Secret Scents

Chapter 16

Belle was tired going to her car. She helped close at Merlotte's. It was three days since her and Jason's pretend rendezvous in the sheets. Andy had not been seen at all in those three days, which made Belle think about how he could possibly be the one terrorizing the girls. She dropped her keys and she sighed, leaning down, and picking them up, when she was ambushed from behind, a leather belt going around her throat. The first thought was panic, but she grabbed the belt, stepping backwards into her assailant, and loosened the grip on her throat with the belt. She turned, throwing an elbow into his face, blood splattering.

"You're a whore!" He bellowed at her and went at her again.

Belle knew self-defense well, and Andy was drunker than a skunk right now.

A truck pulled up and it was Jason and Rene. Rene was faster, running over towards Belle, and then Andy drew his gun out and fired.

"No!" Belle cried out, as she saw Rene get hit. Andy's eyes went wide, and then Jason was tackling Andy to the ground.

It didn't take long for Eric to arrive, and for Sam to come running from behind the bar.

Belle went to Rene, catching him as he started falling backwards. "No, no, no. Rene please." She said, her hands going over the bullet hole in his chest.

"It's okay Cher." Rene said softly and reached a hand up. "You're like the little sister I never got, it's an honor to die protecting you."

"You stupid man." Belle cried. "Don't die." She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "You can't die. Not like this."

Eric stooped down, biting his wrist. "Here, Rene, I know it seems disgusting, but you have two kids and a woman that will be extra sad to see you go."

Rene's dark eyes met Eric's blue ones. "You would save me?"

"Yes." Eric said without hesitating, and then Rene took a shaky hand and brought his wrist to his mouth, a few tears escaping.

Belle wiped at her face with the back of her bloodied hand.

"Get the fuck off me Stackhouse!" Andy roared at him.

Jason punched him in the face, and Andy saw stars. "Shut the fuck up. You don't get to talk." He growled at Andy.

Sam ran a hand through his hair, getting his phone and calling Bud. "Hey Bud, we had an altercation down here at the bar with Andy. He...he's your guy." He paused a few moments. "Yeah. He shot Rene." He paused again. "He's okay right now. Eric Northman is here, he's helped him." He nodded. "Alright. See you in a few." He said and hung up.

Belle leaned back once Rene's chest was healed, her hands shaking a bit. "Rene." She choked and then when he sat up, she was hugging him, crying.

Rene hugged her back, rubbing her back with his hand. "Oh, cher, it's okay. Don't cry. I'm not worth crying over."

"You're wrong." Sam said. "You're family Rene. Don't you forget that."

Charlie and Bud got to the scene and Charlie was rushing over to Belle. Jake came running out of the woods, shirtless, panting at the same time.

"Belle!" Charlie went to his knees next to Rene and Belle, and Belle moved from Rene to her dad. "Oh kiddo, are you okay?"

"Yeah." Belle said, her voice a little tight. Her throat was hurting, and she knew it would bruise.

Jake took in a deep breath. "I circled around Charlie; I swear I didn't see him when I left Belle here at the bar."

"It's okay son." Charlie said with a nod, and then he got up, helping Belle to her feet, and Eric helped Rene to his.