A/N: THIS CHAPTER IS FOR A DEDICATED REVIEWER WHO HAS A TENDENCY TO EXPRESS EXTREME AMOUNTS OF VIOLENCE IN ABOUT 90% OF HER REVIEWS...A GIRL AFTER MY OWN HEART! FROSTEDGLAZE, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU ;)
Previously, in Chapter Nine...
Standing in the alley was not James, but Carmen, her body still shrouded in the black grim reaper's robe. In one hand she held the lantern with the flameless candle flickering away. In the other hand she held a broken bottle, the jagged edges coated in thick, red blood. A man lay on the ground below her, blood gushing out of a large gash that sliced across his forehead. His white gown billowed out around him, and he looked as though he were simply sleeping, his eyes closed and a peaceful look on his face.
"Oh my God!" I gasped, staring at Carmen in shock. "Drunk Jesus is dead!"
CHAPTER TEN: THE MOST GANGSTA WHITE GIRL I KNOW
You don't need a girl like me
I've got bruises you can't see
And when the lights go out
I won't be around
You don't need a girl like me
Girl Like Me - Miranda Lambert
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Carmen asked as I stared up at her from beside the bleeding man. Her face was lost in a sea of darkness beneath the hood of her black robe. "I didn't kill him! I came out here for a smoke and found him like this!"
I felt of the man's neck for a pulse, sighing in relief when the weak, yet steady rhythm of his heartbeat pulsed beneath my fingers. "He's alive," I said, glancing up at my friends briefly, just as I heard the man moan softly, rolling his head to one side.
"Should we call the cops?" Tia asked, glancing up and down the alley worriedly. "Or an ambulance?"
"Don't call anyone," the man rasped, his kind eyes fluttering open and meeting my worried ones. "Please don't call anyone," he repeated, a tinge of panic in his voice, a panic that only someone like myself could understand without question.
"Let me get a good look at your head wound," I replied, momentarily ignoring his plea, brushing his hair from his forehead to get a better look at the gash. "If it's too deep it may need stitches and you will have to go to the hospital to have that done. Will one of y'all get me something to clean this wound with?" I asked my two friends. Tia nodded, turned and disappeared into the club, the throwback 90's music pumping loudly into the alley as she opened the door, quickly turning into a muffled thud as the door closed behind her.
"I was in the alley drinking earlier and a man walked down the alley, trying to get through that door," Drunk Jesus explained, staring at me gravely before pointing at the door on the side of the club. "I told him that he needed to stop trying to sneak in without paying...he didn't see me when he tried to get through the door. When I spoke up, he saw me sitting near the dumpster...he grabbed the bottle from my hand. When I stood up, he smashed the end of the bottle against the brick wall and came at me with it. That's all I remember..."
"What did he look like?" I asked, my throat tight.
"Average height...average weight...middle-aged...long, greasy blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. It was too dark to see his eye color...he was wearing dark clothes. That's all I really remember," the older man responded, struggling to sit up.
"James..." I told myself, feeling incredibly guilty, swallowing thickly. I held his arm as he sat up, trying to steady him. Tia finally returned, a first aid kit in her hand. I took out the supplies, slipped on a pair of gloves and cleaned the cut as well as I could, relieved to see that the wound was not nearly as deep as I previously assumed. Taking small, adhesive strips, I pulled the edges of the wound as closely together as I could to ensure proper healing and decreased chances of infection and scarring. The man smiled kindly at me as I offered to take him to the hospital, and politely declined my request. Carmen and I assisted him to his feet. He was slightly unsteady, but it was hard to tell if it was because of his head injury or the simple fact that he was slightly intoxicated. Wobbling, he gave us a shaky wave before slipping quietly down the alley, disappearing around the corner of the building.
It was my fault James attacked this man in this dirty alley, alone with no one to defend him. If James weren't after me, he would have never ran into Drunk Jesus, who had been quietly minding his own business sitting next to the dumpster. How many people would James hurt trying to get to me? Would the next person die? I thought momentarily of my Uncle Peter. James had taken his life years ago. He was a sick, crazy man, but he didn't deserve to die the way he did. He needed help for his mental problems...not murdered in cold blood. Would that be the same fate of the rest of my family and friends? The whole point of me running from home and hiding, was not only to protect myself, but to protect the ones I loved by distancing myself. I had foolishly thought that if I were not around, their lives could go on, hopefully somewhat normally. Now it seems as though the problems I tried so desperately to run from had caught up with me and the only thing different was the fact that new, innocent people are becoming involved in my horrific situation. I had to figure out a solution without causing anyone I loved to get hurt. I paced the alley, any shadow catching my eye, causing a knot of panic to form in my throat as I racked my brain for a solution.
"Okay, time for you to come clean, Swan," Tia said, breaking the only sound coming from the alley, which was the clicking of my boots against the pavement. I paused at her words, trying to process them through my jumbled thoughts and emotions. "Carmen and I were going out for a smoke when we saw a man run from the hallway and out of this door," she clarified, pointing at the door. "Carmen ran to the door, being all pale and naturally curious as you white folks tend to be. When I heard her scream I peeped out the door, against my better judgement, and found her standing there next to the drunk man. I turned to get help and noticed you stumbling out of the hallway...the very same hallway Drunk Jesus's attacker ran from. What's going on, Swan? Do you know who attacked Drunk Jesus? Did he hurt you too?"
Running my fingers through my long hair, I stared at my friends. Tia stood with her arms crossed watching me with her critical, dark eyes and Carmen, whose hood had since fallen back on her small shoulders, stared at me morosely, her brown bob framing her narrow face. These girls were my friends, and I owed them an explanation.
"Yes," I responded, blowing out a gust of breath that I didn't know I was holding. "I do know him. His name is James. He's someone I have known since I was a little girl. He came here to warn me...that if I don't...turn myself over to him, he will hurt the people I love. I've gotta do something...I just don't know what." I began pacing again, pulling at my hair, thinking momentarily of Edward and how he habitually yanked at his hair when he became angry or stressed out.
"What do you mean by 'turn myself over to him'?" Carmen asked, her hazel eyes gazing at my brown ones in confusion. I took another deep breath and replied, "He wants me. That's it. He told me I would know where to find him...which I don't...but I will, because I'm going to do everything in my power to end this. I have to end this. I don't know how, but I will end this!"
"Is he some kind of...stalker or something?" Tia asked quietly.
"Yes! He's a freaking stalker, okay?" I snapped, taking out my frustration unfairly on the ones I loved. "He kidnapped me when I was a kid...If Emmett and Jasper hadn't found me back then, well, I'd be dead now. It wasn't supposed to be like this! I took years of therapy...and it helped me so much. He went to prison! I started functioning as a normal person again after that. But he escaped a few years ago...I've been on the run ever since. Somehow he's found me. He pulled me into the hallway earlier, threatened me and...touched me...He's obsessed with me! This is never going to end, is it? This is never going to end." I began rambling and mumbling, more to myself than my friends as I continued to pace back and forth in the alley. Think, Bella! What can I do? What can I do?
Carmen and Tia glanced at one another worriedly, before returning their gaze to me. I stopped in my tracks, spinning around on my heel, pointed a finger between the two of them and hissed,"Do not tell anyone about James. You never saw him...we didn't find Drunk Jesus in the alley. None of this ever happened, got it?"
Carmen hesitated, and then replied, "Bella, don't you think it's best for us to tell your brother? What if he comes back and takes you? I can't live with that kind of guilt! If you don't want us to tell Emmett, at least let us tell Edward. He's a powerful m..." I cut her off before she could end her sentence.
"Edward is the very last person that needs to know," I whispered, loving my brother very much, but the very idea that Edward could be harmed by James caused my body to freeze in terror. Edward was the only man who I ever had romantic feelings for, the only man I ever imagined being with...and I'd be damned before I allowed him to suffer at the hands of that psycho.
"So, what are you going to do?" Carmen asked curiously, shifting her weight from one foot to the other and peering at me as I started pacing again.
The sounds of police sirens and drunken laughter drifted down the alley from the street, but it barely registered as I began to formulate a plan. Was it a stable plan? No. It was a completely idiotic, poorly calculated plan, but it was the only one I had, and I would have to take a chance. I was tired of running, tired of hiding, tired of looking over my shoulder, and tired of being scared the majority of the time. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. It was time to take my life back...time to finally have a life of my own, a life without James Hunter in it.
"Go back in...act like everything is normal. If anyone asks, tell them I'm outside getting some air. Do not tell anyone what happened okay? I've got an idea..." I replied, digging around in the stupid chaps for my phone. Yanking it out, I scrolled through my contacts until I found the one I needed, pressing my finger against the screen, highlighting the number. I looked up, surprised to see my friends still standing there watching me.
"We're not going anywhere. You either tell us what you're going to do or we're going to Emmett," Carmen said in an unnaturally strong tone, watching me with unwavering eyes. Tia glanced at her and then me uncertainly.
"Fine," I snapped, throwing my hands up in frustration. "It's time to get a gun, okay? I need something to protect myself until I figure out where to find James. I need a gun that can't be traced back to me because after I figure out where James is, I'm going to hunt the bastard down. Is that what you want to hear? Do you want to be a part of that? I don't think so. Go back in and don't worry about me."
The two of them continued to watch me worriedly, before Carmen sighed, ran her fingers through her hair and said, "I'm in. Whatever your plan, count me in. If not...then I'm telling Emmett. You're not going through this alone. A true friend wouldn't let you go through it alone." She gave Tia a pointed look.
Tia, groaned, and rubbed her forehead, muttering,"I can't believe I'm even saying this, but count me in too. I've been hanging around you pale faces too long. I'm starting to do some really stupid crap."
I tried to argue with them, but they wouldn't listen. Carmen slipped into the building with the intent to let anyone looking for us know that we were outside getting some fresh air. She slipped back out into the alley quietly and the two of them watched as I pressed the screen, calling someone I met when I first moved to Memphis. He would be awake, and he wouldn't be far away. He answered the phone in a gruff voice and listened without interrupting as I explained what I needed in a whisper. We ended the call and I leaned against the building, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to warm my body against the coolness of the air.
"Are y'all really going to stay out here the entire time?" I asked, to which they simply glanced at one another and nodded in response. Sighing, I let my gaze wander to the entrance of the alley into the street, waiting somewhat impatiently on my friend. Within several minutes, I recognized his familiar shape as he entered the alley.
Legless Willie Curtiss rolled silently into the alley in his small wheelchair, stopping less than a foot away from me. His dark skin wrinkled with age, his taut face framed by his long, straight black hair. His deep, brown eyes sparkled as he peered up at me, the gold in his few remaining teeth glinting beneath a pale light suspended above me in the alley. Willie wore a navy track suit, the pant legs pinned below the stumps where his missing limbs once were. He grinned up at me as I gave him a somber smile.
"You muss be in some sho' 'nuff trouble, gal," he said, glancing at my two friends who stared at us curiously.
"I am, Willie. I'm in some real bad trouble. I'm cashing in that IOU you gave me awhile back. I need help, Willie, and I knew you were just the man to call," I explained, trying to butter him up, watching his face as a range of expressions passed across it.
He pursed his lips, looking at me thoughtfully. "What you need, child? I'll do what I can. I can't make no guarantees."
"I need a gun, Willie. There's someone after me, trying to hurt me and my friends," I explained, gesturing at my two friends, who he peered at carefully. "I need something to protect myself, something that can't be traced back to me, or anyone else."
"Gal, I don't sell nothin' like that," he scolded me, rolling his wheelchair back slightly. "I sell watches, clothes, movies...I don't sell what you lookin' for."
He was nervous; that was obvious. He didn't know Carmen and Tia well enough to trust them. Willie's gaze drifted from me to Tia and Carmen as he backed up the alley. When I first moved to Memphis, I met Willie pedalling his bootleg items on the street. I never bought anything, but gave him some of my tip money on occasion. It didn't take me long to notice how frail and weak he was; how malnourished he became over time. I started taking leftover food from work, the stuff that Fred would have thrown out, leaving it with Willie as I passed him on the street while on my way home. He confessed to me one night that sometimes the food I gave him was the only meal he ate. Since then, I hadn't seen Willie much. His sister took him into her home and helped care for him shortly after his confession to me, but not before he gave me a number to call if I ever needed his help. I continued to see him on Beale Street pedalling his items from time to time, but he looked much healthier and happier now. I knew Willie had connections; it was well-known on the street that if you needed something, anything, Legless Willie Curtiss had the hook up.
"Thanks anyway, Willie," I muttered, sliding down the brick wall until I was sitting on the ground.
Placing my face in my hands, I sighed in defeat. It couldn't be hard to find an untraceable gun in Memphis...people were murdered here on a daily basis! The only people I knew personally who owned weapons here were Edward, possibly Jacob Black, and my brother was probably packing as well, although I'm sure he wasn't supposed to be due to his probation status. As I continued to ponder over my options, I heard someone clear their throat. Shockingly, I glanced up to see Willie still sitting nearby, watching me sadly.
"I got a relative...my nephew. He's got what you lookin' for," Willie said. "For the right price," he added, digging around in his pocket. He removed an older, slightly worn cell phone which he flipped open. After pressing a button, he sat in the wheelchair, watching Tia and Carmen's faces warily as he made the call. He spoke to someone briefly, in hushed tones before quickly shutting the phone.
"He wanna meet you," he announced, shoving the phone into the pocket of his track suit. "Four o'clock, tomorrow. He said I can give you his address. He meets you first, then you get the piece. He's not as trusting as me. Doesn't wanna sell to a cop. He probably won't have it when you get there. He usually meets people in a second location to give them what they purchased."
"That's understandable," I mused out loud, getting dirty looks from Tia and Carmen. "Okay, give me his info so I can save it in my phone. I'll be there at four o'clock on the dot."
Willie called out the address to me, my finger pausing over the screen of the phone before shakily pressing in the address. He wished me luck, rolled out of the alley and disappeared. Tia and Carmen proceeded to freak out.
"That's in Orange Mound, Bella!" Tia hissed, glancing up the alley to make sure Willie had moved far enough away not to hear her. "You're not going to Orange Mound! You might not make it out alive!"
"You don't think I know that? I'm not from Memphis, but I do know where the ghettos are," I sighed, standing up from where I'd sat, shoving the phone back into my chaps.
"Yeah, but we're talking about Orange Mound," Carmen stressed, picking up her abandoned lantern from the ground. "It's the worst hood in Memphis. Are you sure it's worth the risk? Forget his nephew. I know a man who can help you. His nickname is 'The Cleaner'. He 'cleans up your problems' if you know what I mean." Carmen began raising her eyebrows up and down and staring at me suggestively.
"Okay, bitch. I want to know how you know a man named 'The Cleaner'," Tia said, rolling her eyes at Carmen.
"I had a life before I met you..." Carmen whispered dramatically, pulling the hood of her costume over her head, the flameless candle casting eery shadows across her face beneath the hood.
"Okay, this conversation has officially gotten weird, and I think we need to change the direction of the conversation before Carmen has me hiring hitmen she met off Craigslist," I said, brushing dirt off the back of my chaps and then pointing at the door to the club. "When we walk through that doorway, we're going to forget what happened tonight. We're going to forget about James, about me going to Orange Mound tomorrow, and about the fact that I'm probably not going to make it back alive." I tried to smile, but it felt as though it didn't reach my face. "Y'all are not to say anything to Emmett or Edward, okay?"
"What about the video?" Carmen asked, watching me curiously.
"What video?" I asked, my brow wrinkled in confusion.
She said nothing, but pointed up, the long sleeve of her robe hanging down off her arm. My eyes travelled in the direction of where she was pointing, and I simultaneously felt my heart stop and my stomach drop, because, perched on the side of Fate was a small security camera...pointing straight at us.
"Crap," I muttered, rubbing my forehead in frustration. Great! Another thing to worry about! "When do you think Edward looks at the footage? How long does the footage stay recorded? Where do you think he keeps the footage?" I asked, pacing again.
"Calm down," Tia snapped, rolling her eyes. "Usually security footage loops and records over itself. I don't know how often, but you probably got a day or two."
"I bet they're infrared, only the best...I saw them inside," Carmen whispered, staring up at the camera worriedly. "The ones inside probably recorded James grabbing you...what are you going to do if Edward sees that? It's not hard to tell that he's got a thing for you, and damn that man has a quick temper and a short fuse! He'll probably try to hunt that James man down and kill him with his bare hands! Maybe he should see the video recordings!"
"No," I argued. "Let's get inside. We've been gone way too long. Don't say anything about what went on. I'm going to find the security monitors and try to figure out how to get erase the recordings. Just go in and try to act normal." My friends hesitantly agreed, and quickly shuffled inside the building. I lingered behind, staring up at the camera that pointed directly at me.
"I'm sorry," I mouthed to the camera, feeling incredibly sad. My lip trembled slightly as I entered the club behind my two friends.
James' return, an injured Drunk Jesus, Legless Willie, I left it all in the alley, just as I told my girls I would do. If everyone was drunk when I slipped outside, they were now completely wasted. Alice and Emmett were now on the dance floor as Alice tried to teach Emmett the Peta Griffin. Emmett was having a hard time grasping the concept, but he had the Cat Daddy down pat, and began to Cat Daddy all over the dance floor, looking like some kind of handicapped oversized hot dog rolling around in an invisible wheelchair. Rose had returned to the bar, glaring across the room at Tanya and Edward, who was still yelling at the dense blonde. Tyler, Jessica, Lauren, Laurent and Victoria danced around Emmett, howling in laughter at his antics, Laurent dancing provocatively near him, possibly a little too close for comfort. Rose threw back another shot, hiccuping as I sided up beside her.
"Where have you been?" she muttered pathetically, shooting Tia a dirty look.
Tia simply raised one eyebrow and joined the rest of the kids out on the dance floor. The speakers started blasting "Funky Cold Medina" to which Emmett began hooting and hollering, jumping up and down like an idiot, the felt wiener flopping around like some weird Sesame Street porn. His eyes lit up as he noticed Tia and Carmen returning to the dance floor, before grabbing Carmen by her waist and assaulting her from behind with the big red weenie, grinding it against her rear as she burst into laughter.
"We just went to get some fresh air...you know Emmett's just goofing around, right?" I asked, plopping next to her at the bar, studiously ignoring the dark hallway across the room where James had assaulted me.
"Yeah, whatever. It's not like I'm into him or anything," Rose laughed bitterly, her mascara slightly smeared beneath her eyes, somehow making her even sexier than normal. If that were me I'd just look like a racoon. "I mean, he's funny and all...he makes me laugh like no one else...and he's sweet...and he loves kids...and makes me feel special...and makes me happy...but..."
"Yeah, hon," I laughed, pouring myself another Jager, against my better judgement. "It doesn't sound like you're into him at all."
"I know! I'm pathetic!" she moaned, glancing across the room at my big dweeb of a brother. "I should be like Edward and just tell my father off! Tell him I'm gonna be with who I wanna be with no matter what, and just move out, just like Edward did! Hell, I'm a grown woman! Why am I still living at home anyway? I'll tell you why, cause parents like we have, they suck you in, make you feel like you owe them something, like they own you! They make you feel dependent on them, always working to make them happy, which they never are, by the way! It's pathetic. I'm so tired of it all...so tired."
"Wait, back up," I said, baffled. "What do you mean, about what you said about Edward?"
Rose giggled, patting me on the head like a small child. "Silly Bella! Edward has lived in a house next to his parents for many years, until a few days ago. He and Carlisle had it out, over you, and he moved. Didn't Alice tell you? He told Carlisle about his feelings for you...Carlisle disapproved, and he moved on. Told him he didn't care if you weren't rich, Irish or Catholic. It's as simple as that. I wish I could do that...I wish I were that strong," she murmured, her eyes becoming slightly droopy.
Edward told his father he had feelings for me...and left upon his father's disapproval? I stared across the room at Edward as he continued to argue with Tanya, pointing at the door as she crossed her arms and shook her head. Maybe Alice was right...maybe he was sorry for the idiotic things that he said. He obviously had put his foot down, as far as his father was concerned. Maybe he'd come to his senses...
Rose started snorting, pointing at Edward and Tanya as they argued. "I hate that girl!" she exclaimed, giggling hysterically. "She slept with my high school boyfriend! He was the first guy I fell in love with! I've always wanted to wring her neck!"
"You guys knew each other back then and she slept with your boyfriend?" I asked, perturbed. "Did she know he was dating you?"
"Did she know?" Rose repeated, laughing and throwing her head back, her shiny hair bouncing. "Of course she knew! She was my best friend back then! I loved that boy...Gah, she's always been a slut. She cheated on Edward the entire time they dated."
Suddenly, I heard the words 'poor white trash' and 'redneck' being screamed across the bar. Glancing up in surprise, I froze as Tanya herself yelled at Edward, pointing across the bar at me with one skinny little finger, his eyes drifting to me momentarily, apologetic. Was this girl calling me...white trash?
"The only reason he won't throw her out is because he's trying to keep the peace somewhat with his father," Rose explained, taking in my angry expression. "Someone should really put that wench in her place..." Rose was trying to goad me, pushing my buttons. "You know she's got no right to call you that stuff. Edward said her family is broke. They're wanting her to marry into the Cullen's to help their financial situation, greedy bastards that they are. That's why she won't back down. She'll do anything in her power to sink her claws into him."
The more I drank, the madder I got. As any true southerner would say, I was fit to be tied. All the horror, frustration and worry that I experienced earlier began to form something ugly...the ugly, dark, sinister monster of anger, which was completely taking over my body. My face became hotter and hotter the longer I watched the skank pawing at my man. My man? Hell, yeah that was my man! I might be poor white trash, but that was my man! The hot alcohol churning through my system made me acutely aware of all the emotions that devoured me. Somehow, through the hazy fog of hate I had drifted in, I met Carmen's eyes across the room. She glanced from me to Tanya, a wicked grin crossing her face as she slid behind the DJ booth.
A familiar tune began playing from the speakers, causing a few to cheer but most to groan. I narrowed my eyes at Carmen, who smirked in response, nodding her grim reaper head across the room at Tanya, who was trying desperately trying to press her body against a scowling Edward. Carmen, obviously, knew how to push my buttons way better than Rose ever could, by playing a song by one of my favorite artists, encouraging me with every line.
"I watched her for awhile but I didn't like her walk. She came across kinda cheap to me but hey, how's that my fault? She looked at my man like he didn't have on a stitch. Somebody tell that girl to step up to the plate I wanna pitch. Little bitch,"Miranda Lambert crooned from the speakers.
Tanya was now rubbing her hand up and down Edward's arm as he glared down at her. His eyes roamed the room, falling on mine, and I swear he looked a little scared upon seeing the expression on my face. Tanya followed Edward's gaze, meeting my eyes with a vengeful expression.
And that's when the crazy bitch turned, grabbed his face, and tried to press her nasty, cheating, gold digging, hussy mouth against his. Edward effectively dodged her, his face growing red as he pushed her roughly away. It didn't deter her...she sprug at him again, and the lyrics consumed me.
"I started throwing things and I scared folks half to death. I got up in his face and smelled whiskey on his breath. I didn't give a second thought to being thrown in jail, cause baby to a hammer everything looks like a nail. And I'm mad as hell. Well, them pretty girls they're all the same, but they're damn well gonna know my name. I'm a crazy ex-girlfriend..."Miranda sang.
I slid from the bar stool, glaring across the bar at the crazy woman throwing herself at my man. My man! Edward's eyes met mine once again, and for the first time I saw true terror in Edward Cullen's eyes as I launched myself across the bar, screaming obscenities in my hooker cowgirl outfit, knocking chairs and bar stools over in my wake, before jumping on the skinny girl's back. She shrieked in horror, so absorbed with getting Edward's attention that she didn't hear me coming. Grabbing her hair, I twisted it harshly in my hands, taking out all my aggression from James, from my situation, from her harsh words, out on her expensive blonde locks.
"I told you that wasn't her real hair!" I heard Tia exclaim as I yanked out a handful of Tanya's two thousand dollar extensions, throwing it over my shoulder as she screamed in pain.
"Pay up, Yankee!" Tia demanded.
Carmen grumbled in response to her exclamation and my brother tore across the dance floor, grabbing me by my waist trying to pull me from Tanya as she screamed and cried. I kicked and twisted in his arms, trying to break away from his grasp. Edward had his hands around Tanya's waist, pulling her away as well, and when Emmett finally yanked me from her back, it sent her tumbling into Edward, causing them to fall to the ground in an awkward position that made me see red.
I continued to scream obscenities at her, calling her everything but a child of God, as she lay on top of Edward crying, tangled clumps of fake hair dangling from her head. I yelled ridiculous things, the alcohol and my anger fueling me on. I told her I swore on my mother's grave I'd kill her if I ever saw her touch my man again. Then I pulled a toy pistol from my holster, aiming it at her head sideways...gangsta style...and pulling the trigger over and over, the gun making a loud plastic clicking sound. Rolling off Edward, she scooted across the floor on her rump staring at me with wide eyes, creeping closer to the door. Emmett let me go as I swore I wouldn't kill the girl, only to launch myself at her again as soon as he dropped his hands. He effectively yanked me back, his red felt wiener poking awkwardly into my back. Alice stood on the sidelines, clapping and cheering, jumping up and down, the fish, quotes and woodland creatures tattooed to her chest and arms glowing under the strobe lights, moving as though they were alive.
"Bellarina, calm down!" Emmett demanded, dragging me across the club and down the fated hallway.
My throat began to tighten in panic from being in the same hallway where he had been. Emmett tried to open Edward's office door only to find it locked, obviously. He yanked me into the kitchen, placing his hands on my shoulders and staring at me, his eyes wide with excitement and humor, stupid idiot.
"Bella Swan, the most gangsta white girl I know," Emmett cracked, glancing down the hallway as Edward stalked into the room, running his hands through his hair. His eyes scanned my body nervously, checking for invisible injuries as Emmett watched him, a goofy grin on his face.
"Hey, Eddie," he said, giving Edward a huge smile. "You sure you can handle my sister here? She can be a pistol," he joked, nudging the plastic gun dangling from my hip. I scowled at him, crossing my arms across my chest and glaring at the two men.
"Where's that hussy at?" I snapped at Edward, causing him to jump slightly, much to my pleasure. I couldn't help the small, evil smile that crept to my face.
"She's gone," he responded, looking relieved. "I tried to get rid of her all night. My father invited her...it was in no way my idea for her to show up tonight. I tried to be civil, because of the relationship between her family and mine, but she makes it impossible to be civil." It was then that I noticed the large bulge in his pants that he tried to hide as he attempted to avoid my eyes. Emmett apparently noticed it as well, as he began smirking between the two of us.
"Wow, Eddie. Pistol Bella gets your motor running, huh? I'm gonna let y'all...talk...get your freak on, you know. Whatever," he announced, stretching his arms and popping his neck. "You're got two hours before I come looking for you." And then my giant wiener of a brother sauntered down the hallway, entered the main area of the club and yelled, "I'm back, bitches!" I heard a chorus of feminine cheers, Laurent included, followed by laughter. Emmett was probably doing the robot by now. The silence in the room as Edward and I stood awkwardly trying to avoid one another's eyes was deafening.
"I heard you moved," I blurted out, breaking the silence. He looked up, frowning at me slightly.
"Yeah, I moved. And I owe you an apology," he muttered, glancing up at me guiltily. "The things I said to you, in your apartment. Well, that was the musings of a weak man, trying to please his father, please himself. I put you last. But I swear on my life, Bella, I will never do that again. You will always be first. You deserve to be first in this life, and if you will allow me, I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens from now on." I watched his nervous gaze, his eyes apologetic and full of remorse. I believed him. He wasn't lying. I believed him.
"So you admit that marrying someone else and keeping me on the side wasn't your smartest idea?" I asked, smirking as I watched him shuffle awkwardly on his feet.
"I was an idiot, Bella. I'm so sorry if I made you feel dirty and used. I swear I will spend the rest of our lives making it up to you," he vowed, walking up to me and stroking the side of my face with his thumb, cupping his hand behind my neck as he stared into my dark eyes with his deep green ones. "I want to be with you and only you. That's what I told my father. It doesn't matter what he thinks anymore. If he decides to leave the family business for someone else, someone he thinks is more worthy, then so be it."
"I forgive you," I whispered. This could be the last time I would ever see Edward; the last time we would be together. Leaving him with anger and bitterness in my heart was unacceptable. I would accept him, flaws and all.
"Would you like to see my new place?" he asked, his eyes gleaming and a wicked smile on his face.
"What, now? It's the middle of the night!" I asked in confusion, eliciting a dark chuckle from Edward's mouth.
"Come on," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind him. "It's not far."
"Let me grab my coat," I said.
He tried to argue with me, telling me for some reason that I wouldn't need it, but I tuned him out, slipping into the employee lounge and grabbing my coat, wrapping it closely around me. I met him back in the hallway, where he wrapped one arm around my shoulders, leading me out into the main area of the club. Catcalls and whistles sounded out across the club, and I glanced around. My friends were all snickering, whispering to one another and laughing as I rolled my eyes. Emmett pointed at Edward and I before thrusting his pelvis in the air, pumping his arms at each side, as though having sex with an invisible person, causing our friends and coworkers to erupt in hysterical laughter.
Edward pulled me to the stairwell that led to the second floor, which was normally used for storage. I stopped at the base of the stairs, staring up at him in confusion as he pulled at my hand. He looked down at me, his eyebrows wrinkled at my frozen stance.
"I thought you wanted to see my new place..." he said, squeezing my hand tightly, nodding up the stairwell.
"You're living over the club," I whispered, recognition setting in.
Edward nodded, and I followed him the rest of the way up the stairs, holding his hand firmly the whole time. When we reached the top of the stairwell, he dropped my hand long enough to reach into the pocket of his suit, removing a large set of keys. Staring at the keys, I noticed each one was engraved with a different name. If I was a betting woman, I'd bet that one of those keys would led me to the security monitors, wherever they may be. He unlocked the door, which held several locks, and returned the keys to his pocket before pushing the door open. He gestured for me to go in first and I did, Edward following closely behind. I gasped at what lay before me.
The dingy old storage area had been completely transformed into a dark, sexy loft. The red brick walls remained, although now clean and free from grim and cobwebs. Deep brown, shiny wood furniture graced the room with small, glowing candles placed on tables and shelves. One wall held a giant bookshelf, crammed full of literature, photos, knickknacks and candles. The kitchen area was full of sparkling, silver appliances and was blocked off by a long, black bar. There was an old, white, clawfoot bathtub in one corner of the room, near what I supposed was an actual restroom door. The tub stood in front of a large window overlooking Beale street below. Large stone pillars surrounded the tub, holding thick, unlit candles. A soft, red towel lay thoughtlessly abandoned across one side of the tub.
Edward strolled around the loft, chatting about the furniture, pointing out the sitting area and his large television, which perched on a beautiful entertainment center. He pointed at his office, located in a room off the main area of the loft and I vaguely wondered if the security monitors were located there, but, as much as he chatted, my mind didn't completely process what he rambled on about. My attention was focused on the center of the room, for that's where the massive, intimidating bed sat. The bed was huge, covered in thick, soft red bedding that a person could get lost in. An image of me curled next to Edward in that bed flowed through my mind, and I found my body zinging with that familiar current that only Edward could arise within me.
Edward was oblivious to where my attention lay as he continued to chat away. This could be the very last time I saw Edward. Later today I would drive to Orange Mound, one, if not the, most dangerous ghetto in Memphis. I had to make my time with him count, showing rather than telling him my true affection for him. Taking a deep breath, I prayed that I would not cry...would not take my time spent with Edward for granted. Walking over to where he stood, I wrapped my arms around his waist, leaned up and whispered in his ear, "Make love to me, Edward."
He sucked in a sharp breath, pushing me back, looking into my eyes hesitantly, his mouth drawn into a frown.
"You're drunk, Bella," he scolded, the battle waging in his eyes. "It's the alcohol talking. I'm not taking advantage of you while you're drunk."
"I've been drinking," I admitted, pulling him closer to me. "But I'm not drunk. The past hour has sobered me up quite a bit."
He continued to look at me with trepidation. "I don't have any protection," he admitted, brushing a lock of hair from my eyes. "I haven't had sex in a very long time and I'm not the kind of guy that carries a condom around in case of a one night stand."
"But what about Tanya?" I asked. "You just broke up with her a few weeks ago...is that 'a very long time'?"
Edward laughed bitterly, pulling away from me and walking over to a window, staring down at the street below us. "I can't believe you're bringing her up. No, I haven't slept with anyone in a very long time. A least a year now." He turned his head, meeting my surprised gaze. "And I never slept with Tanya. We dated, but I could never bring myself to be with her...knowing she was just using me for money and her own social status. She's easy access to all of Memphis, but not for Edward Cullen."
To say I was shocked was an understatement. I had always looked at Edward and assumed that he was a very sexual person, although the thought of him being with anyone sent a painful, twisting sensation through my heart. But to find out that he never slept with that skank Tanya, and hadn't had sex in at least a year...well, the relief I felt was overwhelming.
"I'm clean," I whispered as he watched me silently. "And I'm on birth control...to regulate my period. As long as you're clean, I want to be with you." He gazed at me for a long moment before turning his eyes towards the window again, looking at the street below quietly. Hmmm...looks like I was going to have to work for it a bit.
Mustering up all the strength within me, I sauntered over to the sitting area, letting my coat slide from my body, before draping it over the back of his leather couch. Glancing over one shoulder, I watched as his attention left the window, his eyes lingering on my cowgirl outfit, a dangerous, predatory look in his eyes.
"Do you like what you see, Mr. Cullen?" I purred demurely, thankful for the liquid encouragement that I'd consumed earlier in the night. If not for that, I might not have the guts to do what I was planning on doing.
Slowly, I began unbuttoning the small vest that covered my red bra. Edward's gaze intensified, as he watched my shaky hands remove the vest, which I tossed to him. He caught it easily, dropping it onto a chair next to him, swallowing hard as he watched me slowly twirl around, giving him a good view.
"I love what I see," he murmured, slowly crossing the room.
He placed his hand on the back of my neck, pulling my face to his as he captured my mouth with his own. Edward's hot tongue slid between my lips, meeting mine as they danced together. I felt his hand drift into my hair and he gave it a firm, yet gentle pull, effectively breaking the kiss as he pulled my head back, staring down into my bewildered eyes.
"You were a bad girl tonight," he whispered, a sexy yet evil glint in his eyes. "Cursing, fighting, disrespecting my father." He pulled my hair a little tighter, causing a painful, yet pleased moan escape my mouth.
"Do you like it when I pull your hair baby?" he asked, using my hair to pull my head to the side, licking my neck from the collarbone up to my ear.
He sucked my earlobe into his mouth, nibbling and licking away. I moaned as the torturous throbbing began between my legs. Trying to ease the torment, I rubbed my thighs together, the friction making it worse instead of better. Edward scolded me sternly.
"Keep you legs apart," he whispered, causing me to gasp as his hand drifted between my thighs, nudging them apart, his thumb brushing softly across the fabric between my legs. I moaned as he snickered and said, "Are you throbbing, baby? Are you wet for me?"
"It's a shame though...you were such a bad girl tonight. I shouldn't satisfy your urges. I should leave you wet, throbbing, wanting my cock inside of you. Should I do that, baby?" he whispered in my ear, his mouth and nose ghosting across my face. "Should I leave you wet and wanton...or maybe a little punishment is in order?
"Wha...what kind of punishment?" I gasped, as he released my hair and walked away from me, squirming as I watched him stroll over to the liquor cabinet, remove a glass bottle half full of dark liquid, which he poured into a glass and quickly downed. He turned around, leaning against the cabinet, his arms crossed in front of him as his eyes drifted from my boots, up my legs, stopping momentarily on my breasts, before reaching my eyes.
"I think a spanking is in order," he replied, removing his suit jacket and tossing it on the back of the couch with my coat. The large bulge in the front of his pants captured my attention. "What do you think, Ms. Swan? Do you think you deserve a spanking?"
A spanking? Did I want a spanking? The throbbing between my legs intensified, answering the question for me. The red panties I wore became soaked as an image of Edward spanking my ass crossed my mind. My face turned red as I quietly admitted that I deserved and wanted a spanking. He crossed the room quickly, taking my red face in his hands, staring into my eyes, a serious expression on his face.
"I'm not going to hurt you, baby," he murmured, kissing me tenderly. "But if I do anything that makes you uncomfortable, you have to tell me. Say 'stop' or 'no', okay? I want to make you feel so good, baby. I want you to enjoy the things that I do to you." I nodded, slightly terrified, but mostly thrilled. He gave me wicked, pleased grin, grabbing my hand and leading me to a chair near the window.
"Put you knees on the chair and lean over the back," he commanded, and I obliged, placing both knees on the cushioned seat, spreading my legs as wide as I could. The street below me was slightly deserted, but an occasional drunk pedestrian stumbled down the sidewalk. My body tensed as I realized that if I could see them, they could see me.
Edward, noticing my hesitation, quietly whispered in my ear, "It's like a one way mirror, baby. They can't seen anything I'm about to do to you. Although, I wouldn't mind all of Memphis knowing that you're my girl. Mine, and no one else's."
I moaned, wrapping my arms around the back of the chair and leaning over it, I turned my head and watched as Edward unbuttoned his shirt, staring at my red panty clad ass the whole time. His shirt drifted to the floor and I gasped, not at the rippled muscles of his chest and abdomen, but at the large white bandage that clung under his left ribcage.
"What happened?" I asked, momentarily releasing the back of the chair to turn towards him. His eyes darkened as he approached me, and I shrunk back to my original position.
"I knew you were a bad girl. Can't even follow simple directions. Don't worry about the bandage, worry about yourself," he told me in a dark voice.
He began massaging my ass, squeezing firmly for several seconds before releasing it. Then he slapped it, alarmingly close to where I was wet and throbbing for him, causing me to scream out in pleasure. He stroked the area that he hit softly, asking if I was okay. Was I okay? I was more than okay.
"Do it again, and again, and again," I moaned, wiggling my butt around.
He paused momentarily, commanding me to stay still the entire time. He was trying to torment me, to make me explode in want. He slapped my ass again and again, stroking it softly after each strike, whispering what a dirty girl I was. It took all my strength not to move each time he touched me, and before long I was begging him to make me come.
I heard the unmistakable sound of a belt being unbuckled, and I snuck a peek to see Edward standing behind me, stroking himself in his boxer briefs as he began stroking my cheeks once again. My heart started pumping anxiously. Turning my head back and closing my eyes, I gasped as I felt him grab my hips and press his erection against my pussy.
"You feel that, baby?" he whispered, grinding himself against me harder as I moaned loudly. "You feel how hard you make me? I've never been so hard in my life." I wanted to grind myself against him, but I didn't since he'd commanded me to remain still.
Suddenly, he reached around and removed the holster from my waist, tossing it in the floor. His fingers drifted below my chaps, a ripping sound filling the room. I gasped in surprise as cool air hit my naked bottom, as Edward ripped my red panties away.
"The chaps stay on," he whispered, his fingers now stroking me between my legs.
Edward captured my small nub between his fingers, pulling and pinching it as I screamed, pressing myself into his fingers, unable to stay still any longer. He stroked me for a long time, causing me to become wetter and wetter with each stroke, until I felt him press one long finger deep inside me. I cried out, clutching the chair tightly, thrusting myself harder and harder against his fingers as he slipped a second finger in. His fingers explored my inner walls, completely filling me, and then he hit something deep inside me that made me gasp, squirm and nearly come undone.
"Did I find your spot, baby?" he asked, plunging his fingers back to the spot over and over, his other hand now massaging my nub.
I moaned louder, feeling myself about to go over the edge. I heard his ragged breathing as he watched his fingers enter my slick walls. His fingers slowed down before leaving me completely, the feeling of emptiness overwhelming. I slumped in the chair, my body still pulsing with desire, the flame not yet extinguished.
"Get on the bed," he commanded, grabbing my hips and removing me from the chair.
I practically ran to the bed, sitting on it awkwardly as he stalked slowly across the room. My eyes constantly drifted to his erection, which was still covered in his underwear, which he stroked the entire time he walked to the bed, causing the blood in my veins to burn.
"You look so damn sexy, sitting on my bed with those chaps on, so pink and swollen from my fingers," he whispered, releasing his cock and reaching out to expertly remove my bra.
My nipples were rock hard with desire, and he cupped each breast in his hands, pinching my nipples between his fingers. I fell back against the bed, wanting his lips on my breasts, but instead, I gasped in shock and I felt his tongue plunge into my wet folds. Edward pressed my legs wide open, sucking and nibbling between my legs as I grasped the red comforter in my hands, moaning and thrusting myself into his mouth, my hips rocking uncontrollably. His fingers pressed deeply within me as he continued to suck and lick.
"You taste so good, just like I imagined," he moaned, standing up from the bed.
I watched as he pulled his boxer briefs down, his cock now springing free. I gasped at the length and girth. It was thick and roped with veins, the head dripping precum. It stood up straight and proud against him, standing at attention. The thought of that...thing inside me caused me simultaneous terror and arousal.
"I'm going to go slow at first," he whispered, stroking his cock as I watched with wide eyes. "Tell me if I hurt you. I promise I'll stop." I nodded and he grabbed a pillow, motioning for me to raise my hips, which I did. He pushed the pillow below my hips and ass, and spread my legs open, stroking me with one hand while he stroked himself.
"Play with you tits, baby," he told me, slipping his fingers deeply into my wet body.
I hesitantly ran my fingers over my breasts, cupping each one, squeezing and flicking my nipples with my fingers. Edward stared down at me with hungry, dark eyes, still stroking me with one hand and himself with the other. The sensation of his fingers inside me and my hands on myself made the wetness to pool between my legs, until Edward was thoroughly satisfied with my state of arousal. I watched with big eyes as he removed his fingers from inside me and pressed the head of his cock against me, running it from my clit to my opening and back again, over and over. I rocked against it, the feeling of pleasure unimaginable.
Eventually, he stopped at my entrance, and slowly began pressing himself inside of me, halting occasionally when an expression of discomfort crept across my face. It was a little painful, at first, but the tremendous amount of pleasure outweighed the pain and before long almost his entire cock was inside me. His forehead beaded with sweat as he fought the urge to pump his cock in and out of me.
He slowly began moving, his hands grasping my legs, and I cried out at the feeling of his thick cock moving in and out of my wet center, the rhythm agonizingly slow. Once my body became accustomed to his cock, I began thrusting myself against him in encouragement, my head falling back against the comforter, my mouth wide from throaty moans. Edward, noticing my encouragement, began thrusting faster, harder. My body bounced back and forth, my breasts jiggling before I cupped them again and met Edward's dark stare. He continued to thrust and moan, watching my fingers as I played with my nipples. I felt an incredible pressure on my clit as he massage my swollen nub with his thumb, pumping himself in and out of me as he massaged. A rolling, tingling, tightening sensation began to quake deep within my belly as he rubbed my clit harder and plunged his cock deeper inside me. Closing my eyes, I gasped as the darkness behind my lids exploded in white light, stars peppering my vision. My body clenched Edward's cock over and over as I felt myself come undone around him, my pussy pulsing around his manhood.
"That felt amazing," he moaned, slamming his hips against my body, a wet smacking sound filling the room. "Your orgasm tightening around me, gripping my cock...that's the best damn thing I've ever felt in my life."
His movements began more erratic as he pumped harder and harder into me, still massaging my now sensitive nub. Edward cried out my name, and I felt he come inside of me, the feeling of his warm liquid spilling into me shockingly satisfying. Edward collapsed on top of me, his mouth sucking the tender flesh of my neck, his cock still deep within me.
"I don't ever want to move," he admitted as I felt his cock begin to soften. "I want to stay inside of you forever," he whispered, his voice incredibly vulnerable. I wrapped my arms around him and clung to him for a long time, until I felt his cock slid out on its own, leaving my insides stinging, yet sated.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked worriedly, pulling his face away from my neck to peer into my eyes.
"It stings a little," I admitted, watching as his face fell. "But it's not that bad. The pleasure you gave me made it all worthwhile."
He smiled, capturing my mouth with his own. We lay in the bed kissing, whispering out affection for one another until I couldn't ignore my bladder any longer and asked Edward shyly if I could use his restroom. He walked me to the restroom, still naked, rubbing my slightly sore bottom along the way, giving me a sexy grin as I laughed and shut the door in his face. I relieved myself and cleaned up as well as I could before staring at the woman in the mirror above Edward's sink.
Did she look like she just had sex with the man she loved for the first, possibly last time? Yeah, she did. Her hair looked tousled and her makeup smeared across her small features. I stole some of Edward's mouthwash, swishing it around in my mouth before spitting it in the sink and washing the residue away. It felt as if I were bow-legged as I walked to the door, opened it and practically stumbled back in the loft, to find Edward filling his clawfoot tub with water. He glanced up at me as I entered the room, a sweet smile on his face.
"You can take off your boots and chaps now," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me into his arms. "We're going to take a long, hot bath."
And we did. He laid behind me in the tub, his cock quickly hardening as I lay with my back on his chest. Edward washed my body with a soft wash cloth until I was thoroughly cleaned, abandoning the wash cloth on the bottom of the tub. He rubbed my arms, massaged my shoulders and neck, and then his hands drifted to my breasts. I felt his tongue exploring my neck again as he suckled at my flesh. Edward rubbed my breasts, twisting at my nipples as I moaned and reached nervously behind me, finding his manhood and grasping it firmly in my hand, sliding it up and down his length. He let out a shaky breath, one hand drifting down my wet body until he found the bundle of nerves between my legs. He toyed with it gently as I continued to stroke him with my hand. I begged him to put his fingers inside me, but he wouldn't, whispering that he didn't want to cause me any more discomfort than I already felt. We rubbed and stroked each other until we both cried out with our orgasms, our moans along with the sloshing of water, sounding out across the room.
Laying against him, in the tub, with his arms wrapped around me, his lips leaving tender kisses along my neck, I bit my lip to keep from crying. I'd never felt so much love, so much happiness in my life. As we left the tub and he dried me off, I stared down at him, memorizing every feature, just in case it was the last time I ever saw him. He caught my stare, looking up at me quizzically, dropping the towel to the floor.
"What's wrong?" he asked, pulling me into his arms. I shook my head, wordlessly, squeezing my eyes shut to prevent the tears from flowing forward. Edward led me to the bed, pulling the covers back. I followed him as he gestured for me to slide into the bed behind him, pressing his naked body firmly to mine as he wrapped the covers around us. He muttered that Emmett could get lost, that I was going nowhere, that he would never let me go. The tears sprung forward, silently running down my cheeks and onto the pillow. His breathing eventually became slow and even, and, after counting to one thousand in my head, I quietly pulled myself from his arms, leaving the bed, watching his mouth form a small pout. His eyes never opened. Gathering my clothes, I slipped them on, all but my ripped panties that I left where they lay. I wrapped my long coat tightly around my body and snuck to the office that Edward had pointed out, happy to find it unlocked as I slipped quietly inside. The room held a fancy desk with a laptop and filing cabinets. No security monitors in sight.
'The security monitors are locked downstairs in his office,' I thought with a sickened by the thought of Edward viewing the footage of James attacking me in the hallway of the club. Slipping silently out of his office, I noticed that Edward had turned toward me in the bed, his eyes still closed, his breathing still deep.
Quiet as a church mouse, I crept closer to him, stroking the side of his face with one trembling finger as the last tear ran down my face. There was no time for crying. It was time to fight. I would do everything in my power to fight for my right to live a normal life with the man who I loved. Would I make it out alive? Maybe...maybe not. The path I chose was one of a martyr. But I wouldn't go out without a fight.
"Goodbye, Edward," I whispered, dropping my finger from his sleeping face. "I'll always love you." I clasped my hand over my mouth to muffle out a broken sob as I shuffled across my lover's loft, unlocking the door and slipping out of the room, completely unaware of his pine green eyes watching me as I left.
A/N: OKAY, SO I JUST POPPED MY FIRST FANFICTION CHERRY. HOPE IT WASN'T TOO DISAPPOINTING! GO OUTSIDE, SMOKE A CIGGIE, COME BACK IN AND REVIEW. I'M GONNA SMOKE TWO CIGGIES. WELL, MAYBE THREE.
OH, AND RL TIA; HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY SINCE YOU TOLD ME THIS WEEKEND, "WHEN ARE THEY FINALLY GONNA F***?"
PEACE,
JHOOD