{"id":954,"date":"2024-08-23T01:26:59","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T01:26:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=954"},"modified":"2024-08-23T01:46:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T01:46:25","slug":"chapter-05","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=954","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 05"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 05 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s usually common courtesy to give the locals a head\u2019s up,\u201d Bella replied with a slight Southern accent as she sat down in a chair to join Peter Burke and his friend. \u201cEspecially seeing as you\u2019re looking for someone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella had found Burke and the other agent, who she suspected wasn\u2019t an agent as Auggie Anderson was blind, quite easily. She and Neal had looked at the CCTV cameras in the area and they found Burke and the other agent at a nice coffee place having a drink. They didn\u2019t look like they were in New Orleans on in an official capacity, but they didn\u2019t need to know that she knew that. She needed information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cWe\u2019re here on our personal time,\u201d Burke replied. \u201cTaking in the sights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile looking for a person and announcing you\u2019re FBI while doing so?\u201d she countered, raising an eyebrow. \u201cSmells fishy to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYa must have, seeing as we were tipped off,\u201d Bella winked. \u201cBut I\u2019m here, what can I do to help?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you have cases to solve?\u201d Anderson replied. While he was blind, he didn\u2019t look blind, not if you didn\u2019t know what to look for. The folded cane, the slight aversion of his eyes, almost as if he wasn\u2019t making eye contact, his constant head tilt to hear where the sound was coming from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI multitask very well. Let me use our resources to find whoever you\u2019re looking for, and then you can go on your merry way or actually enjoying the beauty of our fair city rather sooner than later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not looking for one person, we\u2019re looking for two,\u201d Burke said as he produced a picture from his inside pocket and gave it to Bella. It was Peter with Neal, and a brunette that she figured was Peter\u2019s wife. \u201cUnfortunately, we don\u2019t know for certain what the person he\u2019s with looks like, but she\u2019s a woman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a welfare check,\u201d Anderson added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella leaned back into her chair as she looked at the two men. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but he seems like an adult. What is he to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA friend. And I believe he\u2019s in danger,\u201d Burke replied, but Bella could tell that he was lying, bluffing. Likely under the knowledge that local LEOs would help quicker if there was a sense of danger involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow so? Again, he seems to be an adult, is he with someone dangerous?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, no,\u201d Anderson replied. \u201cShe\u2019s had a rough life, but she has a beautiful heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella wasn\u2019t sure what to say. She never even met this guy, how would he know her? \u201cEx-girlfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Anderson let out a snort. \u201cHer brother asked me to look out for her in my own special way and I did, until a couple of days ago when she disappeared. We suspect they\u2019re here in New Orleans, involved with a local crime family. We think her name is Bella.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis name is Neal,\u201d Burke added. \u201cHe re-entered the country as Neal Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course they knew. Bella felt the color drain from her face. This guy was lying through his teeth, and so was Peter, and she tried to suppress the anger that was rising in her. Even so, the guy was also FBI, so she\u2019d been kept an eye on for a while, by a fucking Suit. But she was pulling a con, and she could remain composed while she was interacting with these two men. \u201cI\u2019ll see what I can do,\u201d she eventually managed to say. \u201cDo you have a phone number I can reach you on?\u201d When Peter handed her his card, she rose to her feet. \u201cAlright, gentlemen, I\u2019ll see what I can do, I\u2019ll be in touch. Enjoy your day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She managed to walk away with some composure. Neal was home, mainly because they didn\u2019t want to risk things, but she had wished that he was with her now. Instead, she had her shadow following her, making her only more agitated. Bella caught a cab once she was sure she was far enough from Burke and Anderson and headed home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew it was a fucking bad idea,\u201d she said as she closed the door and walked straight into the courtyard where Neal was making use of the natural light to paint. \u201cBut you\u2019re going to call Burke right now, and you\u2019re going to check in with him and tell him that you\u2019re going to Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWoah, what happened? Are you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not okay!\u201d she blurted. \u201cI don\u2019t know how, but the agent that was with him apparently knew me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA Suit?\u201d Neal laughed. \u201cAre you serious?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes! I don\u2019t know how but\u2014\u201d It then hit her. \u201cHe\u2019s fucking Mingus! Oh, that makes so much sense now. What an asshole!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was fucking played by a Suit,\u201d she kicked against one of the chairs. \u201cIzzy Sheppard is in the system thanks to my fuck up,\u201d she kicked against the same chair again before letting out a breath. \u201cIzzy needs to die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey,\u201d he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. \u201cBreathe. If this Suit was out to get you, you\u2019d been arrested a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t get it. They know Shitface is Bella. Izzy Sheppard. Me. And even though I nuked that handle, they still know it was me. And if they don\u2019t know already, they\u2019ll connect the dots soon enough. They can still come after me for some dodgy shit that I did. I fucked up again,\u201d she looked up to Neal with tears in her eyes. \u201cIt\u2019s only a matter of time before they find me, and if you don\u2019t want to get implicated\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey now,\u201d Neal put a finger on her lips to shut her up. Bella was panicking like she\u2019d been in Paris after admitting who had taken a shot at her and who was behind it, but this felt different. \u201cI trust Peter, I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll come after you. I take it the other agent was Mingus? Wasn\u2019t he helping you in getting clear from your family? Help you with a new identity?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s still a fucking Suit! It could all be a ploy to make me cooperate and now that they know who I am, they can finally get to me. All they fucking do is lie. Even told me that he was asked to look after me by my brother. My brother is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal sucked in a breath. That did sound a bit on the suspicious side, especially now that he knew the story of her brother and how he had sacrificed himself all these years ago. There was no doubt in his mind that she was currently experiencing flashback emotions on top of everything else she was feeling right now. \u201cI won\u2019t allow them to take you,\u201d he eventually said and planted a kiss on top of her head. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, okay? We\u2019ll fix this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She took the voice recorder out of her pocket and handed it to him before ducking out from under his arms. \u201cTell me that again after listening back to this,\u201d Bella said solemnly as she walked into the house, still shaking with anger but trying to contain it. She needed a clear head for this, she could not allow her feelings to take over. She needed to be strategic about this, and that meant that she and Neal had to leave New Orleans and find a crew of her own to take down her family, and likely herself along with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey Peter,\u201d Neal said as he walked in after her, calling Peter on his new phone. Oh, he knew that it\u2019d likely anger Bella more, but then again, she had this look on her face that she was about to give everything up. \u201cHeard you were looking for me,\u201d he turned the phone on speaker so that Bella could hear as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat agent works fast.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe sure does,\u201d Neal replied as he took Bella\u2019s hand and pulled her along to the couch. \u201cThere\u2019s no need for a welfare check, you know, we\u2019re fine and made some new friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you planning something big?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, with people we can trust. It\u2019d be best if you remained in the dark,\u201d he pulled her down on the couch with him and put an arm around her, making sure she couldn\u2019t go anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs Izzy with you?\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ah, a new voice. \u201cYou must be Agent Anderson.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAuggie, please.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMingus?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. Look, shitface disappeared off the dark web and our last conversation wasn\u2019t a good one.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen you should have been upfront with her from the start,\u201d Neal replied as he looked at Bella. She was a bit more composed than she\u2019d been before, but this wasn\u2019t the time for her to bottle things up. \u201cYou put her in WITSEC, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bingo. Bella didn\u2019t have to fear getting arrested for what she did for the Cullens at least. \u201cAnd you didn\u2019t give her a choice. Nor did you inform her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI admit I made mistakes, but it was necessary. Only I knew her real identity and what she\u2019d been through and that\u2019s what kept her safe, just like I promised her brother. When I figured out she was with you, I contacted Agent Burke.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou really need to stop bringing up her brother. She doesn\u2019t like that very much as he\u2019s dead and she\u2019s been struggling with the repercussions ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s alive. We were stationed together in Afghanistan before he went AWOL and do his own thing to protect her. He asked me to find a way to look after her in my own way, and I did, after I got my accident and landed my current job at the FBI.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen where is he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat I don\u2019t know, but his name was Grant Swan when we met. I told him to tell her that he was still alive, but apparently, he had other ideas.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLies,\u201d Bella whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr maybe you have been lied to for most of your life. Look, I know you\u2019re scared about being in the system, but you\u2019re not. A Marshall owed me a favor, and everything is destroyed. There are no copies of anything whatsoever. No association between you and the Cullens. I promise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHear that? You\u2019re safe,\u201d Neal told her with a smile. \u201cNothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Volturi found you and your uncle because he wasn\u2019t protected and as far as we know, they don\u2019t know you\u2019re here and your name. Coming back to the US was a good thing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to plot a revenge against the Cullens, all it takes is to tell us everything we need to know and we can build a case against them,\u201d <\/em>Peter said, causing Bella to shake her head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe won\u2019t ever rat out her family, Peter. It\u2019s not that easy,\u201d Neal said as he gently rubbed Bella\u2019s back. <\/em>\u201cI\u2019ll tell you what, let\u2019s meet tonight, you and I, there\u2019s this establishment on Bourbon Street that serves some of the best wines in the city. I\u2019ll tell you all that I can, whilst protecting Izzy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Bella shook her head. \u201cNo, he\u2019ll take you back and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, he won\u2019t, right, Peter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust a chat amongst friends. I never even took my badge with me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAgent LaSalle?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about, Auggie?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the voice of the NCIS agent who came to visit us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m done,\u201d Bella wrestled herself out of Neal\u2019s hold and walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine and opened her laptop to do a search for Grant Swan and Grant Cullen. She was going to prove that the FBI were lying assholes. She wanted to stay as far away as possible from them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She took a swig of the bottle while she heard Neal talk in the other room and decided to try and find Grant Swan everywhere, in every database that she\u2019d ever cracked and hacked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: The giant followed you today. He said you were upset. You okay?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: Dealing with Suits. Mingus is a fucking suit. Long story.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: Are you okay?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: I will be, once I can prove to N that the Suits are lying.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: About what?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: My brother.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: And what if they\u2019re not lying?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: They\u2019re still suits. Can\u2019t trust them even though N does. He\u2019s like his pet.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: I\u2019m going to add \u2018emotional warfare\u2019 to the list to take into account for our plan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: Why?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: What\u2019s the best way to control your kids? To make them scared of something. We have had our issues with that in the past and it took us a while to get over it. I was still young and adapted quickly but my brother took the brunt of it, he still has issues with it sometimes. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5w4n: That\u2019s not what\u2019s going on.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tr0uble: Pretty sure it is. Trust your man. Everything is going to be okay. Your life is not falling apart, got that? Don\u2019t do anything stupid, we still want to get paid!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella huffed as she allowed her code to crawl the web and took her bottle as she got up from the chair, seeing Neal stand in the doorway, leaning against the doorpost, looking at her. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she apologized s she took a swig of the bottle. \u201cI\u2019m also sorry that I decided to be an uncultured swine and drink straight from the bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s okay, I understand you\u2019re afraid,\u201d Neal replied. \u201cAnd hearing that you were tricked and forced into WITSEC isn\u2019t a nice thing to hear, either. I would be pissed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I think we both don\u2019t get the full picture of what\u2019s going on, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m going to meet Peter tonight, to get the full story and why they\u2019re in New Orleans now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBurke wants to reconnect with you, isn\u2019t that obvious? Mingus is just a distraction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe, but Peter knows I\u2019m okay. He\u2019s not like Mozzie like that. So for him to come and look for me, means that something\u2019s up. Maybe there\u2019s some information about the Cullens and the Volturi and he doesn\u2019t want me to get caught up in it, or maybe there\u2019s something else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella kept her eyes on him as she took another sip of the bottle. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to get caught up with my family, I\u2019ve told you this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal nodded. \u201cAnd I told you that I\u2019m not going anywhere. Not without you. Every family has crazy relatives, it just sucks that both sides of our families have some screws loose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She sighed as she set down the bottle and walked into his arms. \u201cI feel like I have some screws loose. Just like that, things start happening which makes the ground shake underneath my feet, ready to fall away. I know that my siblings are assholes, but to maybe learn that your teachings weren\u2019t truthful?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re calling it teachings. Shouldn\u2019t it be raising a child?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella shrugged. \u201cIn any case, a family should be truthful and not want to kill their daughter, either. And now hearing that I\u2019ve been in contact with a Suit and he tricked me? I can\u2019t believe that I fell for it. I mean\u2026 why me? There are now two Suits who know who I am. TWO!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd one of them is one that I trust,\u201d he said calmly as he played with her hair. \u201cI want you to come with me tonight. Get to know Peter a little, see that he\u2019s not a bad person. He\u2019s my friend, and as he said, he left his badge at home, so he\u2019s here because he\u2019s a friend,\u201d Neal kept playing with her hair as he continued. \u201cShould you want to leave, then you can leave, but sometimes it\u2019s better to face your fear than to keep running from it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Bella remained quiet, he continued. \u201cYou\u2019re teaching me a new way of con artistry, that you don\u2019t have to steal for yourself but that you can do things for others. Let me teach you that not all law enforcement are dangerous or bad. I have to admit, I sometimes didn\u2019t have the best of times with Peter, but he was my way out of jail, and he did teach me to think differently in some ways. We became friends and he became someone I can trust.\u201d Neal lifted her chin with his finger and kissed her. \u201cI won\u2019t let anything happen to you, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, what the hell, my life feels like it\u2019s coming apart at the seams already, why not tear it all up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

She and Neal weren\u2019t alone in the wine bar, the Michaels had followed them and were quietly sitting at a table not far away from them, keeping an eye out for them. And for some strange reason, it made Bella feel safer. Bella was really uncomfortable, still, but she decided to go along with Neal\u2019s idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fear was sometimes a good thing, and maybe she\u2019d learn something. Resistance was in some cases unhealthy and Neal had spoken about Peter in such a way so often, that it was easier to give in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had the strategic plan of shutting up and drinking her wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least Burke came alone like he had told Neal, which was a good thing. Bella wasn\u2019t sure if she could deal with Mingus right now. There was one silver lining; when she and Neal would arrive home, her little program would likely have accumulated all the information on Grant Swan and\/or Grant Cullen and it would be nothing. Absolutely nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wasn\u2019t sure what she\u2019d feel if her brother was still alive. Likely that her entire life had been a lie and Bella wasn\u2019t prepared for that notion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least Burke\u2019s smile was genuine when he hugged Neal tightly. So was Neal\u2019s. So Neal hadn\u2019t been playing to have befriended the Suit – which had been a possibility, but it was good to see confirmation of that. Neal introduced her as Izzy, which was great, and she said hi, before cloning Peter\u2019s phone and remained quiet while the two old friends caught up with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, Bella knew that Peter was only one of the few people Neal fully trusted, and that should count for something because she believed she was one of those people as well, but how could you trust a Suit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She quietly observed him, and Neal, as they talked, and Peter seemed to be quite relaxed, not as uptight during some of the calls she\u2019d overheard. Very friendly too, a real family man. Super masculine, the typical look of a Suit, but yet, also a softness and a fondness towards Neal. Burke showed Neal pictures of one-year-old Neal Burke on his phone, pictures of other people that were a part of Neal\u2019s history with the Suit and occasionally saw flashes of regret on Neal\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regret for faking his own death to live the way he wanted to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was surprised though that out of nowhere, Burke head slapped Neal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOw! Why did you do that?\u201d Neal pouted as he rubbed his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, Neal, not that I\u2019m very very happy to see you in the flesh, but what\u2019s the use of faking your own death and then coming back to the States when you should be on the run from the Panthers? We never were able to catch them all. Even Mozzie was raging about you being back here as it puts you, and everyone you ever cared about in danger,\u201d Peter said in a hushed voice. \u201cHe even told me that you told him to go back to basics. Going after a large crime family and coming back to the US is not going back to basics, Neal!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella\u2019s head shot up from examining Peter\u2019s phone upon hearing the name. \u201cPanthers? As in\u2026 Pink Panthers?\u201d Oh, she wasn\u2019t going to tell them that the Cullens loved the Panthers. Carlisle even lend her to the Panthers once to create a gadget just for them. They were bad, bad people, the thought of Neal allowing himself to get caught up in that\u2026 Was it because of the FBI? Did Peter put Neal in the line of fire?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t know, Peter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou should have told me!\u201d she hissed as she, too, slapped Neal on the head. \u201cTheir notoriety matches that of the Volturi, they\u2019re a bunch of psychopaths and professional killers!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWould you have accepted me and my help if I had told you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou, yes. Your help? No. I would have asked my Uncle and Liam to keep you drugged and tied down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t work,\u201d Peter shook his head. \u201cEven while drugged he can get out of restraints, it\u2019s almost as if he can\u2019t help himself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Neal took a sip of his wine. \u201cNeal Caffrey is dead and wiped. We still have time to go after your family, Izzy, I\u2019m not too worried. Besides, the FBI got them all, didn\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella settled back in her chair and took a sip of her wine. Yeah, he wasn\u2019t worried. Just like she wasn\u2019t worried about the Cullens and the Volturi. \u201cYou still should have told me,\u201d Bella muttered as she looked back on the phone. She was going to see about the status of the Panthers when they got back home, but she hadn\u2019t heard of them for quite some time now, not after the FBI took them down. \u201cWait, you had a hand in them getting put away?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Neal smiled brightly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut they\u2019re in jail now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Peter nodded. \u201cRight where they belong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Panthers are in jail. So there\u2019s still a Pink Panther group somewhere else, it\u2019s merely finding out where,\u201d she concluded. \u201cThey\u2019re like Hydra. Cut off one head, they\u2019ll grow another.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho?\u201d Peter and Neal looked at her with the same confused look on their faces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeriously, you need to get out more,\u201d Bella replied as she looked at Cole who was sitting in her view at the bar and he rolled his eyes. Yeah, he understood that reference. Of course he did. She was still going to check out to see how much of a threat the Panthers still were. When she briefly looked at Peter before looking back on the phone, she noticed that he had a look that could rival her Uncle Garrett\u2019s look when pointing out something obvious with concern. \u201cAs long as Neal doesn\u2019t draw attention to himself, he\u2019ll be fine. I doubt that they\u2019ve shared his photo around, or yours, or your family\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd how do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed as she put the phone in her pocket to fully focus on the conversation. \u201cThe Panthers don\u2019t employ hackers of their own, they hire them on the darknet. I haven\u2019t seen any recruiting going on for them last time I checked. I\u2019m also keeping tabs on Neal\u2019s names and aliases on there to see if anyone is looking for him. Your adult son is safe, suit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t saying \u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re concerned about your friend, I understand that, and I appreciate that,\u201d she said as she took a sip of her wine. \u201cBut I\u2019m not just some girl, and anyone who\u2019s my friend or in my presence long enough gets those tags to keep them safe, even if their own past is just as checkered as mine. You don\u2019t have to worry about him. On top of that, he\u2019s proven more than once that he\u2019s more than capable of recognizing danger and how to get out of it,\u201d she mused as she took another sip of her wine, keeping her eyes on the Suit. Neal was hers now. Hers. He was in her world, so he was hers. Just like she was his.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burke seemed to want to say something but refrained from doing so before nodding. \u201cThank you. Now, what\u2019s this about not wanting to do things the easy way when it comes to your family, Izzy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s complicated, but also part of a mindset I\u2019ve been taught to live by. Don\u2019t get law enforcement involved. On top of that, it\u2019s personal. They want me dead? I\u2019ll make sure to have them screw up and I\u2019ll be long gone once law enforcement gets involved by their own actions,\u201d Bella replied. \u201cI might have left them, but they\u2019re still mine. My family. No matter how much I\u2019m annoyed by them now or how much I disagree with their ways. I can play dirty, just like they taught me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter shrugged then. \u201cFair enough. I suppose it\u2019s also a matter of honor for you, not to snitch even though things are getting complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do have integrity,\u201d Bella replied, finishing her glass. \u201cYou boys want some more? I\u2019ll head over to the bar to get us some more,\u201d she said as she got to her feet and walked over to the bar and let out a deep breath as she grabbed onto the bar and steadied herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe seems like a decent guy,\u201d Nick said as he took a stand next to her. \u201cI never seen a conman befriend his handler like this before, their friendship is quite\u2026 unique.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhich might be the saving grace in this situation,\u201d Bella replied after taking another deep breath and waited for another bottle of wine to appear. \u201cI think the Suit had some influence on Neal while they worked together, but it\u2019s also the other way around. Burke does seem like the type of guy who\u2019s a straight arrow, though. By the book, always.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnless it\u2019s your former CI.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shrugged. \u201cI\u2019m still not liking the friendship because of what I was taught, but he\u2019s truthful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd what of the Pink Panthers? Shall we have something happen to those who are in jail?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWon\u2019t that draw them all out?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot when you do it the right way,\u201d Nick smiled at her. \u201cI think that dealing with one group of psychopaths is more than enough, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella took the bottle from the bartender and returned Nick\u2019s smile. \u201cI\u2019d be in your debt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConsider this part of our agreement, not as a favor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d she nodded before returning to the table, refilled everyone\u2019s glass, and got the cloned phone back out of her pocket to scroll through it again. There were so many pictures on there, pictures of Peter and his family, of their friends. Not a familiar face in sight, apart from some old pictures of Neal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were adorable. Neal with an old woman, likely June, standing next to a piano, seemingly singing. Neal with a beautiful golden retriever. Neal with who Bella believed to be Mozzie. Neal at the FBI office. Neal in cuffs. Neal smiling, Neal laughing. Neal wearing that stupid goofy look on his face that she loved so much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you looking at?\u201d Neal asked sweetly as he leaned into her before realizing what she had in her hands. \u201cYou didn\u2019t!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBest way to get to know someone,\u201d Bella shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, I guess I owe Auggie 20 dollars,\u201d Burke laughed, shaking his head. \u201cHe said that hackers were predictable. Find anything interesting on my phone, young lady?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot yet, just looking at pictures,\u201d she replied. \u201cCute family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIzzy,\u201d Neal said as he took the phone from her hands. \u201cHe\u2019s my friend, you don\u2019t do this to friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s your friend, not mine,\u201d Bella replied as a matter-of-factly and yanked the phone out of Neal\u2019s hand and put it in her pocket. \u201cBut fine, I\u2019ll continue to dig once we\u2019re back home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFeel free, there\u2019s nothing incriminating on that phone,\u201d Peter replied, a smile on his face as he looked at Neal. \u201cI like her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood, because she\u2019s here to stay,\u201d Neal nodded as he took a sip of his wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd she\u2019s going home,\u201d Bella smiled at Neal. \u201cI still have a few things running at home that I want to check out and I want to give you two the opportunity to catch up without me.\u201d She got to her feet and looked at Neal when he took her hand. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Cole will walk me home,\u201d she said as she thumbed over her shoulder. \u201cHave fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Neal let go of her, she walked over to Cole and looped her arm through his. She couldn\u2019t wait to get out of there, Bella had a feeling that Burke was going to bring up Mingus, or her brother, or whatever and she just wanted to get out of dodge. Once she was outside, she let out a deep breath, and took a big gulp of air, the alcohol truly hitting her now. \u201cFinally. I\u2019m drunk!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cole let out a laugh as they started to walk the short walk towards her home. \u201cDoes it make any difference?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnfortunately not,\u201d she sighed, only slightly unsteady on her feet. \u201cI just wish I could just drink it all away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is slightly unsettling, isn\u2019t it? Your partner being friends with a Suit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I mean\u2026 where does the friend end and the Suit begins? You know\u2026 it\u2019s\u2026\u201d Bella looked up at him. \u201cWhat were your teachings about law enforcement?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTeachings? We were raised to respect the men in blue, despite our activities, as long as we didn\u2019t get caught while we were doing said activities. Being friends or on first name basis with cops is a valuable thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow so?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, we give them someone to arrest, they might do us a favor when we need it. Like when we get caught with our hand in the cookie jar,\u201d Cole laughed. \u201cNick believes that the relationship between your boy and the Suit is genuine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Orleans at night was beautiful. There were different kinds of lights everywhere, and you could hear live music come from every bar you\u2019d pass. People laughing, smiling, having a good time, and of course, the obvious pickpockets. It was so easy to tell who was a pickpocket and the marks they picked out. \u201cYeah, I figured that myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhich is likely the reason why the Suit lets it slide that you want to go after your family. He trusts Neal. Neal trusts you, so the Suit has no other choice but to trust you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you think I\u2019m too set in my ways?\u201d It was hot and sticky outside though, she couldn\u2019t wait to be home and have air conditioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cole sucked in a breath then. \u201cLike I said, I put emotional warfare on the list of things that your family likes to do. Nick agrees with me, he\u2019s better at reading people than I am and he and Myriam both studied psychology. You were taught to fear the authorities. They also likely told you your brother had died.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe is dead. The Suits are lying, and as soon as I get home, I\u2019m going to prove it. I\u2019ve been running an algorithm to find any trace of a Grant Swan or a Grant Cullen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s funny how you both picked the name Swan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella huffed. \u201cWe both felt like ugly ducklings as children, and ugly ducklings grow into beautiful swans. It\u2019s not that far-fetched.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow could the Suits know this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t have a quick answer for that. \u201cIf my brother is still alive, why hasn\u2019t he looked for me? W-why ask a Suit to find me and look out for me? And fucking unwillingly put me in WITSEC?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cole shrugged as they turned the last corner. \u201cMaybe there\u2019s more going on than what you\u2019re currently dealing with and he wanted to protect you, as family should do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of maybe\u2019s, and when it comes to family, I don\u2019t like to hear \u2018maybe\u2019,\u201d Bella replied as she typed in her code, waved the fob key over the sensor and then unlocked her front door. \u201cThank you for bringing me home, Cole. I appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cole smiled widely at her. \u201cOf course, no lady should walk the streets of New Orleans by herself at night, no matter how badass they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood night, Cole,\u201d Bella laughed, shaking her head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood night, Izzy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She closed the door behind her and headed to her computer after snatching another bottle of wine on the way up and settled in her comfortable chair. She took a swig of the bottle and set it next to her as she moved her mouse to wake up her computer monitors. The screens flickered, and a bright light greeted her from all directions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella had hoped her algorithm didn\u2019t come up with anything, that Mingus had been wrong and making up lies, but she couldn\u2019t say that anymore. In front of her there were several government documents of Grant Swan, a soldier in the US army, special forces. Documents about his time in the army and reports on how he went AWOL. Pictures of him and his unit, pictures of him and other soldiers from different units, one of them had a smiling Mingus on them as well with Grant having his arm around him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facial recognition came up with more images, from newspapers or snapshots people had posted on the internet. Grant had gone everywhere under different names, different specialties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But she had not expected the next batch of pictures, they were from a private investigator and recently uploaded to his cloud. Pictures of Grant and Cole. Grant and this tall dude. Grant and Nick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She knew she had to hack that PI now to see who hired him to make sure Grant was safe, but she felt betrayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

It was simply too much. This wasn\u2019t just getting shot at by family, this was everything she believed in that crumbled away from underneath her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brother? Not so dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suits? Not so bad and actually truthful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believing she could trust the Michaels? Not so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella had led herself to New Orleans, but Neal kicked the door wide open to the Suits. Everything was one big fucking mess and she didn\u2019t know how to fix all of it. Well, she did, but that\u2019d require giving up everything she\u2019d grown to love since Uncle Garrett planted the good seeds in her brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, this was all Garrett\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it hadn\u2019t been for Garrett, she\u2019d still be with her family, safe and dealing with her siblings. It hadn\u2019t been all that bad, apart from the bullying or getting isolated for a few days. If it hadn\u2019t been for Garrett, she wouldn\u2019t have met Neal. She wouldn\u2019t have had to deal with the Suits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But she also wouldn\u2019t have met Neal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wouldn\u2019t have met Neal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella was trying to anchor herself to the love she\u2019d felt for him and how much she felt loved by him, but it wasn\u2019t working. She felt empty. Hollow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She got herself to this point. This wasn\u2019t anyone\u2019s fault but hers. She\u2019d fallen for the interesting life Garrett lead, leading her to believe that it was a better way of living. Bella could have said \u2018no\u2019, and remained with her family. Family was so important, she could see that with the Michaels too, why did she ever leave?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella took her phone out of her purse as she ran a hand over her face to wipe away the tears and dialed a number, not caring about hiding her ass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho is this?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDaddy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella, why are you calling me? You know the protocol.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to come home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know the rules, Bella. You can\u2019t. You left and you\u2019re now in an enemy’s hands. You can\u2019t come back without compromising the entire family.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course. That was also likely the reason why her family wanted her dead. She could compromise them. \u201cI didn\u2019t tell anybody. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou told the Michaels,\u201d <\/em>Carlisle replied. \u201cI know you\u2019re in New Orleans, Bella, Cole had a lot to say about you. How his family is going to help you to take down your own? For what? For following our own rules?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She felt the invisible dagger in her heart dig itself in even deeper. Cole was talking to her family? And of course, it was wrong to go after her own family because she broke the rules, and she had to abide by them. \u201cI-I\u2019ll tell them to stop.\u201d But Cole telling her family what was going on didn\u2019t make any sense, the Michaels said they didn\u2019t like her family after the last time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know that\u2019s not how it works, Bella. Or\u2026 is it Izzy now? Beautiful name.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She felt as if she was going to be sick. \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not the only one who can run facial recognition on government servers, we knew exactly when you were back in the States,\u201d <\/em>Carlisle replied, she could hear the smug smile on his face as she tried to keep her tears at bay. \u201cAs it turns out, you\u2019re not as special as you think you are. Or as we thought. Anyone can hack, for the right price.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Bella knew that. \u201cI am your daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd Grant was my son, but he made the mistake of going back for you and got himself killed. Had he still been alive, he would still be with us. He wasn\u2019t weak like you. I taught you better than this, Bella. This begging is unbecoming.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do I do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou just stay put. Emmett is on his way to New Orleans. Either you fix this problem that we\u2019re having on your own, or he will do it for you, do you understand?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emmett was going to kill her if she didn\u2019t kill herself first. \u201cYes, daddy,\u201d her voice was barely a whisper as she disconnected the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her life was over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least she didn\u2019t have to worry about loyalties, her not dead brother or Neal anymore. Because her father had been right; she was weak. She always had been and going to Uncle Garrett had only made things worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did she become so weak? She never trusted anyone, not even her family, and she\u2019d only started to trust one person, her uncle, which snowballed through her life and she was more open and willing to seek contact with others. Until she found out that all the others were colluding with her family. All but one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal was untainted. Despite his relationship with the feds, Neal was untainted. She needed to tell him and maybe he could give her some hope again. He\u2019d help her get out of this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that would be unfair. Neal didn\u2019t have anything to do with this and it was her fault that they met. No, he needed to stay out of this, because he\u2019d get hurt or worse, and he didn\u2019t deserve that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, before Emmett would come for her, she was going to do one good thing. Neal was likely going to spend a few more hours with Peter, and she was going to try to fix things a little. She was unsure if Nick would have gone home after she and Cole left, but she was going to inform him about Cole\u2019s betrayal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She still couldn\u2019t believe it, but if it was true, Nick needed to know, or at least Myriam needed to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella used the tunnel to get out of her house and only had to round a corner to get to the Michaels\u2019 home. She was still shaking, likely pale as a sheet, but they needed to know. \u201cWho\u2019s home? Nick? Myriam?\u201d she called out as she walked into the courtyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all home,\u201d Cole replied as he looked over the balcony with a slight confused look on your face. \u201cBella, I just dropped you off home, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI need to speak with all of you,\u201d she replied. There wasn\u2019t one thing she needed to talk to the Michaels about. It were two things. Cole\u2019s potential betrayal and the fact that they knew her brother and didn\u2019t tell her. \u201cRight now!\u201d she demanded as she sat down on one of the couches. The hell with customs, with niceness. She didn\u2019t have anything to lose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s adorable,\u201d Cole cooed as he followed Nick and Myriam off the stairs. \u201cDon\u2019t you think, Nick?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIzzy, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d Nick asked, there was a worried look on his face as he sat down opposite of her. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she replied, shaking her head. \u201cBut that\u2019s alright. I\u2019ve learned a few things after Cole dropped me off at home and I wish to discuss that with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt this hour?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she replied. She didn\u2019t know when Emmett was going to arrive or how. She could have either a day or four hours left, it all depended on how he was going to travel to New Orleans from Las Vegas. \u201cSo, when I came home, I checked on my algorithm that I had started a couple of hours ago, looking for anything on Grant Swan or Grant Cullen to prove the Suit wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh? And?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She pulled up the PI photos on her tablet. \u201cSomeone\u2019s either looking into you or my brother, but the Suit was right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomeone is always looking into us, but that\u2019s not your brother,\u201d Nick said as he looked at the photo. \u201cThat\u2019s Henry Taylor, one of our closest friends. He came to live next door when he was about\u2026 ten years old after being placed in a foster home. The Taylors adopted him when he was fifteen. He occasionally helps us out with cons, when he\u2019s not too busy, and we\u2019ve asked him to come and help with your case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019d be great as an inside man, he\u2019s suave, and knows how to get people to do what he wants,\u201d Myriam added. \u201cAnd, on top of that, he\u2019s just an awesome guy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t lie to me,\u201d Bella almost begged. \u201cThat story sounds too good to be true.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHenry did have his issues but he turned out alright. Even joined the army at some point. He\u2019s not your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella thumbed back to the photo of Grant\u2019s unit and the Suit\u2019s unit in Afghanistan. \u201cSee that? That\u2019s Mingus, he\u2019s now an FBI agent, claiming that he worked with my brother in Afghanistan,\u201d she said as she pointed at Henry. \u201cAnd his name was Grant Swan. There was a Grant Swan in Afghanistan at the same time this picture was taken. He asked Auggie to find me and look out for me before he went AWOL.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince when do you believe a word the Suit is saying?\u201d Cole asked as he took her tablet and looked at the photos. \u201cChange of heart?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll this proves is that Henry once posed as Grant Swan. The Suit could still have made up that story,\u201d Nick pointed out. \u201cBut if you\u2019d want confirmation, I\u2019ll ask Henry to come over tomorrow morning, will that suit you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was convinced that their Henry was her brother, there was no way around it, although she\u2019d have to admit that she had suffered from tunnel vision and that their explanation was plausible too. However, if they were right, she couldn\u2019t trust Mingus. And if she was right, then nothing would change, other than she\u2019d have her brother back – a stranger – and he was friends with the Michaels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tomorrow was fine. She\u2019d likely die not knowing. \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWas that it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she said curtly. \u201cI received information that Cole is talking to Carlisle Cullen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat!\u201d Cole squeaked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho did you hear that from?\u201d Myriam scratched her head. \u201cBecause that claim is ridiculous. We told you, we had a bone to pick with them, why would Cole talk to Carlisle Cullen? On top of that, you asked us to help you, why would we inform our mark?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s stupid, that\u2019s what I thought\u2026\u201d Bella said, unsure what to say about the matter, not wanting to reveal the source because that would even sound more ridiculous to the Michaels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe heard it straight from the horse\u2019s mouth,\u201d Nick said as he leaned in closer, his blue eyes studying Bella\u2019s face. \u201cWhat made you call your father?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Bella muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe you do. Nothing that\u2019s being said here will leave this house, but my guess is that you didn\u2019t want to wait until your boyfriend would come home because you want to leave him out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything is my fault, and I\u2019m starting to realize that now. It\u2019s not bad luck. Everything that has happened has been set in motion by me,\u201d she eventually said. \u201cLike a domino being pushed over,\u201d she motioned with her hand. \u201cEverything collapses. I figured it\u2019d be best if I\u2019d just returned to my family because family is important and it was nice not to feel so much. And to know what to expect in life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo go back to being a loyal drone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded as she looked down at her hands as she played with her fingers. \u201cI liked spending time with my uncle and learn his way of life, so much so that I turned my back on my family and left for France. I then met Neal. I got shot because nobody leaves the family and gets away with it, and that was a warning. Neal came with a Suit, his friend,\u201d she added to her story. \u201cSuits are bad, law enforcement took my brother and he died in foster care. I then find out that the hacker Mingus is a Suit too, and his story is that my brother asked him to look after me, but how can that be when my brother is dead? Is he a bad Suit?\u201d She pointed at her tablet. \u201cDid he just give me a name to make up a story? Mingus put me in WITSEC without my consent, claiming to protect me, but my father knows that name. Everything is falling apart. Everything I knew, gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you panicked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded again. \u201cDespite everything, everything the Cullens did was to keep me safe, even though they didn\u2019t quite love me like a daughter, always treating me as the odd one. And that\u2019s fine, every family has a black sheep and I was the reason Grant got killed, he was always stronger than I am, as a kid. I\u2019m weak. And that\u2019s why I called my father, who reminded me that I broke our rules. I left the family, I\u2019m compromised. They sent the Volturi after me because of this. And now Emmett is coming to New Orleans to do it himself, unless I do it myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEither he kills me, or I kill myself. After I\u2019m done talking with you, I\u2019m going to message Mingus for a meet and I\u2019ll tell him everything about my family so that the FBI can go after them,\u201d there was no emotion in her voice. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll still pay you guys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myriam moved over so that she was sitting next to Bella and pulled her into her arms. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be alright, Izzy,\u201d she said kindly as she gently rubbed her back. \u201cYou\u2019ve hit rock bottom, and that\u2019s a very very scary place, but everything will work out fine. Ronon and Henry will intercept Emmett and they\u2019ll take care of him and you, you\u2019re going to call your boyfriend, have him join you here and you\u2019re going to stay in our guest room for the time being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou wanted us to help you. We\u2019re going to help you,\u201d Myriam insisted. \u201cNeal will understand. Don\u2019t worry Izzy, we\u2019ll take care of you. Keep you safe. Text your boyfriend, tell him to pick up clothes for the both of you, and then I\u2019m going to make you a nice herbal tea that will help you relax and you\u2019ll have a good night\u2019s sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted to leave him out of this. He doesn\u2019t deserve my shit. He\u2019s untainted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s yours and you\u2019re his,\u201d Myriam let go of Bella and smiled at her. \u201cNeal will understand. Now, text him or I will do it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI destroyed my phone after calling Carlisle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, we don\u2019t have his number.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go and get him,\u201d Cole offered as he got to his feet. \u201cHe\u2019s likely still in the same bar with his Suit friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on,\u201d Myriam said as she helped Bella to her feet. \u201cI\u2019m going to show you the guest room and bring you a nice cup of tea, a family recipe and it works like a charm,\u201d she said kindly, but it was obvious that there was anger bubbling underneath her skin. Another thing Bella was responsible for. \u201cDon\u2019t try and fight me, young lady, it\u2019s time to put away your pride and let others help you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not pride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not alone,\u201d she said as she opened the door to the guest room that was on the ground floor. It was the size of a mini apartment with a sitting area, a bedroom and a shower. \u201cNow, stay here. Neal will be here soon and I\u2019ll be back in a minute to bring you your tea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella had drifted off in a nice sleep so quickly that she hadn\u2019t even noticed that Neal had joined her, but when she woke up, she felt his arms around her and he\u2019d undressed her somewhat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMorning,\u201d Neal said softly as he pulled her closer and put his leg around her legs to keep her in bed. \u201cFeeling better?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry is a stupid word. Don\u2019t be sorry,\u201d he let out a snort. \u201cI understand why you\u2019re feeling that way, but Bella, none of this is your fault. I just wished you would have told me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted to keep you out of this, because you could get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m more hurt that you weren\u2019t open with me about what was going on in that beautiful head of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m \u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella, stop,\u201d Neal laughed as she turned around in his arms to look at him. \u201cOur chosen career path isn\u2019t without any danger, that\u2019s a fact. Another fact is that you and I are in this together. You\u2019re not alone and you don\u2019t need to protect me,\u201d he lifted her chin with his index finger to make her look at him. \u201cYou keep telling Mozzie off for wanting to look out for me, but you\u2019re doing the same thing. Yes, the world is a scary place and you can\u2019t trust anyone, and that\u2019s okay. At least let me in completely and don\u2019t shut me out completely when life gets too scary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s sort this out together. One step at a time. Slow down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I can\u2019t, Emmett is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmmett will have to deal with all of us to get to you. The Michaels have taken a liking to you, and they really want to help. They\u2019re good allies to have, and I think that once you let them in, they\u2019ll be great friends too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll keep coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s why we\u2019re all going to work hard to stop that from happening. Cole told me you wanted to talk to Auggie about your family?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She nodded as a response. \u201cQuick fix.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that you should do that. And then you\u2019re going to map out everyone who\u2019s allied themselves with your family and we\u2019ll go after them. One step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He kissed her softly. \u201cNow, go take a shower and get dressed, we\u2019re having breakfast with the Michaels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella felt significantly more like a normal person after her shower and clean clothes and Neal looked like as if he had all the sleep in the world, but she suspected he had barely any. He looked great though, in his jeans and his figure hugging shirt. Compared to him she looked like a sack of potatoes in a flowery dress with her damp hair in a braid over her shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou look beautiful,\u201d he smiled at her and softly kissed her. \u201cAre you ready to have some breakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d she replied with a nod. \u201cI\u2019m still not sure if this is a good idea though\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBaby steps,\u201d he gently took her hand and kissed it. \u201cAllow me to take care of you, and tell me everything you\u2019re worrying about so that I can try to make it better for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not weak,\u201d she said sharply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re not,\u201d that smile of his could melt ice caps, it was so bright. \u201cBut right now, you need a little extra help and there\u2019s no shame into admitting that, which you did. So in fact, you\u2019re very strong,\u201d he kissed her again and took her to the courtyard where the table was set up for breakfast. \u201cThe Michaels employ staff,\u201d he whispered in her ear. \u201cWe could do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she smiled at him. \u201cI love to cook.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs do I, but it was worth a try,\u201d he laughed. \u201cMornin\u2019!\u201d He greeted Cole, Nick and Myriam. \u201cI don\u2019t know what you gave her last night, Myriam, but she was out like a light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myriam smiled widely. \u201cI know my way around herbs, don\u2019t you worry. Come, sit, I have another tea for you today, Izzy. If all goes well, it\u2019ll calm your mind somewhat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not drugging me, are you?\u201d Bella quipped as she sat down in the chair that Neal had pulled back for her. The table was decked out in all sorts of breakfast options, far too many for just the five of them. A whole orphanage could be fed from the spread, many times over. There were pancakes, waffles, toast, sandwiches already with toppings on them, beignets, cereals, and a lot more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course not,\u201d Myriam huffed. \u201cThis is all natural. Glad to know you\u2019ve slept well. We made an executive decision last night after Neal arrived here, and you\u2019re not going back to your home until the threat against you is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I don\u2019t get a say in that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Neal shook his head. \u201cSafety in numbers, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou see, we like you. The both of you. So you\u2019re officially adopted into our little family,\u201d Nick took a sip of his coffee. \u201cAnd we also like to help people. While Cole, and Neal, assured us that your home is well secured, what if your adversaries do have a hacker up to snuff with your talents? They could easily get into your home without setting off any alarms and harm you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was overruled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, tuck in,\u201d Nick added with a smile on his face. \u201cNeal was also kind enough to pack your laptop, so when you have time, you\u2019re going to map out any associate of the Cullens that you may know of that deserve some trouble when they go down. We\u2019re going to have to have you take your full revenge on their entire system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While they were having breakfast, Bella drank Myriam\u2019s herbal tea, and had a waffle and a pancake while listening to the conversation going on. It was nice and relaxing, no worrying or stress and she nearly jumped ten feet in the air when Ronon and Henry walked in laughing, being quite loud about their entrance too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, food!\u201d Ronon exclaimed and pulled up a chair, sat down and tucked into the stack of sandwiches before looking at Bella. \u201cHi! We haven\u2019t officially met, I\u2019m Jason. I\u2019ve been looking out for you two the last few days.\u201d Jason was huge. Built like a giant, he had this real warrior look down pat, long hair, scruff, big muscles. Cuts and bruises on his big hands. He was a scary dude, but she trusted Cole in knowing his friend and that he was harmless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNice to meet you,\u201d Bella replied. \u201cI\u201dm Izzy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYep, I know that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHi, Henry Taylor,\u201d Henry introduced himself. He was almost as tall as Jason, slightly taller than Neal or Cole. Brown eyes, his hair all neatly cut, and his beard neatly trimmed. Now that Bella saw him in person, she could see that there was nothing about him that looked like a Cullen. Henry wasn\u2019t her brother. Mingus had lied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIzzy Sheppard,\u201d Bella replied, shaking his hand. \u201cGood to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s the client,\u201d Jason grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOhhhh,\u201d Henry sat down next to Jason and poured himself a coffee before looking at Myriam. \u201cYou never let me meet the clients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, because that\u2019s usually need-to-know. Izzy is under our protection and will remain here with Neal until we\u2019ve dealt with the issue,\u201d Myriam replied. \u201cHow did it go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, great,\u201d Henry nodded as he took a sip of his coffee before reaching for the sugar pot and dunked a lot of sugar in his coffee. \u201cJohnny wasn\u2019t too happy when we called though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat did you need Johnny for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry sheepishly looked at Jason before looking back at Myriam. \u201cYou told us to take care of him, so I did,\u201d he then quickly focused his attention to Bella. \u201cSo, for the Cullens to want you dead, you must have pissed them off greatly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou could say that,\u201d she muttered before realizing what Henry had said. \u201cEmmett\u2019s dead?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, nobody will ever find him, that\u2019s what we have Johnny for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a fixer. He gets shit that we need and has even more questionable contacts than these people,\u201d Jason nodded. \u201cGreat guy. Wasn\u2019t surprised we told him we had a body for him to dispose of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI offered to help,\u201d Henry shrugged. \u201cAll I got was a tirade of curse words in a thick Irish accent and a \u2018fuck off\u2019. Shame though. Was fun to kill Emmett.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019ll be no further killing,\u201d Myriam said sternly. \u201cGot that? Izzy wants them to pay, but not with their lives because that\u2019s what they\u2019re doing to her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes ma\u2019am,\u201d Henry and Jason chorused. \u201cSorry Izzy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 05 \u201cIt\u2019s usually common courtesy to give the locals a head\u2019s up,\u201d Bella replied with a slight Southern accent as she sat down in a chair to join Peter Burke and his friend. \u201cEspecially seeing as you\u2019re looking for someone.\u201d Bella had found Burke and the other agent, who…<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":933,"parent":935,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-954","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nChapter 05 - MeekoBuggy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chapter 05 - MeekoBuggy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chapter 05 \u201cIt\u2019s usually common courtesy to give the locals a head\u2019s up,\u201d Bella replied with a slight Southern accent as she sat down in a chair to join Peter Burke and his friend. \u201cEspecially seeing as you\u2019re looking for someone.\u201d Bella had found Burke and the other agent, who... 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