Devil Incarnate Chapter Two

In the end, Quinn accompanied his parents to Forks while Renee and Afton stayed with the girls and Afton’s guards. There hadn't been any threats in over a decade, but they could never be too careful. Garrett, Phil, and five other guards had spent their years split between the house and the kids’ schools. Bella and Edward had worked together to operate a strictly legal business, opening the bookstore she'd always dreamed about. The concept of Bella’s Books became The Literary Bean when Edward decided the only way Bella could serve coffee was if he had a direct hand in producing it. They spent time in South America studying the best practices for growing and exporting coffee beans, then set about learning the most sophisticated technology for turning their crops into high-quality coffee. 

At first, Bella thought it was overkill, but then she saw the benefit when she didn't have to pay the exorbitant prices set up by distributors in the area. Plus, it gave Edward an occupation he cared about, especially with fair trade being so important to him. It didn't hurt that he could charm the scales off a snake and remained devastatingly handsome into his forties. He barely had to open his mouth to sell to women, and men were always eager to be in business with the Edward Cullen. 

The City of Forks welcome sign loomed in the distance, and Bella shifted in her seat to look at her husband instead of out the window. The limo provided a comfortable ride, of course, but she’d been itchy and restless since they left the house a few hours ago. She missed the girls, had changed her mind about going a dozen times, and felt nervous about who would be at the funeral. The last she’d heard, the coroner hadn't determined a cause of death, which Bella found suspicious. Granted, the small town didn't cater to experts in any field except logging, but the results had gone to the county coroner and they’d found nothing either. Almost a week had transpired since her father’s sudden death, but they’d only been notified three days prior. 

She hadn't set foot in Forks in twenty years, and neither had anyone in her family besides Charlie. It was mostly a matter of decency that had them calling her and inviting her to the funeral, she was positive. She still couldn't decide if they'd made a mistake in attending, but it was too late by that point. 

She would hold her chin up and say her last goodbyes, then get back to spending her life the way she had since she married Edward in Ireland. On her terms.

“Deep breath, love,” Edward murmured.

On the other side of Bella, Quinn squeezed her hand. They’d represent a united front, something which warmed her heart. 

“Being here makes it harder to take a full breath.”

“You’re the strongest woman I know, Mom. You’ve got this.”

She smiled at Quinn. He’d grown up to be such an amazing man. After attending college, he decided he wanted to follow in her footsteps and help run the bookstore. He’d taken business management classes and learned under her watchful eye every day since the store’s grand opening. Relief was too mild a word to describe the feelings coursing through her when he announced he didn't want anything to do with the mafia life. He could have studied under Eleazar and Afton, and had spent time with them, in fact. Edward insisted Quinn needed to know what his options were, and though Bella agreed, it worried her that he would choose them. In the end, he didn't even choose coffee roasting with his father.

“I know it’s just a few hours of the day, but it feels much more monumental than that.”

“It is, emotionally.”

Edward reached around Bella and rested his hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “We’ll help you get through it.”

“I didn't expect to feel anything at all. Maybe just glad. But instead, I feel a mix of guilt and sadness.”

“Maybe you feel for what could have been rather than what was.”

Leaning her head on Edward’s chest, she said, “You're right. I have no reason to feel any of that, because he doesn’t deserve my sorrow. There are no expectations on me except for the ones I’ve placed there.”

The remainder of the ride was silent. They weren't far from the cemetery, and Bella had refused to attend the service at the church. The last she knew, her father was anything but religious; it was fake to have a preacher stand up in front of people and talk about what a good man Charlie Swan had been.

They would be lying anyway.

After parking, Edward assisted Bella from the car. Quinn rounded the back and joined them, and they walked hand in hand to the graveside service. There weren't many people, just a small handful of mourners and the preacher. The cemetery workers were nearby, ready to lower the casket and cover the hole in the earth when everyone moved on. A bird squawked, and Bella shivered under the cloudy sky. Looking up, she found several crows perched in the largest tree, its branches reaching over the mound of dirt and casting a hand-shaped shadow.

Standing near the back, they listened as the man in the suit began to speak. Though he said words typical for a funeral, Bella failed to find any truth in them. When patters of rain found their way through the leaves, Garrett joined them with a few umbrellas. Soon, the service was over, and the few people standing around dispersed. With little conscious thought, Bella wandered closer to the casket. Uncertain why, she placed her hand on the polished wood.

“I wish you’d been a better man.”

The shrill sound of a ringing phone caused her to snatch her hand away. Edward stood directly behind her, and she backed up so fast she bumped into him.

Edward steadied her with both hands. “What the hell is that?”

“There’s a phone.”

“In the coffin?” Quinn asked.

Despite the passage of time, the noise hadn't stopped. Garrett said, “Are we supposed to answer it?”

Lifting her head, Bella looked around. Nobody was there anymore, not even the men with the backhoe. “That’s just . . .”

“Creepy?” Quinn offered.

“Wrong,” Edward stated.

“Something’s wrong.” Bella reached for the lid, seeing latches at intervals around the edge. With shaking hands, she started the process of unlocking what should never be disturbed. The men helped her, and then she lifted the top, expecting the worst.

It was empty.

Gasping, Bella’s gaze flew to Edward’s. “What the fuck?”

The sound continued. Edward reached inside the lining, feeling around until he came up with an old, small phone. Flipping it open, he held it to his ear.

Bella waited impatiently. Something was more than wrong. Something was fucked up, like the whole situation. The other guards joined them at the gravesite, and Bella knew Garrett had asked them to come. 

With the phone dangling from his dropped hand, Edward stared at Bella. His eyes were so wide, she thought something had happened to the children.

“What is it? Is everyone safe? The girls? Mom?”

Swallowing, he held his palm up. “I don't know who it was. The voice was robotic. It repeated the same thing several times.”

“What did it say?” she demanded. 

“We have to help a group calling themselves Zion deploy some kind of superweapon.”

“The fuck we do,” Garrett said, folding his massive arms over his chest.

Edward met his gaze. “The consequences of not helping are that they’ll do it anyway, and they’ll also kill the children.”

Bella scoffed. “So we’ll take the kids into hiding until we can figure out who the hell this Zion thinks they are.”

Edward faced her, grabbing her shoulders. “Not only our children. Everyone’s. Emmett’s, Jasper’s, Ben’s, Jake’s. They’ll blow up schools, homes, daycares.”

“I don't understand.” Bella paced away, tried to think. “Why us? And what weapon?” Rain soaked her hair and dripped unnoticed down her face. 

“I don't know. We have forty-eight hours to respond. They’ve left instructions for how to contact them once we have an answer.”

“This is bullshit,” Garrett said. “Who cares about someone we’ve never heard of? They can't penetrate our defenses.”

“They got us here. They know who we are.” Edward threw the phone into the casket. “Or who we were. They’re smart, apparently.”

“Good at a charade, nothing else.” Quinn held his hands out. “Where is the proof they can do what they claim? How do we know they aren’t bluffing?”

The guards all moved at once, encircling the Cullens. Urgently, Phil said, “Boss, there’s trouble back at the house.”

“What do you mean?” Edward asked.

“Afton’s guy Randy is in my earpiece. Everyone’s moved to the safe house.”

“Oh, my God.” Pushing through the men, Bella took off in a jog toward the limo. 

“Bella!”

She ignored them calling after her, needing to sit before she sank to the wet grass. More than that, they had to head back to Seattle immediately. Everyone followed her, Edward beating her to the car and opening her door. 

“What else did they say?” Garrett asked as he got in.

“There was gunfire, something about an explosion near the guard shack. I lost the feed; can’t seem to get them back.” Phil tapped on his phone, apparently trying to get in touch with someone at the house.

With everyone in the car, they drove toward Seattle. Bella couldn't think for the pain crowding her temples. The girls were in the basement, so they were safe. But for how long? Was this all a trick to push them into agreeing to the absurd terms of Zion? What did they think she and Edward could do?

“Fuck!” She hit the seat with her fist, pissed at being left in the dark. “They’re playing us, right?”

Edward took her fist, smoothing the fingers straight and massaging them. “Everyone is safe right now. Focus on that.”

“I want to focus on ripping someone’s throat out, Edward.”

“I understand.”

His demeanor wasn't helping to soothe her frayed nerves. “How can you be so fucking calm?”

“They won’t touch what’s mine, Bella.”

“How do you—”

“I promise you.” Turning to face her, he touched his lips to her forehead. The dulcet tone of his voice was nothing compared to the fury running under his skin. She felt the spark; knew the telltale signs of a tightly reined temper. “No one will touch you or the children. I made this vow to you many years ago, and I mean it to this day.”

She belonged to him, and he belonged to her. He'd never let anything happen to her or the kids. The truth of it flowed through her, slowing her rapid heartbeat. "I need to hold the girls, to see them for myself."

"Soon."

The ride felt interminable. Bella couldn't sit still, fidgeting the entire time. Edward held fast to her hand; she attempted to channel his inner peace, but it was no use. 

The crater left behind where the guard shack used to be at the front gate sent her heart into her throat. 

"Oh, my God." She rubbed her chest, a death grip on Edward’s hand.

"Bella, if I asked you to stay in the car while I checked things out, would you do it?"

Her expression made it clear what she thought of that. 

"Didn't think so," he muttered.

They waited for the second car to pull in and the guards to reach the garage door before they exited the limo. Given the all clear, Garrett unlocked the door and ushered them in. Every man held a weapon except for Quinn. He knew how to use guns, had practiced with targets, but had never used one in a real-life situation. 

Pete was the last man inside, closing the door behind them. "I don't see anyone out there."

Phil said, "Could be a ruse."

By the time Bella made it to the basement and unlocked the steel door, her entire body shook. But there, huddled on the couch, was Maeve, Caitriona, and Renee. 

"Thank God."

"Mom! Dad!" Caitriona rushed toward her parents. "I'm so confused. Grandma keeps talking about the mob, and Maeve won't tell me anything. What's going on?"

Renee rose, her expression stoic.

Bella examined the faces of her family. "I guess your father and I have some things to explain."