Chapter 7

EPOV

What in the hell is this bitch doing in Memphis? She hadn't seen me as she was talking to the nurse at the desk. She was speaking in a hushed tone so I couldn't hear the conversation. Tanya looked angry and I couldn't help but wonder why she was here. I didn't even considered making her aware of my presence in the hospital, honestly the scene would probably be very ugly.

I quickly ducked out of eyesight, for some reason my gut told me not to let this banshee see me. I was curious as to why she was here but frankly my concern was with Bella. I peeked around the corner and noticed that Tanya was nowhere in sight so I quickly got myself a snack from the vending machine and headed back to Bella's room. The sight of the Sea witch had taken my mind off of being upset about the situation Bella was in.

Entering here room I noticed that Esme had arrived and was fussing all over Bella who was looking rather drowsey.

"The doctors gave her some pain meds" Carlisle explained when he saw me looking at Bella with a frown. "Some very strong pain meds. She may not have any serious injuries but she will be stiff and sore for the next few days. She may need a little help at home, but it won't last long."

"I'll stay with her" Esme blurted out and the entire room got quiet before Alice informed Esme that Christian and I would be staying with Bella indefinitely.

"Oh.. uhmm are you sure? It's just for a few days until she feels better." Esme looked a little skeptical . Apparently no one had filled her in on the discovery that Bella's accident was intentionally caused

"Very" I stated firmly. I turned to Carlisle "Do you know when she will be released?"

"Normally most accident victims stay overnight but the hospital is overcrowded and they are releasing her tonight."

"Okay then how are we getting her home, her truck was totaled in the accident." Jasper said aloud.

"That would be where we come in." Reverend Webber had walked in followed by his daughter Angela. Angela was one of the few people Bella actually called a friend she was a quiet and sweet natured young lady and Edward knew exactly why Bella liked her.

"Angela has her car and I have mine we should enough room for everyone."

Several hours later Bella was released with a pain prescription. We all piled into the Webbers vehicles and headed home.

Arriving at the house Bella was moving very gingerly so I picked her up bridal style much to her protest and carried her into her room. Bella was light as a feather and the feel of her soft body against mine had my cock at attention. Placing her gently in her bed I turned to leave and she whispered out "Please don't go."

Looking down at her something in me snapped. Perhaps it was the scare from the accident or this little song and dance we've been doing for the last several weeks. Whatever it was I couldn't not kiss her any longer. Placing my hand behind her neck and pulling her up to a seating position my lips met hers. I coaxed her mouth open with my tongue and I explored her mouth gently. I pulled her onto my lap so that she straddled me. Bella moaned into my mouth and buried her hands in my hair. I broke away from her mouth and attached my lips to her neck before kissing my way back to her mouth. Bella was grinding against my erection and I stood and turned her around to lay her on the bed. I was in between her legs but supported my weight on my left forearm. My left hand decided to explore and reached under her shirt to caress her soft skin. Bella arched into my touch, my fingers pinched her nipple.

I knew I had to stop before we went to far. Bella and I needed to talk and I wanted to do this right. I gently pulled away and placed my forehead against hers.

"As much as I'd like to continue this you are recovering from an accident and will be stiff as a board tomorrow" she started to protest and I placed a finger against her lips. "Lay down while I check on Christian and I promise to be back soon. I just need to make sure Esme is okay with babysitting tonight." I kissed her softly on her lips and left her in the bed so I could calm myself down.

I sent a quick text to Esme who responded quickly that she had Christian and he was fine. I turned out all of the lights and checked the locks before I rejoined Bella in her bedroom. She was already asleep so I decided to go to the guest room until she murmured "Edward stay" I didn't know for sure if she was completely coherent but I stripped down to my boxers and slipped in bed beside her. Bella curled into me and I wrapped my arms around her. Sleep claimed me instantly.

I could feel little kisses peppering my face "Wake up sleepy head. You've got to get ready for work. Alice is bringing you something to wear, jump in the shower." I opened my eyes to Bella's beautiful smile it was a sight I could wake up to for the rest of my days. I pecked her lips "You and I need to talk, ok." She blushed, nodded her head and then headed downstairs as I got into the shower.

After I was done I entered her bedroom with my towel wrapped around my hips and Bella was placing my clothes on the bed for me to get dressed. She jumped slightly when she heard me enter the room. She took one look at my semi naked appearance and bolted for the door. Oh no you don't

I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her towards me causing her to crash into my chest "Where do you think you're going." I asked her huskily in her ear just as I bit it. Her head automatically tilted giving me full access to her neck. I buried my face in her neck giving it light kisses before I ran my nose along her jaw line.

I chuckled at her intake of breath and I could feel her trembling in my embrace. I pulled back a little and her eyes had glazed over and she was biting her bottom lip. I pecked it loose and kissed her deeper. "Just so you know I plan on doing this a lot." I whispered in her ear when I pulled away "No more running . Now are you gonna help me get dressed or are you making breakfast." I threw the last part on because I smelled the distinct aroma of burnt bacon coming upstairs.

"Crap the bacon" she exclaimed before hightailing it to the kitchen.

I laughed she was adorable.

After having some breakfast with Bella and Alice I headed to Mike so we could get to work. The day dragged as I was anxious to see Christian as well as talk to Bella. It had actually been 24 hours since I'd seen my son and that hadn't happened ever.

While working in one of my files my secretary Lauren buzzed me. "Mr. Cullen you have a woman who is demanding to see you her name is Tanya Denali."

My head snapped up at that. What could she possibly want and how in the hell did she know I worked here? "Send her in."

Just a few moments later my ex-wife walked in looking every bit the debutante that she is. Looking at her now I don't even know what I saw in her. She was spoiled rotten and self centered. Tanya didn't do anything that didn't benefit Tanya. Bella was wealthy but she wasn't materialistic at all heck until the accident Bella was still driving her father's old 99 Lincoln Navigator. Perhaps the upbringing was the difference as Bella came from working class people and Tanya was born into wealth.

I'm pretty sure when she left she ran straight to her father, the same man she refused to borrow money from to keep us afloat. She was dressed in her usual designer duds and just like that my resentment and anger flared. "What do you want Tanya." I asked her coldly.

"Is that any way to greet our wife Edward." She asked coyly.

"Ex and I repeat what do you want Tanya you are wearing out your welcome." By now I'm about to throw her out. The next words from her mouth threw me over the edge.

"How is Christian?"

I looked at her as if she had grown three heads. Was this bitch serious?

"You don't get to ask about him. EVER. Are we understood? As a matter of fact this conversation is over. Get out."

"He is my son too Edward!"

"Your son" I yelled at her. "Was he your son when you walked out and left us? Or when we lived in a cheap hotel room for a week. Or how about the six weeks we lived on the street! Get the fuck out!"

The color drained from Tanya's face "The streets you didn't have a place…oh my god. I didn't think… I"

"No of course you didn't think, you never think about anyone but yourself. You didn't think about how I going to feed him, cloth him, to provide basic necessities for him. My mom had just killed herself and Dad is god knows where and you thought I was fine to take care of a child alone. You could have gotten any amount of money from your father and you choose to abandon us instead for your own selfish reasons. You refused to get a job with your degree because you wanted to be a kept woman. You would've gotten hired anywhere with your education and you you…." I just shook my head "Tanya get out."

Tanya is crying uncontrollably but that was something she was always good at dramatics. "Wait Edward please listen to me I.."

I cut her off "I hope for your sake that you are not trying to take him back. I will fight you in court you…."

"No Edward listen please" she pleaded "Please just listen."

I gave her a minute to get herself together and "You are absolutely right. I was selfish and spoiled. I had never known what it was like to be without and it scared me to death. I admit I didn't handle it well and I was a coward and ran. I didn't think things would get worse for you. I had no idea that you and Christian had to live like that. But don't worry I'm not here to take Christian my new husband has made it clear that children have no place with us."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing not only was this bitch remarried but she was basically giving away Christian because the new "Hubby" didn't want kids. "Wait were you having an affair before you left. Is that why you decided to leave him because your new sugar daddy didn't want children?"

She didn't answer she just looked at the floor and that was all the answer I needed. At least she had the good sense to be ashamed. She'd had an affair with someone else while we were married, it explained a lot. I shook my head in disgust. "Tanya" I sighed "please get to the point."

"I know who hurt your….friend" she struggled to come up with a word to describe Bella letting me know that she knew something was going on between us.

"Who" I bit out tersely "who would do that?" I demanded.

"My sister Irina." She stated simply. I didn't even know she had a sister. My confusion was evident on my face as Tanya explained. "I have a sister that is younger by 11 months she is mentally ill and my parents keep her under wraps."

What that really meant was we hid her to save ourselves embarrassment since she wasn't perfect. My mouth hung open in shock as I stared at Tanya. "Why would she want to hurt Bella" This wasn't making any sense.

"Irina has been obsessed with you since I brought you home to meet my parents the first time. She thinks she is in love with you. Irina is mentally ill and my parents have done everything they could to keep her controlled but the past four months have sent her spiraling out of control. She left the mental health clinic we had her in and just disappeared. We had private investigators looking everywhere for her. We finally traced her here a few weeks ago. It wasn't until I discovered you now live in Memphis that I put together the reason why she would even come here."

"We finally caught up with her last week and she slit her wrist when we tried to take her home. She was in the psych ward at the hospital but she escaped the day your….. uhmm friend's truck was tampered with. We had no idea of the depth of her obsession until we found this in the hotel room she had been staying in."

Tanya pulled out a folder and passed it to me. Inside were pictures of Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, Alice, Carlisle, Esme, the twins, Christian, Bella and myself. The pictures of Bella had red X's marked across her face. One photo had die written in red across it, that particular photo Bella was holding Christian.

How did this obviously bat shit crazy woman figure out I was in love with Bella was beyond me.

Tanya allowed me to thumb through the photos and looked out of my window before continuing. "Irina and I look a lot alike except her eyes are brown instead of blue. We have the same hair color, same coloring, and she is only taller by one inch. You should be aware and if you see her call the authorities. Don't let her looks fool you Irina is deranged. My parents refuse to commit her but she is dangerous and it looks like she has set her sights on Bella." She turned and looked at me then.

"You may wonder why I am telling you anything but despite my actions I did care for you Edward. And honestly I may not be able to be a mother to him but I don't want Christian hurt. Bella obviously spends a lot of time with him and he could get hurt in the crossfire. What if he had been in the truck with her that day?"

She had a point, Bella babysat my son as much as possible she even ran errands with him.

"There is something else I think she believes that Christian is Bella's child look at the photos Edward. Every picture with Bella holding Christian is destroyed more violently than the others. No one knew I was pregnant, no one not even my parents know that I gave birth. No one but my husband Demetri." She finishes softly.

I looked at the photos again Shit she was right so that meant both he and Bella could possibly be in danger. I couldn't even concentrate on the fact that she has lied to everyone about Christian, that works in my favor. Right now my focus in on the fact that the two most important people in my life are being targeted by a crazy woman.

"My God Tanya how have you guys hidden her all this time and why? It's obvious she needs help and now she's here stalking me, my son, and my girlfriend. She tried to kill her for Christ sakes. Have you notified the police?"

"No we.."

"You have got to be shi.. Irina I will be calling the police and reporting this." I took the photos to provide to the police, sat back in my chair, and closed my eyes. I did not need this now. Bella and I hadn't even established ourselves as a couple and this happens. I wouldn't be surprised if Bella ran for the hills when she found this out. A crazy woman almost killed her because she was obsessed with me. It sounded like a bad Lifetime movie plot starring Tori Spelling.

I opened my eyes and focused on Tanya "Thank you for giving us a warning." I begrudgingly said. "If you will excuse me I need to get home to my family." I needed to talk to Bella and the others they were all my family now and we needed to handle this together.

I could only hope that Bella didn't hold this against me.