Blood Demons MC - Viper's Revenge

Chapter Nine

Bella stood at the window, looking up at the inky black sky with twinkling stars breaking through. It was strange to see the stars at night after having lived in a city where the lights were never turned off. An enormous sigh escaped through her lips as she worried about Edward.

She remembered when she was still living with her father and he would go off to take care of business. He always came back, though many times he or another brother would be injured. But there were a few times when someone wouldn't make it back. This life was dangerous. Then her thoughts went to her father. She wondered where his body was and if anyone was planning his funeral and interment. Damn it, she should be the one making the arrangements for her father. However, the thought of Demetri finding her scared her to death. There was something seriously wrong with him.

"He will be alright," Duchess said, stepping up beside Bella.

"How do you know?"

"Because he would walk through hell to get back to you," Duchess answered. "Come, let's have a drink and I will tell you all about him."

Bella took one last look at the stars, before turning to follow Duchess over to the couch. On the coffee table were two rock glasses with dark amber liquid in them. Sitting down, Bella picked up the glass and took a drink. The burn of the alcohol warmed her throat and body. "Damn, this is smooth."

Duchess grinned as she took a drink and sat back against the couch. "Viper has a thing with fine whiskey. Now let me tell you a little bit about my son."

"Only if you think he wouldn't mind," Bella said. She would never do anything to break his trust in her.

"He won't. We never really knew what happened to him that summer sixteen years ago," Duchess began, with a faraway look in her eyes. "I can still remember the morning after he met you. I was in the kitchen fixing breakfast for his father when he walked in with this goofy look on his face. Edward was always such a serious child, wanting to be just like his father. However, that day, he looked so happy and carefree. There was this light in his green eyes. He never told us he met a girl, but his father and I could see how happy he was every day. Then one day he came home totally crushed. The light was gone. After that, he closed off his heart and allowed no one in. Now, I know it won't surprise you, but he went through a lot of club whores and other women. Bella, none of them made him smile like you did today. The light has returned, and it was you. I am so happy you are in my son's life," Duchess explained, fighting back the tears which threatened to escape.

Bella reached and placed her hand on Duchess's leg. "I didn't want to leave that summer, but there is something you need to know about me. When I was away from my father, he required me to use my alias, which is Isa Stewart. This is the name I used when I met Edward that summer. I was staying with a friend for the summer and met Edward at the amusement park. As soon as I looked into his eyes, I was lost. We spent every day together and one night when I came home, my father was waiting for me. He asked where I had been and who I had been with. When I told him Edward's name, he went nuts. He made me pack my suitcase and shipped me off to live with my mother's sister in New York."

Duchess' brows knitted together in confusion. "Your father knew Edward's name?"

"He didn't know Edward per se, but he knew Edward's father."

Still not getting why it was an issue, Duchess continued to try to figure it out. "Many people knew Edward's father and had issues with the fact he was the president of a motorcycle gang, with ties to criminal activities. Where are you from?"

With a broken voice, she answered. "Tucson. My father was Crusher Swan."

"Was?" Duchess asked. The last she had heard of Crusher, he was still in Tucson.