I prayed it would end soon. That he would decide that he had had enough and would leave me be. If not for me, then hopefully he would stop for our son.

"Where were you?" He asked, his brown eyes were almost black with anger.

"I told you, I went to see Emmett. He hadn't seen Joel in a while," I closed my eyes as I felt my back hit the wall. "That's all, I swear

"I don't believe you," his fingers were digging into my shoulders hard now. "I thought I told you no more visits to Emmett's."

"And I thought I told you we were just friends," I winced. "I told you he's with Rosalie."

"It doesn't matter Bella," he voice was dark. "I told you not to do it and you did it anyway."

"I…I'm sorry."

"You better be," he pressed his lips firmly to mine. "I don't want this to happen again."

That's it.

"And I don't want you to see Emily anymore," I gulped as the words fell from my lips.

Jacob turned to face me, a look of pure anger on his face. His strong hands met my shoulders and shoved me back into the heart of the living room. My feet gave out form under me as they made contact with a pile of Lego's on the floor. A frightened gasp escaped my lips, as I felt my body fly backwards, landing directly on top of another pile of toys.

"I told you that's none of your business," his voice was dark and cold as he walked towards me.

"And I told you Emmett was just a friend. You take a shot at believing me, then I will leave it be," I couldn't believe the words that just came out of my mouth. He was going to do me in this time for sure,

"Don't talk to me like that," he said coldly, his hands digging into my arms as he pulled me up off of the floor.

"Jacob, please," I pleaded as his hand rose again. "Please, I'm you wife for god's sake."

"And as my wife, you should know you place." He said, slapping me again.

I fell silent and closed my eyes, waiting for him to continue.

I had no idea how things had managed to get the way that they had. Our marriage was only three years old, and our lives had recently been blessed with the birth of our son only a year after we had gotten married. Everything had been fine, so what had I missed?

Suddenly, memories of Joel's birth came flooding back to my mind. Something didn't add up that day. I remember how excited I was when the doctor placed Joel in my arms, how much of a relief it was for me to know that my son was healthy and absolutely perfect. I remember reaching out for Jacob, urging him to sit down and visit with our newest family member. He was reluctant, looking down at Joel as if he was a disturbance rather than a symbol of our brand new family. He was even hesitant to hold Joel, only giving in after I managed to coax him into it.

I asked what was wrong. All I got was the shake of his head and a simple 'nothing.' Bull shit. Everything he said to me that day was bullshit.

"Jacob, what's wrong?" I remembered asking him, only two weeks after we had brought Joel home.

"Nothing Bella, I told you to stop asking me that."

"I don't believe you," I said as I shut Joel's nursery room door. The last thing I had wanted was to wake him up due to a marital spat, his little ears didn't need to hear any of this.

Really, so when did you decide to not trust me?" Something about his voice had scared me something within the tone of his voice was purely angry and cold.

"I didn't say I didn't," I remember gulping as I backed up to the wall. I was cornered now, which only increased the panic that sat within me.

A dark laugh escaped his lips as he crept towards me, his hands balling up into fists as he went.

"Then what are you getting at?"

"I was just wondering what is going on with you. You've been acting kind of strange ever since Joel was born."

"I'm fine Bella," he said as he approached me. "Don't bring it up again."

"Jake, what did I do?" I asked as soon as he started to turn away from me. "Why are you treating me like this?"

"Bella, I told you that I was fine and that you need to drop it!" The tone in his voice rose as he spoke.

"You tell me what is going on with you and I will!"

"It's nothing," he said angrily as he walked towards me, his fingers digging into both of my shoulders.

"Jake, stop that hurts." I groaned as his grip tightened.

"Maybe you'll remember this, the next time you try to talk to me that way," he growled. He placed a violent and rough kiss on my lips before letting me go.

"Where are you going?" I was almost afraid to ask, my hand absentmindedly rubbing the sore spot on my shoulder.

"Out," he said as he headed towards the stairs, not looking back at me.

I stood silent against the wall, my eyes watching him as he hurried down the stairs. Tears threatened to fall as I remained frozen in place. I didn't know what to do. He had never acted like that towards me before. Do I call someone? Do I try to confront him again?

Think of Joel, I remembered telling myself. Don't do anything that could risk getting you or your son hurt.

Only seconds later I heard Jacob talking in the living room. His tone was completely opposite from the way he had been talking to me only moments before.

"I know, I'm sorry I'm running late. I know darlin', I will be leaving soon…"

That's how I found out about Emily, the icing on the cake. The last thing I needed after the violence between me and Jacob grew.

"Did you hear me?" Jacob grumbled, shaking me, literally, out of my troubling thoughts.

"N…No…"

"I'm going out; I will be back later on this evening." He lowered his hand and walked away from me, heading immediately for the coat closet. "Don't wait up for me, okay?"

His voice was suddenly sing-songy, and I knew exactly why. He was going out with Emily again.

This could be my chance, my heart rate increased as the plan began to formulate in my head.

I didn't move or say a word as I watched Jacob get ready, stuffing his cell phone and keys into his jacket pockets before walking over to me again.

"I'll be back later okay? I love you Bella."

I stood completely still as he kissed me, my lips were clamped shut.

His finger traced my cheek before he turned away from me, heading out the door without a glance back.

Go, my mind screamed as soon as the front door shut.

I immediately hurried into the kitchen and grabbed my cell phone off its changer, gripping it tightly in my hand, as I watched Jacob's truck back out of the driveway.

"Come on, please." I begged as I hit the send button, monotonous rings filling my ear.

"Hey it's Emmett, you've reached my voicemail…"

"Shit," I hissed and immediately disconnected. My eyes hurried through the directory in search of my second and last hope at finding help. I hit the send button for a second time, my eyes closed as I listened to the ringing.

"Hello?" A voice….a male, somewhat unfamiliar voice answered.

"Jasper, is that you? I need help, I need you to come get me. Joel and I are in danger. I will explain it all when you come…"

"Bella, Bella Swan? It's Edward."

Oh my god, I had just completely unloaded everything on Alice's older brother, great.

"Edward, I'm sorry….is Alice there?"

"No, they went out. Is everything okay?"

Well, you really don't have a choice. Help is help.

"No, it isn't." I said numbly, "I don't know what to do."

"What happened?" I heard him shuffling around in the background, "Are you okay?"

"I am for now, but I'm not sure how long it's going to stay that way. I need to get out of here."

"Where are you?" He asked.

"112 Linden Road, it's in…"

"I know where it is, Alice and Jasper were looking for houses in that neighborhood. Stay there, I will be there in five minutes."

"Hurry," I said and hung up.

I didn't have much time. I hurried up the stairs and into Joel's room. A pained feeling ran through me as I eyed my little boy buried in his light blue "Transformers" comforter. This had nothing to do with him and I had absolutely no right to drag him into it. Now I was going to force him to pack his things and live a life on the lamb until we found a solution to keep his crazy father at bay.

"It will be okay baby," I whispered. "Everything will be okay."

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I began to leaf through his closet, pulling out a few outfits to last us a couple days until we formulated our next plan. I set the pile of clothes on the stairwell of the banister as I rushed into the master bedroom, immediately sliding the suitcase out from under the bed.

I had no time to think, as pulled random articles of clothing and necessities out of my closet and bathroom. I had no idea how much time we had, I didn't know where Jacob went.

"Bella, what are you doing?"

Shit, I froze as Jacob' voice came from behind.

"Did you hear me?" His voice had returned to the dark and cold tone he had with me before.

"Yes I did," I did my best to hide the suitcase as I turned around slowly. "What are you doing home?"

"I forgot my cell phone," his eyes didn't move from me a he held up the small black phone in his hands. "Where are you going?"

I didn't know what to say, every reason for my packing got caught in my throat. Nothing I said was going to be what he wanted to hear, nothing he said was going to be good enough either.

"Answer me," he grumbled as he took a step towards me.

"I…I…"

"Were you leaving me?" He asked, the amount of anger that lay within his voice scared the living daylights out of me.

"No, I…"

"Don't lie to be Bella," he growled, his hand immediately striking me across my cheek.

A gasp escaped my lips as his hand impacted my face, the force behind it was a lot more powerful then any other time that he had hit me.

"What did you think you were doing, huh?" He asked as he grabbed onto my arm tightly and dragged me out of the room, "Is the life and the family that I provided for you not enough? Go look at your son and tell me that he isn't good enough for you."

"Leave him out of this Jacob," I said firmly as he shoved me into our son's bedroom doors. "This is between you and me."

"Then you tell me what you were doing? You tell me where you were going," he demanded.

I could have told him everything and took a chance at sparing any further pain that he could inflict on me. I could have said that I was terrified of him and that I couldn't take it anymore. I could have told him about my desperate call to Alice's charming, brother Edward and his plan to help me get out of here.

But I didn't.

"Answer me Bella."

"No."

That was all it took, that one little word sent him over the edge. He charged at me, and this time his fist met my face instead of the back of his hand. I flew backwards at the force impacted on my cheek, my feet stumbling backwards as they found the steps. I tried not to yell as I tumbled down the flight of stairs, the pain that shot through my face and my right shoulder was taking up enough of my concentration.

"Was our life not enough for you?" Jacob asked as he charged down the stairs after me.

"Hey asshole, I think that's enough!"

Jacob looked up as the front door opened quickly.

"Who in the hell are you?" He growled, remaining behind me.

"I was at you wedding dip shit," Edward slammed the door behind him. "I'm going to need you to step away from her."

"Or you'll do what?"

"I've already called the cops," Edward turned as the door opened again, "And some reinforcements."

"Emmett," I whispered from the floor.

Thank god.

"Come here, Bella," Emmett beckoned. His usual playful smile was absent from his face as he took a few strides towards me, reaching his large hand out to help me up. "You take one step towards her and I will rip you apart."

"You can't take my family from me," Jacob sneered. "She's my wife."

"And she's practically my sister," Emmett said as he stood in front of me.

"That doesn't mean shit."

"Edward, help Bella get her stuff and get her and Joel out to the car." Emmett instructed, not taking his eyes off of Jacob.

"Bella, you're not going…" the air flew out of Jacob's lungs as he lunged at me, immediately meeting Emmett's strong hands.

"I told you don't take another step," Emmett shoved Jacob again. "Get her out of here Edward, now."

"Come on Bella," Edward's fingers grazed my arm gently.

I gasped as me touched me. It was the first time in months that I felt warm and comforted after someone touched me. My mouth hung open as I looked over at him, a pleading look rested within his emerald green eyes.

"We need to hurry, okay? Let's get your stuff and get you and your son out of here."

I only nodded as I leaned against him, my body still aching from my trip down the stairs. He held onto me tightly as we made our way up the stairs, providing me with a sense of security and the idea of hope flickered within me again.

"I have some things together already," I said quietly. "It's on my bed."

"Go get Joel and meet me back here, okay? Do not go back downstairs without me."

I nodded and watched as he hurried down the hall and disappeared into the master bedroom.

God, this is such a mess.

I carefully made my way into Joel's room, moving slowly as I picked him up and cradled him in my arms. He stirred a little, but his little eyes never opened. I grabbed a throw blanket off of his bed and wrapped it around him, as well as I could with just one hand.

"Ready?" Edward asked, appearing in the doorway with my suitcase in hand.

"Yes," I said as I pressed my son to me tightly.

"Okay," Edward sighed as we reached the top of the stairs. "He is going to yell, but don't look back at him. We need to hurry down the stairs and get out to the car as soon as we can. Are you ready?"

I nodded again, and with one quick decision we were off. Our feet moved together as we hurried down the stairs, our eyes shooting around the living room for any sign of Jake. Crashing noise and yelling were heard from the kitchen. Whatever was going on, it sounded like Emmett was winning.

"What about Emmett?" I asked as Edward pulled the front door open.

"He'll be fine, let's go."

I didn't have it in me to protest; I just pressed my lips together tightly and hurried out the front door. Edward's 2009 Silver C30 Mitalic at parked on the curb, the lights flashing as he unlocked the car from the keypad.

"Is he okay?" Edward asked, watching as I gently lay my son down across the spacious back seat of the vehicle.

"He's perfect," my voice faltered as I spoke. "He's absolutely perfect."

"Hey, it's going to be alright." Edward frowned as he watched the tears begin to fall down my cheeks, his fingers rubbing my shoulder gently.

I winced as he touched the spot the Jacob had grabbed me in earlier that evening, causing an immediate look of worry to wash over his face.

"How can you say that?" I managed to say through the sobs that began to shake my body.

"Because I know it will," he whispered, surprising me as he wrapped me in a hug. "Life throws curve balls at you sometimes, Bella. But you'll make it through this, you are too strong to not make it."

"Thank you," I sighed as I rested my head on his shoulder, letting him hold me.

"Okay guys, let's get out of here." Emmett huffed as he hurried down the front lawn.

"Em, you're bleeding…"

"I'm okay," he said as he popped the passenger door open. "I only let him get away from me once."

"Where is he?" Edward asked as he let go of me, his hands immediately reaching for the back passenger door.

"He'll wake up soon," Emmett said as he climbed inside the car. "We better get out of here before he does."

I paused as Edward lead me around the other side of the car, taking one last look at my house. It stood tall in the darkness, it's strong structure had reminded me of our wedding vows at one point. Now it just stood for a lie, a façade of something that used to be.

Edward gave me a reassuring nod before shutting the door and scrambling into the drivers seat.

You can do it Bella. Remember, you're too strong not too.

.