Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [53]
The room was quiet for a long time while I decided how to say it.
Rachel can have her room back. I know she hates that air mattress.
Shed rather sleep on the floor than lose you. So would I.
I snorted.
Jacob, please. If you need a break. Well, take it. But not so long again. Come back.
Maybe. Maybe my gig will be weddings. Make a cameo at Sams, then Rachels. Jared and Kim might come first, though. Probably ought to have a suit or something.
Jake, look at me.
I turned around slowly. What?
He stared into my eyes for a long minute. Where are you going?
I dont really have a specific place in mind.
He cocked his head to the side, and his eyes narrowed. Dont you?
We stared each other down. The seconds ticked by.
Jacob, he said. His voice was strained. Jacob, dont. Its not worth it.
I dont know what youre talking about.
Leave Bella and the Cullens be. Sam is right.
I stared at him for a second, and then I crossed the room in two long strides. I grabbed the phone and disconnected the cable from the box and the jack. I wadded the gray cord up in the palm of my hand.
Bye, Dad.
Jake, wait-, he called after me, but I was out the door, running.
The motorcycle wasnt as fast as running, but it was more discreet. I wondered how long it would take Billy to wheel himself down to the store and then get someone on the phone who could get a message to Sam. Id bet Sam was still in his wolf form. The problem would be if Paul came back to our place anytime soon. He could phase in a second and let Sam know what I was doing
I wasnt going to worry about it. I would go as fast as I could, and if they caught me, Id deal with that when I had to.
I kicked the bike to life and then I was racing down the muddy lane. I didnt look behind me as I passed the house.
The highway was busy with tourist traffic; I wove in and out of the cars, earning a bunch of honks and a few fingers. I took the turn onto the 101 at seventy, not bothering to look. I had to ride the line for a minute to avoid getting smeared by a minivan. Not that it would have killed me, but it would have slowed me down. Broken bones-the big ones, at least-took days to heal completely, as I had good cause to know.
The freeway cleared up a little, and I pushed the bike to eighty. I didnt touch the brake until I was close to the narrow drive; I figured I was in the clear then. Sam wouldnt come this far to stop me. It was too late.
It wasnt until that moment-when I was sure that Id made it-that I started to think about what exactly I was going to do now. I slowed down to twenty, taking the twists through the trees more carefully than I needed to.
I knew they would hear me coming, bike or no bike, so surprise was out. There was no way to disguise my intentions. Edward would hear my plan as soon as I was close enough. Maybe he already could. But I thought this would still work out, because I had his ego on my side. Hed want to fight me alone.
So Id just walk in, see Sams precious evidence for myself, and then challenge Edward to a duel.
I snorted. The parasited probably get a kick out of the theatrics of it.
When I finished with him, Id take as many of the rest of them as I could before they got me. Huh-I wondered if Sam would consider my death provocation. Probably say I got what I deserved. Wouldnt want to offend his bloodsucker BFFs.
The drive opened up into the meadow, and the smell hit me like a rotten tomato to the face. Ugh. Reeking vampires. My stomach started churning. The stench would be hard to take this way-undiluted by the scent of humans as it had been the other time Id come here-though not as bad as smelling it through my wolf nose.
I wasnt sure what to expect, but there was no sign of life around the big white crypt. Of course they knew I was here.
I cut the engine and listened to the quiet. Now I could hear tense, angry murmurs from just the other side of the wide double doors. Someone was home. I heard my name and I smiled, happy to think I was causing them a little stress.
I took one big gulp of air-it would only be worse inside-and leaped up