Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [2]
I stopped that thought cold, refusing to let it come to a conclusion. Instead, I listened to the mens voices outside, muted by the car walls.
went at it with a flamethrower in the online video. Didnt even pucker the paint.
Of course not. You could roll a tank over this baby. Not much of a market for one over here. Designed for Middle East diplomats, arms dealers, and drug lords mostly.
Think shes something? the short one asked in a softer voice. I ducked my head, cheeks flaming.
Huh, the tall one said. Maybe. Cant imagine what youd need missile-proof glass and four thousand pounds of body armor for around here. Must be headed somewhere more hazardous.
Body armor. Four thousand pounds of body armor. And missile-proof glass? Nice. What had happened to good old-fashioned bulletproof?
Well, at least this made some sense-if you had a twisted sense of humor.
It wasnt like I hadnt expected Edward to take advantage of our deal, to weight it on his side so that he could give so much more than he would receive. Id agreed that he could replace my truck when it needed replacing, not expecting that moment to come quite so soon, of course. When Id been forced to admit that the truck had become no more than a still-life tribute to classic Chevys on my curb, I knew his idea of a replacement was probably going to embarrass me. Make me the focus of stares and whispers. Id been right about that part. But even in my darkest imaginings I had not foreseen that he would get me two cars.
The before car and the after car, hed explained when Id flipped out.
This was just the before car. Hed told me it was a loaner and promised that he was returning it after the wedding. It all had made absolutely no sense to me. Until now.
Ha ha. Because I was so fragilely human, so accident-prone, so much a victim to my own dangerous bad luck, apparently I needed a tank-resistant car to keep me safe. Hilarious. I was sure he and his brothers had enjoyed the joke quite a bit behind my back.
Or maybe, just maybe, a small voice whispered in my head, its not a joke, silly. Maybe hes really that worried about you. This wouldnt be the first time hes gone a little overboard trying to protect you.
I sighed.
I hadnt seen the after car yet. It was hidden under a sheet in the deepest corner of the Cullens garage. I knew most people would have peeked by now, but I really didnt want to know.
Probably no body armor on that car-because I wouldnt need it after the honeymoon. Virtual indestructibility was just one of the many perks I was looking forward to. The best parts about being a Cullen were not expensive cars and impressive credit cards.
Hey, the tall man called, cupping his hands to the glass in an effort to peer in. Were done now. Thanks a lot!
Youre welcome, I called back, and then tensed as I started the engine and eased the pedal-ever so gently- down
No matter how many times I drove down the familiar road home, I still couldnt make the rain-faded flyers fade into the background. Each one of them, stapled to telephone poles and taped to street signs, was like a fresh slap in the face. A well- deserved slap in the face. My mind was sucked back into the thought Id interrupted so immediately before. I couldnt avoid it on this road. Not with pictures of my favorite mechanic flashing past me at regular intervals.
My best friend. My Jacob.
The HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY? posters were not Jacobs fathers idea. It had been my father, Charlie, whod printed up the flyers and spread them all over town. And not just Forks, but Port Angeles and Sequim and Hoquiam and Aberdeen and every other town in the Olympic Peninsula. Hed made sure that all the police stations in the state of Washington had the same flyer hanging on the wall, too. His own station had a whole corkboard dedicated to finding Jacob. A corkboard that was mostly empty, much to his disappointment and frustration.
My dad was disappointed with more than the lack of response. He was most disappointed with Billy, Jacobs father- and Charlies closest friend.
For Billys not being more involved