The Feature Story is posted with permission of the Author!!!

Atonement by BetterinTexas

Chapter 19


Don't own it.

Chapter 19

Connolly POV

We landed in Chicago with an hour to spare. A clean cut guy with shaggy hair, wearing a tee shirt and blue jeans walked up to me on the tarmac.

"Special Agent Johnny Utah. FBI. Are you Connolly?"

What the hell?

"Your name is Utah?" I asked, not quite believing him.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Nothing. I just…really?"

"Yeah. It's my name bro. What's the problem?" Uh oh. He was getting upset. Should probably focus on the mission at hand.

"No problem man. Just think it's a cool name."

"Glad you approve dude. Let's go. It's a twenty minute drive to get to Wrigley and the gates open in an hour."

"No. They don't." I told him in my best authoritative voice.

"Man, that's what I said, but my section chief doesn't want to give in to terrorists."

"We aren't giving in! We are stopping them." I told him as I walked with my team towards the SUVs waiting for us.

"Hey, I just got here. I've only been on anti terrorism for a few weeks. Just following orders bro."

"If I shoot your section chief would the next guy in line agree to not open those gates till the terrorist are dead?"

He laughed until he saw I wasn't.

"Uh…I don't know?"

We loaded in the van and I asked Utah for his phone and the name of his section chief.

"What do you want Utah? Did the grunts land?"

"Yeah. This is Jason Connolly, the chief grunt. Listen up and listen closely. Your life depends on it. This is a military operation now. The gates to Wrigley field do not open until the bad guys are dead and the bomb squad has removed their vests. I see any of those gates open, I hold you personally responsible. That means the President holds you responsible. You fuck this up and you will be sorting mail in the secretarial pool. We understand each other?"

"You can't talk to me like that. I'm a god damned section…"

"I don't exist." I told him truthfully.

"What?"

"I don't exist. My team is so black ops we make regular black op teams look white. I don't exist. Meaning if I have to, I will kill you and I can't even be charged with murder since you can't charge someone who doesn't exist. We understand each other?"

"You wouldn't."

"I would. You keep those gates closed and stay the fuck out of the area. I got your man Utah if I need FBI help. If it gets bad enough that I have to resort to calling you guys shits done gone bad anyway."

"This is my…"

"I'm not repeating this again." Tom handed me his Ipad. "You live at 16457 Hollister Dr. You want to die at night in your sleep or you want a chance to say a last prayer?"

He said nothing.

"Hello?"

"I'll keep the gates closed and my men back."

"See? That wasn't hard, was it?" I ended the call and handed Utah back his phone.

"He's probably going to be pissed at me." Johnny said.

"What did you do before you came here?" I asked him, making conversation.

"Bank Robbery Division in LA."

"You like this?"

"It has it's moments so far. Like this one. I miss the surfing though."

"Of course you do. You got the files?"

"Here they are." He handed me photos. Photos of all suspected terrorists in the Chicago area. I passed them around to my men, looking at each one before I moved it down the line.

"Scan these into your portables, men. We see any of these guys we shoot first and ask questions later. Head shots only, back of the spine if possible. One shot, one kill men. We can't give them an opportunity to get to a detonator, probably in their sleeves. It's seventy eight degrees. Look for anybody in oversized jackets or people that have thin faces and legs and larger mid sections. From what Garrett says these bombs will probably eject ceramic pellets. Those in the blast radius won't be the only victims."

"Sir what if we see one but not the others? We don't know for sure how many there will be. If we take one down the others will detonate."

"True, but the first shot will hopefully cause people to scatter. We are going to have to do the best we can. People on the street will be spread out to an extent with multiple escape points. We let them in that stadium with people packed inside and limited exits shit is gonna go bad quickly. You see someone let me know and I will check it out. Once I give the kill order take em out."

"Yes sir."

"Any other questions?"

"Positioning?"

"I will be on top of the stadium along with Scarecrow and Joker. We have primary sniper positions. The rest of you will be in surrounding buildings. Utah will tell you where when we get there."

"No one on the ground?"

"Yeah. Animal and Pit bull. They will have vests on in case things don't go well but we know those don't protect that well. So let's lookout for each other. Kill bad guys, go home alive if possible. Got it?"

A chorus of yes sirs arose. We were normally a pretty loose unit until it came to missions. Then it was time to get serious.

"You were talking about my name?" Utah whispered.

"Code names." I told him.

"You always go by code names?"

"They do around outsiders and on missions."

"What's your code name?" He asked grinning.

"Sandman."

"Oh…any reason why?"

"Yeah. My second year on a Seal Team we infiltrated a terrorist camp in a Middle Eastern country where hostages were being held. We were afraid gunfire would cause the terrorists to kill the hostages. I snuck in after dark and sliced the throats of 15 terrorists. Not one of them made a sound. Since then my code name has been Sandman. I put fuckers to sleep. Now we got to focus. When we hit the ground let my men know where to set up and then leave."

"I'm staying on the ground." Utah told me.

"You don't have a vest and we don't have one for you."

"I don't care." He retorted.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Your funeral."

We pulled up to Wrigley and drove into a service entrance. Hopefully not many people would see us. Our guys were dressed civilian except me and the two going up with me. Still though…

"I got home plate side. Scarecrow take third base side, Joker first base. Stay low. I don't need a panic in the streets too soon and seeing a sniper would definitely cause a panic and tip off our targets."

I watched them hustle to their positions and took a deep breath.

This was bad. Too many civilians roaming around. Unknown targets carrying bombs. The chance of this coming off without casualties was remote. People were going to die today. The key was minimizing the damage.

Still though, this was going to be a bad day. I hope the others have better luck. At least my targets are human. Same with Ty and the English guy. Bella and Garrett…I hope they are okay. They just found each other. Call me a romantic but I would hate for them to lose each other this soon.

Time to get frosty. I got enemies to kill.

Ty POV

"So this is where it's gonna go down, fun size?"

"Yes. Fifteen minutes." Alice confirmed. I was putting a lot of faith in a fortune teller. But I suppose I didn't have much of a choice. There were 31 casinos on the Vegas Strip. No way even the four of us could take them all. I doubted there were that many Cells that could cover them all. That meant I had to rely on her to tell me which ones to go to. Police had been alerted. So had all the Casino security agents. Still though, I had a feeling these guys were going to come packin heavy. Considering what happened to London and almost happened to New York, these fuckers were comin with more than standard roscoes.

"What's on your mind home boy?"

I turned to look at the blonde motherfucker who needs to die already. I should have left Clive here and I could have gone to the FBI office to coordinate with them. Still the idea of being in on the action was too good to pass up. Clive seemed satisfied with killing Amun. This shit wasn't close to over though.

"Home boy? I'm thinkin about how a sweet little lady like your woman got stuck with a buck tooth fuckin idiot like you. I mean seriously why not that Eddie dude? He got nice hair. What you got? You got fucked up hair. I mean you got some serious Mississippi trailer park hair goin on."

"She likes my hair. Least I got hair." He mumbled.

"Bitch please. When you got a dome as hot as mine you can't cover this shit up. You though? That is some fucked up shit. And why you walking around lookin constipated? Humans bother you that bad? You're freakin people out. I need to put a muzzle on you?"

"You're an insecure son of a bitch ain't ya?" Asshole answered.

"Nope. I am incredibly secure. I just speak the truth. I guess in veggie land ya'll live in denial. But home boy you got to grow up and get over this blood lust. You gonna wind up hurtin some little cheerleader in school."

"We don't do that anymore. I mean go to school. Not since Bella…"

"Good. Glad you fuckers learned something." I said truthfully.

"She loved him, you know? They were very much in love. That doesn't just go away." He told me.

"Yeah. When she was an innocent 17 year old romantic stupid kid she loved him. That ain't her no more. She ain't innocent. She's seen and done things man. Shit that changes you. She may not be much older but she is an entirely different person. Least from the one she told me about. That girl could never love your boy again. She ain't gonna be a part of your family. The girl you knew is gone. The woman she is though is something else. Amazing. And she ain't got no interest in you all."

"We will see, won't we?"

"How bout I just kick your ass? We got about ten minutes. Shouldn't take that long."

"I think you are out of your league boy." He told me all serious like.

"That right? You been in a fight since 1936?" I was kinda curious.

"What?"

"Your last battle was in 1936 in Mexico. Last battle you fought before that Peter guy pulled you out." I informed him in case he forgot.

"How the hell do you know that?"

"We're the government man. We know everything. Reason I was askin is cause you sound pretty damn sure of yourself for a guy who ain't been in a fight for at least seven decades. Me? I train everyday. So do Gar and Bella. We train against each other. We have equipment that makes us stronger, faster. It's what we do. So I'm wonderin when you take into account your power of bein emotional and my power of making your insides twist and your head to explode why the fuck you figure you can take me?"

"I fought James." He replied, sounding unsure of himself.

"Bella tells me Eddie ripped his throat out and you, the big idiot and your little lady took him together. Overkill ain't it? Our little group, once of us can take multiple vampires. Bella took out four newborns on a fucking airplane and didn't even crash the fucker. She killed an eight foot demon with wings on her own. You guys needed the three of you to kill one pony tailed motherfucker?"

"Uhh…what equipment? Where do you guys live?" He asks, like I don't notice him changing the subject.

"Don't worry about it. That shits top secret and you ain't got the clearance. Point is you know and I know that I will kick your fuckin ass so why don't you back off, for you embarrass yourself."

"Excuse me? Are you Special Agent Jules Winnfield?"

I turned and saw a guy who was trying to blend in but had bacon written all over him.

"Yeah. This here is my partner Leroy Duke. What ya got?"

"Officer Nick Baker, LVPD. We have officers surrounding all the entrances. Nothing yet. I understand there is to be a blackout tonight when the main force hits casinos and we don't know what casinos?"

"You got it."

"So what do you want us to do?" he asked.

"You see somebody with a big gun ice the fucker." I told him. What the hell did he think he was supposed to do? He walked off and I was left with cornbread.

"That brings up another concern. If cops are all around how exactly are we supposed to take these guys down? Knock em out?"

"No. Shoot the fuckers. Here ya go." I handed him an extra piece I had under my jacket. I gave Tiny the one strapped to my ankle.

"You want us to shoot humans?" he asked, apparently disbelieving.

"No, I want you to wait until one of them gets a papercut and then turn them into a happy meal in front of a thousand tourists. Yes you gonna shoot the motherfuckers. Cept for one. One I need to talk with. Get some intel. Then I'm gonna shoot that fucker too."

"You're going to kill him? Don't you have to arrest him? I mean he has rights." Alice pointed out.

"Yeah he does. He has the right to take his murderin ass back to where he came from and not cause no damage. He walks in here fucker is dead. Probably gonna be in a lot of pain before he dies. This is war people. If ya'll ain't go the stomachs for it go home. I ain't got time to be dealin with shit."

Hee haw didn't say anything. Guess he can chew on that for a while. Alice however chambered a round and flipped the safety off. That's what I'm talkin about.

"Little hottie, how much longer until we can begin shooting people?" I asked her.

"It's time." Alice said quietly. I looked up and didn't see anything. Maybe she was…

Fuck! An RPG just came in through the front door. I caught it and broke it in half falling on top of the explosive end. Damn blast nearly lifted me up. The damn casino crowd was screamin. Now they were rushing the entrance.

I fired into the air. They screamed louder but ran in the opposite direction at least.

I heard gunfire outside.

Cops were firing semi autos. The bad guys must be the ones firing the fully autos. Time to get involved.

I walked out to see what looked like at least ten terrorists standing in the street sprayin gunfire into the 5.0. One bad guy just went down. I turned and saw Mr. Whitlock Cullen Hale fired the shot. Not bad.

Alice appeared behind one and knocked him out. Another pulled a RPG launcher from behind the van and fired again towards the casino. I caught it in the air again. This time I turned the fucker and tossed it right back towards him. In the chaos nobody saw it. The cops were all behind cover getting sprayed. Least till that RPG blew up their van. Only a few were left standing. I shot two and Jasper shot one.

The gunfire went away. Only the sound of burning bitches filled the air.

"What happened?"

I turned and saw it was Officer Baker.

"Motherfucker fired an RPG that blew up in the launcher. The other broke when it hit the ground. Must have took some of the blast radius out. No casualties inside."

"It blew up in the launcher?"

"Yep. I bet it was Russian. Fuckers should have bought American."

"We have a prisoner." Alice told me, dragging the one she knocked out.

"We will place him in our holding cell…" Baker started.

"No you won't. FBI takin this fool. Thank you for your help. He's comin with me."

"But…"

"He's comin with me." I told him one more time.

"What happened to your shirt?"

I looked down. My damn shirt was burned away and my overcoat was in shreds. Fuck it. I ripped off the Jacket and shirt.

"Got a little hot inside. It's all good. Body like this shouldn't be hid anyways. Agent Tiny? You think you could take Mr. Baker's cuffs and we can get this gentleman to a spot where his rights could be read and he could have an attorney appointed to him if he so wishes?"

"Uh…yeah." Alice said, dropping the guy to the ground and taking Baker's cuffs.

"We will be in contact in the next two hours with the names of the remainder of the targets. If we are lucky maybe this guy will give us the hideout and we can avoid anymore drama on the Strip. I'll be in touch."

"Don't worry Agent Jules. I'm pretty sure this guy is going to feel like bein real truthful." Jasper told me.

Time to see if Mr. Hale can be good for something besides attacking little girls with papercuts. I wonder how Bella is doin?

Bella POV

This was so damn awkward. Damn I couldn't wait to land in LA. We would be at a FBI field office that had been cleared out for our use. It had a lab and the ability to hook up to our satellites. It also had space unlike this helicopter so I could get away with Garrett.

I was afraid this might be awkward and it was. I thought it would be tense and I was right. What I didn't expect was that the tension was not between Garrett and Edward but Garrett and Carlisle.

"So all these years I thought we were friends you were just spying on me? On my family?"

"Get over yourself Carlisle." Garrett told him.

"You could have told me! You could have trusted me. You know I have never harmed a human." Carlisle countered.

"You were Volturi." Garrett told him. Ouch. He went there.

"I left them."

"You and your 'cousin' Eleazar. He was Volturi as well. You weren't just Volturi, Carlisle. You were one of the top dogs. Aro's golden boy. I bet if that fucker were here you would be calling him old friend and kissing his pasty ass."

Yeah. Garrett was getting angry. I rubbed his hand but it didn't seem to help.

"I am not a part of them. But have you considered what would happen if they found out? They would come after you. I don't care much about that, as it stands now, except you have brought Bella into this."

"He didn't bring me into anything Carlisle." I spoke up. I make my own decisions.

"What are you going to do then Garrett?"

"I could have the Volturi destroyed at any time. I keep them around so I don't have to police the vampire world. If the time comes that their usefulness is at an end I will see them destroyed."

"You and what army?!" Carlisle practically screamed.

"I don't need a fucking army! I never have. Do you have any idea of what kinds of enemies I have fought and destroyed, protecting this country?" Garrett practically screamed back.

"No I don't. Because until today I didn't know that witches and demons existed. Maybe if you had told me I could have helped."

"You were Volturi. You couldn't be trusted." Garrett said once again.

"So you spied on me instead?"

"I wish I had watched you closer. I could have been there to protect Bella when you left. Instead she had to rely on teenage shapeshifters who did not have the experience to keep a human being stalked by a deadly vampire alive. That's what this is all about, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"Bella. You are pissed she chose me over your family."

"You should have told me!"

"She didn't want you to know!"

Maybe I should say something.

"You told her parents! You didn't ask. You just did it. But not me? Why not Garrett?"

"Because fuck you Carlisle. That's why."

Okay.

Wow. That escalated quickly. Edward continued looking out the window not saying a word. Esme was holding Carlisle's hand and rubbing it, the same as I was doing to Garrett.

"Look, can we all focus on what we need to do here? At some point this helicopter ride has to end. I mean it just has to, right? So what happens when we hit the ground, Garrett?"

Garrett took a breath and looked away from Carlisle who still hadn't formulated a response to Garrett's reasoning.

"When we get to the field office, Carlisle can check out the med lab. There is a biological weapons room in there as well. You should have everything you need in case the virus, whatever it is, gets out. Bella and I are going to Stone's. Edward and Esme, you are welcome to come with us but only Bella and I go in. You don't know what you are dealing with and I don't have time to train you. If Bella hadn't already fought and killed one I would be worried about her going in there. But she knows what she is doing."

Edward nodded. Esme looked concerned.

"Neither of you have to go. You can stay with Carlisle." I pointed out. I didn't want them to get hurt. Garrett believes this demon is tougher than the one I fought in New York. If that was true…

"I am coming. We will stay outside until you tell us to come in Garrett. But we are coming. I need to read his mind. If he won't be taken alive then I doubt I will have much time to do so before one of you cut off his head."

"Excellent. Bella your sword will be waiting for you at the office."

"My sword? You got me another sword?"

"Another one?" Edward asked.

"Yeah my first one got broken in half in the last demon fight I was involved in. There will probably be demon dogs there too. Seriously, jump back Esme, if these things die around you. The ash and smell is nearly impossible to get out of your hair."

"I got you a Katana blade this time Bella. It should hold up better." Garrett told me.

"A Katana? Isn't that a thinner blade?"

"Yes but much better for slicing a head off."

"It will be snapped when I try to block a strike." I argued.

"Bella, it was made by Hattori Hanzo." Garrett said with a grin.

"You got me a Hanzo?" I whispered. I had seen Ty's. It was beautiful.

"Yes. Hattori told me if you should come across God in your journeys then God will be cut. Francis said this is blasphemy and to not tell you that."

I kissed him. I didn't care who was around. He never once tried to talk me out of confronting Stone with him. He wouldn't go without me. That meant more than any I love you he could say.

We landed with no more conversation, thank God. A driver picked us up and took us to the field office. It was small on first appearance but most of the rooms were underground. I changed clothes throwing on a black shirt, black leather pants and a black leather jacket. I strapped my sword to my back and placed two Beretta 9 millimeters to my shoulder holsters. It was time.

Thirty five minutes later we were in front of Stone's mansion. The front gate was open. No security was around that we could see or smell.

"I hear no thoughts, Bella." Edward told me.

"Listen for my call Edward. If we need you we will call you." Garrett told him.

"Will you really Garrett?"

It was a good question. I looked at Garrett deciding to stay out of this.

"Yes. I won't take chances with her life." Garrett told him looking Edward in the eye.

"Thank you. Good luck to the two of you."

We walked slowly up the drive.

"It's too quiet Garrett." I whispered. "You think he is home?"

"Only one way to find out. Watch your back."

I had to tell him something before we went inside.

"I love you. You know that right? These past two months with you have been the best of my life. I just want you to know that."

Garrett stopped and turned towards me.

"Bella they have been the best two months of my life as well. But don't get sentimental on me. We have a lot more years ahead of us. Nothing is going to happen. Get mean Bella. I need the woman who killed werewolves and newborn vampires and a flying demon in a Church. That woman here?"

"Yeah. I'm here and ready to kick some ass, lover." He leaned down and kissed me gently. Then harder. He finally pulled back without a word and we walked together to the front door. I looked at him and he nodded.

Garrett kicked the door in and we were quickly in the living room.

"It was open. You didn't have to break it."

I expected to hear a man's voice. Instead I heard a female voice. She was standing on the stairs. A beautiful woman with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes dressed in a simple white long dress.

"Where is Stone?" Garrett asked.

"He's here. We have been expecting you Garrett. You and your friend. I understand you are not afraid of much. No regrets in you according to Bernard. What about your friend? Any fears in that pretty little head of hers?"

Regrets? Fear?

Suddenly she was gone and I was surrounded by darkness.

"Garrett?" I can't see."

"Bella can you hear me?"

"Yes."

"She is a witch Bella. She cast a spell. It's okay. You're okay. I'm right here with you. Just listen to my voice."

"Kill her already!"

"I can't yet. She ran upstairs. Just relax. I have to break this spell or get you out of here."

"It's just my sight. If…"

I stopped talking. There were people here. I was surrounded.

"Garrett? Do you see them?"

"See who Bella?"

I looked at their faces. Oh no. It was them…

"No…"

"Bella she cast a spell to bring your fears to the forefront. It is all in your head. No one is there.

"They are, Garrett. It's them. They are all here." I whimpered.

"Who are you seeing Bella?"

"The people I killed Garrett. The ones I fed from. All 38 of them Garrett."

The woman in the wet suit walked up to me. Her neck was bent at a strange angle. Just like I left her.

"Hello Bella Swan. It is so good to see you again."



Chapter 20: Chapter 20



Don't own it.

"Garrett?"

"I'm here Bella. It's all in your head. It's just a spell. A simple spell. It brings forth your insecurities and fears. You are stronger than that Bella."

"It…its not supposed to work on me." I said shakily.

"it's a spell, not a power."

I jerked back. The woman in the wet suit tried to touch me.

"You think you are forgiven Bella? You think you can save a few lives and it will  take away the fact that you killed me?"

"No…" I whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"You just couldn't control yourself you weak little bitch. Look at us!"

I saw they had surrounded me in the darkness. I couldn't see my surroundings but I could see them. Each one of them.

I heard Garrett speaking in the background but his voice was quieter. He was slipping away.

A spell. A spell to bring back the dead. They weren't in my head. They were here. A hand touched my shoulder from behind. I spun around and saw my first. Tim.

"Where would you like the feed you murderous bitch?"

I could feel his cold hand. He was real. His throat was just as I left it. Half of it was gone.

"Bella?"

What the hell? Father Francis? I could hear his voice.

"Answer me Bella."

"Father?"

"Yes. It's me."

"How? I can't see you."

"Garrett has his phone to your ear right now. Listen to me Bella. A witch cannot summon the dead. Those souls are in a better place. They are with God. These apparitions you are seeing are products of your mind. When you realize that they will go away."

"How do you know?"

"Ask them a question they should know that you wouldn't. Ask them Bella."

I turned back to the woman in the wet suit.

"What is your name?"

She didn't answer.

I saw the rock climber behind her.

"What is your name? What is your mother and father's names?"

No answer. I felt Garrett's hand on mine. The apparitions were fading. It was true. They were in my head.

"Bella?"

"I'm good Father. Thank you."

Go away.

Suddenly the lights came back. I was no longer in darkness. I saw Garrett inches from my face holding a phone against my ear.

"Bella? Are you back?"

"Where did the bitch go?" I asked him, seriously pissed off.

"Upstairs. We must be careful. She may have laid traps on the stairs."

I glanced up at the ceiling above us. Garrett saw where I was looking and smiled.

He walked over to a sofa, lifted it and tossed through the ceiling. He jumped up and I followed. We were in a library. There that bitch was.

"You cheated." She was grinning. Garrett looked around. No one else was present. Where the fuck was Stone?

"My, my, little girl. You must not have much of a conscience if you got over my spell that quickly."

"Garrett didn't you say witches were basically humans who were born with a predisposition to master the dark arts?"

"Yes, Bella. I did."

I pulled both my handguns from my shoulder holsters and emptied both twelve round clips into her chest, watching her body jerk back until she finally hit the wall of books behind her. She slumped to the ground, dead.

"Bitch." I whispered.

"Nicely done." Garrett told me. I reloaded with my extra clips. We both heard the scream.

"Basement." Garrett whispered.

He jumped through the hole in the floor and I followed. Garrett ran twenty feet away and stopped to listen. He then punched through the floorboard and ripped a hole in the flooring allowing us to jump down. There was Mr. Stone.

Standing over a nude girl strapped to an altar, holding a blade above her chest.

"Stop Stone." Garrett told him loudly.

Stone turned towards the both of us. He appeared human except for the small horns protruding from the top of his skull through his dark hair.

"Garrett old boy. I am glad you could make it. I suppose judging by the fact that you are here, you managed to track down that idiot Amun and he talked. I also noticed that one of my teams in Vegas jumped the gun and was stopped by a security team waiting on them. How you learned the exact casino is a mystery to me since not even Amun knows the targets. Still though I have many plans to come. Plans not even Amun knew about. Chaos will happen Garrett. The time is ripe. It is my time."

Garrett drew his sword.

"Are you planning on talking all day or are we going to fight?"

Stone dropped the knife he was holding over the girl and stepped back, touching a brick on the wall.

The wall slid open and he ran.

"Son of a bitch." Garrett whispered.

"Go. I will take care of the girl and be right behind you." I told him.

Garrett took off through the door. I needed to hurry. Running to the crying girl I began untying her. She was young. No more than 18. Tears streaked her eyes and she was hyperventilating. The entire place reeked of brimstone.

"Listen, I'm going to take you upstairs and you need to run. Outside the gate are two people who can help you. They are in a black SUV. Do you understand?"

"Yes. Could you give me my clothes? They are on the ground."

I turned and saw her clothes ripped to pieces on the floor. I bent down to pick them up. Standing up I saw her hop down from the altar. A bit too fast.

I dodged to the right to avoid the flaming blade going straight through my chest. Instead it buried itself in my shoulder and broke free through the other side.

Standing before me now was not the pretty, frightened teenage blonde. Instead I was faced with a demon. A six foot female demon holding a sword that had pierced my body and was burning me from the inside.

This was not good.

I jumped back, yelling as the sword pulled from my body and drew mine.

She was not large. Not as large as the last one I fought. Her body was solid black. She had talons for hands and they were wrapped around that damn burning sword they all seemed to carry.

Not much for small talk she followed up with a straight strike. I dodged and brought my katana up. Damn my shoulder hurt. I held it with both arms. The burning in my shoulder was flaring. I hope I didn't catch on fire. That would really suck.

Fuck. She nearly got my head.

I stumbled back and actually hit the floor. The demon laughed at me.

"I can't believe you killed Ghattacia in New York. You aren't much of a fighter are you?"

"You got a cheap shot at the beginning bitch." I back flipped to my feet. Time to take the offensive. I attacked, swinging my sword in short controlled movements, backing her ass up. She blocked every one. A step forward and I kicked her back.

She swung for my head and I ducked, swinging for her waist. She buried herself into the wall and pushed off, tackling me. I flipped over and she was on her feet.

She made a mistake. She telegraphed a low stroke. This would hurt. I stepped to the side but inside of her stroke. My blade raised to shoulder level and I swung, feeling her blade slice through my side as I sliced off her head.

I fell down screaming. It wasn't a deep cut but my skin was sizzling. I could see the venom beneath my skin trying to close the wound.

A pop and I was covered in ash. Again. Damn it. I hate this crap.

Garrett POV

That motherfucker had to run. He was not faster than I was. I wonder why he did it? I had to look for traps. Who knows what he had waiting.

I hit him from behind and he fell to the ground outside causing the grass and dirt to crater a bit.

He stood up quickly and before me was a very large, very pissed off demon. At least eight foot tall. Very muscular. Red skull like face, large horns. His entire body was on fire. A sword appeared in his hand. A very large sword.

"You have no idea who you are fucking with Garrett."

"I would say from your appearance a demon of the first class. Very powerful. But like all demons your body is physical. You can be sent back to where you came from."

"You aren't that skilled."

"Then you are the one who has no idea who you are fucking with."

He swung at the same time I did. Neither of us fell back. My sword was equal to the task. He was fast. He swung his weapon at incredible speeds. I dodged and stepped inside his guard to hit him in the face.

He dropped.

"What was that?" he asked, wiping his mouth.

"What was what? I asked him.

"You hit me!"

"Yes. Wait and I will do it again."

"You hit me during a sword duel?" Apparently there was a rule book I didn't read.

"Sword fight and yes I did."

"Well as long as we are fighting dirty." He stood up and I prepared to hit him again. Wait…

I jumped out of the way in time to avoid the fireball he threw. I didn't know exactly what that could do to me and did not want to conduct live research.

He threw another and I rolled, picking up a large granite block he had in his garden and tossing it into his chest. He stumbled but did not fall.

Time to throw some more things. It was a risk but fuck it.

He shot another fireball at me. I jumped over it and threw my sword. It landed dead center in his chest.

The scream he let loose would wake the neighbors up if they were sleeping. Jumping on his chest I pulled it out and landed on my knees slicing through his legs. Before his body hit the ground I wrapped myself around his back with my sword to his throat.

"Edward!" I hoped he was listening.

My hopes were rewarded. Edward Cullen jumped over the stone fence and landed in front of us.

"Holy shit." He whispered. I was confused at first then remembered this was the first demon he had actually seen.

"Yeah, Ugly ain't he? Stone, I am curious. When I cut your head off how long will it be before you are able to regenerate a body to walk this plane?"

"One thousand years." He growled.

"What else do you have planned Stone?"

"You will kill me regardless. My death will not stop what is coming. But if you kill me I promise you my death will bring you more trouble than you can imagine. Events will be set in motion. Only I can stop them."

"Really? So if I keep you alive you will stop the attacks?"

"No. I said it will be worse for you and those you care about. Now move your sword."

"Edward can you see anything?"

Cullen's face was a study in concentration. Then disappointment.

"No Garrett. Only thoughts of blood and fire. Burning bodies, you crying…over Bella?"

"What? Why would I be crying over Bella?"

"You did leave her inside with a demon, Garrett." Stone laughed.

I pulled my sword through his neck before he had a chance to scream. Running in I heard Stone's body explode in a cloud of ash and Edward Cullen behind me. Down in the basement was Bella. She was holding her side. I could tell she was injured. She was also covered in ash. I looked around for the demon but did not see her.

"She is in my hair if you are looking." Bella gritted out.

"How badly are you injured?" I asked rushing to her.

"Bitch got a lucky shot when my back was turned, through my shoulder. It's pretty much healed. She sliced my side at the same time I took her head. That one hurts a little." She admitted, gritting her teeth and trying to stay strong. I looked at the cut. It was burned but she would heal with time. It would not be easy. The cut was deep. At least 4 inches inside her.

"Is there anything I can do?" Edward asked.

"No…yes…go through this mansion. See if you can find any evidence of anything Stone may have been up to. I need to know about this biological agent."

"He wouldn't talk?" Bella gasped out as her side mended.

"No. He was never going to give us anything. But he is dead. That is what matters. The rest…"

"Garrett how are we going to find…"

"We will. The FBI and Homeland Security are working on this. We have to trust others to do their job as well Bella."

She nodded and continued to not breathe while her side slowly stitched itself together.

Edward moved to explore the mansion.

"Edward?"

"Yes Garrett?"

"Avoid the staircase. The witch is dead but some lingering spells may still be here."

Edward nodded. Esme ran in and saw us below. I picked Bella up and took us to the first floor.

"Oh my God." Esme whispered.

"Not quite. Think the other direction Esme. I'll be fine. We need to get back to the field office." Bella told her.

"Take care of her, Esme. I need to help Edward search."

Bella POV

"I will Garrett." I didn't need anyone to take care of me. I needed my damn side to heal. As long as I held it together I would be fine.

"Let's go Esme." I whispered.

"To the SUV. Great idea."

"No. We need to search this floor."

"Bella you can hardly walk. You need to lay still."

"So help me walk."

Esme put her arm around me and we explored the sitting room. We explored the dining room. We checked the kitchen.

I had damn near given up when I heard a sweet sound. A phone buzzing. It was feint. Outside.

I tried to run and damn near fell down. Esme caught me thankfully. She retrieved the phone and I yelled for Garrett.

"Yes?" He was by my side quickly.

"Phone." I handed him the cell and he answered.

"Yes?"

"Who is this?"

"I am Edward. Mr. Stone's assistant. What do you want?"

Edward? I looked at him and he shrugged his shoulders.

"Where is Stone?"

Fertilizing the yard.

"Busy. What do you want?"

"The plans are set. Midnight tonight. Our people are in position."

"Okay. Wait for him to give the go ahead. The FBI may be closing in. He doesn't want another failure."

"Another?"

"Yes. Vegas and New York have been stopped."

"Should we move now?"

"No. Come see Mr. Stone. Be here in twenty minutes."

"Mr. Stone said we were never to come to his mansion."

"Things have changed, like I said." Garrett told him.

"Our mission is secure. Once the virus is placed in the water supply it will be too late for the FBI to stop us."

"Do you really want to argue with Mr. Stone?" Garrett asked him, in a challenging tone.

"N…No. I will be there." The call ended.

"Think he bought it?" I asked.

"We can only hope." Garrett said. I saw Esme make a call.

"Please hurry, Carlisle. It looks bad." I heard her say from the next room.

Great.

Connolly POV

The crowd gathering was getting larger. This would be bad. Still I couldn't let them into the stadium. Even in the open, the chances of casualties were less.

"Any potential targets?" I asked over the line.

"I have one, sir. Blue cubs sweatshirt twenty meters from gate 1. Stand by for confirmation."

I took a look through my scope. Four blue shirts but only one was a sweat shirt. Tan, in shape. I looked at his face and recognized him instantly form the suspected terrorist list.

"It's him." I confirmed.

"Do we have a green light?"

Shit. If we shot him others would detonate. I was hoping we could identify at least three.

"Sir?"

"Standby thirty seconds and look hard men. We need to identify as many as possible."

"Need a hand?"

I froze. Who the hell could have snuck up on me at the top of Wrigley Field? Vampire.

I turned slowly and was a bit surprised to see a guy smiling wearing blue jeans, boots and a Hank Williams Jr. tee shirt. He had sandy blond hair to his shoulders and was thin. He also had very red eyes. Something told me he didn't get that from donated blood.

"Kinda busy. Can I help you?" I asked calmly. If he was going to kill me there wasn't much I could do about it.

"No but I can help you. Name's Peter. I'm a friend of Jasper Whitlock."

"Who the hell is he?"

"He's a friend of Garrett. I was in the area and he gave me a call. Said you might be needin a hand."

"You know who the terrorists are?"

"Yep."

"How?"

"I just know. You gonna trust me or fire on the one you got and watch the rest blow those people to hell?"

I made a decision in an instant. I literally had nothing to lose.

"Show me."

"Good. You looked like a man who doesn't waste time. Sweat shirt is dead on. One by the building across the street leaned up against a light pole. One on the third base side by Gate 3 B. Wearing a Phillie's jersey. Number 8."

"Team listen up." I passed on the targets to my guys. "Lock but do not fire yet."

I looked at Peter who seemed to be looking hard at the crowd. Maybe he was out of ideas.

"Yep. That's them. Two women, first base, both wearing long white skirts and green tops. Standing right by Gate 44 A."

"That it?"

"Ain't it enough?' he laughed.

I passed on the final targets.

"We locked guys?"

"Affirmative."

"On my count. Three, two, one, fire."

Five gunshots rang out simultaneously. Five people dropped dead from shots to the head. I braced myself for an explosion. Nothing.

"You got’em all. They are dead. No detonators in hand. Better get the bomb squad down here."

I looked down and saw the crowd scattering. Panic in the streets.

Better than dead people in the streets.

"How did you know?"

Peter shrugged his shoulders. "Sometimes I know stuff."

"Thanks." I told him gratefully.

"No problem. I'm out. Chicago is good. Me and the Mrs. got other things to do. If you need us again, call Garrett."

That said he was gone.

"Utah you there?"

"Yeah. That was awesome man."

"Glad you approve. Call in the bomb squad, block off the blast zone. We got work to do."

TY POV

"So she's okay?"

"Yeah Ty. We are waiting for the contact to show up here. I hope he comes. There are several water sources."

"Yeah but they are going to go major. Maybe bust into the pipeline from the SWP?"

"Probably. But if it was me I would hit other sources as well."

"Water based virus? That shit can't be common."

"I know. How are you doing?"

"I'm about to get some answers from this fucker. He should be waking up in a second."

"Good luck Ty."

"You too. Take care of my girl."

I ended the call and turned to Mr. soon to be living the rest of his short life in agonizing pain. Placing the smelling salt under his nose he jerked a few times and came around. Looking around the room he knew he was fucked. Clive spoke to him first. He would be good cop.

"Hello there old boy." Clive smashed his pinky finger.

"We have some questions. You are going to tell us everything you know and then you can go visit your forty virgins. I'm sure they will be very disappointed. Now be a good lad and tell me where the rest of your comrades are."

The asshole said nothing. Time for bad cop.

I knelt down on front of him.

"Do you like your dick?"

That caught the fucker's attention.

"Wh…what?"

"Do you like your dick? It's a simple question." I took off my glasses and let him see my eyes.

"Y…yes."

I pulled out a small knife. He tried to jerk out of the chair but he was chained up pretty good. He wasn't comin out of those bonds alive.

"The US…can't torture….I have rights."

"No you really don't. Even if you did my butler ain't American. He is pissed off British. You my friend are the only one he has to take out his frustrations on. I'm gonna cut your little pecker off slowly with this small knife. He is going to take a branding iron and make sure you don't bleed to death. I'm gonna find your teams anyway. You may as well tell me what you know."

"Ty?"

"Yes Clive?"

"I don't have a branding iron. I will have to use the torch."

"Whatever works for you Jeeves. I just don't want this fucker dying too soon. Ruin my fun."

"I can make him talk." Johnny Reb told me.

"So why don't you do your thing to make him talk and I'll do mine."

"You're really going to torture him?" Little bit asked me.

I continued glaring at the motherfucker chained to the chair.

"Yep. And he knows I am. Don't you boy?" I flicked the blade and reached for his pants while Clive lit an acetylene torch in front of him.

"No!" fucker screamed.

"He'll talk." Jasper told me.

"You sure are squeamish for a motherfucker that used to torture new vampires on a daily basis." I told him, honestly surprised.

"That was a long time ago."

"Yeah and this is right now. This motherfucker has information on the whereabouts of a bunch of his brothers who want to hurt my people. There ain't nuthin I wouldn't do to get that information."

"I'll talk. I promise. I'll talk."

"He's feelin real truthful right now Ty." Cornbread said.

I shrugged. "Fine. Ruin my fun."

"Where are your friends hiding out old boy?" Clive asked.

"The desert." He answered. I looked at Jasper.

"Yeah. He's bein real truthful. This whole damn place is desert." I reached over and smashed his other pinky finger.

"AHHHH….15 miles outside the city to the North. US 93. Take a right at the Engleberry exit and go left. It's a house 1 mile on the right. Blue house with white trim. They are all there. I swear." He said quickly.

I looked at Jethro.

"He tellin the truth?"

"Yep."

"Cool."

Clive shot him in the head. Alice screamed. I turned to Clive, extremely annoyed.

"Can't you ask the lady to leave the room first?"

"Sorry. I apologize dear. I honestly figured you would have seen that coming."

"It…it's fine…" she said quietly.

"Jasper take her to the hotel. Get a room. We got this. Ya'll don't need to be a part of this." I told him honestly.

"No! You're right. Let's go get these people. Before they hurt anyone." Fun size told me. I nodded. She was game. Time to go ice some fuckers.

Garrett POV

Carlisle arrived before the man I was waiting for. He stormed in looking quite angry and came straight to us. Bella was in my lap where she would remain.

"Let me see your wound Bella." Dr. Cullen demanded.

"It's fine Carlisle. Almost healed." She told him.

"This is what you do? Get her almost killed?"

"You're one to fucking talk." I told him.

"Carlisle calm down." Edward said from the corner of the room he had been standing quietly.

"Let me see Bella. Please?"

Bella took a breath and raised her shirt. It wasn't healed completely but was well on its way.

"She needs more venom to heal quicker." Carlisle said. Then he cracked his own finger.

"What the hell Carlisle?" I asked.

He didn't answer me. Venom was leaking from his finger where it was cracked. He rubbed it on her wound. Bella winced as the venom entered her wound, however her pain was short lived. The wound closed completely. Not a scar on her.

"How did you know that would work?" I asked. I would have done it long ago…

"I was Volturi remember? Wounds happen quite often." He said shortly.

"You okay Bella?" I whispered in her ear.

"Yeah. I'm good. Thanks Carlisle."

"So your plan is to wait for this man to show up and hope he talks?" Carlisle asked me.

"He will talk. I've worked for the Government for two hundred years. I have ways of making people talk."

"Yes, I'm sure you do. Can I have a word with you outside?"

"Absolutely. I feel a talk would do us both some good. Clear the air so to speak."

I sat Bella on the couch and followed Carlisle outside.

He swung at me as soon as I stepped outside. I blocked and hit him in the jaw. We charged each other and both hit the ground. He went for my eyes and I hit him on his ear. We rolled. He was a better fighter than I gave him credit for. But he wasn't me. I had him on the ground face first and prepared to strike the back of his skull.

"Garrett. Carlisle?" Bella's voice rang softly across the yard.

"Yes?" We both answered.

"If you guys are finished with your male bonding, Edward has a gentleman in the living room we may want to speak with."

"Oh."

"Yes, I think we are done here Bella." Carlisle said pushing me off.

I suppose it is time to speak to the man with the answers. The sooner this was over the sooner I could get Bella away from these assholes. At least this one.



Chapter 21: Chapter 21



Don't own it

Garrett POV

Edward had the gentleman seated at the kitchen table. The gentleman who looked very scared.

"Hello. What is your name?" I asked genially.

He said nothing.

"His name is Abia." Edward told me. I give him credit. The little punk was turning out to be useful. Abia looked as if he had seen a ghost.

"Hello Abia. My name is Garrett. I'm going to ask you some questions. You are going to tell me what I want to know because you don't like pain. You may think you can handle it. You have probably conditioned yourself to take whatever could possibly be thrown at you. But Abia I have been alive for a very long time. I promise you, I have devised ways to cause you pain that you haven't even dreamed of."

"Is that necessary?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes it is." Bella answered.

"Bella…"

"I saw a Secret Service team gunned down because of these people. Pilots were killed and people were scared out of their minds. Children, Carlisle, were on that plane. If it had landed the entire city of New York would have been uninhabitable for the next one hundred years. Much like London. It is entirely necessary to cause him pain." Bella told him while staring at Abia.

Carlisle apparently had nothing to say to that. Fucker.

"So Abia, let's start with the obvious. Where are your friends?"

Nothing.

I saw Edward write something down, behind Abia. He looked at me and placed a finger to his lips. I suppose that was a good idea. If Abia knew what Edward could do it may make it difficult. He may have thought Edward was a fed and learned his name that way.

"Okay. Let's try again." I turned his chair away from the table. Reaching down, I crushed his knee cap. His scream wasn't all I hoped it would be.

"Stone is dead, Abia. It's over. Tell me what type of virus you plan to place in the water system?"

Edward had a look of intense concentration on his face. Finally he wrote something on his pad.

"What locations are you planning to place the virus in the water system?"

Nothing. Bella knelt in front of him.

"Tell him or I swear to God I will rip your fucking dick off you piece of shit!"

I guess Bella would be playing bad cop.

"Bella…"

Bella moved to the kitchen drawer at vampire speed and came back with a butcher knife. Her speed shocked Abia. Now he was very afraid.

Edward wrote something else and then smirked.

"Abia are there any other plans for Los Angeles? Any more cells with plans?"

Abia said nothing. I looked at Edward who appeared panicked suddenly.

He mouthed Bomb towards me.

Fuck.

"Is there a bomb in Los Angeles? Like London or New York?"

Oh shit. He said nothing.

"Fuck this. I'm cutting something off…" Bella said quickly. Abia's eyes got very wide while Carlisle began an argument that never came out. Before Abia could react Bella had his big toe in front of his face.

"Want to guess what is next? Answer his fucking questions or I will mail you back to where you came from in envelopes."

Yes. Bella was definitely playing bad cop. I suppose the shock of seeing his toe in front of his face wore off and Abia began to feel pain. A lot of it judging by his screams. I smirked at Carlisle and noticed Esme appeared to be sick. I had a feeling it was good that vampires couldn't vomit.

"Ask him another question Garrett. Anything. Anything at all. I hope this fucker stays quiet." Bella told me, while glaring into the poor man's eyes.

"I have it, Garrett." Edward said.

"Excuse me a moment. I will leave you in Bella's more than capable hands. Try not to piss her off."

I walked into the next room with Edward.

"They are staying at a Holiday Inn Express. Looks like it is in Downtown West. I don't believe there are many Holiday Inn Expresses near Downtown. Room number 216. All of them are there. Eight men. Five briefcases full of an unknown virus. They aren't even sure what it is. Only that it is deadly. They are globes. Small globes, blue. If they hit water or burst they release the virus. If we aren't careful and one breaks it is entirely possible they could release the virus in the hotel. It can be airborne but thrives in water. We will have to be fast."

"The bomb?" I asked.

"He doesn't know. He just knows the target. Ground zero will be the US Bank building, a 73 story skyscraper. It will be driven into the parking garage on the bottom level. Time is unknown. He just knows they were told to deliver the virus and get as far away from the City as possible."

"Shit." I whispered.

"Yes. Shit indeed." Edward agreed.

A scream came from the kitchen.

"Perhaps we should return before there is nothing left of him to talk to?" Edward suggested. It was a good idea. Bella seemed to be in a mood. It was probably the witches spell. Or the demon cutting her.

"Bella…" Carlisle started. I then heard a large bang. We ran into the kitchen to see that Bella had Carlisle pinned against a wall. By his neck.

"This is fucking war Carlisle. If you can't take it go outside. We have work to do." She growled and then let him go.

Okay.

"Bella why don't you step outside and get air. If Abia refuses to talk again I will definitely call you."

Abia shook his head furiously.

"I think that is a great idea. Carlisle, why don't you walk outside with me? I'm sure we have a lot to catch up on."

"Y…yes. Okay."

"I'll come to. I've seen…enough." Esme whispered.

The three walked out, Bella at the lead. I turned to Edward.

"Anything else?"

Edward shrugged his shoulders.

"Abia, I know about the bomb at the US Bank building. I know about the Holiday Inn where your comrades are waiting with the virus. Any other thing you can think of that I need to know?"

He seems surprised of course. Then again he was probably more focused on the knee cap I broke and the other one Bella broke. Also his missing toe was probably on his mind.

I looked at Edward who shook his head.

"Okay then. I guess we are done. I commend you on not talking. Of course you would have eventually but this did save time."

"So we kill him now?" Edward asked. I looked up expecting to see revulsion on his face. Instead he seemed…interested.

"Edward what is with you?" I had to ask.

"What do you mean?"

"You. You're being very…helpful. You haven't bothered Bella about being together or even stared at her much. You have been…you seem good with everything. I mean I honestly thought you would have a problem with Bella being with me. But you don't seem to have a problem with it. What is going on?"

"Just trying to help Garrett. This is important. I haven't really done anything important in a while. Many, many years actually." He said.

Bullshit.

"That's it?"

I caught his face. He tried to hide it but then smiled a little.

"Bella looks at you like she used to look at me. She is in love with you. I only ever wanted her happy."

Uh huh.

Bullshit.

"That right? Why do I think there is more to this story?"

Edward grinned.

"You would die before you let harm come to her, correct? If you were there to stop it?"

"Yes. Yes I would." I told him immediately.

"You apparently live a very dangerous life, Garrett. The chances of you dying and her living are pretty good. I'm thinking if I can hang around…"

"I'll be dead and Bella will be free and grateful to you for helping."

Edward shrugged his shoulders.

"I suppose if that bothers you I could stop helping you. But I really do want to help Garrett. If you happen to get killed by a demon or werewolf one day, then…what do you expect me to do?"

Edward laughed. It wasn't a sarcastic laugh. Just a laugh. I grinned at him.

"It's a good plan, Edward. But I plan to stay alive for a very long time."

"I know. I hope you do. I really do just want her happy. I wouldn't interfere with that. Besides Bella would have never been happy with our lifestyle. She has taken to yours with gusto apparently. She is a natural. The both of you are lucky to have found each other."

I couldn't disagree with him.

"Could I see a doctor please? Shouldn't you read me my rights?" Abia said, talking for the first time.

"Yes, let me get you a doctor." I told him. I then pulled my sidearm and shot him in the head, while looking at Edward.

"Well he isn't in pain anymore." Edward laughed.

"I don't trust you Edward. Let me rephrase. I don't exactly trust you around Bella. I trust you with everything else though. I am glad you are here."

"So am I Garrett. So shall we go find some terrorists? I would love to fire one of those. I don't believe I ever have."

"I suppose I can show you on the way to the Holiday Inn."

I didn't trust him around Bella. But he seemed honest. Too honest really. Waiting for me to die…fuck him. But still, while we would never be friends he was starting to grow on me.

If he tried anything with Bella I would burn him.

Bella POV

"What the fuck is your problem Carlisle? Do you not understand what is at stake?" I asked, tired of this crap.

"I understand. But Edward could have read his mind without anyone torturing him. He was thinking about the answers to the questions Garrett asked him."

"He thought about it a lot harder after I was done with him. People, a very,very large number of people are dead. Do you think they give a fuck who hurts? This is war. Our people are under attack. You say you want to save lives. I give you credit for being a doctor but every problem can't be solved in a hospital. Grow up or go home."

"Grow up? This is you now Bella?"

"Yes it is." I growled.

"I know better."

"You don't know a damn thing." I told him.

"Maybe not, but when you came to our house I knew you didn't want to kill anyone else." He countered.

"I don't want to kill innocents. But I have no problem killing these fuckers. Maybe if that virus got out and you were stuck in a hospital trying to treat dying people and not being able to do a damn thing about it, you might have a different view. If it's that bad go back to your big house in Oregon and hide. But stop getting in our way."

"Fine. I won't say another word. I just don't like what Garrett is turning you into."

Hold the fuck up.

"What he is turning me into? What exactly do you think I am Carlisle?" I walked towards him. Esme tried to step in my way.

"Bella he didn't mean…" I pushed her aside.

"Go ahead Carlisle. Tell me what Garrett is turning me into?"

"This…damn it Bella, I let you down! I got you killed. I never should have left you. Never. Not with her still roaming free. But I did. I thought it would be best for you. I agreed with Edward and I made a bad call. It cost you everything. Now I find out that you were suicidal. That you went to the damn government to try to find a way to die. That you are fighting these monsters. I'm responsible. It was my decision to go along with Edward. I made a bad call and it cost you everything. Now…I am watching the sweetest girl I have ever met in my existence breaking kneecaps and cutting off toes! Getting opened up by a monster with a flaming sword. Having witches throw spells at you. I feel guilt okay? I feel a lot of guilt. I am taking it out on Garrett because I haven't figured out a proper punishment for myself."

Oh.

"Well…stop." I told him.

"What do you mean stop?"

"Stop taking it out on Garrett. Stop feeling guilty. It's too late to do anything about the past. I am where I belong. I am happy. So just let it go. I train against Garrett every day. If you piss him off too much he will rip you apart and then I will feel guilty about that. So stop."

"But…just stop…?"

"I forgive you, Carlisle." I told him honestly.

Carlisle stood in silence. Esme wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you. But I don't know if I will be able to forgive myself." He whispered.

"It's not your choice. You wronged me. It's over. I forgive you. It would be selfish of you to hold on to something that has already happened. It's over. We have work to do. It isn't about us Carlisle. This is bigger than us. I need you to be with us when we find these viruses. If one gets out, you are going to need to be there. If there is anybody who can find an antidote, it would be you." I told him honestly.

"Okay." He said after a moment. "So what's next?"

I heard a gunshot. I guess Garrett found out everything he needed to know.

"Now we go to the Holiday Inn Express." Garrett said walking out with Edward.

Good. I needed to let out some aggression. That witch and demon really pissed me off.

Ty POV

There that fucking house is. Average looking house. Kinda isolated. You would never guess there were bad men with a lot of guns behind those walls.

"Why don't we call the police?" Major dumb fuck asked.

"Cause we ain't takin them, alive. This is it. We take them, we are done. You two stay out this. Me and the James Bond wannabe got this."

"Yes. Me and Tupac are all over this Jasper. Just relax." Clive added…

Tupac?

"Tupac?" I asked him.

"You would prefer Biggie Smalls?"

"No. I would prefer Jay Z, long as we are takin requests, but I'm a bad motherfucker in my own right."

"Are you quite done?" Clive asked.

"Are you quite done?" I said, imitating his voice. I took off my shirt.

"Why are you takin your shirt off?" Billy Bob asked.

"Cause I like this shirt. I'm gonna have some fun with these fuckers and let them shoot me. I don't want bullet holes in my shirt. Any other stupid questions?"

"Yeah. Why not just kill them all quickly and we can be on our way?"

"Listen, when you got terrorists you want to kill, I'll tag along and let you do it your way. Me and Clive got our way. So chill the fuck out and watch how the vampires who are actually bad asses, do things."

"That's a nice suit Clive." Short stuff said.

"Thank you dear. I do like to dress my best when I am…what's the term Ty? Blowing fuckers down?"

"Let's go." I told him impatiently. I got time for this? I could have left their asses back at the casino.

The two of us ran to the door and went through it. There they are.

Wait.

What the fuck? Vampire scent. They got more vampires? God damned club going on. Those Volturi fuckers suck at what they do.

Twenty of these fuckers were here. All human. All lookin at me and Clive.

"So you bitches gonna fuck up my friend's suit here or what? Fire already!"

"Vampires." One whispered.

Yep. There were vampires around. The back door opened. Somebody was runnin.

"You got this?" I asked Clive.

"Yes I do. Go after them."

I took off and saw a vampire running not far ahead. Poor bastard. You can't outrun a great athlete like myself.

I caught the fucker within ten seconds. Tackling from behind. We both hit the ground. I turned him over and…

"You fuckin lyin ass bitch!"

Kebi.

She head butted me. I was a bit surprised by her lyin ass and took the shot. She tried to run again.

"I ain't done with you bitch."

I hit her with my power and she ran into a tree. Then she fell. Now she was moaning. I let up and walked over to her.

"What the fuck?!"

"Go to hell you bastard. You killed my husband, didn't you?"

"No. The brother inside causing all those screams killed your husband. So you knew the entire time?"

"Of course."

"Ben? Tia?"

"No."

"Yeah right. You a helluva liar. I bet you was a shoplifter when you was human, weren't you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Shoplifter? Thief? Uhhh Alli Baba and the forty thieves or something like that? Yeah. You a sketchy bitch ain't ya?"

"I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. I really don't care."

I smelt them immediately.

Six of these motherfuckers.

Turning I saw they weren't happy.

"Kill him." Kebi whispered.

"Fuck that." I stomped a foot in her chest and pulled her right leg off, twisting that fucker like a wishbone. Momma used to always let me have the wish bone. I was good at it.

The other fuckers attacked. I focused my power but only got two of them. The other three hit me.

Shit.

I backed up and laid some kung fu on their asses. Fuckers were strong. Must be really new. Probably why they were in the woods and not with the other fuckin bastards.

One came at me from the side. I picked Kebi up by the one leg she still had attached and used her to hit him. Home mother fucking run.

One came at me who was on the ground dizzy. I ripped his fucking head off. Then a ninja kicked me in the head from behind. Dirty motherfuckers.

We all stood up. Five left. Time to stop playin around.

"You bitches better run. I'm about to go medieval on y’alls candy asses."

I found myself at the bottom of a dog pile. They was trying to pull me apart.

Ty Gavin don't go out that way. I stood up and tossed these fuckers off. Time to bite. Attacking, I got four arms and two heads.

"Whoooo! Who's next? Let's go boys! Don't be shy! Ty wants to play."

Yeah I got three now and they were lookin scared.

Now they looked tired. What the fuck?

They just went to one knee.

Oh hell no.

Jasper flew in and ripped their heads off. He was smirking.

"What the fuck was that?"

"What? You looked like you could use some help."

"How you figure? Half of em are down, the other two are missing arms and only one is still whole. How you figure I need help? This is what I do bitch!"

"You're welcome." He said sarcastically.

"Fuck you. Go away. Go back to your Daddy's house and chill."

"Hey no problem. Next time you are about to get your ass handed to you, I'll stand by and cheer for the bad guys."

"My ass? Bitch please. Can't noone take me." I told this fucker. Leroy needed to get straight.

"Oh really? I've never been defeated in a fight."

"Yeah? You ever fought a brother? Watch boxing sometimes. Black guy always wins." I pointed out.

"Yeah? Fightin me is kinda like a horror movie. How do black guys fare in those?" He grinned.

No this fucker didn't.

"Right here, right now. No bullshit powers. Me and you. Let's go."

"Can I have my leg back, if you two are going to fight?"

I turned and remembered Kebi was on the ground. Oh yeah.

"Sit tight lady. Trust me, you ain't got no place to go. Daddy's about to show Junior how to fight."

Shit. Now the other two were here.

"Jasper!" Alice called his name. Clive walked over. His suit was shredded by bullet holes. I had to laugh.

"What happened to your suit, brotha?"

"You told them to fire and then left. You owe me a suit."

"That's cool man. I saw a purple pimp suit the other day. Had a matching purple hat. You'll look good in it."

"If you two are done, perhaps I could interrogate the lady we left in Egypt who should have stayed there?" Clive suggested.

"Yeah. You go ahead. Me and Merle here got some business to work out."

"You really don't. Mission Ty. Focus." Clive reminded me.

"Cool. You got lucky cuz." I told blondie.

"Lucky me. I was lookin for another war to win."

"Yeah. Another? How did that one against General Grant work out?"

"Fuck you."

I didn't respond. Just shot him the finger, picked Kebi up by her thick ass hair and started dragging her back. Time to get some answers and find out who exactly is in on this shit. Getting tired of uninvited vampires showin up.

ARO POV

"Master, you have an email." I heard Gianna's annoying voice inform me.

"An email? Who would send me an email?"

"I think you should see it Master. It is very disturbing."

"Fine. Bring me a computer."

Within moments Chelsea had a laptop in front of me. I clicked on the annoyance in my inbox. Caius swears I have to have one of these to keep up with the times. I found them to be bothersome.

The email opened and I saw a video attachment. I clicked on it and my computer screen filled up with the face of a human.

"Hello. My name is Bernard Stone. If you are watching this Aro, it means I am dead. That is my problem. You however have another problem. I am the man behind the terror attacks going on around the world. A vampire named Amun and his Mate, Kebi have been assisting me. I am sure if I am dead, they are as well.

Your problem is quite simply that your secret is out. Humans do know about vampires. They have known for a very long time. The good news is not many know. The President of the United States, a general at the Pentagon, and a group of Navy Seals led by a man named Jason Connolly. All these humans work with three vampires. One I believe you know. His name is Garrett. The other is a sort of protégé of his named Tyrone Gavin. Recently a third has joined them. Her name is Bella Swan. You may be interested to know that she was with the President's daughter during the recent attack right outside your city. Were you perhaps missing any vampires after that event? Regardless, as I said, I am dead. I don't really give a damn what you do with this information. But I have an idea. You certainly cannot let the President of the United States know your secret. A General Mathieu in the Pentagon? Not good. A Seal team? Manageable. Shouldn't be a problem for you to silence them.

These three vampires however? Traitors to your kind. They side with humans. We both know you cannot let that stand. They are currently running around the country trying to stop my best laid plans. They may succeed. They certainly never saw London coming.

That said, I leave this information in your hands to do with as you please. I am sure you will do what is best for the survival of your kind. Take care."

I closed the email and tried to ignore the shiver that ran along my spine. My Guard, Caius and Marcus had all come into the room.

"We cannot let this stand!" Caius seethed.

"Of course not." I agreed.

"Master? This Bella Swan? She must be the one who killed my sister." Alec said quietly. The anger though was radiating off of him.

"Yes. It appears so. I am not sure how she did it but…"

What to do about this? Believe this man?

He was telling the truth. Perhaps not about everything but…

"Demetri I want you to conduct surveillance. I want to know the President of the United States schedule. I want to know the location of the residence of General Mathieu. We also need to locate this Jason Connolly. Hack into the defense network."

"The vampires? Garrett?" Caius asked.

"We deal with the humans first. Then we will deal with the traitors. First we take this Connolly. He has information I need. He will know the names of his team. Where they live. He will know if any other military personnel know of us. If he is the leader of this Seal team, I want him. Make it happen Demetri."

"As you wish Master."

This was a problem that would be dealt with.

"Master?" Alec whispered. I knew what he wanted. She was like a daughter to me. But she was his twin. He deserved it.

"I promise you, Alec. You will be the one to throw the match on Bella Swan's body."

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