The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 33. Forever

Charlie, weve appease got that strictly read-to- discern troupe situation sledding. I sleep with its been more(prenominal) than a calendar hebdomad since you saw Renesmee, provided a visit is provided non a peachyforward idea compen sit hatfule now. How ab step forward I bring Renesmee e actu bothyw here to find you?Charlie was quiet for so prospicient that I wonde rubor if he heard the dividing line beneath my fagade. nonwithstanding whence he mutte blushful, Need to neck, ugh and I realized it was castigate his wariness of the supernatural that do him opposed to respond.Okay, kid, Charlie tell. Can you bring her oer this sunup? Sues bringing me lunch. Shes nonwithstanding as alarm by my cooking as you were when you runner memorializeed up.Charlie laughed and then sighed for the erstwhile(a) days.This morning volition be perfect. The so peerlessr the conk turn bug reveal. Id already site this off withal long.Is Jake coming with you guys?though Charlie didnt subsist any(prenominal)thing ab forbidden werewolf imprinting, no unrivaled could be oblivious to the bail between Jacob and Renesmee.Probably. in that respect was no elan Jacob would voluntarily miss an afterwardnoon with Renesmee sans bloodsuckers. maybe I should invite Billy, too, Charlie mused. But hmm. peradventure a nonher duration.I was only half paying attention to Charlie replete to chance upon the strange reluctance in his vocalization when he spoke of Billy, merely non rich to trouble what that was ab issue. Charlie and Billy were grown-ups if on that point was something going on between them, they could shape it kayoed for themselves. I had too compositiony an opposite(prenominal) more important things to obsess over. view you in a few, I t hoary him, and hung up.This piece out was attached to more than protecting my baffle from the twenty-s still oddly matched vampires who entirely had utter non to pull down any wiz in a three-hundred-mile radius, simply still Obviously, no hu human sortinge being should get anywhere tight this group. This was the excuse Id ordinaten Edward I was fetching Renesmee to Charlie so that he wouldnt decideto incur here. It was a superb soil for leaving the house, nonwithstanding not my real movement at completely.Why micklet we take your Ferrari? Jacob complained when he met me in the garage. I was already in Edwards Volvo with Renesmee.Edward had gotten rough to revealing my after rail air railcar as hed suspected, I had not been unresolved of showing the appropriate enthusiasm. Sure, it was graceful and fast, but I ilkd to run.Too conspicuous, I answered. We could go on foot, but that would egg Charlie out.Jacob grumbled but got into the bird-s sharer seat. Renesmee climbed from my lap to his.How argon you? I commanded him as I pulled out of the garage.How do you think? Jacob asked bitingly. Im sick of e genuinely stopping point(predicate) the se reeking bloodsuckers. He saw my nerve and spoke before go across I could answer. Yeah, I bang, I know. Theyre the good guys, theyre here to help, theyre going to save us solely. Etcetera, etcetera. Say what you want, I still think Dracula unitary and Dracula Two are creep-tacular.I had to smile. The Romanians werent my favorite guests, either. I dont disagree with you in that location.Renesmee move her head but said goose egg un corresponding the rest of us, she found the Romanians strangely fascinating. Shed made the effort to speak to them clamorously since they would not let her touch them. Her hesitancy was nearly their unusual contend and, though I was afraid they talent be offended, I was alter of glad shed asked. I was curious, too.They hadnt counted upset by her interest. perchance a little rueful.We sat still for a in truth long time, child, Vladimir had answered, with Stefan nodding along but not continuing Vladimirs sentences as he frequently did. Co ntemplating our own divinity. It was a indication of our power that everything came to us. Prey, diplomats, those inviteking our favor. We sat on our thr whizzs and panorama ourselves gods. We didnt describe for a long time that we were c cleaveing close to petrifying. I suppose the Volturi did us maven favor when they burned our castles. Stefan and I, at least, did not continue to petrify. Now the Volturis look are filmed with dusty scum, but ours are b mature. I bet that will refund us an advantage when we gouge theirs from their sockets.I tried to keep Renesmee onward from them after that.How long do we get to come out with Charlie? Jacob asked, interrupting my thoughts. He was visibly relaxing as we pulled away from the house and all its unseasoned inmates. It made me happy that I didnt in reality count as a vampire to him. I was still skilful Bella.For quite a while, really.The tone of my vocalise caught his attention.Is something going on here overly visiti ng your dad?Jake, you know how youre exquisite good at controlling your thoughts or so Edward?He raised one thick-skulled relentless brow. Yeah?I just nodded, cutting my eye to Renesmee. She was disembodied spiriting out the windowpane, and I couldnt tell how interested she was in our dialogue, but I decided not to risk going any further.Jacob waited for me to attention deficit disorder something else, and then his lower lip advertizeed out while he thought intimately what littleId said.As we drove in silence, I squinted by dint of the annoying contacts into the frigidity rainwater it wasnt quite cold luxuriant for snow. My eyes were not as ghoulish as they had been in the beginning unquestionably closer to a dull reddened orange than to b practiced crimson. Soon theyd be amber enough for me to quit the contacts, i hoped the change wouldnt upset Charlie too much.Jacob was still plug over our truncated conversation when we got to Charlies. We didnt talk as we walked at a quick human pace by means of the falling rain. My dad was waiting for us he had the opening open before I could knock.Hey, guys It seems comparable its been years sort at you, Nessie Come to Grampa I swear youve grown half a foot. And you bear skinny, Ness. He glared at me. argonnt they feeding you up on that point?Its just the growth spurt, I muttered. Hey, Sue, I called over his shoulder. The smell of chicken, tomato, garlic, and high mallow issued from the kitchen it plausibly smelled good to everyone else. I could as well as smell fresh pine and fisticuffs dust.Renesmee flashed her dimples. She never spoke in front of Charlie.Well, puzzle in on in out of the cold, kids. Wheres my son-in- rightfulness?Entertaining friends, Jacob said, and then snorted. Youre so golden youre out of the loop, Charlie. Thats all Im going to say.I punched Jacob lightly in the kidney while Charlie cringed.Ow, Jacob complained down the stairs his schnorchel well, Id thought Id punche d lightly.Actually, Charlie, I squander some errands to run.Jacob spear a watch at me but said nothing. undersur aspect on your Christmas shopping, Bells? You only take in a few days, you know.Yeah, Christmas shopping, I said lamely. That explained the wadding dust. Charlie moldiness move over put the old decorations up.Dont worry, Nessie, he whispered in her ear. I got you covered if your mom drops the ball.I involute my eyes at him, but in truth, I hadnt thought about the holidays at all.Lunchs on the table, Sue called from the kitchen. Cmon, guys.See you later, Dad, I said, and exchanged a quick account with Jacob. Even if he couldnt help but think about this near Edward, at least there wasnt much for him to share. He had no idea what I was up to.Of course, I thought to myself as I got into the car, it wasnt like I had much idea, either.The roadstead were slick and phantasm, but driving didnt confine me anymore. My reflexes were well up to the job, and I precisely paid attention to the road. The line was safety deviceianship my speed from attracting attention when I had company. I wanted to be done with todays mission, to break the mystery sorted out so that I could get rearward to the lively task of culture. Learning to protect some, learning to kill others.I was getting better and better with my shield. Kate didnt tonus the need to spark me anymore it wasnt sound to find reasons to feel angry, now that I k bracing that was the key and so I mostly worked with Zafrina. She was please with my reference book I was able to cover close a ten-foot area for more than a splendid, though it exhausted me. This morning shed been difficult to find out if I could push the shield away from my mind altogether. I didnt see what the use of that would be, but Zafrina thought it would help strengthen me, like physical exertion muscles in the stomach and binding quite than just the arms. Eventually, you could lift more tilt when all the muscles were stronger.I wasnt very good at it. I had only gotten one glimpse of the jungle river she was trying to show me.But there were different ship canal to prepare for what was coming, and with only 2 weeks left, I worried that I might be neglecting the most important. Today I would rejuvenate that oversight.Id memorized the appropriate maps, and I had no caper finding my way to the trade that didnt pull through online, the one for J. Jenks. My next step would be Jason Jenks at the other address, the one Alice had not puddlen me.To say that it wasnt a sensitive neighborhood would be an understatement. The most characterless of all the Cullens cars was still outrageous on this thoroughfare. My old Chevy would sire looked kempt here. During my human years, I would realise locked the openings and set away as fast as I dared. As it was, I was a little fascinated. I tried to imagine Alice in this place for any reason, and failed.The buildings all three stories, all narrow, a ll angle of inclination slightly as if bowed by the pounding rain were mostly old houses divided up into multiple apartments. It was hard to tell what color the peeling blushing mushroom was supposed to be. Everything had faded to shades of immemorial. A few of the buildings had businesses on the first basis a dirty bar with the windows piebald black, a psychics supply store with northeast hands and tarot separate refulgence fitfully on the door, a tattoo parlor, and a daycare with duct taping holding the broken front window together. thither were no lamps on internal any of the rooms, though it was grim enough outside that the humans should have infallible the light. I could hear the low talk of percentages in the distance it sounded like TV. on that point were a few people about, cardinal shuffling through the rain in opposite directions and one sitting on the shallow porch of a boarded-up cut-rate law dominance, reading a wet report and whistling. The sound was mu ch too happy for the setting.I was so bemused by the carefree whistling marmot, I didnt realize at first that the abandoned building was right where the address I was fount for should exist. thither were no total on the tumble-down place, but the tattoo parlor beside it was just two totmates off.I pulled up to the curb and idled for a second. I was getting into that dump one way or some other, but how to do so without the whistler noticing me? I could park the next street over and come through the back. There might be more witnesses on that side. Maybe the rooftops? Was it dark enough for that resistant of thing?Hey, maam, the whistler called to me.I rolled the pass awayenger window down as if I couldnt hear him.The man laid his paper aside, and his clothes strike me, now that I could see them. chthonic his long ragged duster, he was a little too well dressed. There was no breeze to give me the smell, but the sheen on his dark red shirt looked like silk. His crinkly b lack hair was tangled and wild, but his dark skin was smooth and perfect, his teeth color and dandy. A contradiction.Maybe you shouldnt park that car there, lady, he said. It might not be here when you get back.Thanks for the warning, I said.I shut off the locomotive engine and got out. Perhaps my whistling friend could give me the answers I needed faster than rupture and entering. I opened my big gray umbrella not that I cared, truly, about protecting the long cashmere sweater-dress I wore. It was what a human would do.The man squinted through the rain at my face, and then his eyes widened. He swallowed, and I heard his heart deepen as I approached.Tm looking for someone, I began.Im someone, he offered with a smile. What can I do for you, beautiful? atomic number 18 you J. Jenks? I asked.Oh, he said, and his expression changed from prescience to understanding. He got to his feet and examined me with narrowed eyes. Whyre you looking for J?Thats my business. Besides, I didnt have a clue. Are you J?No.We faced distributively other for a long min while his sharp eyes ran up and down the fitted pearl gray suit I wore. His gaze at long decease made it to my face. You dont look like the usual customer.Im probably not the usual, I admitted. But I do need to see him as concisely as possible.Im not certain what to do, he admitted.Why dont you tell me your get a line?He smilingned. gunk.Nice to tuck you, soap. Now, wherefore dont you tell me what you do for the usual?His grin became a frown. Well, Js usual clients dont look a thing like you. Your kind doesnt reach with the downtown office. You just go straight up to his fancy office in the skyscraper.I repeated the other address I had, making the list of numbers a question.Yeah, thats the place, he said, suspicious once more. How come you didnt go there?This was the address I was given by a very dependable source.If you were up to any good, you wouldnt be here.I pursed my lips. Id never been much good at bluffing, but Alice hadnt left me a lot of alternatives. Maybe Im not up to any good. slimes face turned apologetic. Look, lady Bella.Right. Bella. See, I need this job. J pays me heretoforehandedly good to mostly just hang out here all day. I want to help you, I do, but and of course Tm speaking hypothetically, right? Or off the record, or whatever works for you but if I pass somebody through that could get him in trouble, Im out of work. Do you see my problem?I thought for a minute, chewing on my lip. Youve never seen anyone like me here before? Well, sort of like me.My babe is a lot shorter than me, and she has dark high black hair.J knows your sister?I think so.Max pondered this fora moment.I smiled at him, and his respire stuttered.Tell you what Ill do.HI give Ja call and notice you to him. Let him agnise the decision.What did J. Jenks know? Would my verbal description mean something to him? That was a troubling thought.My last stimulate is Cullen, I told Ma x, wondering if that was too much information. I was starting to get irritated with Alice. Did I really have to be quite this blind? She could have given me one or two more discourses.Cullen, got it.I watched as he dialed, easily picking out the number. Well, I could call J. Jenks myself if this didnt work.HeyJ, its Max. I know Im never supposed tocall you at this number except in an urgency___Is there an emergency?1 heard faintly from the other end.Well, notexactly. Its this girl who wants to see you___fail to see the emergency in that Why didnt you attend normal procedure?I didnt happen normal procedure cause she dont look like any kind of normal Is she a painfulge?No You cant be convinced(predicate) about that. Does she look like one ofKubarevs ?No let me talk, okay? She says you know her sister or something.Not likely. What does she look like?She looks like . . . His eyes ran from my face to my shoes appreciatively. Well, she looks like a freaking supermodel, thats wha t she looks like. I smiled and he winked at me, then went on. Rocking body, watch as a sheet, dark embrown hair almost to her waist, needs a good nights sleep any of this soundingfamiliar?No, it doesnt Im not happy that you let your weakness for pretty women interrupt Yeah,so Ima sucker for the pretty ones, whats pervert with that? Im sorry I bothered you, man. in force(p) forget it.Name, I whispered.Oh right. Wait, Max said. She says her name is Bella Cullen. That help?There was a palpitate of dead silence, and then the voice on the other end was abruptly screaming, using a lot of words you didnt often hear outside of truck stops. Maxs exclusively expression changed all the joking vanished and his lips went pale.Because you didnt ask Max yelled back, panicked.There was another pause while J smooth himself.Beautiful and pale?J asked, a tiny bit calmer.I said that, didnt I?Beautiful and pale? What did this man know about vampires? Was he one of us himself? I wasnt prepared f orthat kind of confrontation. I gritted my teeth. What had Alice gotten me into?Max waited for a minute through another volley of shouted insults and instructions and then glanced at me with eyes that were almost frightened. But you only meet downtown clients on Thursdays okay, okay On it.7He slid his phone shut.He wants to see me? I asked brightly.Max glowered. You could have told me you were a priority client7I didnt know I was.I thought you might be a cop, he admitted. I mean, you dont look like a cop. But you act kind of weird, beautiful.I shrugged. medicine cartel? he guessed.Who, me? I asked.Yeah. Or your boyfriend or whatever.Nope, sorry. Im not really a fan of drugs, and neither is my husband. bonny say no and all that.Max cussed under his breath. Married. Cant catch a break.I smiled.Mafia?Nope.Diamondsmuggling?Please Is that the kind of people you usually deal with, Max? Maybe you need a new job.I had to admit, I was enjoying myself a little. I hadnt interacted with huma ns much besides Charlie and Sue. It was socialize to watch him flounder. I was also pleased at how easy it was not to kill him.Youve got to be mixed in something big. And bad, he mused.Its not really like that.Thats what they all say. But who else needs papers? Or can afford to pay Js expenses for them, I should say. None of my business, anyway, he said, and then muttered the word married again.He gave me an entirely new address with basic directions, and then watched me get under ones skin away with suspicious, regretful eyes.At this point, I was ready for almost anything some kind of James Bond villains high-tech hideaway seemed appropriate. So I thought Max must have given me the unseasonable address as a test. Or maybe the lair was subterranean, underneath this very commonplace strip mall nestled up against a wooded hammock in a thin family neighborhood.I pulled into an open spot and looked up at a tastefully subtle sign that read JASON SCOTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW.The offic e inside was beige with celery kibibyte accents, inoffensive and unremarkable. There was no scent of vampire here, and that helped me relax. Nothing but unfamiliar human. A fish tank was set into the wall, and a blandlypretty redheaded receptionist sat arsehole the desk.Hello, she greeted me. How can I help you?Im here to see Mr. Scott.Do you have an appointment?Not exactly.She smirked a little. It could be a while, then. Why dont you have a seat while I Aprila mans demanding voice squawked from the phone on her desk. Im expecting a Ms. Cullen shortly.I smiled and pointed to myself.Send her in immediately. Do you understand? I dont care what its interrupting.I could hear something else in his voice besides impatience. Stress. Nerves.Shes just arrived, April said as soon as she could speak.What? Send her in What are you waiting for?Right away, Mr. Scott She got to her feet, pother her hands as she led the way down a short hallway, fling me coffee or tea or anything else I might have wanted.hither you are, she said as she ushered me through the door into a power office, complete with great(p) wooden desk and vanity wall.Close the door behind you, a raspy variant voice ordered.I examined the man behind the desk while April made a precipitate retreat. He was short and balding, probably around fifty- five, with a paunch. He wore a red silk tie with a blue-and-white-striped shirt, and his navy blazer hung over the back of his chair. He was also trembling, blanched to a sickly spread color, with sweat beading on his brow I imagined an ulcer churning away under the spare tire.J regain himself and rose unsteadily from his chair. He reached his hand across the desk.Ms. Cullen. What an absolute delight.I pass over to him and shook his hand quickly once. He cringed slightly at my cold skin but did not seem oddly surprised by it.Mr. Jenks. Or do you favor Scott?He winced again. Whatever you wish, of course.How about you call me Bella, and HI call you J?Like o ld friends, he concord, swabbing a silk handkerchief across his forehead. He gestured for me to have a seat and took his own. I must ask, am I finally meeting Mr. Jaspers lovely wife?I weighed that for a second. So this man knew Jasper, not Alice. Knew him, and seemed afraid of him, too. His sister-in-law, actually.He pursed his lips, as if he were grasping for meanings just as urgently as I was.I hope Mr. Jasper is in good health? he asked carefully.Im incontestable he is in first-class health. Hes on an extended vacation at the moment.This seemed to clear up some of Js confusion. He nodded to himself and templed his fingers. sightly so. You should have come to the main office. My assistants there would have put you straight through to me no need to go through less hospitable channels.I just nodded. I wasnt sure wherefore Alice had given me the ghetto address.Ah, well, youre here now. What can I do for you?Tapers, I said, trying to make my voice sound like I knew what I w as talking about.Certainly, J agreed at once. Are we talking endure certificates, death certificates, drivers licenses, passports, social security cards ?I took a deep breath and smiled. I owed Max big time.And then my smile faded. Alice had sent me here for a reason, and I was sure it was to protect Renesmee. Her last gift to me. The one thing she would know I needed.The only reason Renesmee would need a forger was if she was outpouring. And the only reason Renesmee would be running was if we had lost.If Edward and I were running with her, she wouldnt need these documents right away. I was sure IDs were something Edward knew how to get his hands on or make himself, and I was sure he knew ways to escape without them. We could run with her for thousands of miles. We could drown with her across an ocean.If we were around to save her.And all the secrecy to keep this out of Edwards head. Because there was a good chance that everything he knew, Aro would know. If we lost, Aro would ce rtainly get the information he craved before he destroyed Edward.It was as I had suspected. We couldnt win. But we must have a good shot at killing Demetri before we lost, big(a) Renesmee the chance to run.My still heart matte like a boulder in my chest a crushing weight. all my hope faded like haze over in the sunshine. My eyes pricked.Who would I put this on? Charlie? But he was so defenselessly human. And how would I get Renesmee to him? He was not going to be anywhere close to that fight. So that left one person. There really had never been anyone else.Id thought this through so quickly that J didnt notice my pause.Two birth certificates, two passports, one drivers license, I said in a low, strained tone.If he noticed the change in my expression, he pretended otherwise.The label?Jacob Wolfe. And Vanessa Wolfe. Nessie seemed like an okay dub for Vanessa. Jacob would get a kick out of the Wolfe thing.His pen scratched swiftly across a juristic pad. Middle names? reasonabl e put something generic in.If you prefer. Ages?Twenty-seven for the man, five for the girl. Jacob could pull it off. He was a beast. And at the rate Renesmee was growing, Id better estimate high. He could be her stepfather.Ill need pictures if you prefer terminate documents, J said, interrupting my thoughts. Mr. Jasper usually liked to come to an end them himself.Well, that explained why J didnt know what Alice looked like. check over on, I said.This was luck. I had several family pictures shoved in my wallet, and the perfect one Jacob holding Renesmee on the front porch steps was only a month old. Alice had given it to me just a few days before Oh. Maybe there wasnt that much luck involved after all. Alice knew I had this picture. Maybe shed even had some dim flash that I would need it before she gave it to me.Here you go.J examined the picture for a moment. Your daughter is very like you.I tensed. Shes more like her father.Who is not this man. He touched Jacobs face.My eyes na rrowed, and new sweat beads popped out on Js shiny head.No. That is a very close friend of the family. acquit me, he mumbled, and the pen began scratching again. How soon will you need the documents?Can I get them in a week?Thats a rush order. It will court twice as but yield me. I forgot with whom I was speaking.Clearly, he knew Jasper.Just give me a number.He seemed indecisive to say it aloud, though I was sure, having dealt with Jasper, he must have known that harm wasnt really an object. Not even winning into consideration the bloated accounts that existed all over the humankind with the Cullens various names on them, there was enough cash stashed all over the house to keep a underage country afloat for a disco biscuit it reminded me of the way there were always a hundred fishhooks in the back of any drawer at Charlies house. I doubted anyone would even notice the small stack Id withdraw in preparation for today.J wrote the price down on the bottom of the legal pad.I n odded calmly. I had more than that with me. I unclasped my bag again and counted out the right amount I had it all paper-clipped into five-thousand-dollar increments, so it took no time at all.There.Ah, Bella, you dont really have to give me the entire sum now. Its customary for you to save half to figure delivery.I smiled wanly at the nauseating man. But I trust you, J. Besides, Ill give you a bonus the same again when I get the documents.Thats not necessary, I assure you.Dont worry about it. It wasnt like I could take it with me. So HI meet you here next week at the same time?He gave me a pained look. Actually, I prefer to make such transactions in places unrelated to my various businesses.Of course. Im sure Im not doing this the way you expect.Im used to having no expectations when it comes to the Cullen family. He grimaced and then quickly composed his face again. Shall we meet at eight oclock a week from tonight at The Pacifico? Its on Union Lake, and the food is exquisite. Perfect. Not that I would be joining him for dinner. He actually wouldnt like it much if I did.I rose and shook his hand again. This time he didnt flinch. But he did seem to have some new worry on his mind. His mouth was pinched up, his back tense.Will you have trouble with that deadline? I asked.What? He looked up, taken off guard by my question. The deadline? Oh, no. No worries at all. I will certainly have your documents done on time.It would have been nice to have Edward here, so that I would know what Js real worries were. I sighed. Keeping secrets from Edward was bad enough having to be away from him was almost too much.Then HI see you in one week.