Chapter 2

Bella stared at him, holding her arm and tried to reign in her emotions. "Well, I don't know you," she spoke finally. "And I have to take care of my hand now, so … thank you so much for your assistance. I really do appreciate your help." Her eyes kept skirting his—becoming trapped in his intense stare each time they dipped too close. "You can find the exit the same way you came in." She turned to go through the door to the staff office and was thankful it was so late that no residents had been hanging around in the lobby.

She cracked the door open and slipped inside the dark room, using the light from Jilly's Disney Princess nightlight to guide her way. Biting back a moan of pain as sharp white hot agony seared through her wrist, she opened up a cabinet and began searching with her good hand for an ace wrap.

What was she going to do now? She couldn't just not show up for work tomorrow. And there was no way she had ten thousand dollars to give Vincent. But the alternative to not giving it to him … her mind shuddered as she pictured his immaculately pressed suit, dark shaggy hair, and ice hard eyes. But even beyond all those other problems, there had been Cullen. He might have REALLY messed things up for her. If—no, when—she mentally corrected himself, those guys got back to Vincent, there would be hell to pay. Vincent would send her to hell.

She was still rummaging softly when a voice sounded behind her. "What are you doing messing around in the dark?"

She jumped and knocked her hand into the cabinet. Gritting her teeth against any sound of weakness, she fought through the sudden waves of dizziness. She couldn't let that guy around Jilly. She had to get him out of there.

But then, he was on her in a second, touching her for the first time. They were sure, but gentle touches as he held her waist and helped her to sit on the floor.

"Whoa," he said in exasperation. "Don't pass out on my. I'd have to call an ambulance for sure then."

"Shh, not so loud." She whispered over the black spots melding into the darkness.

Cullen seemed to regain focus of his surroundings and noticed the baby play portable crib on the opposite side of the room. His eyes whipped back to hers. "Yours?" He said in a strangled voice.

She nodded silently.

He gingerly helped her up on her feet and let go when he was sure she was stable. "Wait here," he whispered, though his tone was still loud in the quiet room. "I'll fix you up outside since you're so damned sure you won't get looked at."

He seemed to find the wrap and tape instantly and she followed him out of the room. He moved with such sureness, she wasn't sure if she should follow him, but his actions demanded her acquiescence.

Outside, the light seemed harsh and she squinted for a moment. Setting down in her chair, she waited while he unrolled the tape slightly first and then opened up the ace wrap.

"It's going to hurt," he warned her grimly, mouth pressed in a tight line. She stared at him and waited.

Finally he sighed and began taping her wrist. It had already swollen up like an orange.

She controlled her expression, clenching her mouth shut against the pain, feeling her dried salty tear tracks on her cheeks. He covered the tape with the ace bandage and stood back. He had flinched only once, when she hadn't been able to contain a whimper of pain as he patted down the last piece.

"Thank you again," She ground out and waited for him to leave.

He turned to go and then swung around. "Listen, I know this probably won't make a difference to you, but you should just pay Vincent the money and be done with him. He's nasty and it's not going to end well if you ran off without paying him. He's found you and running won't help. Because you can't run forever, and he can look that long. He already found you once."

"I wasn't running," Bella interjected angrily.

Cullen shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. All I can say is, the sooner you get out of this situation, the better." He turned to go, and Bella's anger rose up, getting the best of her. It was just too much.

"You think I don't know that?" Her words stopped his next step. "Do you honestly think I wanted this? Well I didn't! And if I knew how or if I had the money, I would get out of it. I don't know who you think you are, but you don't know me and you don't know about my life."

Edward's face twisted. "Well, I know you've got a kid and that kid hasn't done a damn thing to deserve ending up in a tiny grave so you'd better figure it out. Because Vincent won't mess around. He doesn't stop at kids."

Bella composed her face. "I think you need to leave," she spoke steadily and righted her clothing with her good hand.

"I can't help you." He seemed furious. His features were stressed.

Her voice was icy as she gathered up the tape an extra wrap. "I didn't ask you to."

She winced as he slammed the door open and stormed out.

She sat back in the chair, all bravado used up for the moment. What had just happened?

After her shift ended, the first pink rays of suns were about to appear through the gray mist and it had stopped snowing. She gripped a much healthier and happier Jilly (no more tummy ache!) in her good arm and had hung her bags over her left shoulder. The throbbing wasn't terrible. She'd taken a couple of children's Tylenol.

Staggering slightly, she swung the door open, cringing as the toddler bag slid down her shoulder onto her elbow.

Cullen was watching from the street corner as she emerged with the dawn. He didn't know why he'd waited. He needed to be focused on the job—on Vincent, not on some foolish girl who had too many responsibilities and too much foolhardiness. He needed to stay on track.

But his feet were pulling him towards the struggling form as the laden down figure tried to exit the building.

She saw him coming and stiffened up.

"Need some help?" He couldn't help but ask.

"No, thank you."

So, she still wouldn't accept help from him.

He glanced to the purple lump on her hip and inhaled. Playing was over.

"Here, give me the kid, you're going to drop it."

"The it is my child and I'm not going to give you Jilly." Then, realizing she really did have a dilehma, she offered him her bad arm. "But I suppose you could take my bag."

He took her bag and purse, brushing past her protest.

"Where are we going?" He would have suggested they take his car, but he knew she would refuse.

"North and Peach."

He stared curiously at the kid as they walked in silence. Coming up to her complex, she turned and waited for him to hand her back her things. Doing so reluctantly, Cullen realized he wasn't ready to leave them. The kid was set down and it looked up at him. Eyes sparkling.

"Hi!"

He waved awkwardly as Bella searched for her keys.

"Hey there, kid."

"Who you?"

"Cullen," he answered shortly, trying to avoid looking into the kid's sparkling eyes an button nose. It was cute. The hat swallowing its face.

"Jilly."

"What?"

Bella looked at him. "Her name is Jilly."

He turned back to her. "Hey kid."

He heard Bella sigh as the key went into the lock. "Time to go in Jilly. Say good-bye."

"Good-bye Olly!"

Tiny purple gloved fingers waved at him and he looked over to Bella as she scooped the kid up one-handed. "You'll be okay."

He could see the worry deepen her expression and she pulled the kid tight. "We're always okay."

When she closed the door, Cullen leaned against the stair railing and looked upward. Vincent was going to have to wait. He looked around for a place to get something to eat. Cullen was starving.

He had a feeling he would be making sure her empty promise came true—for tonight at least.

A/N: Hey, thanks for stopping by, hope you liked the chapter, there will be more to come. Reviews are highly encouraged, they definitely motivate me in lots of good ways, so feel free to leave a comment telling me what you thought! Thanks for reading!