginning to wonder if we ever really knew Garrett. I heard Carlisle was thinking the same thing.
Amun watched his appendages burn. The British vampire struck him in the face continuously before Garrett whispered to him that it would not bring anyone back.
Bella walked over and handed a book of matches to the strange violent vampire. He lit Amun on fire. When he turned I saw his eyes were wet.
My home town of Chicago was on the list. Humans would be taking care of this. I knew where I had to go though.
"Garrett could you explain exactly what the hell is going on and how you know so much about what is going on? Who is Connolly? What the hell is going on?!" Carlisle asked.
Carlisle was upset. He was confused. And he was very worried about what the hell Garrett had gotten Bella involved in. He felt a great deal of guilt over Bella. Nearly as much as I did. We all did but Carlisle felt it more acutely. He has always prided himself on saving human lives and is convinced if he had been a stronger leader what happened to Bella would not have occurred.
Of course it was my fault. I turned and saw the large black man staring at me. I remembered every word he said. He was right.
"Yes. But we don't have much time. I am calling a two helicopters for transport. I will have to explain while we wait for them."
"I'm going to Vegas." Alice said once again.
"This is not your concern. We can handle this." Garrett told her.
"I'm going to Vegas." Alice said again. "With or without your coven."
"Garrett?" Carlisle asked.
BPOV
I wrapped my arms around Garrett while he explained everything to the Cullens. They would have to keep the secret. If they ever ran into the Volturi we would deal with it then. I glanced at Edward who seemed to be taking this all in stride. He never looked at me. I hope he wasn't angry. I didn't care if he was but I wasn't with Garrett to hurt him. I was with Garrett because I loved him. His opinion didn't matter but I didn't want anyone hurting more than they had to. Enough hurt has occurred.
"The government has known this entire time?" Jasper asked for clarification.
"Yes."
"Bella came to you to kill herself?" Esme asked. Her eyes were wet. I didn't like to talk about that so I buried myself deeper into Garrett.
"Yes." Garrett answered again.
"Now this demon…I mean we are talking like horned demons that can only be killed by a sword cutting their head off…that kind of demon, is doing this just to start shit?" Emmett asked.
"Yes. On a global scale. He is using al Qaeda to instigate coordinated terrorist attacks across the States and her allies."
"You saved the President's daughter Bella." Rose said. It wasn't a question. I simply shrugged my shoulders and nodded.
"You saved a plane full of people from five vampires and the city of New York." Rose said.
"I had help. Jason disarmed the bomb or we would have all been dead. I would be dead if Garrett hadn't…"
"Listen we really need to get a move on. I hear the choppers in the distance." Garrett said squeezing me a bit.
"So Alice and Jasper are going to Vegas with your two friends. Where should the rest of us go?" Carlisle asked. I wasn't surprised. I suppose neither was Garrett.
"I appreciate it Carlisle but…"
"I'm not doing it for you. This is our home as well. Now that we know this we can't sit back and do nothing. I am coming with you to Los Angeles. Where would you like the rest of us?"
Carlisle was determined. He wouldn't be denied.
"I'm coming to Los Angeles with you and Bella Garrett." I heard Edward speak for the first time in this conversation.
"Why?" Garrett practically growled. I elbowed him gently in the ribs.
"Because this Stone demon may not have told Amun everything. I can read his mind."
"We don't know if that would work on a demon Edward." I told him. Garrett growled lowly again. I elbowed him again.
"It can't hurt to try." He replied. He did have a point.
"Garrett he's right. Stone is the only one who we are absolutely sure knows everything."
"Fine. Edward can come to Los Angeles. Jasper and Alice I suppose can handle Vegas with Ty and Clive. Rose and Emmett, I assume you want to become involved as well?" Garrett asked.
"Yes." Emmett replied, and then glared at Ty. I don't think those two would be getting along.
"Rose can come with us. I can make room for her in the chopper. She can sit on my lap if she needs to." Ty said.
Yeah. They wouldn't be getting along. I figured I better intercede.
"Why don't the two of you go to Brazil? Maybe you could try to find Kayhat? There are werewolves protecting him." I suggested.
"Sounds good Bella." Emmett nodded, looking at me.
"I'm coming to Los Angeles." Carlisle said.
"I think the three of us…" Garrett started.
"If that virus gets airborne you are going to need an antivirus. I need to see what we are dealing with first hand. I'm coming."
"What about me?" Esme asked.
"Go to Chicago." Carlisle told her.
"To hell with that! It will be over by the time I get there. I'm coming top LA, Carlisle."
"Esme…"
"If Bella will be fighting demons so will I. This isn't up for discussion."
The look on Esme's face told me there would indeed be no further discussion. The choppers landed behind us. We had to play this human since the pilots weren't on our team.
Emmett and Rose drove off to the airport while the rest of us loaded into our choppers and flew off. As soon as we were up I rose from my seat and sat in Garrett's lap. Since the plane I was probably a bit more clingy but he didn't seem to mind.
"How is your arm Bella?" he whispered.
"It's fine. You know that." I smiled.
"So how are we going to get around LA in regards to sunlight? It will still be light when we arrive." Carlisle said.
Garrett pulled the lotion out of his duffle bag.
"Put this on." Garrett tossed the bottle to the three.
"What is this?" Edward asked.
"Sunscreen. Very special sunscreen. It will stop you from sparkling."
"Amazing." Carlisle whispered.
"Why are you here Carlisle? Why do you insist on being involved? I have been fighting these battles for over two hundred years. I can handle this." Garrett told him.
"You told Bella she could find atonement working with you and she has. Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps we have things to atone for as well?" Edward asked, finally looking away from the window.
No one said anything. It actually hadn't occurred to me.
Ty POV
This some bullshit. Clive is cool and all even if he does sound like a fucking English butler and has an ego bigger than James Bond. The short girl was cool even if she was constantly spacing out. The Jasper fella though…maybe I should make friends.
"So I read in your file that you was a slave ownin confederate before you was turned?"
Fucker just looked at me. I suppose I was right.
"Ty, leave Mr. Whitlock alone." Clive chuckled.
"Just tryin to get to know Johnny Reb. That's all. You don't want to talk Johnny?"
"I did not own slaves." He said quietly.
"Hey we ain't gonna have no issues around humans with you, are we? I hear you have problems with papercuts. Causes you to go all violent?"
"Ty right?" he asked.
"Yep."
"What's your fucking problem Ty?"
"My problem is I don't want your ass here. So when we land how bout you and the missus hop off and go gamble while me and my butler take care of business. This is what we do."
"You don't think I can help?" Alice asked me all sad like.
"I don't want your help." I told her honestly.
"Too damn bad. We are comin anyway. Whether you like me or not." Whitlock said. I suppose that's his intimidating voice.
"I bet the two of us can make it so you ain't comin with us, Major Bubba. We ain't punk ass newborns like you used to fight in Mexico."
"No. I don't know about him but you seem to be just a normal fuckin punk."
Well looks like Whitlock got some fire.
"Well your ass ain't gonna be around much longer so you won't have to worry bout it." I told him. "Keep talkin shit and your ass may not be around anywhere."
"We don't mean to cause trouble…" the little one started.
"What is your fucking problem? You don't like Bella bein around us? That why you attacked Emmett?"
"I don't like you motherfuckers cause you left her. You damn near killed her parents. You got any idea how much fuckin guilt she got over the people she killed? Do you? Do you have a fucking clue you god damned hick? Bella is barely over a year old and she held a guys artery together with her fingers and a small clip. Your sorry ass went off over a papercut. Who's the punk now bitch? You a big fuckin deal in your own mind. But don't ever make the mistake of thinkin you can take me. I will twist you inside out and rip your fucking head off. You guys took Amun in. That's the only reason you are here. You don't do shit for the world. You go to high school. You sit around on top of your pile of money and don't do shit. So no, I don't like your ass. I don't like Bella bein around you. Me and Gar take care of her. From what I know, her bein around you ends up with her hurt. You want to help? Stay back and let us do our thing. This is what we do. We need help with homework we will let you know."
"Butler? Really Ty?" Clive laughed.
"You called me a lady friend earlier." I told Clive. I don't let shit like that go.
"Look man, we are just tryin to help. We can help. We aren't here to get in your way. Let Alice do her thing. We aren't here to bother Bella. We just want to stop this nightmare from happening." Jasper told me.
"Leave it alone Ty. They can help. They know. We need help. Let it go chap." Clive told me and patted me on the back.
I glared at shit kicker one more time.
"Stay the fuck away from her. Just cause she can't get paper cuts anymore don't mean you can't hurt her."
Jasper looked out the window. Alice looked upset but then she did that spaced out thing.
After thirty or so seconds she came out of it.
"How long till we land in Vegas?" she asked.
"Perhaps another hour or so. Why?" Clive answered.
"Because the first attack occurs in four hours. One of the Cell leaders panics. He moves up the timetable. It happens at the Hard Rock Casino."
"The others?" Clive asked.
"I haven't gotten a vision. But the first occurs in four hours. We have to be there."
I nodded. Time to blow some fuckers down. Vegas. Man that place brings back memories. I killed quite a few people in Vegas.
Maybe this time I could save a few.
I hope shortie is doin all right. Gotta be awkward to be travelin with them. Maybe I should send Eddie a text.
I pulled out my phone and typed a simple message.
Don't even fuckin think about it.
Hitting send it occurred to me that Bell still don't know about the phone conversation between me and Eddie. I wonder how she will take it?
I pulled up my contacts and hit call.
"Ty? I haven't heard from you in a few days. Is Bella safe? I've been watching the news."
"Hey Renee. Bella's good as gold. Hey I need your opinion on something. I want to see how you think she may react. You know she is fond of shots to the junk."
"Well tell me all about it Ty."
So I told her. I suppose Jasper and Alice already knew this story. They did seem a might surprised I was talkin to my second momma.
"Ty, I have to be honest. You should probably protect your junk for the next few training sessions." Renee told me.
"Yeah that's what I kinda figured."
Maybe she wouldn't find out.
That notion got shot to hell when Jasper opened his mouth.
"So Bella doesn't know about your conversation with Edward? I have to say Ty, I can't wait to tell her."
Don't own it
Garrett POV
I looked over the mansion from four hundred yards away. Satellites had picked up no trace of Stone or Amun. I knew Amun would not be there. I also knew the vampires I was looking for would be. The grand residence looked deserted on the outside. But they were there. It was day time. Where else would they be? Clive, Ty and I had put our sunblock on and planned to walk up to the front door. The three of us threw on robes and walked to the front of the mansion. It was not isolated, rather in the heart of Cairo. Street urchins milled around outside but scattered when they saw us.
"Ty, go around back. When the women come out make them sick. Clive please assist Ty."
"I'll be damned. I plan to…"
"Get information. That is what we are going to do. We need bargaining chips, don't we?"
Clive nodded and followed Ty around back. I hoped Ty had the stomach for this. I didn't. But it had to be done. Bella was three hours away from having Dani to complete safety, however, many other people would not be safe no matter where they were. No one expected London to be the first target. I had no idea where else he planned to strike, but considering the death toll in London it was obvious the gloves were off and nothing could be taken for granted.
I kicked the front door in. Standing in the hallway was Benjamin with Kebi and Tia behind him.
"What did he do?" Benjamin asked.
"I am sure you already know. I am sure you have an idea of what he is going to do next. And I am sure before I leave you are going to tell me every single thing you know."
"Run." Benjamin whispered. Tia and Kebi took off towards the back. We would have them momentarily.
Benjamin stood his ground.
"I don't want to fight you. Kebi, Tia and I have nothing to do with this. If it is some sort of revenge you are after take it on me. Leave the women out of this." He whispered.
He was a brave soul. I hated to do this to him.
"I'm afraid no one can stay out of this now Benjamin. It is too late. Unless you can tell me where Amun is."
"I don't know. He left. He told us to hide. He said the Volturi may come for us eventually. But we couldn't. Not…we saw the news…he did it, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"Oh no…"
"Yes." I agreed with his sentiment.
"I…no matter. He is my maker. He gave me this life. He guided me. I will not betray him."
"He has lost his mind Benjamin. He has committed murder on an unprecedented scale. He has to go down."
"Why are you here?" Benjamin asked.
"Because my home is going to be next. I would like to stop it before it gets that far." I told him honestly.
"This is a Volturi matter." He said.
"Where is he, Benjamin?"
The walls began to shake. Benjamin had a determined look on his face. Not good.
"I am sorry. I am sorry for the people of London. But I cannot tell you what I do not know, and I will not let you harm my coven."
I hit him before he could bring the walls down on the two of us. He stood his ground and attempted to fight back.
Benjamin was a good soul I feared.
And a very poor fighter.
On his fifth strike I broke his arm at the elbow. Twisting I snapped it off. He screamed. I kicked his knee and he dropped. I was behind him, arms locked around his neck. He said a prayer quietly.
"We aren't going to kill you Benjamin. We are going to kill them."
Clive and Ty walked in with Kebi and Tia in headlocks. The women looked frightened. They should be. I knew Ty was under control. He always was. Clive however was a wildcard. Clive had been turned nearly the same time I had. We fought once during the revolution. Neither of us came away a victor. He had served his country since that time as I had served mine. We became friends during World War 1 and have continued to be friends to this day. He was clever, funny, adventurous, charming, and…right now he was on the edge of killing anyone he considered might possibly be an enemy.
"Leave them alone."
"No. We start burning body parts, starting with fingers from the small one, in ten seconds unless you talk."
Clive threw Kebi to the ground and walked to the fireplace, and lit the wood inside with a lighter over the mantle.
"If you think of using that flame to attack us Benjamin I promise my friend Ty there will make you sick before the flame can rise and I will burn Tia immediately."
Benjamin said nothing.
"Ty break off Tia's ring finger." Ty looked like he was going to be sick. But he locked his face and grabbed her hand.
"No!" Benjamin shouted.
"Ty stop. You have something to say Benjamin?"
"You will leave them alone?"
"I want to leave them alone very badly Benjamin. I do not wish to harm you or your coven mates. I swear. I only want Amun. I also swear I will do what I must to get him."
Ben nodded in my arms. I let him go, grabbing his arm off the ground and handing it to him.
"Come with me." He moved quickly and I followed, as did Clive. Ty stayed with the women I suppose. I hoped he could maintain an intimidating presence.
We walked into a large study. I assumed it was Amun's. Benjamin sat and motioned for me to do the same. Clive remained standing.
"Amun…he was giving money to humans. For the last ten years or so. It started simple. He would support the families of the jihadist who died."
"Died? You mean the suicide bombers who killed themselves along with their innocent victims?" Clive asked.
Benjamin ignored him.
"Last year he began moving huge sums of money to an American. I never found out his name. Amun kept us out of his business dealings. I had no interest. I swear I don't…
"His name is Stone. Go on." I said impatiently.
"How do you…"
"Which one of those ladies should I burn before your eyes?" Clive ask.
"Clive! He is cooperating." I told him.
"Yes. I'm waiting on the telltale sign of deception. One lie Benjamin and I…"
"Clive!" I needed him cold. Not out of control.
"He started meeting with this man about once a month. I followed him once when the man came to Cairo. I saw them meet at a camp in the desert. He also met with…
"Yes? You're doing well Benjamin. You are saving those women in there and saving more lives than you can imagine." I encouraged him.
"He met with Adel Kayhat."
That would explain a lot.
"The second in command of al Qaeda?" Clive asked.
"No. He is the head now. The camp they met at wasn't a typical jihadist camp. There were buildings. Men walking in and out who appeared to be scientists. American vehicles. Vans. I saw the three of them having a discussion deep into the night. After that Amun would visit one or the other every couple months. I only followed him a few times. I…I decided I didn't want to know. The visits became more frequent until a week ago. He packed and told us to run and hide, and then left. That is all I know. I swear."
I looked at Clive. He was always better at determining deception than I was. I was a fighter. A soldier. He was a born spy.
"Show us this camp lad." He told Benjamin.
One hour later we were standing in the middle of a deserted camp. The tents were there but empty. The buildings were there though.
"Gar!" Ty shouted. I ran to the metal building he had entered. Tools lay around scattered but no clue what they had worked on.
"You see something weird?" Ty asked.
I followed his gaze to the edge of the building under a table.
Ceramic pellets. Ball bearings.
"Garrett."
I turned and saw Clive walking in holding something in his hand. He tossed it to me and I saw a simple object that sent a chill down my spine. A glass vial.
"There are hundreds of them in one of the buildings. It is a lab. I can't identify the smells but this camp has not been abandoned long. I would say a week at the most." Clive told me.
Suicide bombs undetectable by metal detectors. Nuclear bombs. Biological and chemical weapons. I had no leads, no names other than one name the entire world already knew. I had done all I could here.
"Ty. We are heading back to the States." I honestly had no idea what else to do except pray the FBI and CIA had something.
"I'm coming with you old boy." Clive told me.
"You need to go back to London Clive." I whispered.
"We both know there is no London to go back to. Bombing London was the big play. It's over there. Our colonies however need to be protected." He grinned at least. He knew I hated when he called the US his colony.
"Besides. We know where Amun is heading. He is going to the States. Nowhere else he would be. Time to go Garrett."
I nodded. We would find nothing here about the targets. But we did know what threats to look for. Every threat imaginable.
Bella POV
I watched Dani rush to her father. They both had tears in their eyes and I was reminded of my reunion with my parents. That brought my mind to Garrett. He called and told me what he found.
The President and the Government were all here under this mountain in Colorado. We were buried half a mile down, reinforced concrete bunker ten yards thick, a foot of lead above and below it. The only entrance and exit was at the top of the mountain. To attempt to get below without clearance would be a suicide. At least for humans.
"Bella I can never thank you enough." Dave said, walking up. He hugged me. I froze. Then I slowly hugged him back. I noted that every Secret Service agent, Marine and Soldier were staring at me in suspicion. Except for Connolly's team. No one knew who I was and it needed to stay that way.
"I did what I told you I would do. That's all." I whispered.
"I need to explain some things to Dani, and stress the importance of secrecy. It may take a while. Connolly can show you to a room. Is there anything you need?"
"A target." I said without thinking. My mind flashed to the agents who died and the people of London.
"As soon as I have one you will be the first to know, Bella. In the meantime are you hungry?"
I thought about it and realized I was hungry. Very hungry. Somehow it had slipped my mind though.
"Yes." I said quietly. Dave nodded to Jason who told me to follow him. We walked to a medical room and Jason closed the door, locking it behind us. He walked over to a refrigerator and pulled out a bag of blood, hesitated, and then pulled out a second then placed them both into some sort of oven.
A few moments later and the blood was warm. He sat a cup down and poured half of one bag into it.
"You should leave. I probably need to be alone." I told him without meeting his eyes.
"Nah. No one should have to eat alone. I'll sit here and keep you company."
"Jason I could go into a frenzy and kill you."
"No. You couldn't. Now eat. No telling when any of us may have a chance to do it again." He hopped up on a counter and smiled at me.
His funeral. I shrugged my shoulders and downed the cup, then another and another.
Wiping off my lips self consciously I looked at him for a reaction.
"If you expect me to be disturbed you still have a lot to learn about me." He grinned.
"I don't like sitting around." I told him honestly.
"True, but it's a big country. Can't exactly patrol the whole thing looking for guys who don't want to be found. Let the police do their job. Then it will be time to do ours."
A voice over the intercom called for Connolly.
"Looks like it is time to do our job."
I followed him to the main control room where we were directed to go into the President's office. Walking there Dani walked out. She stopped and looked at me. I suppose she knew by now.
"I don't care." She whispered and then smiled. "Thank you." With that Dani walked off.
I shook my head and walked in to see Dave sitting with military guys with a lot of bars and metals on their uniforms.
"Have a seat you two. It's started."
Oh no.
"What happened?" Jason asked.
"A silent alarm was tripped by an air marshall. It is only to be tripped in the event of a hijacking. The plane is a 747 heading to New York from LA. It will be flying over Colorado in the next hour. We are afraid of what the hijackers may have on board. We doubt the objective is to simply crash a plane. Based on London we have to assume a nuclear bomb could be aboard."
"How would a bomb get on a plane? Airport security…" I started.
"Six airline employees were found dead in a dumpster in Los Angeles. They worked in the loading area for the plane in question. Anything could conceivably be on board. We would like to avoid shooting down the aircraft. My advisors tell me that is the safest course of action. I believe we should try to take back over the place." Dave looked at me. Oh shit.
"Sir with all due respect you simply cannot board a 747 in flight!" One of the generals said.
"Connolly's team specializes in high risk operations like this. If they can intercept in the next hour they can board. Correct Connolly?"
"Yes sir Mr. President."
"Who the hell is she?" Another of the uniformed old guys asked.
"A member of my team. All you need to know sir." Jason responded.
"Excuse me son? You got a helluva ways to go before you tell me what the fuck I need to know!"
"She is a member of his team. It's all you need to know General." Dave said coldly. The general looked away. I glanced at Jason and saw he was barely holding in a grin. Idiot.
"Jason. Can you do it?"
"Yes sir."
"What do you need?" Dave asked.
"Only Bella and myself will board the plane. I need a single Airbus and a crew to fly it. I need a couple oxygen suits, an acetylene torch, and as many weapons as we can carry."
"How do you plan to get on the plane?" A guy who I think was from the Marines asked.
"Sir, I just need those tools and I need them quickly. Let me worry about how to get on."
"How are you going to get off?" A guy in a suit asked.
"I'm going to land the plane if the pilots are incapacitated." He answered.
"You are?" I asked surprised.
"Yeah. I'm checked out. I can land it. You can help. If you do good I may let you play with the stick." He wiggled his eyebrows. He will pay for that later.
Less than an hour later we were in the cargo bay of the airbus. Once Dave gave the go ahead everything moved quickly. I was given a black suit that looked like an astronauts outfit to wear over my black BDUs. Connolly was dressed the same. His team was not with us.
"Why don't you let me go up myself?' I asked him.
"Can you land that plane?"
"No. You could talk me through it."
"Can you deactivate a nuclear bomb or a biological weapon if one is aboard?"
"No…"
"You can't be talked through that. Relax. This isn't the first time I have pulled shit like this."
"It isn't?" I asked doubtfully.
"Okay. It's the first time I shot a grappling hook from the top of one plane to the bottom of the other and attempted to enter the cargo hold of the top plane using an acetylene torch and a vampire. I'm giving it thirty seconds. If it doesn't work them you rip a section open. Try to make it just big enough for us to enter."
"Why can't I just jump on top?"
"And tear the passenger cabin? Decompression, bodies flying everywhere. Trust me. I've done this before."
"You just said you hadn't."
"Exactly." He said. What the fuck? He was going to die. I was going to fall a long way but he was going to die.
"One minute to intercept." The intercom said.
"Okay. Showtime. Relax. You can't die."
"Yeah…" I had a feeling though if there was a way he would be the one to find it. We walked up to the hatch. Connolly placed his hood on and grabbed a grappling hook gun. He handed one to me. The top opened and we looked up. The wind shear was incredible. I looked up and saw…wow. There it was. A 747.
Connolly fired and the grappling hook hit the belly of the huge plane. I fired and mine struck a few feet to the left of his. We clamped the steel line to our vests. He looked at me and nodded. I grabbed his suit to steady him and pressed the button on my suit while he did the same. We shot up out of the Airbus and were traveling up. Fast. Too fast.
Halfway to the 747 the wind caught us and blew us sideways. Now we were trailing the 747. Our suits grappling system was having difficulty moving against the wind. We weren't moving as quickly now. I grabbed both lines and began pulling, helping the pulley. Another gust of wind and we were tossed sideways again. I saw something fall.
At least it wasn't Jason.
We were within feet of the plane finally. I grabbed the hook, careful not to pull it out. That would make for a long trip back to Colorado. Connolly grabbed his. He managed to get his boots on the body of the plane. The suction at the bottom was working but it wouldn't hold us for long. Too much wind. I looked at him and saw he was mouthing something. Even with my hearing I couldn't understand. The wind and the engines of the 747 and the hood he had on…
He looked at the place we were stuck to the bottom of and nodded. What the hell?"
"Tear it!" I barely heard.
I looked at his waist and saw his portable torch was gone. Guess that was what fell. I steadied myself and punched through the hull with my right fist. Ripping back a two foot section I grabbed inside and swung myself in. Connolly tried to reach the hole I made and I saw his hand slip.
I caught him by his wrist before he fell a very long ways.
Damn that was close. He fell into the hold and landed on his ass. I may have pulled a bit too hard.
Okay. We were in. In a plane that was being hijacked. Jason took off his hood and stripped out of his suit. I followed his lead. We began moving through the luggage looking for anything that looked out of place.
"They had to have heard that, right?" I asked.
"Maybe. Be ready to kill anyone who comes down. Don't shoot. We don't need to use bullets if we don't have to."
Not far away we saw it. A long wooden crate.
I gently lifted the top of the crate, popping the nails up gently.
Inside was a bomb. A big fucking bomb.
"It's not on a timer. Detonator. They must plan to crash this plane and hit the detonator right before it hits." Jason whispered.
"That means one of them has the detonator." I realized.
"Yep. Go get it. I'm going to work on defusing it from here."
Wait.
"Me?"
"Yeah. One of us has to kill the terrorists and grab the detonator before they know what hit them. I'm fast but I'm not that fast. You are."
"You want me to kill them all?"
"Either they die or the passengers do. No matter what Bella this plane cannot get near New York and cannot get close to the ground while this bomb is active. We have to do this. The only chance those passengers have is the two of us defusing this bomb. You game?"
Yeah. I was.
"Okay. I'm going up. Hope we see each other again." I mumbled.
"If we don't it's been a good ride Swan. Don't worry. We are too pretty to die." Jason started working on the bomb and I headed towards the stairway at the end of the bay.
Walking up quietly and quickly I planned to get a layout, figure out who I needed to hit first and go from there. Instead I saw scared people bent over in their seats and the backs of four gentleman who I can only assume were the hijackers with their backs to me.
"I swear I heard something down below. It sounded like tearing metal." One said.
"We checked below. No one was there. No one could get on this plane. Relax." Another one said.
"There was that plane below us…"
"That is gone now. If you are so worried go look for yourself."
"No. I don't want to be near that thing. I don't give a damn what Amun said. I don't think we can survive a nuclear bomb going off. I plan to jump before we land."
"You will complete your mission. You know we are indestructible. It is Allah's will and we are his agents. We have been blessed with this power. Do not doubt Allah."
Amun? Indestructible? Why would they think they were indestructible?
"Fine. I will go check the bottom." He would be turning towards my door. I would lose the element of surprise. I needed to kill them all now and find the detonator. I quickly opened the door and stepped inside.
The smell hit me at once causing me to hesitate.
The four hijackers turned towards me, looking at me with very red eyes.
"Who might you be?" One asked, smiling.
Four vampires. One had a detonator for a nuclear bomb beneath my feet. Plane full of passengers. Okay.
I got this.
Garrett POV
"She is doing what?!"
"Garrett it was Connolly's idea." The general told me over the secure line.
"Damn it General! I don't even know if a vampire can survive a nuclear explosion. Especially at ground zero. Who the hell talked her into this? Why wasn't I called?'
"There wasn't enough time. Plus we don't even know if there is a nuclear bomb on board…"
"Bullshit! They didn't kill a baggage crew to sneak a biological agent on board. They needed the cargo hold. That means nuke."
"Be that as it may be, they are on the plane by now. We hope."
Damn it Bella. Damn it Connolly. I'm going to fucking kill him. I hung up and cursed.
"What is it G man?" Ty asked.
"Connolly." I seethed.
"He putting the moves on your honey? I think you got her man. No worries."
"No worries? Right now your baby sister is in a 747 over middle America taking on hijackers while Connolly is probably acting like he knows how to defuse a nuclear bomb."
That shut Ty up.
"I'm going to kill that fucking hillbilly." He finally whispered.
"Let's hope we get the chance. Tell the pilot we are no longer going to Colorado. We are going to New York."
"Why New York?" Clive asked.
"Because I am going to get my woman. I just need a jet and a pilot ready on the ground. No! I need a drone. A high altitude drone. Get on the phone and make it happen Ty."
Two hours till I land. Then I would get to her. Nothing on Earth was keeping me from her. Amun could wait.
Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Don't own it.
BPOV
I stood there staring at the four vampires and tried to imagine a worse situation.
Maybe if there was…
No.
What if…
No.
No, I could not think of a worse situation. Think Bella. Because the one in front looks like he is about to attack.
The one in front. They can't attack at once. They can but they are right behind each other and there are only two aisles.
Damn it! Two just went into the other aisle. The passengers had their heads bent to their knees. I heard their sobs.
The sound of their crying pissed me off. I imagined if my mother was on this flight.
Yeah, I was going to rip these motherfuckers to pieces.
They first attacked. He was clumsy. No training. Amun turned these guys, got them over the initial bloodlust and let them go. Suicide bombers who didn't know they were going to be committing suicide.
Three swings. I dodged all three. If I blocked something told me I would get knocked back on my skinny ass. I dropped to the ground and grabbed his crotch. They were hard to find but they were there. A twist to his balls and he dropped to the ground with me. I bit a chunk of his neck out and tossed him to the side.
Now the passengers were screaming.
"Run!" I yelled. I hoped that would start a…yeah. They were running into the next cabin. The three remaining vampires made no move to stop them. I didn't figure they would. They were focused on me.
Their friend was rolling on the ground trying to hold his head to his neck. He was moaning. I kicked him in the side of the head and watched his head bounce off a seat cushion.
"Very impressive. Again, I have to ask, who are you?"
"Is my name really what is important here?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders and three vampires rushed me at once. Fuck.
Two hit me in the legs and the third head butted me. I dropped to the ground. This was not good. The one at my face was snarling. The other two were trying to break my legs. I wasn't strong enough to move.
Garrett…what would Garrett do?
I reached up and bit the one at face level. I bit his nose. I broke his skin. He turned his head and I bit his ear. He jerked up enough for me to get an arm free. I stuck a finger through his eye. He jumped back, taking one of the vampires at my legs with him. I used that free leg to kick the other one in the head. He looked up and I kicked him again in his nose. He rolled off. I rolled on top of him, punched the back of his head and bit his throat. I felt arms pulling me off but I kept my bite. His throat came off with me.
Unfortunately I was now in an arm lock with two fully mobile vampires.
"Kill her already." The one at the front said.
Let your weight go. I dropped, forcing him to hold me up on his own. It was enough to catch him off guard. Wrapping my feet on the inside of his ankles I twisted my hips and took us both to the ground. I looked up in time to see another strike coming at me from the vampire in front. I dodged and returned. I needed space. Hopping up on a row of seats I ran back to the back where I started. Maybe Jason could come out and I could throw him at one of the vampires.
Don't be stupid Bella. I would have to cut him first. He better be disarming that bomb. I haven't seen a detonator yet. I knew we were about an hour from New York at the speed this plane was traveling.
The one with the mutilated face charged me, his friend a few steps behind him. I charged him. At the last second I hopped up on a seat top in the middle row. The one in front grabbed my hand but I used my momentum to swing around and kick his friend in the face. I felt my arm rip free and managed to get my legs around the one in back's neck. Twisting in the air, like Garrett taught me, he rolled with me. When he hit the floor, I continued rolling. He was tough but I had enough speed. His head broke free.
I hopped up and prepared to defend myself against the last fully mobile vampire. The one I performed plastic surgery on.
I raised my hands in the guard position and the pain hit me, nearly taking me to the floor.
My right arm from below the elbow was gone. Venom was leaking. I could almost feel the limb still there but…son of a bitch that hurts. I looked at the guy rolling in the back holding his half torn neck and understood. This shit hurts.
Pretty boy smiled and tossed my arm behind him.
"You are an excellent fighter. Are you as good with one arm?"
"I guess we'll find out." I blocked the pain from my mind. It wasn't worse than turning. It wasn't worse than the emotional pain I had gone through. It wasn't worse than what my parents went through. It wasn't worse than the fear of the people in the other cabin and in this plane. I couldn't afford to lose. They couldn't afford for me to lose.
I angled my body with my right side forward. Dodge and block. Dodge and…damn this hurt.
He grabbed my throat and I grabbed the arm holding my throat. Then he used his second arm. Cheater.
He was smiling and I couldn't break his grip. Think Bella. Kick. Can I swing my body up to get him in a leg bar?
"Hey! Anybody hungry?"
The smell of blood permeated the air. Pretty boy released me and turned. We both saw Connolly standing at the end of the aisle holding up his forearm that he had just slashed with the long black knife in his hand.
Pretty boy charged. I jumped on his back and bit through his throat. He screamed until my teeth cut through his windpipe.
I stood up and ran to the one vampire still somewhat in one piece. A swift kick to his neck and he was no longer in one piece.
"So where are we going to burn these….holy shit what happened to your arm?!" Jason asked.
"Wrap your arm. Please. I'm begging you here." I whispered, doing my best not to breathe. To his credit he did so without further comment. At least he looked nervous. Maybe he was getting some common sense. Of course he wasn't nervous about me draining his blood.
"Garrett's going to fucking kill me. This can be fixed. He told me parts can grow back together. That's why you have to burn the vampire. We can fix this." He practically stuttered.
"We can fix it later."
'Does it hurt?" What?
"Fuck yes it hurts! Now help me pick these pieces up. That body is just missing a head and is starting to move around. It's creepy. I need to rip it up. We can't light the pieces on fire in here. We have to keep them separated."
"Duct tape!" he shouted.
"What?' I asked, hoping I didn't hear him right.
"We can take your arm, kinda tape it back where it is supposed to be and it will grow back together."
"It's not a big deal I can have Garrett look at it and he can tell me what…"
"No!"
"No? Why can't Garrett see it?" I asked.
"Look, he is going to blame this shit on me. If…when he finds out that you got injured…that you had to fight…these guys…Bella I realize you get to see sweet Garrett all day but he can be a bastard and none of us has ever seen him as intense about anyone as he is with you. So if we could fix this amongst ourselves…"
I laughed through the pain while ripping this guy's leg off. Hard to do with one arm. Damn this hurt.
"I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you Jason. He wouldn't pick on a human like that."
"Yes! Yes he would. That man holds a grudge. He has better toys than I do."
"I don't think duct tape will work. Let's just get on the ground. I'll wrap it up until then. Did you take care of the bomb?"
"Uh…"
"That bomb is impossible to disarm." A voice said from the front of the cabin.
Another fucking vampire. Looked Arab like the other four.
"How many of you fuckers are there?" I asked.
"There were five. Very nice. Embarrassing for us, but they were not true believers. I heard their doubts. They were weak. I am not."
"So you gonna try to kick my ass too?" I grinned through the pain. Make him think you are tough Bella.
Fuck it. I am tough.
"No. Unfortunately my mission must come first. I cannot guarantee that I can defeat you, despite your injury. So I am afraid we will have to ride this out for another ten minutes or so. At that point I will take my thumb off of this…" Damn it. He had a small cylinder in his hand. His thumb was pressed down on a button on top of it. I was impressed. A few months ago and I would have crushed that damn thing.
"Take him Bella. If he is going to blow it up we may as well do it over an unpopulated area."
I turned and looked at Jason, making sure I heard that right.
"Seriously. Kick his ass." He winked at me.
I shrugged my shoulders. Why not? If it blows up at least my arm won't hurt any longer. I struck him in his face with a palm strike. I thought of going for the detonator with my other arm and remembered it wasn't there. He fell back on his ass and I reached for his hand holding the detonator.
I wasn't quick enough. His thumb came up. The button popped up. He screamed. I landed on top of him closing my eyes and waiting….
We both opened our eyes and looked up at Connolly who was leaned against an aisle seat with a grin on his face.
"I made your bomb my bitch." He said to the vampire beneath me. I stood up and stood in front of him.
"You did it?" I asked, trying to keep the shock out of my voice.
"Yep."
"Thank God." I whispered.
"Yeah. Now we just have to figure out how to kill this guy."
Oh yeah. I threw Jason to the side right before I felt the vampire's fist strike the back of my head. I braced for impact before I could hit the ground. I didn't want to go through the floor. Instead of hitting the ground I was caught. Opening my eyes I saw him for the first time in days. My salvation, my love, my man.
"Garrett? How…?"
GPOV
"I jumped from the plane before it landed, ran to a base with Ty, hopped on a drone, caught a ride at supersonic speed and came up the hole you tore in the bottom of the plane."
"Wow." She whispered. Yeah. Wow.
I heard a growl. Looking up, I saw the vampire that had just struck Bella.
I kissed her hard. I needed to know she was alive. Now I needed to feel her. She practically collapsed in my arms and I sat her on one of the seats.
She was injured.
I looked up at the vampire who seemed to be preparing for a fight. Too bad. This wouldn't be a fight.
I rushed him, grabbing his throat. He tried to grab mine. I squeezed. He didn't need to breathe but his throat beginning to crack had the desired effect. He was afraid. He struck me in the side of the head. I kept my eyes on his and my hand on his throat.
"No matter what you do you’re fucked. What other plans does Amun have?"
"I will die before I tell you. Don't worry. Before two days pass you will see our power. America and her allies will fall on their knees and weep at the vengeance we will have."
I took my other hand and pulled off his ear. He screamed. He tried to get away from my grip. Wasn't happening. I was way too angry. My country attacked. Our allies attacked. The one woman, the only woman I have loved in my existence, injured. Someone would pay. Unfortunately for him he was the only one here.
I reached into his mouth. He tried to bite me and I let go of his throat to hold his jaws open. Sticking my hand in his throat I ripped out his tongue.
"Oh that's just gross." Connolly said from the side. A quick punch to his forehead and he dropped to his knees.
I grabbed his Adam's apple and pulled. The crystal beneath gave way. He may have been a newborn but he was not stronger than I was. This fucker was going to hurt ten times worse than Bella was. He closed his eyes, expecting me to finish him. Fuck that.
I put two fingers through his two eyes.
"Damn that looks like it hurt." Connolly whispered.
"Garrett?"
Bella's voice.
"Yes dear?"
"End him. Please? I want you to hold me."
I took a deep breath to center myself. I whispered to the blind vampire in my arms who was unable to breathe.
"You are a very lucky man."
Ripping his head off, I dropped his body and raced to Bella. Gathering her in my arms I finally realized her right arm was wrapped up in a towel.
"Bella?"
"It's okay. It hurts but it will be okay."
"Let me see."
I heard Connolly whisper oh fuck in the background.
"Hey I need to check the status of the pilots and the passengers so I will…"
"You aren't going a damn place. Have a seat." I told him.
I pulled back the towel and saw crystal shards where her lower arm had been. Venom was leaking to a degree, seeking the missing appendage.
"Bella… I'm so…"
"Don't say it Garrett. I had a job to do. So did Jason. Leave it alone. Leave him alone. Can you fix it?"
"Of course. But…it is going to hurt." I told her honestly.
"Just do it." She gritted.
I turned and looked at the man who would be tragically killed by friendly fire soon.
"Where is her arm?"
"Got it right here G man." He unzipped a long deep pocket on his black BDUs and pulled out Bella's arm.
"You had my arm in your pocket?" Bella asked.
"Yeah. Didn't want it getting away." He told her shrugging his shoulders.
"Your pants pocket?" She asked again.
"Don't worry about it sweetie. He won't be alive long." I told her. Bella glared at me.
"Leave him alone Garrett. I decided to come here." She told me stubbornly.
Connolly handed me Bella's arm. Without delaying I placed it against her elbow. The venom began working immediately seeking to draw the part of itself that had been lost together again. Bella screamed. I held her tightly. She bit my shoulder gently.
"Bite as hard as you need to Bella." I whispered. She nodded her head and clamped down, biting through my black wind suit. I didn't even feel it. I just held her tighter.
"I really need to go check on the passengers and see what the situation is with the pilots." Connolly said.
"So go." I told him without giving him a glance.
"Does she…if I cut myself and poured some blood in a cup would it help?" He asked.
I looked at him and saw he was serious. Maybe I wouldn't kill him after all.
"No. But thank you, Jason. Go check on the passengers."
Jason came in thirty minutes later saying he would be landing the plane at a military base outside of Buffalo and he would handle the passengers. The pilots were dead.
Bella stopped biting my shoulder. Her fingers were moving again. Her arm had mended. I licked the site of the injury to help seal the wound. She giggled and told me this wasn't the proper time for that. It made me feel good to hear her laugh, no matter how slight. She would be okay.
"No more separate missions Bella. We stick together. Okay?"
"You know that we can't promise that, Garrett. This was a start. You heard him. Who knows what Amun has planned over the next two days?"
I didn't respond. It would be a problem. But I didn't care. Between Ty, Clive and me we could handle whatever was out there. The two of us were sticking together.
"Bella…"
"You told me in New York it wasn't about us. Remember Garrett?" she whispered.
I wish she hadn't remembered.
"Yes. But unless it is absolutely necessary we will stay together, alright?"
She smiled and kissed me. "Deal."
We walked into the cabins up front. According to the Passenger manifest the flight was not close to full. Less people to deal with. Still there were about 60 passengers. 60 passengers who saw too much. Connolly was addressing them.
"You will have to sign non disclosure agreements. If you talk about this to anyone then you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Plus nobody will believe you."
"I'm not signing a damn thing." A middle aged thin man wearing glasses up front said in an angry tone.
"Then you will be considered in possession of top secret information that could affect national security. You will be held as a non-combatant until a time that the information is no longer considered top secret." Jason told him calmly.
"The existence of aliens? When the hell is the existence of aliens not going to be considered top secret?"
"Exactly, so sign the fucking agreement and go on with your life." Connolly retorted.
A chorus of "it's her" rose among the crowd when they noticed me and Bella. A male child of no more than twelve ran up to Bella and wrapped himself around her legs.
"I don't care if you are an alien. You are the coolest alien ever! I saw the whole thing. You kicked those bad alien's asses."
Slowly passengers began moving towards Bella. I stepped away. She was being hugged by most of the passengers. One whispered that her secret was safe and she would never talk about aliens. One asked if she knew where Elvis was.
"Uh no. Sorry. Haven't met him." Bella replied. Connolly went to the cockpit and we all buckled in. Bella seemed shell shocked.
"Not bad for a hot alien." I grinned.
She said nothing.
"You did this. They are alive because of you."
"Jason disarmed the bomb. Cut him some slack."
I said nothing. I suppose she had a point.
I held her and closed my eyes until I felt the wheels hit the ground. I suppose Connolly didn't need help. The pilots had been drained. The body parts of the vampires would be burned by Connolly's team and the bodies of the pilots dealt with. No other military personnel would be allowed on this flight. A few of his men posing as CIA agents would stress the importance of national security and threaten the already traumatized passengers with imprisonment once again if they spoke. We did this once before in Roswell. It worked out. At least no one suspected vampires. I will have to tell Bella about that sometime. She will get a kick out of it.
Once on the ground we exited the back of the airplane. We walked directly to the control tower that had been taken over by Ty and Clive. Ty grabbed Bella as soon as she walked in, nearly knocking me down.
"Where is that motherfucker?" He asked me, while holding Bella.
"Stop Ty. I'm fine."
"Her arm was ripped off." I added. Maybe I wouldn't hurt Connolly but I had a feeling he would be coming down with a bad case of vertigo soon.
"Leave it alone." Bella said, pulling back from Ty. He pulled her back in.
"Is anyone going to introduce me to the lady?" Clive asked. I saw he had a suit on. Typical.
"Clive Barkley, this is Bella Swan."
"A pleasure ma'am." Clive kissed her hand and smiled.
"A pleasure to meet you Clive." Bella gave me a confused look.
"Clive is the English equivalent of me Bella. The two of us fought in the Revolutionary War and fought together in World War one and two. Plus a few missions here and there that concerned both our nations. Clive works for the Queen and the Prime Minister."
"Oh. Okay."
"I understand now, your panic Garrett old boy. She is absolutely beautiful." He still had Bella's hand. I took it.
"Yeah. She is." I told him.
"So I'm sorry about London." Bella told him.
"Yes. It is done though. Only reckoning remains. Let's make sure nothing else like that happens." Clive addressed me. "How do we find Stone?"
"He's a demon. He won't be found unless he wants to be. Too good at hiding. We need to find Amun. He will lead us to Stone."
"How do we find Amun? He could be anywhere." Bella asked.
"Got him." I heard Ty say from the console. I looked and saw he had our satellite feeds from the Pentagon set up in the control tower.
"Where?"
"I checked covens he was friendly with. Started some facial recognition software on the off chance he may visit one of them. He showed up all right."
"Where?" I asked again, impatiently.
"Bella's old friends. The Cullens. Walked in the front door 90 seconds ago. Carlisle Cullen hugged him at the door." Ty said in a neutral tone.
"The Cullens have nothing to do with this. Garrett, I know they aren't perfect but c'mon. This?"
"I know Bella. It is likely Amun is using friends he has known in the past to hide him without their knowledge of what is going on." I told her.
"Edward would read his mind though." Bella whispered.
She had a point.
"I don't think he is there." Ty said.
"Why?" Clive asked.
"Motions sensors on the satellite pick up seven objects moving. There should be eight. I would bet the missing one is Edward. Amun would never have gone there if he knew Edward was there." Ty pointed out.
"Where would Edward be?" Bella whispered.
"Maybe he got so upset he left." Ty told her shrugging his shoulders.
"Upset? Why would he have been upset?" Bella asked.
"Fuck if I know Shortie! Why you gotta be giving me the third degree? I didn't do shit. You know how those pretty haired fuckers are. Maybe the local Walmart ran out of his favorite hair gel. Damn, askin me like I did something."
"I…I didn't say you did Ty." Bella said, looking very suspiciously at Ty. Have to remember to ask Ty what the hell he did later.
"Did you say a mind reader?" Clive asked.
"Yes. Edward can read minds. Why?" Bella asked.
"He doesn't know Clive. He isn't one of us." I told him immediately.
"Amun is not going to talk voluntarily. Torture would take too long. But a mind reader Garrett. Can he keep a secret?"
I said no at the same time Bella said yes. We looked at each other.
"He's right Garrett. Two days. They already tried to crash a plane in New York to deliver a nuclear bomb. What is next? We could spend months waiting for Stone to surface."
"Garrett we need him. We can always kill him later." Clive pointed out. Ty agreed. Bella frowned. I was…intrigued by the idea.
Bella wrapped her arms around me.
"I'm yours. Forever. This isn't about us. He can get us information. We have lives to save Garrett." She kissed me gently.
"Did you say forever dear? I assumed the two of you had just met. So a night at the theatre when this is over would be out of the question?" Clive asked. I looked at him and saw he was grinning.
"Sorry. I only go to the theatre with one man." Bella told him, never taking her eyes off of me.
Fuck.
"Ty, get us four fighters with pilots. We are going to Oregon and we need to get there quick. Bella, make the call."
I watched her take my phone in silence. I hated this but she was right. A guy who could read minds would be helpful right now. Edward Cullen in my opinion was a lot of things, not many of them good, considering what he did to Bella. But he wasn't evil. He wouldn't be a party to this. And he would keep a secret if Bella asked him too.
I heard him answer on the first ring. "Hello? Garrett? Is Bella okay?"
"Edward, it's Bella. Where are you?"
"I'm in…Port Angeles. I thought I would…anyway what can I do for you Bella?"
"We need your help. I need you to listen to me. I need you to believe me. Then I need you to meet me at your house in Oregon."
Silence. Then…
"Anything Bella. I'm listening."
Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Don't own it.
Garrett POV
"We go in together."
"I can handle this old boy. You stay with your lady friend and Bella." Clive replied.
Wait…
"Fuck you Clive." Ty said dryly.
"We don't know what Amun may have told the Cullen's, Clive. They don't know you. They may see you as hostile and move to protect him."
"You seriously think I am worried about them?" Clive chuckled.
"No. But they don't deserve to be injured. Carlisle is a good man, Clive. He is an Englishman as well. He grew up in London. When he finds out that he is giving shelter to the man who just murdered all of London he will be devastated. Also you don't want to harm the family of the man you yourself said we needed to help us retrieve information from Amun."
"Fine. Come with me, but Amun is mine."
"Maybe I should go…" Bella started.
"Nah. Let G man and Austin Powers figure it out. We can swoop in and kick some ass if needed." Ty told her. Bella shot him a not so pleasant look but let it go.
"Where the fuck is the ex, anyway? Think he is beatin one off so he can play it cool around you, shortie?"
Bella looked ill.
"That's disgusting Ty." She replied.
"So probably yeah then huh?"
Bella ignored him, instead focusing on the house below. We had discussed this and felt that Bella's presence would confuse the Cullen's enough. None of us knew how much to tell them. The less they knew the better. Edward would not talk. He swore to Bella. That was one oath I knew he would never break. Still he had not shown up.
"He will be here. I told him to stay back. The less they know of his involvement the less the Cullen's will bother him for information. They will already have questions about why we are here." Bella said softly.
I had to agree. I do wish she wouldn't have so much faith in him.
"Let's go to the front of the house. He does not know anyone is coming for him. Of course Stone probably knows about me and you Clive; he probably told Amun. He may well be expecting us. He may be hoping we wouldn't take him in front of Carlisle. He may…"
"Would you shut the bloody hell up?" Clive asked and then took off for the front of the house. I followed and met him on the porch. He rang the bell.
Esme Cullen opened the door, looking as lovely as the first time I saw her.
"Garrett?" she greeted me, a bit confused. She then began looking around.
"Is Bella…is she okay? Where is she?"
"She is fine Esme. This is my friend Clive. We need to come in if that is okay?"
"Of course…"
"Excellent." Clive responded practically running over her to get inside.
We caught the scent of vampires in the living room and moved directly there.
"Garrett?" Carlisle stood, confused.
Clive grabbed Amun by the throat.
"What is the meaning of this?" Carlisle roared.
"We need a word with this old boy. Kindly step back and allow me to take him and we will be on our way." Clive told him quietly.
"I'm sorry. He is being hunted by the Volturi and has come to us for protection. He is my friend and you aren't going to be taking him anywhere." Carlisle responded.
Shit. Jasper was circling around Clive.
"Carlisle, Clive is not Volturi and they are definitely not after Amun. You saw London…"
"He had nothing to do with that!" Carlisle replied
"Carlisle…We are taking him. I am sorry…"
"You took Bella and I let it go because it was what she wanted. You found her and didn't say a damn thing. But you think you can come into my home and take a friend I have offered shelter to?" Carlisle was in my face. Damn it.
"You said you weren't upset about Bella." I retorted.
"I lied!" he answered back.
"Carlisle. We just need to talk to Amun." I said calmly.
"What's it to you? You the police or something Garrett? Where is your big friend? Tracking down Edward to tell him how worthless he is again?" Emmett asked.
Wow. Okay. This was getting out of hand. Now Emmett was within a few feet of me.
"Garrett, we really don't have time to play around. I understand these people are your friends…I think they are at least. But we really need to get a move on." Clive said, his hand still around Amun's throat.
I nodded in agreement. Amun's eyes were darting around, looking for an escape route. Guess we would have to go with the abbreviated scenario.
"I don't have time to explain. Lives are at stake. He is coming with us." I told Carlisle.
Jasper moved towards me. He jumped for me and I twisted throwing him into Emmett. Clive kicked Carlisle in the head. Rose and Alice were coming towards me. I really didn't want to hurt them. It looked like I had no other choice though. I prepared to defend myself when…
"Stop!"
Bella.
"Bella?" Esme whispered. All the Cullen's stopped. I could imagine why. In contrast to how they last saw her she was different. In a short amount of time she had changed. The look of hopelessness was gone from her face. She had confidence in her voice. She was dressed in black BDUs including the Jacket. The jacket was brushed back and you could see her firearm in her shoulder holster. No doubt this would confuse a vampire who knew guns were useless against them. I should probably be thankful she didn't bring her sword.
"Bella?" Carlisle whispered this time.
"Carlisle, Amun is responsible for the bombing of London. He is responsible for the attacks on the children of the world leaders. He is responsible for the nuclear bomb that was attempted to be flown into New York. He has been financing al Qaeda along with another man, an arms dealer. We have proof."
"What proof Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"Carlisle, you are going to have to trust me. I realize he is your friend but you have to trust me."
"Bella…"
"You fucking owe me Carlisle." Bella told him.
That shut Carlisle up. He looked to Esme who nodded.
"Okay." Carlisle said.
"You're going to let this James Bond wannabe take our friend Carlisle?" Emmett asked, slightly surprised. Clive apparently took offense. Here we go again.
"Wannabe? I knew Ian Fleming personally child. Where do you think he got the inspiration for James Bond from?"
"You? You're James Bond?" Jasper asked, disbelieving.
"No. James had a license to kill. I just kill without one. Now back away. We are taking him outside to have a talk."
"I am innocent Car…" Amun choked out before Clive squeezed harder.
"What nuclear bomb in New York?" Rosalie asked. "I haven't heard of a nuclear bomb being flown into New York."
"Exactly." Bella replied, eyes focused on Amun.
"Take him." Carlisle instructed, looking at Bella and then at Amun with a look of fury. He believed Bella. I suppose we should have brought her in to begin with.
Bella, Clive and I walked outside, Clive dragging Amun by his throat.
"Ty be a good lad and let Amun know why he won't be running." Clive asked. Ty walked out from behind a tree and focused on Amun. Amun fell to the ground clutching his head and stomach.
"Let up Ty." I instructed him.
Amun continued to lay on the ground. I knelt beside him. The Cullen's were not outside but I knew they were listening.
"What else does Stone have planned Amun? What are the other targets?"
He said nothing. I placed my thumb on his eye.
"Talk Amun. Where is Stone? Where is Kayhat?"
He said nothing. I pressed my thumb into his eye. Judging by his scream it hurt quite a bit.
"Stone is in Los Angeles. Kayhat is in South America. Looks like Brazil. Hidden in the rain forest coordinating his cells. He has werewolves under Stone's employ protecting him. Stone is in a mansion."
Edward Cullen walked up
"Stay out of my head!" Amun screamed.
"Have you seen the street he is living on? I know you have seen the mansion." Edward asked him.
Amun had a panicked look on his face. He was prepared to lie. He was prepared to not speak. He was not prepared to hide his thoughts. At least not to hide them from direct questions from Edward Cullen.
"Duhurst avenue. 1134." Edward spoke.
"What is he planning?" I asked Amun again.
"Oh my God." Edward whispered.
Edward POV
I couldn't believe what I was seeing in Amun's thoughts. When Garrett asked what was planned, visions of fire, blood, screaming children…hospitals overflowing with sick, dying.
"Where is this going to happen?"
He was thinking of Egypt. Then nothing. His thoughts went away.
I turned and saw her.
"Bella?"
"Yes Edward?"
"Could you back away a bit? I believe you are blocking my power."
She nodded and backed away.
"Garrett? He may need encouragement." I said quietly. I hated to be a party to torture. But what he is planning…
Garrett pulled his eye out.
"You are going to tell us what we want to know Amun. It's only a matter of how much it is going to hurt until you do." Garrett told him, crushing Amun's eyeball before him. I looked at Bella to see her reaction. She had no reaction. No. Barely contained anger was directed at Amun. I wonder what she has seen.
Bella must have been far enough back because his thoughts rushed into my head. Kebi. Benjamin…Tia laughing in a fountain while Benjamin swirls water in the air around her.
Then a human. Arab. They discussed…a man named Stone. A messenger of Allah?
"Garrett?" I whispered.
Garrett tore Amun's right ring finger off. He then bent down to Amun's ear.
"I have Kebi." He whispered. Bella was far enough away that I could read Garrett's thoughts. He was bluffing. I saw his conversation with Benjamin. Garrett would not harm innocent women. Not unless it was absolutely necessary.
Stone is a demon? Demons? Witches? Concentrate on…Bella's arm was ripped off? Amun's newborns.
I brushed Garrett aside and stuck my finger in Amun's eye socket. I felt his brain. The venom leaking out.
"Tell us what you are planning!" I screamed.
His thoughts betrayed him finally. I removed my finger from his brain and his thoughts flowed freely.
"Los Angeles. Stone has a team that plans to release an airborne virus at midnight tonight. Chicago. Suicide bombers at Wrigley Field during a baseball game. Las Vegas. Blackout and cells will be attacking the Casinos on the strip with automatic weapons."
"Thank you Edward. When does this start?" Garrett asked.
"Wrigley field in three hours." I told him, reading Amun's silent answers he could not control. Vegas at Midnight. Same time as LA."
"Ty, can you and Clive take Vegas?"
"Yes." Ty responded.
"I will go. I can look for possible outcomes. Help you determine where exactly they are going to attack." Alice said running outside. The rest of the family was behind her.
"Bella and I will take Los Angeles. We can get Stone and stop the virus."
"Chicago?" I asked.
"Connolly's team will take them. Are they human?" Garrett asked.
I glanced at the one eyed bastard.
"Yes. They are human." I answered for Amun.
"Good. We need to move. Clive?"
The British vampire smiled. I watched him drag Amun off. He tore Amun's arms and legs off. He moved so quickly. He was faster than Jasper. How has no one ever heard of this vampire? Of course I am beginning to wonder if we ever really knew Garrett. I heard Carlisle was thinking the same thing.
Amun watched his appendages burn. The British vampire struck him in the face continuously before Garrett whispered to him that it would not bring anyone back.
Bella walked over and handed a book of matches to the strange violent vampire. He lit Amun on fire. When he turned I saw his eyes were wet.
My home town of Chicago was on the list. Humans would be taking care of this. I knew where I had to go though.
"Garrett could you explain exactly what the hell is going on and how you know so much about what is going on? Who is Connolly? What the hell is going on?!" Carlisle asked.
Carlisle was upset. He was confused. And he was very worried about what the hell Garrett had gotten Bella involved in. He felt a great deal of guilt over Bella. Nearly as much as I did. We all did but Carlisle felt it more acutely. He has always prided himself on saving human lives and is convinced if he had been a stronger leader what happened to Bella would not have occurred.
Of course it was my fault. I turned and saw the large black man staring at me. I remembered every word he said. He was right.
"Yes. But we don't have much time. I am calling a two helicopters for transport. I will have to explain while we wait for them."
"I'm going to Vegas." Alice said once again.
"This is not your concern. We can handle this." Garrett told her.
"I'm going to Vegas." Alice said again. "With or without your coven."
"Garrett?" Carlisle asked.
BPOV
I wrapped my arms around Garrett while he explained everything to the Cullens. They would have to keep the secret. If they ever ran into the Volturi we would deal with it then. I glanced at Edward who seemed to be taking this all in stride. He never looked at me. I hope he wasn't angry. I didn't care if he was but I wasn't with Garrett to hurt him. I was with Garrett because I loved him. His opinion didn't matter but I didn't want anyone hurting more than they had to. Enough hurt has occurred.
"The government has known this entire time?" Jasper asked for clarification.
"Yes."
"Bella came to you to kill herself?" Esme asked. Her eyes were wet. I didn't like to talk about that so I buried myself deeper into Garrett.
"Yes." Garrett answered again.
"Now this demon…I mean we are talking like horned demons that can only be killed by a sword cutting their head off…that kind of demon, is doing this just to start shit?" Emmett asked.
"Yes. On a global scale. He is using al Qaeda to instigate coordinated terrorist attacks across the States and her allies."
"You saved the President's daughter Bella." Rose said. It wasn't a question. I simply shrugged my shoulders and nodded.
"You saved a plane full of people from five vampires and the city of New York." Rose said.
"I had help. Jason disarmed the bomb or we would have all been dead. I would be dead if Garrett hadn't…"
"Listen we really need to get a move on. I hear the choppers in the distance." Garrett said squeezing me a bit.
"So Alice and Jasper are going to Vegas with your two friends. Where should the rest of us go?" Carlisle asked. I wasn't surprised. I suppose neither was Garrett.
"I appreciate it Carlisle but…"
"I'm not doing it for you. This is our home as well. Now that we know this we can't sit back and do nothing. I am coming with you to Los Angeles. Where would you like the rest of us?"
Carlisle was determined. He wouldn't be denied.
"I'm coming to Los Angeles with you and Bella Garrett." I heard Edward speak for the first time in this conversation.
"Why?" Garrett practically growled. I elbowed him gently in the ribs.
"Because this Stone demon may not have told Amun everything. I can read his mind."
"We don't know if that would work on a demon Edward." I told him. Garrett growled lowly again. I elbowed him again.
"It can't hurt to try." He replied. He did have a point.
"Garrett he's right. Stone is the only one who we are absolutely sure knows everything."
"Fine. Edward can come to Los Angeles. Jasper and Alice I suppose can handle Vegas with Ty and Clive. Rose and Emmett, I assume you want to become involved as well?" Garrett asked.
"Yes." Emmett replied, and then glared at Ty. I don't think those two would be getting along.
"Rose can come with us. I can make room for her in the chopper. She can sit on my lap if she needs to." Ty said.
Yeah. They wouldn't be getting along. I figured I better intercede.
"Why don't the two of you go to Brazil? Maybe you could try to find Kayhat? There are werewolves protecting him." I suggested.
"Sounds good Bella." Emmett nodded, looking at me.
"I'm coming to Los Angeles." Carlisle said.
"I think the three of us…" Garrett started.
"If that virus gets airborne you are going to need an antivirus. I need to see what we are dealing with first hand. I'm coming."
"What about me?" Esme asked.
"Go to Chicago." Carlisle told her.
"To hell with that! It will be over by the time I get there. I'm coming top LA, Carlisle."
"Esme…"
"If Bella will be fighting demons so will I. This isn't up for discussion."
The look on Esme's face told me there would indeed be no further discussion. The choppers landed behind us. We had to play this human since the pilots weren't on our team.
Emmett and Rose drove off to the airport while the rest of us loaded into our choppers and flew off. As soon as we were up I rose from my seat and sat in Garrett's lap. Since the plane I was probably a bit more clingy but he didn't seem to mind.
"How is your arm Bella?" he whispered.
"It's fine. You know that." I smiled.
"So how are we going to get around LA in regards to sunlight? It will still be light when we arrive." Carlisle said.
Garrett pulled the lotion out of his duffle bag.
"Put this on." Garrett tossed the bottle to the three.
"What is this?" Edward asked.
"Sunscreen. Very special sunscreen. It will stop you from sparkling."
"Amazing." Carlisle whispered.
"Why are you here Carlisle? Why do you insist on being involved? I have been fighting these battles for over two hundred years. I can handle this." Garrett told him.
"You told Bella she could find atonement working with you and she has. Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps we have things to atone for as well?" Edward asked, finally looking away from the window.
No one said anything. It actually hadn't occurred to me.
Ty POV
This some bullshit. Clive is cool and all even if he does sound like a fucking English butler and has an ego bigger than James Bond. The short girl was cool even if she was constantly spacing out. The Jasper fella though…maybe I should make friends.
"So I read in your file that you was a slave ownin confederate before you was turned?"
Fucker just looked at me. I suppose I was right.
"Ty, leave Mr. Whitlock alone." Clive chuckled.
"Just tryin to get to know Johnny Reb. That's all. You don't want to talk Johnny?"
"I did not own slaves." He said quietly.
"Hey we ain't gonna have no issues around humans with you, are we? I hear you have problems with papercuts. Causes you to go all violent?"
"Ty right?" he asked.
"Yep."
"What's your fucking problem Ty?"
"My problem is I don't want your ass here. So when we land how bout you and the missus hop off and go gamble while me and my butler take care of business. This is what we do."
"You don't think I can help?" Alice asked me all sad like.
"I don't want your help." I told her honestly.
"Too damn bad. We are comin anyway. Whether you like me or not." Whitlock said. I suppose that's his intimidating voice.
"I bet the two of us can make it so you ain't comin with us, Major Bubba. We ain't punk ass newborns like you used to fight in Mexico."
"No. I don't know about him but you seem to be just a normal fuckin punk."
Well looks like Whitlock got some fire.
"Well your ass ain't gonna be around much longer so you won't have to worry bout it." I told him. "Keep talkin shit and your ass may not be around anywhere."
"We don't mean to cause trouble…" the little one started.
"What is your fucking problem? You don't like Bella bein around us? That why you attacked Emmett?"
"I don't like you motherfuckers cause you left her. You damn near killed her parents. You got any idea how much fuckin guilt she got over the people she killed? Do you? Do you have a fucking clue you god damned hick? Bella is barely over a year old and she held a guys artery together with her fingers and a small clip. Your sorry ass went off over a papercut. Who's the punk now bitch? You a big fuckin deal in your own mind. But don't ever make the mistake of thinkin you can take me. I will twist you inside out and rip your fucking head off. You guys took Amun in. That's the only reason you are here. You don't do shit for the world. You go to high school. You sit around on top of your pile of money and don't do shit. So no, I don't like your ass. I don't like Bella bein around you. Me and Gar take care of her. From what I know, her bein around you ends up with her hurt. You want to help? Stay back and let us do our thing. This is what we do. We need help with homework we will let you know."
"Butler? Really Ty?" Clive laughed.
"You called me a lady friend earlier." I told Clive. I don't let shit like that go.
"Look man, we are just tryin to help. We can help. We aren't here to get in your way. Let Alice do her thing. We aren't here to bother Bella. We just want to stop this nightmare from happening." Jasper told me.
"Leave it alone Ty. They can help. They know. We need help. Let it go chap." Clive told me and patted me on the back.
I glared at shit kicker one more time.
"Stay the fuck away from her. Just cause she can't get paper cuts anymore don't mean you can't hurt her."
Jasper looked out the window. Alice looked upset but then she did that spaced out thing.
After thirty or so seconds she came out of it.
"How long till we land in Vegas?" she asked.
"Perhaps another hour or so. Why?" Clive answered.
"Because the first attack occurs in four hours. One of the Cell leaders panics. He moves up the timetable. It happens at the Hard Rock Casino."
"The others?" Clive asked.
"I haven't gotten a vision. But the first occurs in four hours. We have to be there."
I nodded. Time to blow some fuckers down. Vegas. Man that place brings back memories. I killed quite a few people in Vegas.
Maybe this time I could save a few.
I hope shortie is doin all right. Gotta be awkward to be travelin with them. Maybe I should send Eddie a text.
I pulled out my phone and typed a simple message.
Don't even fuckin think about it.
Hitting send it occurred to me that Bell still don't know about the phone conversation between me and Eddie. I wonder how she will take it?
I pulled up my contacts and hit call.
"Ty? I haven't heard from you in a few days. Is Bella safe? I've been watching the news."
"Hey Renee. Bella's good as gold. Hey I need your opinion on something. I want to see how you think she may react. You know she is fond of shots to the junk."
"Well tell me all about it Ty."
So I told her. I suppose Jasper and Alice already knew this story. They did seem a might surprised I was talkin to my second momma.
"Ty, I have to be honest. You should probably protect your junk for the next few training sessions." Renee told me.
"Yeah that's what I kinda figured."
Maybe she wouldn't find out.
That notion got shot to hell when Jasper opened his mouth.
"So Bella doesn't know about your conversation with Edward? I have to say Ty, I can't wait to tell her."