Chapter Fourteen

Steam swirled in the air. It coated the mirror in a wet fog as condensation slid down the glass. Isabella's head rested against the back of the tub. Her eyes were closed and her hands floated on the surface of the water. Edward stood in the doorway. His vision blurred when he realized she had slipped on her panties and his undershirt. He understood. She didn't want Mikey and whoever else came with Emmett to see her naked. She wanted to die with as much dignity as possible.

Edward didn't bother to remove his pants or his open button down for the same reason. With a tense exhale, he stepped over the side of the tub and sank into the water at the opposite end. Isabella didn't open her eyes, and to the casual observer they would've thought she was the perfect picture of calm. Edward knew better. He saw the way her pulse pounded at her neck. The way her breaths came in short, gasping pants. His stomach twisted and bile burned the back of his throat as he thought about what he was about to do. When she'd first concocted the idea of killing themselves, of going out their own way, he'd been shocked. But when she told him she didn't want to rely on drugs for fear of them not working, that she wanted to know for certain she would die before Emmett got to her, he threw up.

He couldn't watch the life drain from her body. He couldn't cause her pain or suffering. She'd told him none of that would happen if he drowned her. He'd gotten sick all over again. As naive as it might have been, a part of him had hoped it wouldn't come to this. But they had become careless, sloppy. And now they were going to pay the ultimate price.

"Edward?"

"Yeah?"

Isabella lifted her head and looked at him. Her eyes were sad, but also peaceful. She wasn't having second thoughts. There wasn't a trace of doubt in her expression. "We're out of time."

"I know."

"I'm ready."

Edward ran a hand through his hair and shifted, causing water to spill onto the floor. "I'm not."

"This is the only way. You know that."

"I know."

"Do you have your gun?"

"Yes," he lied, dropping his eyes to the floor. She thought he was going to follow right behind her. That he was going to end both of them before Emmett ever stepped foot in their hotel room. But he had other plans. Edward knew once Emmett realized Isabella was dead he would lose it. Emmett had always had a nasty temper. If Edward knew anything, it was that Emmett didn't like to have his plans fucked with.

Whatever torture Emmett had in mind would be forgotten. His revenge would be swift. But Edward wanted to see it. He wanted to see Emmett's face when he realized he'd lost. He wanted Emmett to see the smile on his face when he died. Because Emmett would get what he deserved in the end. Isabella was right, death was too easy for him. He would spend his days rotting in prison once the FBI launched their investigation into all of the documentation Isabella had given them. It wasn't worth her death, but it was his only consolation now.

"C'mere," she whispered, tugging on his hand.

Edward shifted forward until his knees straddled her legs. He pushed the wet hair from of her face and leaned forward, his lips covering hers. He kissed her with every ounce of emotion in his body, telling her one final time what she already knew. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Car doors slammed outside, causing Isabella's eyes to widened. "Do it now, Edward. Please. They're here."

Edward hesitated, his breaths choppy and too fast. The room started to spin and his body felt as if it was on fire. Isabella wrapped her fingers around his wrists and pulled his hands to her throat. "Please," she choked. "Don't let him be the one."

It was all Edward needed to hear to snap out of his daze. "I'm so sorry," he whispered as he pushed her face under the water. He squeezed his eyes shut, blocking out the image of his hands around her throat and her hair floating around her face.

Her body jerked the same time he heard the first kick hit the front door. Water sloshed over the sides as her hands flew to the sides of the tub. Her legs kicked and her body writhed as her survival instinct kicked in. Edward's stomach rolled and his eyes flew open when the second blow sounded against the motel door.

When he looked at her face, panicked and afraid, his grip loosened. He couldn't do it. He'd failed to save her in every way possible. It was then that Isabella's body stilled, and her hands fell limply over his, as if she were holding him in place, telling him it was okay. His eyes never strayed from her face as she stilled. She blinked once more as the remaining air trapped in her lungs bubbled from her parted lips.

Her hair floated around her like a halo. She looked calm, at peace. A choked sob tore from his body as he pulled her from the water and clutched her to his chest. "I'm sorry, baby. I love you." He loosened his hold and cradled her face in his hands. "I love you." He kissed her lips, her cheeks, chin and nose, each one with an I love you on his tongue.

The motel door banged against the wall and deep voices echoed around the room. With a final glance, he pressed his lips to her forehead one last time before lowering her back into her watery grave. "I'll be right behind you."

"Son of a bitch," Emmett roared as he stormed into the bathroom. "You fucking bastard!" He reared back and slammed his fist into Edward's face, causing him to fall backward in the water. "You fuck my wife, you disrespect me, and then you kill her! Who the fuck do you think you are?"

Edward chuckled and wiped the blood from his lip as he slowly sat up. "I think I'm the winner, mother fucker."

Edward watched as the blood rushed to Emmett's face and a haze of rage covered his eyes. It was exactly what he wanted. Exactly what he expected. Emmett pulled out his gun and pressed it to the side of Edward's head, his entire body vibrating with anger.

"Who's the winner now?"

Edward looked at Isabella. Reaching down, he swept his thumb over her lips, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as a single tear rolled down his cheek. "Still me, Emmett. Still me."

The gun exploded before Edward had a chance to pull in another breath. His body went slack as he fell forward, his body covering Isabella's. The water turned red as blood seeped from the wound and filled the tub.

Emmett stared at them with disgust before spitting into the water. Turning away from them, he locked his gaze on Mikey. "Clean this up," he spat pushing his way out of the room.

"What do you want me to do, Boss?"

Emmett looked over his shoulder and shook his head. "Burn 'em both."

"You got it, Boss." Mikey moved to the tub slowly and looked over his shoulder. Once he was certain he was alone, he reached down and pulled the stopper from the tub, his muscles clenching when Isabella's hair brushed against his hand. "You did good, Eddie," he whispered. "She didn't deserve what he had planned. Neither of you did. I hope wherever you two end up that you're together. I'll miss you both."

As Emmett sped out of the parking lot, Agent Jenks gaped at the mounds of papers in front of him. Snatching them off his desk, he sprinted down the hall to his boss's office. Without knocking, he burst inside. "We got 'em," he yelled, dropping the stacks of paper on the desk. "God damn it, we've got 'em."

The man behind the desk stared at papers wide eyed. "Holy shit. Where did you get this?"

"It was just delivered. Came from Isabella Cullen and Edward Masen."

"She turned over her own father."

"And her husband. She just single-handedly brought down her entire family."

"Yes. Yes she did." The man looked at Jenks with a knowing expression as he stood from his chair. "And I'm sure she's paid for it dearly. Let's make sure it wasn't in vain, okay?"

Jenks nodded, his expression solemn. "I won't let you down."

.

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.

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Isabella Cullen and Edward Masen left this world on a cold, rainy night in November. No missing persons reports were filed, and no memorial services were held. Their bodies were never found. It was as if they never existed. But just like Edward promised, he followed right behind her, and she was there waiting for him.

A/N

Thank you guys from the bottom of my angst-riddled heart for taking this journey with me. I know it was tragic, it broke me a million times to write it. But once a seed is planted, I can't ignore it.

Thanks to Julie, Ooza, and Sara for their support and to Nerdy for the flails and threats. I love you guys, this fandom is my family and you make me smile everyday.

For any of you who didn't already think I was sadistic, I made a video to go with this story. It can be found at youtu. be /Jh8qZdcVPfM (just take out the spaces)

Until next time...

~Liv