Damn you, ever-nagging plot bunnies … I just can't get this one out of my head. I am focusing on one story, but I wanted to get a foundation on this new one. So, here we go … This will be similar to Buying Love, Friends with Benefits, Mafia Princess and The One That Got Away, with shorter chapters and weekly updates: Sundays with teasers on Thursday.

Chapter Four

EPOV

After several hours, Bella was released and we drove to the Hampton Suites. When we got there, I saw my sister's Porsche SUV in the parking lot and I was so relieved. I was terrified that I was going to cause this already-skittish woman further harm. Not physical harm, but emotional or psychological harm.

I felt so protective of her. It wasn't normal to feel this protective over a virtual stranger, a client no less!

"Edward!" chirped my sister, hopping out of the car and running toward me. She threw her arms around me and hugged me fiercely. "I missed you, big brother. I've missed you so much."

"I missed you, too," I breathed, picking her up and tugging on her hair. "This is longer, Mary Alice. I thought you liked the pixie cut."

"I love the pixie cut, but Dad said that longer hair is more feminine," Alice snorted. "He made me get extensions. But, after I tell you about his latest shenanigans, I may just get them removed so I can give them the finger. I'm so done."

"You can tell me after we get settled in the hotel room," I said, pulling out my wallet and taking out the keys. I slid my bag over my shoulder, handing Carmen back her credit card and holding the keys to Bella's room out to her. She was wearing an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of scrub pants. "This is for you, Ms. Swan. We're on the fourth floor in adjoining rooms."

"Thank you," she whispered, clutching the tiny piece of plastic close to her chest. "I don't know what to say."

"Well, we're not done," Alice smirked. "I'm Mary Alice Cullen, Edward's sister. I've brought you some clothes, shoes and necessities. Edward said that you didn't have much."

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing," Bella sighed. "The clothes I wore to the hospital belonged to Rose and they're now evidence." She shivered, tugging her sweatshirt around her body.

"Come on, let's get you inside," Carmen said, guiding us into the hotel. We rode the elevator. We got her settled in the room while Alice and I picked up the five suitcases from Alice's SUV. We dragged the bags into the room. "Wow, Miss Cullen, this is quite the collection of bags."

"Jasper is coming with a few more," Alice said, waving her hand. "Jasper is my boyfriend/bodyguard."

"Boyfriend?" I grunted. "And when did that happen?"

"Recently," she smirked. "There are some really great pieces in the bags. We're the same size and will fit you like a dream!"

"Let's give Bella some time to get settled in," I said, tugging on Alice's arm. "I'm right next door, Bella, if you need me."

"Thank you," she said, still looking at the bags with wide eyes. "I think I'm going to soak in the tub and wash off the hospital."

Carmen, Alice and I left the room and went into mine. "How long will we stay here?" I asked my boss.

"I'll let you know," Carmen said cryptically. "Besides, this is a step up from that dump you live in, Edward. You do have nice furniture, but the apartment leaves much to be desired."

"It was all I could afford after I was cut off by my asshole parents," I grumbled.

"And I could help you get what you're legally owed, Edward. But, you are too damned stubborn to let me help. You said your inheritance was left to you by your grandparents and your parents were the trustees," Carmen argued.

"We both were, but they have some stupid rules we have to abide by in order receive our monthly allowance," Alice grumbled. "We have to be the picture-perfect version of a family. And per the ever image-conscious Carlisle Cullen, Edward is not picture-perfect. Not anymore. Edward is twice the man my father could ever be."

"All you need to do is say the word and I'll file the paperwork, Edward," Carmen said. "That money is legally yours. When you hit a specific age, that trust should have been transferred to your name."

"The age of twenty-one," Alice said. "But, our parents insisted that we transfer the money into accounts with their names on it so they could keep us on a tight leash."

"I'm going to get started on dealing with that. It's highly illegal. You, however, need to file the order protection paperwork first thing tomorrow morning," Carmen said, handing me a thick file. "After that, you work from here unless you have a court appearance. Marcus, Eleazar or I will stay with Bella so she's not alone."

"I'm certain that my Jasper can help, too. He can watch the hotel," Alice nodded. "Her face looks like it's seen the other side of a massive fist. Damn it." Carmen didn't say anything, but left the hotel room. Alice walked over to the bed and wrinkled her nose. "This place smells like cigarette smoke."

"You are such a diva, Alice," I deadpanned. "But, you may have to get used to this if you're serious about blowing off the parentals."

"I'm thinking that I may not have to," she said. "Carmen looked pissed about what our parents did regarding our trust funds. It's not their money to take. It's legally ours, but since we were fucking lemmings, we followed their stupid rules. However, the way they treated you after you had your breakdown was abhorrent. You should put out a statement, laying it all out there what Mom and Dad did after you were admitted the hospital. You're not crazy. You were sick."

"Can we not talk about this?" I asked. "What's this about you and Jasper?"

"He's the reason why I want out of Mom and Dad's hold," she said. "He's not good enough. He's fine to protect me, but to love me? He's the scum of the earth." She twisted a strand of her long hair. "I'm not good enough anymore, either. Owning my own business and franchising it? Dad wants me to be a clone of Mom. I don't want to be a stay-at-home mom. Hell, I don't even want kids! They're cute and all, but I'm not maternal."

"You were pretty ferocious, Mama-Bear-like when Dad went after me in the hospital," I said.

"That was me protecting my brother," she argued. "Edward, I meant what I said that you are twice, three times, hell, a HUNDRED times the man Dad is. You should be the one running for congress, not him."

"I couldn't handle working at a prestigious law firm, losing billions of dollars for my clients. I went bonkers, losing my shit and committed into the psychiatric ward in some cushy private hospital. My parents disowned me, ashamed of my perceived weakness. I'm just now pulling my life together. There is no way I could be a congressman. For certain I'd end up with more time in the funny farm," I said.

"Was your breakdown due to stress or was it because you wanted out?" Alice asked, taking my hand. "You're always so cold, Edward."

"Poor circulation," I shrugged. "And my therapist asked me the same thing."

"Well?"

"I wanted out," I murmured. "Out of everything. As bad as it sounds, I wanted to end it all. I couldn't take it. But, I had always hoped that Mom and Dad would be there for me. Apparently not." I shot up and stomped the window. I glared outside, wishing I could understand why.

There is no why. Your parents are assholes.

I gripped the edge of the window and the glass frosted over, splintering across the frame. My stomach was churning and I was trembling with a feeling of absolute freezing emptiness. I pulled my hand away and the frost stopped. Looking down at my hand, I saw it glisten under the sun with icicles. "What's going on?" I asked.

"You okay, Edward?" Alice questioned. "Huh, you may need to call maintenance. It's cold, but not that cold."

"Right," I muttered, staring at the frozen part of the window. "Look, I have to finish typing up Bella's protective order. I love you, Ali and I appreciate your help, but …" I stuffed my hands into my pockets.

"Edward? Do you need your medication?" Alice asked, her hand massaging my back. "You look like you're about to lose your shit."

"Uh, yeah. I can get it," I said. I hugged my sister tightly, keeping my hands away from her body. "Love you, Ali."

"Love you, too, Edward," she murmured. "I'll call you when Jasper is on his way." She kissed my cheek, leaving me in the room.

I looked down at my hands and the twinkling sparkle was gone. I pressed my hand against the window and there were no more spreading ice crystals. I shrugged out of my jacket and found my anti-anxiety pills, tossing one into my mouth. Blowing out a breath, I grabbed my computer and began drafting the protection order until my mind became too muddled from the medication. Saving my work, I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.

A/N: Edward is the male version of Elsa from Frozen. Only he's six-two with reddish-bronze hair, green eyes and a rock-solid body. Leave me some loving …