A/N I don't own any of the characters but I love 'em - especially Edward! Thanks to Beegurl13 for Beta, pre reading and banner plus lots more stuff.

Chapter 8

Epov

One thing I knew for sure, was that if I involved anyone else, they would become his target.

The man lived to flaunt his power. His force was so small, he was unlikely to be caught creating set-ups, etc..

No, I couldn't risk involving anyone else.

I drove straight home.

It was about supper time.

Since my mom would be home, I knew I couldn't let her see me in this condition.

How would I explain it?

Both sides of my face were swollen and I had a cut lip and a cut above my eye. I was walking hunched over because my ribs hurt like hell.

As I limped up the sidewalk, the front door flew open.

My mom ran out holding a dishtowel.

"Oh, Edward! What happened? Oh my God! Your face! Carlisle! CARLISLE!" she screamed.

She wrapped her arms around me, trying to support me with her small frame.

"It's ok, Mom., I can walk."

My dad came out of the house. When he saw me, he broke into a run.

"Holy Hell! - Son, what happened to you?"

"Just a fight, Dad,." I replied weakly.

"Well, I hope the other guy looks worse than you at least?," he said, steering me towards his office, presumably to patch me up.

"Not really," I mumbled.

After that, my dad went into Doctor mode.

He cleaned my wounds and put in two stitches over my eye.

"Anything else?" he questioned with raised eyebrows.

I nodded, pulling my shirt up and over my head.

"Oh...Edward...were...were you kicked?" he gasped, seeing all the ugly bruises and red marks covering my torso.

"Amoung other things. Can I just go lay down now?"

"Hold on, hold on. I need to check to see if any of your ribs are broken."

My dad proceeded to poke and prod on my battered ribs for several more minutes.

Finally, he stepped back from me.

"It doesn't appear that anything is broken, which is lucky considering the severity of the bruising. Go ahead and lie down. I'll send your mom up with your supper when it is ready. Oh, and Edward...we will talk about this, but it can wait until tomorrow. Alright?" he said, sounding very concerned.

"Yeah, we'll talk tomorrow. Thanks, Dad."

He gently embraced me and kissed my head.

"I love you, kid. You know that, right? You know you can tell me anything. I'm on your side. Always. We, are on your side."

I looked up at him. He looked so worried, but the sincerity in his words was reflected in his expression. He was on my side.

"Thanks, Dad. I love you both, too!. I'm...I'm gonna go lie down."

I left his office and went straight to my room. I walked to my bed and sat down. I needed a plan. Fast. I reached into my night stand drawer, and pulled out a writing pad and a pen.

What would I need to take Bella away?

I had to get Bella out of there. But we couldn't leave without a plan.

Would Bella even leave with me?

After what I witnessed tonight, I couldn't imagine her not wanting to get out of there.

There was a soft tapping on my bedroom door.

I quickly put my pad and pen under my pillow, straightening up just as my mom entered.

"Grab that other pillow and prop yourself up, Honey.," She said, quietly.

I did as she asked, trying not to groan from the effort.

She placed a bed tray across my lap.

"Thank you, Mom, this looks really great,." I said, appreciatively.

"You're welcome, Honey, you know I love taking care of my two men,." She said with a smile.

"You just put the tray outside your door when you're done. I'll get it later, okay? I know it's early, but try to rest – okay?. I love you, Baby,." She said, leaning in and kissing my battered cheek.

It felt good.

"I love you, too, Mom, you're the best. I'm glad you're my Mom."

I knew I sounded sappy, but who knew when I would speak with her again if we ran.

Her smile widened and her eyes welled up with happy tears.

"You make it easy," she murmured as she left, closing my door behind her.

I ate, even though chewing hurt.

Bella's face was hurt, too. Bella. Somehow I have to help her.

How?

Think! Damn it! Think!

I was paralyzed in fear of what could be happening at Bella's house right now.

Money.

This was going to take money.

I could get a job, but what kind of job can I get without a high school diploma.?

Shit!

If we didn't graduate, what would happen to our scholarships?

I couldn't think about that now.

We were getting out of here, tonight.

With no further distractions, I continued my list.

BPOV

I had been absolutely stunned when Edward charged into my house earlier.

How had he known?

Is that why he acted so strangely earlier?.

I couldn't believe he fought my dad for me.

He tried so hard, but my Dad was just so big and had years of self defence training.

My dad had hurt him. Badly, by the looks of it.

I was watching when he labouredly jogged off down the street and my father came back into the house.

He walked straight to me and before I could blink, he backhanded me across my face.

I fell to the floor.

"Don't ever stand with that punk against me again!" he roared.

He yanked me up and hit me again on the opposite side.

I would have fallen, but he had his hand wrapped around my t-shirt.

He pulled me in close to him and held my body very tightly to his with one arm around my back and the other pulled my hips against his.

I let my head loll back so his face wasn't so close to mine.

He was hard against my stomach.

I was terrified.

"If you defy me again, not only will I punish you,..." he growled, rubbing himself against me, "but I will punish him and his family. Do you want to be responsible for that?"

"No! No! I won't...I won't...just...just leave them alone! I won't see Edward anymore! Just leave them alone!" I cried.

He ground his erection against my stomach.

Just the thought made me wretch.

I was going to be sick.

A person can only take so much.

When he heard me gag, he threw me against the stairs.

Hard.

The front of my body connecting with each step,. I scrambled up them and into the bathroom, vomiting into the toilet. Between heaves I could hear my dad loading more beer bottles into the fridge.

I flushed the toilet and tip toed to my room, locking the door behind me. Not that it would keep him out if he wanted in.

I collapsed onto my bed.

I was scared and hurt and had no idea what would happen next.

I was worried about Edward and how hurt he was.

How in the world would he explain his injuries?

Would he tell the truth? What would happen then?

Would I back him up or would I lie for my father?

I would certainly want to back up Edward with the truth, but could I risk them all being hurt by my father?

I continued to cry and worry until my body gave out to the late hour of the night.