A/N: Hey everyone! Happy Holidays to you all! I figured in the season of giving I'd deliver the first promised Chapter of My Life at College Part 2. It's a prologue in Jasper's POV. The future chapters are planned to be in Bella and Edward's POV's but I really wanted to get Jasper's POV out there without all the relay of conversations.
So here it is and it's a long one. I hope you enjoy it.
Also, my Italian is not up to par so if I butchered it please don't hurt me.
*Important- If you haven't read My Life at College you should before you start reading MLaC Part 2.
I don't own character names.
Prologue
Jasper POV
The pain was unbearable. I have had bones broken before and those were a cakewalk compared to this. My dislocated shoulder was like a paper cut to the agony of breathing with a broken rib.
The thought of taking the pain killer the doctor prescribed me has crossed my mind on several occasions. The most recent being when I had attempted to get off the couch to take a leak. The pain was almost blinding and caused me to throw up the contents of my lunch on the living room rug which sent the pain soaring into an entirely new level of pain. I laid on the floor inches away from where I lost my lunch. My vision blurred and I heard mumbling going on around me just before my world went black.
"Don't give me excuses Edward I want the truth," I heard Carlisle demand through what sounded like a tunnel. It was odd hearing him talk that way. He was normally so passive. "I talked to Dr. Richter today and the stories don't match up."
I heard a sigh, "We didn't want to worry mom," Edward said, "You know how she would freak if she heard that he was jumped in New York."
"You seem to think your mother is a child," Carlisle said, "and on this occasion it would have been better to stick with the truth."
"You're right," Edward's tone turned sarcastic. "It's far better to let her freak out forbid Jasper to go anywhere and call the NYPD to demand a search for two men out of 8 million. You're right, what was I thinking?"
"Don't take that tone with me," Carlisle said in a low tone which was far worse than any reprimand. "I do hear your point. She has just started to let go and give him his space but I don't like the lies. You are putting me in a position I don't like."
"I know but think of the good you'll be doing for Jasper," Edward said. "He did something on a whim for the girl he loves and it ended badly. You saw her when she found out that he went to New York."
"She does have a hard time letting go," Carlisle mused.
I heard a shift in their position and I just now realized that I was not on the floor any more. The surface was much too soft and I think my head was on a pillow. Where was I?
"How long has he been out?" Edward asked.
"About two hours," Carlisle sighed, "Best I can figure is that he tried to get up and his pain was too much for him. He still refuses any pain killer and thinks that alcohol is enough to get him through."
"When was his last drink?" Edward asked.
"Don't know," Carlisle said, "and until enough time has passed I can't give him anything." I felt my stomach jolt at his words. He would actually go against my wishes. He, of all people, should understand why I refuse them. He was there and had seen it first hand.
"He will be pissed if you do," Edward said. I smiled inwardly. Edward always has had my back.
"You, of all people, know how much this hurts Edward," Carlisle said, "and even the shoulder sends shooting pain down his body. I'm amazed at his stamina. I just wish he'd let us help him. He's not showing weakness no matter what he may think." I felt the surface I was laying on dip as a body sat down near my feet.
He may not think I'm weak but I will. Besides, the pain is… manageable… now. It just takes time.
"How's Alice doing?" Carlisle asked. Alice? What about her?
"She's fine," Edward said, "Bella is sitting with her."
"That poor girl," Carlisle said. Poor girl. What was he talking about? "She really has been through a lot with him lately," he mused, "First the jumping in New York and then seeing him like that on the floor. She thought he had died," he sighed.
Oh if he only knew what we had been through…
-Flashback-
I sat on the private jet the Benitucci's chartered as it was on its last leg of the flight. Alice was curled to my side huddled into a little ball as she clutched at my hands. She was nervous and was fighting hard against it.
From the very beginning of the flight the tension was running high. Felix was in an uproar about his hand and was taken into the back of the plane with someone. From what I could guess is that they were trying to fix his hand.
Demetri sat coolly in the opposite leather padded chair that faced in our direction. Musing about how big of a baby he was to the rest of his men. Dominic, Greg, and Tony grimaced but chuckled lightly at his musing nonetheless. I got the feeling they didn't approve but they would not question Demetri in any case. …Interesting… Alice wasn't lying when she said he had power. This might not be as bad as I thought it could be.
The tiny blond off to my left, whom I later found out to be Jane, was unsettling. I don't know which is creepier. Having one of Demetri's men playing with their brass knuckles while looking at me with a longing look like it would do them great pleasure to beat me to a bloody pulp. Or, having this little petite girl sitting in her pinstriped business suit and her big dark eyes starring at me with pursed lips completely unmoving.
By the journeys end I was damn near asking for the beating if it meant she would not look at me anymore. It was pure torture. What was going on in her mind? And how did she play into all this?
As we landed she actually turned her head away and I felt my entire body relax. Damn I was tired. I shifted in my seat and Alice moved to give me some space but still held onto me. She looked out the window and looked as if she were steeling herself. I didn't know if this was a natural reaction whenever she came back to the city or if it was because of the company we were with. I squeezed her hand once to try to calm her nerves and she smiled weakly at the gesture.
"Hey, Alice," Tony said grinned, "Welcome home." His eyes shifted and I could tell by his tone that there was deeper meaning to it than just a friendly welcoming. Instinctively my body tensed and I fought the urge to tear across the cabin and beat the living shit out of him.
Alice quickly turned her head away and gazed more intently out the window. I looked from her to Tony and then met the eyes of Demetri. The asshole was smirking.
Demetri manipulated his situation with Alice during the time they were 'together'. His used her drug addiction to get whatever kind of pleasure he wanted out of her and made her parade around the families home in as little as a thong, bra and see-through robe for the viewing pleasure of all the males in the household.
It was heard for me to believe that my Alice could have been in such a situation. She had so much spunk and was so lively and at times seemed like see should have been the captain of the cheerleading squad. When she told me that she had done drugs I thought I was equipped to deal with it and understand, but as she got into more detail and the connection to the mafia was known, I was torn.
I knew that I had strong feelings for her and to see her in such a light was heartbreaking. She told me that after her OD Demetri had taken pity and helped her leave. I hated to admit it but I was indebted to Demetri for saving her back then. She had always thought that he was behind her OD and now it seemed that he was the one that saved her. He must have loved her even though he treated her the way he did. At times during the flight I would see his jaw tighten from time to time as he watched Alice hold on to me tightly. Yep, I'm sure there were some real feelings there and that is why he saved her.
I only hope he can save us now.
We were met by two black sedans and were taken straight from the runway to the Benitucci place of residence. It felt like I had walking into 'The Godfather' or some other mob movie. Everything that was depicted in the movies seemed to be here. The elegant furniture and walls complete with its multitude of mirrors that were placed strategically around the rooms so no one could pull a gun on you from behind without you knowing about it.
We were led into a den that had oak walls and furnishings and behind the big desk was a man with dark shoulder length hair and a body build that was slightly stouter than Demetri's holding a cigar. He was flanked by two others who had the same build as Felix.
"My dear Alice, how nice of you to come for a visit," he chimed through his thick Italian accent as he stood up holding his hand out over his desk.
Alice looked up at me and I saw a dead look wash over her eyes before she let my hand go and went to him. I jerked forward to catch her but was caught by a forceful hand that gripped my arm. I looked quickly to the source and saw that it was Tony. I tried to shrug him off but his grip only tightened further.
I looked back over to see Alice take the mans hand and kiss it almost reverently. My stomach churned, but then she lifted her head and started to walk away but before her hand escaped his it clamped down on hers holding her to him. She quickly looked up at him and he looked at her penetratingly, "It is nice to have you back," he grinned and then let her go.
Her step faltered slightly as she made her way back to me. I felt my body relax when I knew that she was back beside me and her fingers touched mine.
"This must be Jasper," the man said gesturing to me, "I'm Aro…"
He went on to say that he wanted me to manipulate files, transfer money and deal with what he called a 'delicate matter'. As he spoke you would think that he was my best friend and that I had come to him not by gun point but out of the goodness of my heart.
He then told me that he wanted to test my abilities and ushered me to a room with a laptop. He had me sit and told me that I needed to crack through the security of a company within an allotted timeframe. I felt like I had just swallowed an ice cube and the chill of it spread through my body. It was not because what I was about to do was illegal but it was because I had no idea what they would do to us if I couldn't do it as fast as they wanted.
I looked up to see Alice being held with hard hands on her upper arms by Tony. My eyes went wide with rage as I noticed that the force he was using was going to bruise her. I quickly looked up to her eyes to see that dead lifeless look again but in that I also saw her pleading with me to do well.
My stomach rolled and I went to work. As soon as my fingers touched the keyboard I felt at home. My fingers cascaded across the keyboard and the windows and commands bended to my will. The system was fairly standard similar to the ones I had been hacking in order to try to shield Alice which made it easier than I would have dreamed.
I heard a whimper off to the side and I looked up to see that a tear fell from Alice's eye. Her eyes were closed as tight as they could go and her teeth were clenched tightly together. She looked to be in pain and my fingers faltered on the keyboard.
"Keep going," Aro ordered.
"Stop hurting her," I said trying to focus and I worked to get my fingers to do what he wanted me to do. I glanced up to see that it was Tony placing more pressure on her arms digging his fingertips into the softer flesh of the inner part of her arm.
"Think of it as part of the test," Aro said almost cheerfully, "The faster you go the sooner it's over for her. It would be a… win - win situation."
I shook my head sharply and closed my eyes tightly for a second or two so that I could regain my focus. I forced my fingers to move faster and after a few agonizing minutes I had cracked the company's security.
"Done," I said, "Now let her go."
Aro looked at the screen grinned and then nodded to Tony.
Tony's grip tightened slightly just before he let her go jerking her forward in my direction. She moved cautiously over to me at first but when no one objected she walked quickly to my side. I took her in my arms and immediately looked at her arms.
Anger began to build within me as I saw the start of bruising. The fingers of his hands were becoming well defined in her creamy white skin. I wanted to rage, to lash out but I knew that would only cause us more pain. If I could help it, I would do anything in my power to not give them cause to hurt us again.
Aro expressed his pleasure with me and sent me off to follow Demetri to where they had setup the equipment that I would need.
It was well into the morning when we had driven off site to a row of town homes. Alice looked up at the building we had stopped in front of and arched an eyebrow through the window of the car.
"What?" I chanced whispering in her ear.
"This is Demetri's town home," she whispered back. My brow furrowed. What? Why would Demetri want the computer setup here? It was away from the Benitucci main residence but if this place was linked in anyway to them and I get traced… the Benitucci's would be instantly implemented. "Well, it's under an Alias but it's his nonetheless," she continued.
It's under an alias… either these guys are stupid or the detectives over at the NYPD are the biggest bunch of idiots to walk the plant. So-what if the place is under an alias? Anyone with a brain would know that this was home to one of the mob. All it would take is a guy to do surveillance from the Benitucci home to here and plainly see that Aro's son and his goons were haled up here. Not only that, if this job sent out a trace and I couldn't catch it in time we'd be sitting ducks.
We exited the car and Alice and I followed Demetri up to his place. The place was decked out in the finest of things and once again had mirrors everywhere. Well at least I will know if they are going to try to shoot me in the head, for all the good it would do, I thought sarcastically.
"Forgive the location," Demetri said as he led Alice and I to the back room on the main floor where they had one of the most elaborate setups I had ever seen. In my dreams I had seen such a setup but I found it too impractical to setup one of my own for daily use. "Our other place had been compromised and we figure that the peeps wouldn't guess that I'd do something like this here."
I nodded and dropped our duffle on the floor next to my chair that sat in front of the setup.
"Forgive me Jasper," Demetri continued, "I'm sorry I could not step in earlier. My father, he…"
"Apologize to Alice," I said sharply as I looked at everything I had at my disposal to do the job and tried to work it out in my head how to use it and get the hell out of here as soon as possible, "she's the one who needs it the most."
Demetri looked to Alice and nodded, "I'm sorry, Ali." Again with the damn Ali. I felt heat build within me once again. I hated that he has a pet name for her. Now I understand why Edward always got so pissed when he told us about that Garrett guy calling Bella, Izzy. I had thought he was blowing it out of proportion but now that I am experiencing it I only can concur with him.
"It's fine, Demetri," she said rubbing her arms and wincing at the tender flesh.
"I'll get you some ice for that," Demetri said and started for the door. He turned suddenly and tossed me his cell phone. "You have less than 5 minutes. I can't guarantee much more. The others will be inside soon." He turned and went down the hall.
I looked quickly at the phone. Was he serious? He's letting me call someone? I didn't waste any time. I flipped open the phone and called Edward.
I tapped my fingers nervously against my thigh as I listened to the phone ring. He better pick up. It had gotten to the 4th ring when I heard him answer, "Hello?"
"I don't have much time, I wanted you guys to know we're here and we're alright," I said quickly.
"That's good to hear," Edward said relieved, "What's going on now?"
"We met up with Aro and his men," I said, "He gave me more details and wanted to test my ability by hacking into a few things."
"Can you do it?" he asked.
"Already done," I said, "Did you stay at the apartment?"
"No," he said in a way that made me feel almost stupid for asking.
"Ask them how they're holding up," Alice whispered frantically and looked back toward the door to make sure no one was coming.
"How are you holding up?" I asked, "How's Bella?" I knew Alice would want that specifically.
"As well as can be expected," he sighed. But his tone sounded like he was blaming himself for what was happening.
"Don't beat yourself up," I said, "It's not your fault."
"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind next time the mafia comes after my family," he growled.
"You know what I mean," I said looking at Alice for any sign that someone was coming. "I'm going to do what Aro wants and I'm going to do what Demetri needs and I'll be out of here, piece of cake."
"Look," Edward said the stress in his tone was almost tangible through the phone, "just don't get caught."
"I don't plan on it," I said.
"And lay low," he said.
I saw Alice shift and she turned quickly to tell me to get off the phone. "I got to go now," I said as quickly and as calmly as I could. I didn't want to worry them any more than they were.
"Alright, call back when you can," he said quickly.
"Will do," just before snapping the phone shut and tossing it quickly to the padded leather chair across the room as a tall man with charcoal black hair that was slicked back into a wet ponytail walked through the door. His build matched that of Felix but it's possible he is bigger. He was dressed in a nice business suit and the bulge he had on his side told me he was carrying under that jacket of his.
His head snapped quickly over to the chair as it thudded with the weight of the cell phone and his eyes narrowed. Before I knew it, he was right upon me and I felt a blow from his fist connect with the side of my face knocking me to the ground.
"Jasper," Alice shrieked her hands going up to fist her hair as she watched helplessly off to the side.
The man grabbed me by the shirt and picked me up and slammed me against the wall knocking the wind out of me. As I fought to catch my breath he spoke in a thick Italian accent, "You think you're smart. Did you think you could get away with it?" he growled.
"I…" I gasped still trying to gain back my air.
"What's going on?" I heard Demetri asked from the doorway.
"He made a call to someone. You didn't check him?" the man asked.
"I must not have," Demetri said.
"You're careless, Demetri," he growled.
"He wouldn't do anything to put Ali in jeopardy," Demetri said, "Relax Marcello." So this is Demetri's cousin, Marcello. Well I guess I do see a slight resemblance now, especially if you were to put Demetri on stilts and pump up the steroids. They could almost be twins if I were to squint really hard.
"Not yet," Marcello growled and his fist went back and snapped forward hitting my cheekbone and the force of the punch sent my head back hitting it hard against the wall.
"The rules are simple," I heard Marcello say through the haze of my brain, "No contact to the outside lest we tell you and no funny business."
I could hear Alice's sobs as his fist made contact with my face once again and then my stomach, making me retch dryly before my head was lifted up by the back of my hair and I felt a blow hit me for just seconds before the lights went out.
I had come to on the floor with something cold being pressed to my face and a blunt object kicking my foot hard.
"Alice," I groaned wanting to know if she was still there beside me.
"I'm here Jasper," she said.
I opened my eyes to see her tear stained face looking down at me and I was about to speak when another cut me off. "Get up," I heard a harsh voice say and I felt my foot kicked again.
I sat up quickly and I felt the world tilt with the dizziness. I heard someone else speak from the other side of the room. "Let him be for a moment, Marcello. It's a foreign concept to you but we actually want to keep his brain intact. Go have Heidi make you a plate of something. I'll watch them here."
"Aro wants him to start right away Demetri," Marcello argued.
"Perhaps you should have thought of that before you decided to beat him into unconsciousness," Demetri said calmly but with a hard edge to his tone.
"He had a cell phone and had used it," Marcello growled, "You had been careless."
"Tit for Tat isn't it," Demetri said, "Now get the hell out."
Marcello bristled and his fists clinched bursting into a bout of Italian. Demetri and Marcello seemed to be in a heated argument. Marcello towered over Demetri but oddly Demetri seemed to be winning.
Alice moved in front of me and looked at me for a moment. Her dark brown eyes flicked from side to side as she tried to read my face. Hesitantly she leaned forward and brushed my lips with hers so lightly that I almost couldn't even register that our lips had even met. She pulled back and pressed the cold icepack back against my face again.
I couldn't understand her hesitance. Did she think I was hurt that bad? I admit that my face hurt but not that bad. I've had a lot worse.
Marcello and Demetri were still in their heated discussion and Alice looked up to them and then back to me. She moved forward wrapping her arms around my neck. I felt her hot breath against my ear before she spoke, "I'm sorry. I should have warned you sooner," she whispered. Her voice cracked at the end and I knew that she was on the verge of tears again.
I hugged her to me and was about to whisper back to tell her I didn't blame her when she continued in a fast whisper, "Marcello is pissed about Felix's condition. He took it out on you. He's now telling Demetri he thinks you should be watched more closely. Demetri is trying to tell him otherwise."
I froze at her words. She never told me she understood Italian. She had told me a great deal but never that. "You understand…" I began in a soft whisper.
"I get the gist of it," she admitted knowing exactly what I was thinking and then she paused to listen. Her brow furrowed as she tried to listen and decipher what was being said between them.
I took the icepack from her and pressed it to the back of my head for a moment as I watched Demetri argue with Marcello. Demetri said something to make Marcello back away and glare at him before he stomped out of the room and down the hall.
Demetri let out a heavy gust of air and straightened his navy blue tie. He ran a hand over his slicked back hair before turning to us. "You good to start?" he asked, "The melon's doin' alright?"
If by 'melon' he means 'is my brain able to focus' the answer is 'yes'. I nodded and handed the icepack back to Alice before getting up to sit in the leather office chair they had supplied for me.
As soon as I sat down I began turning on everything and noticed that this setup was rigged well. It was pieced together in a way so that it would be quick and easy to disassemble and move out. That's convenient, I thought sarcastically.
As I watched the computers load-up Demetri leaned over the back of the chair to my right. "You should have been faster," he said in a harsh tone. I looked up at him to see anger and frustration on his face. "I can only do so much," he continued, "and now he's trying to take it upon himself to make sure you are watched more closely." His fist clenched then it slammed against the top of my leather chair. "You realize that if they watch you to closely they could catch onto what you will be doing for me."
I grimaced and looked back at the screens to see that things were loading fine. "Don't worry about it," I said, "They'll never know." I adjusted the keyboard before placing my hands over the keys and began looking for the links I would need to do Aro's bidding.
"You better be right," Demetri growled, "It's not just your neck on the line here."
I looked at him quickly through the corner of my eye before I refocused it to the task at hand. The sooner I can get this over-with the better.
He shoved himself back off the chair, "I'll have some food brought," he said from behind me.
"Packaged," she said.
I heard his footfalls stop abruptly, "You insult me, Ali," he said.
"No insult intended," she said, "I don't trust the others."
Silence. I quickly turned my head to see what was going on and to make sure Alice was still with me. Demetri was looking down at her and Alice stood looking back up at him. They looked to be having a silent conversation which I found odd. She hasn't seen him in almost 2 years and yet they still knew each other so well. I felt a ping of jealousy in that moment. I knew it was entirely irrational. She hated the guy and everything that he brought her into but because they knew each other like that it…bugged me.
Demetri reached up to her and I stiffened freezing my typing and poised myself to get up at a moments notice if he tried to hurt her, but he just patted the top of her head, "Point taken," he said, "I forget sometimes how bold you are. You better watch yourself. They aren't in a very forgiving mood now. They're still not convinced you don't know anything, they think you are essendo disonesta e giocando sul mio favorisce." Alice's eyes flashed and opened her mouth to speak but he held a hand up grinning, "I knew you remembered some stuff la mia bellezza petite, just don't let them know or we're going to have problems." She quickly closed her mouth and let out a ragged breath in relief.
He turned his head to look at me and saw me looking at them, "Something wrong?" he asked me.
I stared back at him and my eyes flicked to Alice and back to him again. He snorted and pushed Alice in my direction and stood in the doorway to look down the hall.
Alice came to my side and I took a quick glance at Demetri in the doorway before turning back and resuming my work. She placed her soft hand on the back of my neck and began to rub it. I hadn't realized how tense I was till she had done that. It felt nice but I wasn't in the mood right now to relax. "What did he say to you?" I asked through my clenched teeth.
She had understood exactly what he said to her when he spoke Italian. What else is there that she hasn't told me about?
She leaned down to whisper in my ear. Her breath sent a chill down my body as it ran across my skin. I was amazed that she could affect me so much given our current surrounding. "He said they think I'm being dishonest and playing on his favors," she whispered.
"Are you?" I let slip out before I could catch myself.
Her lips pressed against my cheek, "Jasper, I told you everything I know," she said, "I always will."
"Except that you understand Italian," I said and my typing got a little more vigorous and slightly more punchy across the keyboard. Shit, my head hurt. Not only was my face throbbing from Marcello's 'greeting' but I was beginning to get one massive headache. It has to be from the lack of sleep and food. I haven't eaten since the burger I got with Edward yesterday for lunch and I didn't have a wink of sleep last night. I was too on edge… with good reason considering the company and I couldn't risk not being conscious to protect Alice. I wish she hadn't come.
"Jasper," she said next to me.
I saw her out of the corner of my eye looking at me. "What?" I asked glancing at her briefly before turning my attention back to my 'job'.
"I understand it to an extent," she said placing a hand on my chest and I started to relax. She knew just where to touch me to make me feel better. I had given her rules back in December when all this started of how she can interact with me while I'm… for the lack of a better word… 'hacking'. She knew that I couldn't be distracted in case things went wrong and I needed to block or reroute something. Not that I couldn't handle a distraction but I'd prefer not to have one if I could help it. "I understand quite a few words but not all," she continued then turned leaving my side for a moment and then returned. I felt cold being pressed to the lump on the back of my head where it had hit the wall. I groaned. It was tender and the ice was putting pressure on it harder than I'd like but I'd take it for now because I liked the cold. "You doing okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine," I said focusing more on what I was doing.
She sighed and moved the icepack to the side of my face over my throbbing temple. "Do you forgive me?" she asked hesitantly.
My brow furrowed and I grimaced at the screen and hit a switch so that what I was looking at moved up to one of the upper screens and one of the others was moved down to my main one right in front of me. Do I forgive her? For what?
For having a dangerous past filled with drug addiction and deadly contacts? Yes... For meeting me and entrancing me into her tangled web? Definitely yes... For not telling me about some of her text messages, in particular the one with Bella in it? Still pissed about it but yes... For not telling me they were in town? I'm hanging on the 'no' for that one... Time is the only thing that will make up for that mistrust. Why didn't she tell me that they were there?! I could have done something like getting Bella and Edward out of the way and taken Alice someplace safe. Instead, she went under a wrong assumption that she was all they would want. God! She doesn't even know how much she means to me. If she thinks it wouldn't affect me if she were hurt, she's got another thing coming.
"You want to be more specific," I said as I worked on cracking a password to one of the systems. I really didn't want to get into this now. Not only was this time not the best but I really didn't want to have an audience for this conversation.
"For… well, everything," she said placing her warm soft little hand on my arm.
I exhaled loudly and looked up at her. Her eyes showed her fear for my response as they looked into mine. "Honestly," I sighed, "not yet," I said. Whatever hope was in her eyes dimmed and I wanted to kick myself. This is not totally her fault. I'm to blame as well. I was the one who thought I could hide her and now the mafia is making me into some puppet who will do their bidding because I was too good at what I did.
I paused my typing and took her hands pulling her into my lap, "Alice, I'm angry, but I'm not angry about having to be here for you. I'm angry because you didn't tell me they were in town and now my brother and his fiancé are in this. I also hate the fact that you are in this with me but I'm not going to fight with you, pixie. Just make sure you don't leave my side," I said and pecked her on the lips.
She gave me a weak smile as she looked at me with her wet eyes. Her hand touched the side of my face and I closed my eyes as I leaned into her touch.
"Touching," I voice boomed from the doorway making us jump. We looked over to the doorway to see Felix. He didn't look happy and his left hand was wrapped in gauze. "Get back to work or I'll find the little bitch another room. I'm sure that some of the boys would love to be your guard." He grinned and winked at her. A shot of rage ran through me and I wanted to rip the bastards head off.
Alice leapt off my lap and pushed me back in to my keyboard. "Hurry Jasper," she said, "I want to go home."
You and me both I thought and got back to work.
I've got to keep going. I began to feel my eyelids droop and quickly opened my eyes wide and shook the sleep off violently. I need coffee. That's all I need is coffee.
It was Wednesday night, and I have finally made contact with Edward and Bella. I have been trying since the first day to contact him through their computers but they never seemed to have them on. I couldn't believe it. A med student and a student in a writing class never turned on their computers for days. I couldn't fathom it. What were they doing in their classes? Wasting oxygen?
They seemed almost as relieved as I was at what little communication we had. I told them that if all went well we would be home on Saturday. This news seemed to make them relax some more.
Then, there was Edward… He saw right through my attempt to not worry them about us. I knew he would, although I wasn't really lying when I said I was 'fine'. I didn't hurt nearly as bad as I did earlier this week when Marcello had found some other reason to use me as his own punching bag. I get the feeling that he's compensating for something. He seems to have a lot of bottled up emotions.
That time I was knocked out for longer so I came to think of it as a painful powernap. I didn't exactly wake up refreshed but seeing Demetri chastise him had almost made it worth it. At any rate I'd rather they hurt me than Alice any day and I vowed that I would do anything I could to not let it happen again.
My red eyes, burning from sleep deprivation looked down to my… well… my love, on the floor by my feet sleeping in a little ball like a cat. She had one arm wrapped around my ankle hugging it to her.
I blame myself for what they did to her. I should have been faster, smarter, more…. Ugh. I exhaled loudly trying to expel my guilt. She told me she was okay but how could she be. I rubbed a hand over my face hoping it would erase the memory but it was ingrained at this point. Hearing the women you love scream while Marcello had drug her from the room to what sounded like next door was something you just can't forget.
I was hacking into some files and ran into a wall. Tony had been sitting in at the time and noticed my distress. He called up Felix and Marcello who arrived moments later.
I tried to explain that everything was under control but they felt I needed incentive. They grabbed Alice and told me that if I didn't get through that Alice would have to pay for it.
Marcello grabbed her and took her kicking and screaming. I heard her plead and scream through the walls and my heart pounded in my chest. My breathing was fast and heavy as I fought to stay where I was. It was a hard internal battle but I reasoned that staying and working fast was the best why to get them to leave her alone.
It had taken what seemed like an eternity to break through. By the time I was done I wanted to almost retch. I told Felix to stop Marcello as I heard another wave of screams from Alice, but he just sat there.
Demetri had returned from wherever he had been and demanded to know what was going on from Felix. He didn't even finish listening to Felix's explanation before leaving the room to get Alice. I heard yelling in Italian and shuffling along the floors before Demetri had towed her back into the room.
Her face was red and stained with tears and my blood boiled with rage. I stood up leaving my post to take her back.
She hurried to close the distance between us and she held me so tight it was as if she was holding onto me for dear life. Demetri had kicked Felix and Marcello out to go back to the Benitucci house and asked Tony to get Heidi.
Demetri expressed his apologies and went to just outside the door to wait for Heidi.
I hugged Alice close to me as I heard her sniffle against my shoulder. "Alice, what did he do to you?" I asked.
I felt her body start to tremble against me and she fought to grab more pieces of my shirt within her grasp. "Jasper, please hurry," she said through a broken sob.
"What did he do to you Alice?" I asked again as I ran my fingers through her hair to massage her scalp. This was one of the ways I found that relaxed her.
"He… he…" she took a breath to control herself to finish her sentence but Demetri answered for her.
"Heat," Demetri said from the door. I quickly turned my head up to look at him. He was looking at us while leaning in the doorframe. "It's a thing that he likes to do."
A 'thing' that he like to do!? My jaw clenched and I held Alice tighter to me.
Demetri turned his head and I heard Heidi's voice from the hall. "Warm and Cool water, washcloth and ointment, my dear," he said, "and hurry back." He kissed her before giving her a swat on the butt.
"What 'thing' is it that he likes to do?" I growled unable to keep my anger in check.
Demetri sighed and looked down the hall and looked back to us before looking back down the hall again quickly. He spoke loudly to Tony who was on his way back to our room but Demetri detoured him and had him get some food to eat from the kitchen before he got us ours.
Once Demetri was satisfied that Tony was gone he turned back to look at me. "Have you ever held your hand over a lighter while it was lit?" he asked. My eyes widened and I hugged Alice tighter to me before I tried to pry away from her to see her better.
"I'm okay," she said softly and tried to pull herself back in close to me but I needed to be sure. "Please Jasper just hurry," she pleaded.
"Alice I need to see you, darlin'," I said firmly. She squeezed my shirt tightly in her fists before pulling away and looked up at me with glistening eyes. I raised my hand up to cup her cheek and she tilted her head into it and closed her eyes. I saw her swallow and then jumped when we heard a clanking at the door.
"Here you are," Heidi's northeastern accent rang out. She was tall and blonde with a body that some girls would kill for. Her 'D' cup was accented by a longsleeve half shirt that was buttoned down to show ample amount of cleavage and cut off just below her breasts leaving her stomach bare. She completed the outfit with an extremely short skirt that barely went past her ass and high heels. The first time I met her I could have sworn that I'd seen her in one of Emmett's porno movies before.
After talking to her a little the other night while Alice had dosed off on the couch I had come to the conclusion that I liked her. She was actually… nice. She expressed to me that she was sorry for all of this and that she was a little ashamed to admit that she was glad I was here. She told me that she believed that Demetri would make this work even if it killed him which kind of gave me some hope that things were going to work out and I was determined to make it so.
Heidi placed a tray with two bowls of water on the table next to us. One was steaming and the other not. Two folded washcloths and a tube of ointment. What was this ointment for? I felt my stomach twist as I thought of all the possibilities.
Heidi gave us an apologetic look before turning to leave. I heard Demetri thank her before turning to us. He told Alice that he would turn away from us in the doorway and that we had 10 minutes before Tony would most likely return.
Alice gave me a worried look and I encouraged her to show me what that bastard did to her. When her hands went to the hem of her shirt I felt my pulse quicken in anticipation of what I may see. The moment her shirt was lifted my heart sank and I wanted to kill that son-of-a-bitch.
Her arms had more bruises forming in the shape of his hands and her breasts and stomach were tinged with black in various spots. The black confused me for a second but then I remembered what Demetri said when I asked what Marcello did, "Heat," was his answer. I didn't understand what that meant till I began to help her use the stuff on the tray. Each black mark was sensitive to her and washed away to show pink marks on her normally creamy white skin. I asked what he had done and Demetri took the liberty of explaining since Alice didn't feel like elaborating on the subject.
Demetri explained that Marcello's new thing is what he liked to call 'brush burns'. He asked again if I had ever held a lit lighter and held my hand over the flame. I nodded. He then asked me if I have ever ran a hand quickly through the flame. I nodded again. He went on to explain that Marcello likes to hold the flame extremely close to the skin to create pain then would run the flame over the skin slower than you would run your hand over it. The effect is pain with minor burns that scab lightly and leave the skin unharmed virtually after a week or so.
Alice took in a long breath and her arm tightened around my ankle again. I looked down at her sleeping form curled at my feet and sighed. Seeing what Marcello did to her set a fire in me. From that moment I vowed to never give them cause to hurt her again.
I hit a switch and my secondary PC switched on to the main screen moving my primary PC's images up to the upper left screen while it ran through account numbers for me.
I looked at my main screen now and began to work on more of the stuff for Demetri. His stuff was fairly simple, and I left the hardest stuff for last.
It was just after 4AM when I had finished working on what I could for Demetri for the time being and I was surprisingly wide awake now. Of course, one can not blame me. If they had almost been caught doing what I was doing for Demetri and his father came in without you knowing it, I'm pretty sure they'd shit their pant too.
Luckily, Aro doesn't have a head for computers and didn't really notice that I was transferring his money around. I hurried to switch screens as casually as possible and continued to watch the account numbers that I was running earlier run up the screen.
I had hoped that he would leave but there was no such luck. He pulled up a chair beside me and began asking questions trying to probe my mind. I couldn't figure out what he was looking to find until he had finally left. If I didn't know any better he was testing me to see if I could become a permanent fixture here. Johnny Lombardi, their normal hacker, had somehow come up missing in the past few weeks. If that was any indication as to what would be in store for me here, I'd say I'd have to pass, respectfully of course.
He left dismayed at my answers, I think. I didn't want to just let him into my mind and have his way with me up there. I don't think I could deal with the mind-rape right now. He did however say something that bothered me extremely. He said that he hoped my views would change before long and that it would be a pity to lose such an asset.
Number one, how could he think that I would want to join him? Number two, I heard Demetri use that same phrase when they were talking about knocking somebody off.
I felt a chill run down my spine and it went straight to my stomach. I didn't want to think of that. I could not even think of the possibility right now.
It was Saturday morning and I was done with the job that I was forced to do for the Benitucci's and Demetri and Jane. Demetri was still keeping up appearances to ring true to his word with Aro that he would marry Jane until I was finished and the plan could be taken into effect.
To be honest, I don't know how he could do it. Jane, "the Ice Queen" as I like to call her, had just left us and I felt like I was being drawn and quartered the entire time. After my run-in with Aro the other night I felt it necessary to inform Demetri. He told Jane and she felt it necessary to pay us a visit and I wouldn't be lying if I were to say that if I never saw her again it would be too soon. I won't tell Alice what she said to me before she came back from the bathroom and I never plan to if I can help it. I'll find a way around Jane anyway so there is no point in telling her anyhow.
"Nice work Jasper," Demetri grinned as he looked over a screen that showed his accounts and balances on it. "You moved everything that was needed?" I nodded sleepily. "And her brother Alec?"
"He's taken care of," I said exhausted. Alice rubbed the back of my neck and I welcomed the feeling.
"Excellent," Demetri said looking over to me. "I must admit you are the best I've seen. I thought this would take much longer."
I snorted, "Yeah, well, not sleeping helps," I said sarcastically.
Demetri nodded, "That it does," he mused. He reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out two rectangular pieces of paper. "Your tickets," he said and held them out for me to take. I reached up and had just closed my hand around them when Felix and Marcello walked into the room.
"You can't be serious Demetri," Marcello growled, "I thought you were joking. You can't honestly just let them leave."
"That was the deal Marcello," Demetri said in an authoritative tone.
"They know too much," Felix growled in a tone that matched Marcello's, "You know the rule."
"What I know is that they will keep their mouth shut," Demetri said letting go of the tickets and I quickly gave them to Alice to put in her purse.
Felix looked to Marcello and they nodded to each other before looking back towards us. "Aro requests that you stay with us," Marcello said.
I looked at them assessing them for a moment before speaking. "As I told Aro before," I said carefully, "I have no desire to stay."
"A pity," Felix's said with an undertone I didn't particularly like.
"They will not betray us," Demetri began, "They have done what was asked of them and they know what will happen if they talk. So if you will get out of the way these two have a flight to catch."
Demetri motioned for us to follow him and I rose from my seat gratefully. I grabbed the duffle that was packed and followed after Alice and Demetri out of the room.
I would like to say that they just let us by but that would only be in my dreams. Felix knocked me down in the hall and I hit the floor bruising my knee. Before I knew what was happening my left arm was grabbed and a foot was pressed hard on my shoulder blade before I felt a searing pain shoot through me.
I gulped with the pain trying not to cry out but Alice did that for me. "No!" she cried.
Then I felt 3 swift kicks to my ribs and I felt like I couldn't get any air within me to breathe.
"Back off," I heard Demetri say forcefully through the blinding pain that ran through me.
My face was reddened as I fought through the pain. "Jasper," Alice gasped at my side. Her hands were shaky as they reached out to touch my face.
"Move Alice," I forced out. I couldn't breathe and the pain was intense. I hadn't felt pain in my shoulder like that since my shoulder was dislocated in high school. Alice hesitated and I barked out the order, "Move now!"
She jolted and scrambled to get out of the way. The look that crossed her face was heartbreaking. I scared her. I actually scared her. I cussed mentally at myself for doing that to her but at the moment that was the least of my worries. I moved to get up and it was like fire running down my body. My natural instinct was to cry out but I forced it back and fought to remember what the doctor had told me to do if I were to ever dislocate my shoulder again.
I turned myself upright and stood so my shoulder was pressed against the door frame. "Alice," I choked out through heavy breathing, "help… me." She hurried over to me shocked and worried and afraid of what I was wanting her to do. I braced myself against the doorframe, "Lift my arm up to a 90 degree angle," GOD this hurts like HELL. She did so shakily. "Now," I fought to breathe through the pain and shit, I felt like I was losing that battle, "pull out and while twisting my arm like," I groaned as a shot of pain ran through me from my ribs, "I'm throwing a baseball and slowly release it." Her eyes were filled with tears but she nodded and did what I said.
I just about passed out from the pain as my shoulder righted its self but as the waves of pain washed through me I noticed Demetri talking forcefully to Felix and Marcello with his gun out and pointed at them. "Aro gave me the power to determine how to deal with him and you will abide by it. Are we clear?" I heard him say. Felix and Marcello grimaced but nodded. Demetri holstered his weapon and turned to us. "Let's go or you'll miss your flight."
-End Flashback-
That flight was probably the worst flight I have ever had despite us sitting in first class. It was extremely difficult to sit there and pretend like I wasn't in excruciating pain. My ribs felt like they were on fire and it hurt to breathe.
I know that Alice had become fed up with me. She wanted me to go see a doctor in New York and miss the flight but I wasn't about to stay within arms reach of Felix and Marcello. Besides, I really didn't think that I was hurt that bad. I could muscle through it.
Edward however, wouldn't take no for an answer. He forced me to get checked out against all my protests. All I had wanted to do was, go home and sleep. I felt that would be better than proving Alice right in that I was hurt more than I let on. In the end, I only pissed her off more at my attempt to lighten what I really felt and I fear it has been taking its toll on her.
"She'll be fine," Edward said to Carlisle, "Alice is a tough girl."
"I know that," Carlisle said and I felt the bed I was laying on shift and I grunted involuntarily when I flexed my torso muscles.
"Jasper," Carlisle said.
"What?" I groaned trying to get back to the state I was in before so that the pain would have a chance to deaden again. My eyes were still shut and I grimaced at the idea that now I would be forced to talk which hurt with each breath I took.
"How is the pain?" Carlisle asked.
"Delightful," I said sarcastically, "You should try it sometime."
"I'll pass," he said, "But I would like to ask you…"
"I don't need any," I cut in. I knew what he was asking me about and I didn't want the pain pills. If I didn't move it wasn't so bad.
"Gawh," Edward sighed in exasperation and I opened my eyes to see him standing at the foot of my bed. He must have just tugged at his hair because it was still sticking up a little and his hand was falling down to his side slapping his thigh. "Jasper, it doesn't make you less of a man to take them. I know for a fact that you hurt like hell. Alice knows it too."
I stared at him as he continued with his outburst, "Do you have any idea how freakin' scared she was when she saw you on the floor like you were?"
"I can handle it," I defended.
"Of course you can," Edward said and then sat down on my office chair that was at my desk on the opposite side of my bed. "But Jasper, I don't see you moving and you know that you will have to sometime."
This was true. I grimaced hating the fact that he was right. I felt a knot form in my stomach at the knowledge of this. I could handle the pain if I didn't move but I needed to move.
"So, what, you two are going to gang up on me now?" I asked.
"No," Carlisle said, "We just want you to heal and have a better time doing it. Alcohol is not the way to go in this, son. I think your liver needs a break."
I thought about what they said to me for a few minutes. They did have their points but I still had mine. I don't do pain killers. I haven't since… well, since my mom.
Carlisle and Edward exchanged glances at each other and they started to get antsy from my silence. They normally would have gotten there answer right away and it would have been a flat out 'no' but this time…
"Jasper when was your last drink?" Carlisle asked hopeful.
"'Bout half hour before I… passed out," I mumbled.
He seemed to do some calculations in his head before looking back at me hopeful. I rolled my eyes and sighed and the groaned from the pain of it.
"Just do it already," I sighed, "You know you want to."
"You're actually letting me?" Carlisle asked unable to hide his immense approval.
I looked over at Edward, "Not less of a man right?" I confirmed.
Edward snorted in laughter. "Not at all," he grinned.
I nodded to Carlisle and he got up quickly to leave the room.
I turned my head back to Edward. "He knows about the so called 'jumping'," I said.
Edward sighed, "Yeah."
"And Esme?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"Well," I sighed, "I guess it could be worse."
Edward snorted, "Yeah, I suppose it could."
Carlisle came back into my room and opened his medical bag. "I'm going to give you a head start and then we'll stay ahead of the pain with a milder pain med," he said as he filled a syringe with something from a bottle. He prepped my arm and gave it to me.
My inner mind was cussing at me as I willingly took the medicine.
"That should work fairly quick," he said before beginning to leave again, "I'll come back in a little bit to see how you are."
"How long was I out for?" I asked Edward after Carlisle shut the door behind him.
"Almost 4 hours," he said.
"That long?" I asked incredulously.
He nodded, "Alice will be happy you chose to let us help you. I know I am. You were making me out to seem like I was a wuss back when I had bruised my ribs."
I couldn't help the chuckle that came out and the pain flared up again but this time it was deadened by whatever Carlisle had given me. I hated to admit it but I was glad I chose to do it. Not only because I knew that I'd need to get up soon to relieve myself but because I knew that Alice would want me to not be in so much pain. "Oh you're still a wuss," I joked, "I just really have to pee."
Edward's snorted in laughter smirking. "Thanks," he said rolling his eyes.
I half smiled, "Could you do me a favor and get Alice for me? I need to…"
"Tell her you're sorry for scaring her to death?" Edward supplied.
I grimaced and nodded.
Edward rose from my desk chair, "Sure," he said and left the room and I laid there waiting for my Alice to come to me so I could tell her so much more than 'sorry'.
A/N: Ok guys. I hope you liked it. Review and let me know how I did.
Happy Holidays!