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〃We'll lead him off； and then Jasper and Alice will run her south。〃
〃And then？〃
Edward's tone was deadly。 〃As soon as Bella is clear； we hunt him。〃
〃I guess there's no other choice；〃 Carlisle agreed； his face grim。
Edward turned to Rosalie。
〃Get her upstairs and trade clothes；〃 Edward manded。 She stared back
at him with livid disbelief。
〃Why should I？〃 she hissed。 〃What is she to me？ Except a menace — a
danger you've chosen to inflict on all of us。〃
I flinched back from the venom in her voice。
〃Rose…〃 Emmett murmured； putting one hand on her shoulder。 She shook it
off。
But I was watching Edward carefully； knowing his temper； worried about
his reaction。
He surprised me。 He looked away from Rosalie as if she hadn't spoken； as
if she didn't exist。
〃Esme？〃 he asked calmly。
〃Of course；〃 Esme murmured。
Esme was at my side in half a heartbeat； swinging me up easily into her
arms； and dashing up the stairs before I could gasp in shock。
〃What are we doing？〃 I asked breathlessly as she set me down in a dark
room somewhere off the secondstory hall。
〃Trying to confuse the smell。 It won't work for long； but it might help
get you out。〃 I could hear her clothes falling to the floor。
〃I don't think I'll fit…〃 I hesitated； but her hands were abruptly
pulling my shirt over my head。 I quickly stripped my jeans off myself。
She handed me something； it felt like a shirt。 I struggled to get my arms
through the right holes。 As soon as I was done she handed me her slacks。
I yanked them on； but I couldn't get my feet out； they were too long。 She
deftly rolled the hems a few times so I could stand。 Somehow she was
already in my clothes。 She pulled me back to the stairs； where Alice
stood； a small leather bag in one hand。 They each grabbed one of my
elbows and halfcarried me as they flew down the stairs。
It appeared that everything had been settled downstairs in our absence。
Edward and Emmett were ready to leave； Emmett carrying a heavylooking
backpack over his shoulder。 Carlisle was handing something small to Esme。
He turned and handed Alice the same thing — it was a tiny silver cell
phone。
〃Esme and Rosalie will be taking your truck； Bella；〃 he told me as he
passed。 I nodded； glancing warily at Rosalie。 She was glowering at
Carlisle with a resentful expression。
〃Alice； Jasper — take the Mercedes。 You'll need the dark tint in the
south。〃
They nodded as well。
〃We're taking the Jeep。〃
I was surprised to see that Carlisle intended to go with Edward。 I
realized suddenly； with a stab of fear； that they made up the hunting
party。
〃Alice；〃 Carlisle asked； 〃will they take the bait？〃
Everyone watched Alice as she closed her eyes and became incredibly still。
Finally her eyes opened。 〃He'll track you。 The woman will follow the
truck。 We should be able to leave after that。〃 Her voice was certain。
〃Let's go。〃 Carlisle began to walk toward the kitchen。
But Edward was at my side at once。 He caught me up in his iron grip；
crushing me to him。 He seemed unaware of his watching family as he pulled
my face to his； lifting my feet off the floor。 For the shortest second；
his lips were icy and hard against mine。 Then it was over。 He set me
down； still holding my face； his glorious eyes burning into mine。
His eyes went blank； curiously dead； as he turned away。
And they were gone。
We stood there； the others looking away from me as the tears streaked
noiselessly down my face。
The silent moment dragged on； and then Esme's phone vibrated in her hand。
It flashed to her ear。
〃Now；〃 she said。 Rosalie stalked out the front door without another
glance in my direction； but Esme touched my cheek as she passed。
〃Be safe。〃 Her whisper lingered behind them as they slipped out the door。
I heard my truck start thunderously； and then fade away。
Jasper and Alice waited。 Alice's phone seemed to be at her ear before it
buzzed。
〃Edward says the woman is on Esme's trail。 I'll get the car。〃 She
vanished into the shadows the way Edward had gone。
Jasper and I looked at each other。 He stood across the length of the
entryway from me… being careful。
〃You're wrong； you know；〃 he said quietly。
〃What？〃 I gasped。
〃I can feel what you're feeling now — and you are worth it。〃
〃I'm not；〃 I mumbled。 〃If anything happens to them； it will be for
nothing。〃
〃You're wrong；〃 he repeated； smiling kindly at me。
I heard nothing； but then Alice stepped through the front door and came
toward me with her arms held out。
〃May I？〃 she asked。
〃You're the first one to ask permission。〃 I smiled wryly。
She lifted me in her slender arms as easily as Emmett had； shielding me
protectively； and then we flew out the door； leaving the lights bright
behind us。
===========================================================================
20。 IMPATIENCE
When I woke up I was confused。 My thoughts were hazy； still twisted up in
dreams and nightmares； it took me longer than it should have to realize
where I was。
This room was too bland to belong anywhere but in a hotel。 The bedside
lamps； bolted to the tables； were a dead giveaway； as were the long
drapes made from the same fabric as the bedspread； and the generic
watercolor prints on the walls。
I tried to remember how I got here； but nothing came at first。
I did remember the sleek black car； the glass in the windows darker than
that on a limousine。 The engine was almost silent； though we'd raced
across the black freeways at more than twice the legal speed。
And I remembered Alice sitting with me on the dark leather backseat。
Somehow； during the long night； my head had ended up against her granite
neck。 My closeness didn't seem to bother her at all； and her cool； hard
skin was oddly forting to me。 The front of her thin cotton shirt was
cold； damp with the tears that streamed from my eyes until； red and sore；
they ran dry。
Sleep had evaded me； my aching eyes strained open even though the night
finally ended and dawn broke over a low peak somewhere in California。 The
gr