Edward was confused that I'd suddenly offered to open up to him, but I really, really needed to talk to someone, and Edward seemed the most logical choice.

"Can we drive? Somewhere, anywhere, just away from here."

He looked puzzled, but still he readily agreed. "Sure thing. I know about this quaint little bistro in Port Angeles. The people are nice, and the food is great."

"Sounds fantastic." I knew the conversation I was about to have would last well into dinner, as Edward's insane driving would get us to Port Angeles in no time.

"Okay. Shoot." He looked at me earnestly, and my heart swelled with that pesky, unfamiliar emotion that I'd been feeling the past seven days.

"Okay. But hear me out. My story is not a happy one, and it ends with a secret you can tell no one, net even your family."

"Bella, I don't tell my family anything. Tell your story." He said softly, seriously.

"Okay."

*****

EPOV

I waited impatiently for Bella to open up to me. I felt the selfish need to be the one to help her, and I still didn't really understand why.

"I was born Barclay Marin Isabet Swann II. My father was the heir to a very wealthy fortune. I lived with him and my mother in the Swann manor in New York, where I grew up learning of how my father, as an attorney, jailed many dangerous criminals. I spent the summers with Rose and Em at my aunt's house in Seattle, where she and her husband taught me to defend myself. I was moderately happy.

"When I turned fifteen, in September of that year, my father put away the notorious crime lord Neo Genovese. His family was not happy about that. One night they decided to act upon their hatred of my father. They came to my house with the intention of killing my parents. At this point they had no idea I existed. I was a ghost, a rumor.

"When I revealed myself to them, specifically Neo's brother Vinny, as a delinquent child, Vinny ordered that his men teach me a lesson."

She shuddered. I could see that she was in pain. I pulled into a vacant lot, idled the car, and pulled her to my chest. She continued into my shoulder.

"Gastro and Carlo decided to take on this responsibility. They both raped me until I bled."

I didn't realize I was seething tangible fury until Bella grasped my arm. She was comforting me! I held her tight to me so she wouldn't slip away.

"I returned to find my mother dead on the floor, and my father being teased. I lost it, and the moment of distraction allowed my dad to clip Vinny in the shoulder. Carlo and Gastro shot him until he fell over. My father, in his dying, bloody breath, told me he was proud of me for the first time in my life.

"I left New York, intending to find my Aunt and her husband. A fortnight later I discovered that they died in an explosion caused by military grade C4.

"At this point, I was entirely alone, and broken. I had serious issues to work through. I leaded down to Miami, as I'd never seen the beach, and filed for emancipation and the rights of a legal adult. I had my parent's fortune, but living as a migrant, working from place to place, helped me to compartmentalize.

"I did lots of things, as I had already technically graduated high school and college under my parent's severe tutelage. I officially obtained a bachelor's degree in visual and performing arts when I was fifteen and a half. At that point I left Miami. I didn't know then that it would be the longest I spent in any one place for several years.

"I wandered to New Orleans, and I spent a month in the French Quarter playing guitar for tips and places to sleep. After that I made my way over towards Los Angeles.

"In Austin, I taught self defense for two months. After that I moved on to Denver. I worked as a bartender there in several clubs, and found that I really enjoyed the people element of that line of work. Denver was where I celebrated my sixteenth birthday. At that point I headed to Las Vegas with a specific destination: my father's garage.

"It was one of the few common interests we had. He would bring up a car to out house in NY and we would work on it. Cars are a huge hobby of mine. The fine mechanical work is mesmerizing. I loved those cars. I spent a few months in Las Vegas as a body shop before I headed to Mexico City. I needed a vacation. I sang and played guitar there for about a month.

"You'll learn, Edward, that I tend to make rash decisions. Indeed, when I was nearly sixteen and a half, I decided I wanted to see Italy. I painted portraits there for nearly four months. I love Italy. I even got to spend some time in Paris, Rome, and London. But home called, and so I packed up and headed to Los Angeles.

"There, I found that street racing was like a drug, and I was very good. I actually earned some good money. I tricked out a car and made a few friends along the way as well. That's actually where I met up with Rosalie."

She ended her tale with a sigh. She'd been talking for the better part of the afternoon and well into the evening. Indeed, dinner had been eaten over an hour ago.

"Bella, thank you. I see who you are now, and I promise I'm always going to be there for you no matter what."

Her eyes widened in alarm. "Please no! That's just the thing, Edward; I'm a marked woman. I will not live a full life. Vinny and Gastro and Carlo are out for my blood. I will not bring anyone into this. This is my fight."

"Bella, I am going to help you. My father taught me to hunt, and I have one of the best shots in the state. My uncle, a marine, taught me the blade. I am well equipped, and we're both loaded. I will see this through to the end with you."

I knew in that moment that these words were the truest I'd ever spoken. I didn't know anything except that I never wanted to see this beautiful creature in distress.

*****

EPOV- two months later.

Bella and I had grow closer than I'd ever thought imaginable. We spent every waking moment together. I felt physical pain when we were parted at all, and I smiled at the mere thought of her.

School was going well; it was clear to me she was very bright for she mirrored my own perfect scores. Lauren was still a bitch, but a single glare from any one of us silenced her.

There was a new student who introduced himself to us as Vincent Gene. He was olive skinned and dark haired- and instantly likeable with his entirely carefree, translucent manner. Everyone took an immediate liking to him.

Everyone except Bella.

When I questioned her about this, she told me he looked painfully like Vinny, but she assured me that her overactive imagination caused her to simply run wild at the shared name. She still avoided him like the plague, especially after he asked us to call him Vinny for short.

To appease her, I spent very little time with Vinny. It saddened me, for I had taken a liking to the fellow. The same went for my family as well.