Wicked Angel
10. Shaken to the Core
Give them all that they can drink and it will never be enough.
So give them blood, blood, blood.
Grab a glass because there's going to be a flood!
—My Chemical Romance
I brushed past Tanya to make sure she didn't see who was in the room with me. It would be a monumental mistake for her to find out about Bella. She worked with her father and I doubted Bella was a stranger to her.
"Sorry to interrupt you," she said as she picked up her pace to catch up to me. "Who is the flavor this week?" she had the nerve to ask.
I came to a halt and turned abruptly to face her which made her practically collide into me. I opened my mouth to begin to speak, the anger bubbling and boiling inside me. I pointed my finger, unable to formulate the words. Finally, I snarled "You know what? It's not worth it . . . You. Are. Not. Worth. It." I said each word slowly, deliberately. I pushed back my frustration and felt the steam dissipate from me.
"Fuck you," Tanya spat and pushed past me. She shoved her shoulder hard against mine. I couldn't help but chuckle, albeit a pissed off chuckle.
"Wait." My dark laughter continued as I tried to catch up to her. "You need to tell me where the fuck I have to go," I said as I caught up with her.
"Call your fucking service to get the details," she seethed.
Why was she so pissed off? She knew the rules. Maybe she was getting attached. I shuddered at the thought.
"No problem. Next time don't fucking interrupt me; I might as well have five extra minutes while I wait for the page to come through!" This time I pushed past her and exited the party.
I climbed in my truck and dialed my service to receive the information I needed. I wanted to get in, out, and back to Bella.
"Cullen Funeral Home, how may I help you?" A cheery voice said which made my skin crawl; it sounded like nails on a chalk board. I didn't recognize the voice. Carlisle must have hired someone new.
"It's Edward Cullen. You have a pick up for me?" I didn't bother to hide the annoyance in my tone.
"I'm sorry Mr. Cullen, but I am not showing any messages," she said, a little flabbergasted.
Fuck that conniving cunt.
Tanya fucking lied. She meant to fucking interrupt me and Bella. I wanted to go back in and rip all her fingernails off one by one. I wanted to scalp her blonde hair and expose her useless brain, then poke and prod it to make her twitch under my control. I wanted to see her blood stain her face, figure out a way to make her bleed tears, beg me to just end her life. I didn't like to be fucked with, and I most certainly didn't like to be lied to.
"Mr. Cullen, are you there?" The high pitched voice pulled me from my fantasies.
"Okay . . . listen. Can you page Garrett with any calls for the rest of the night," I asked the sickly sweet voiced girl. Garrett was a part-time employee, if he couldn't handle the call he would get in touch with me.
"No problem Mr.—" I clicked the phone shut abruptly when I saw Bella exit the house. I watched every move she made, entranced by her. Her gaze finally fell on me and I saw her eyebrows knit together in confusion as she approached.
I quickly reached across my seat and swung the passenger door open to invite her in.
"What are you still doing here?" she questioned as she climbed into the cab of the truck. I should have gotten the fuck out, been a goddamn gentleman, and helped her in.
"Turns out they don't need me." I smirked at her.
"Must be my lucky night." She smiled back at me as she scooted across the seat, moving closer to me.
Our faces were inches apart. "Must be," I said against her lips right before they met mine. I tried to pull her closer but the damn stick shift was in the way. I needed to be closer to her and I struggled to pull her body against mine. My hand fisted in her silky hair.
"Ouch. Ouch, fuck!" Bella cried out rapidly, which put an immediate end to our lip lock. My heart felt like it stopped when she cried out in pain. It was such a foreign feeling, fear. And not just fear for myself, but fear for someone else's well-being. What was this woman doing to me?
"Shit, are you okay? What's wrong?" I asked, the worry obvious in my voice.
"This damn seatbelt buckle is digging into my thigh," she said as she rubbed the sore area through her jeans. I moved my hand over hers and circled my hand over her skin-tight jeans. Our eyes locked as I moved my hand to the inside of her thigh. Her breathing became shallow as I inched my way up her inner thigh. Bella opened her legs further in invitation as my hand hit her center. I could feel the heat searing off of her. I watched her lick her lips seductively as I pressed against her. I moved my hand up and down the outside of her jeans, never breaking eye contact with her. She began to move with my hand, arching into my touch. It was the most seductive thing I had ever seen in my life.
She took in another sharp breath and closed her eyes in pleasure. I saw her hand tighten around the stick shift and it made my dick throb more than before. "You are wrapping your fingers around the wrong stick," I said huskily as I moved my eyes to her hand.
She moved her hand to my aching cock and rubbed it slowly up and down. I wanted to fucking whip it out, but I didn't want to pressure her or push her too far. Her eyes were focused on her hand against my jeans. She finally looked up at me, biting her bottom lip. That just about did me in. The feel of her warm hand on my dick was overwhelming. I never thought something like this would have me panting. But it did. I leaned closer to her, letting the seat belt buckle dig into my hip; the pain was worth the pleasure. I couldn't wait to taste her. Her head arched back which gave me access to her ivory neck that smelled like vanilla.
I let my tongue stroke up her neck and made a wet trail to her earlobe. Her hair smelled like strawberries. All I could think about was munching on her, little by little. I sucked on the bottom of her earlobe, enjoying the taste of her skin combined with the smell of her hair.
She began to buck her hips feverishly into my hand. "Holy fucking Christ! I'm gonna fucking come!" she grunted.
"Come for me Bella," I whispered in her ear and rubbed between her legs harder. Her hand squeezed my dick as her orgasm over took her; she moaned my name over and over again. She was even more stunning than I ever thought she could be when she came.
"You are so sexy," I told her as her breathing evened out. And that was the understatement of the year.
"I don't think I have ever come that hard before," she told me as I pushed some hair off her slightly sweaty forehead.
"And just think how hard I can make you come without clothes in the way." I flashed her a sly smile. "Do you want to go back in?"
"I'd rather be alone with you," she said as she fumbled to unbutton my jeans. I glanced down at her hand and stilled it with mine.
"You don't need to do that," I told her. I knew I would have the worst case of blue balls this side of the Mississippi, but I really didn't want her to feel pressured.
"What if I want to?" she questioned me.
"I don't want you to do something you might regret later. I want you so bad, but only when you are ready, and not tied down." I moved my eyes to her wedding band. She immediately removed the offensive ring.
"I only ever want to be tied down by you," she said as she looked down at the ring.
I spoke as I lifted her chin so I could look in her eyes. "Really? I could arrange having you tied down." She smiled sheepishly at me. I sighed. "Bella, I don't like to share my shit either, and you . . . you are mine." I took the ring from her hand. I wanted to throw it out the window.
"Mike . . . he disgusts me . . . I have no desire to touch him or be touched by him. He started sleeping in the guest room last week. I am yours, and if you wish to have me tied up, you can tie me up."
I growled at her words, as her lips met mine.
"Can I take you somewhere?" I asked between kisses.
"Anywhere," she whispered against my jaw. I nodded at her as I opened my truck door and hopped out swiftly before going to Bella's door to help her down.
"I thought you were taking me somewhere?" She looked puzzled as I held her hand to help her down.
"I am; follow me." I laced my fingers with hers and began to lead her behind Alice's house into the Olympia woods.
"In the woods? In the dark?" She asked like I was some crazy motherfucker.
Oh, right! I was.
"Are you scared?" I teased while I moved a few branches out of the way.
"See, I have trouble walking in daylight through the woods, let alone the dark; some even call me a klutz." She said the word "some" vehemently. I assumed she meant Mike.
"You? A klutz? Never," I told her seriously. "Accident prone, on the other hand—that you are." I kissed her head with a small smile. "I will protect you; I won't let you fall." At least not until I am ready to be the one to end your life, I added mentally. "It's not too much farther. Plus, it's a full moon; it won't be too dark there." Once a decade, you saw the Northern Lights. Tonight was supposed to be one of those nights. I hoped I was right and that I could share that with Bella.
Bella clutched onto my arm and placed her head gently on my shoulder as I led her to one of my favorite places. I loved to visit on a bright night like this evening. The stars were seen so clearly in the open field and the moonlight always illuminated the dark forest. I held Bella close to me because she had stumbled a few times over sticks and stumps.
"There, do you see the light?" I asked her as I pointed out the green glow.
"Holy shit! What the fuck is that?" she asked, a bit scared.
"Trust me."
"I trust you," Bella said as I brought her to the edge of the clearing. Our eyes looked above us taking in the beauty of the green swirls of light. I walked her to center of the field; the grass was thick and high. I sat down on the cool ground, reached for Bella's waist, and pulled her down on my lap. I leaned back on my hands as Bella's petite body sunk into mine.
"It's the Northern Lights . . . you can see them about once every ten years or so here in Washington," I began to explain to her, "usually after a lot of solar activity; I knew it would be sometime soon . . . I took a chance that it might be tonight, that I'd be able to share it with you." I nuzzled my face in the crease of her neck.
"It's the second most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she said in awe.
"Oh yeah? What's the first?" I asked while I placed kisses on her neck.
"You," Bella said simply and leaned in closer to me. She wrapped her arm around my head and began to twirl my hair in her fingers. A few minutes passed before I broke the silence.
"They are also called Auroras, the Northern Lights," I told her. "They are believed to be the torches held in the hands of Spirits seeking the souls of those who have just died. The light is to lead them over the abyss terminating the edge of the world. A narrow pathway leads across it to the land of 'Brightness and Plenty,' where disease and pain are no more—I guess a Heaven of sorts. But no one can go to this place except the dead and the Raven. When the Spirits wish to communicate with the people of the Earth, they make a whistling noise and the Earth people answer only in a whispering tone. The Eskimo say that they are able to call the Aurora and converse with it. They send messages to the dead through these Spirits," I explained to her. Bella turned and straddled my lap, running her fingers through my hair, her breasts at my eye level; I couldn't help but to remember that lace bra she was wearing, and I buried my face in her chest. She held my head against her tightly and I couldn't believe how fucking happy I was just to be able to hold her in my arms.
In that instant I decided that cocksucker and sorry excuse for a husband would be exposed. I'd figure out a way to make sure Bella caught him and that skank Lauren. If it meant doing surveillance on him for a few days in order to set up Bella to "accidentally" find them together, so fucking be it. Bella deserved the chance to put them in their place.
She was so delicate, yet so fierce. Her death would be magnificent. The thought of it made my dick harden beneath her. The image of shear shock and desperation that would flash across her features when I ended her life made me . . . giddy. I couldn't help but to ghost my hands down her back in order to squeeze her tight ass.
I never left a girl as satisfied as I did with Bella that night, and all we did was make out like two horny teenagers under a green glow.
It wasn't hard to case Mike and Lauren. They weren't very original or even that sneaky. As it so happened, Mike worked three until eleven the day Lauren was off. Bella would leave for work in Port Angeles and, not even an hour later, Lauren would show up. The fucking nerve he had to do it in the bed Bella most likely slept in made me queasy.
Although, he made it easy for me. Almost too easy. Now, I just needed to figure out a way to get Bella to go back home. What was something everyone would turn around to go back home and get if they forgot? I asked myself. Cell phone. My brain worked in a frenzy as I thought of how to make her "misplace" her cell phone.
She never invited me over. Maybe I would just show up the night before since Mike mostly worked the three o'clock shift.
"Way too risky, Edward,"the evil little pixie texted me.
Fine. I would take it, she would assume she left it home, she would go back, and later I would tell her I found it on the floor of my truck or some shit.
Bella and I had dinner together for most of the week. She was thankful not to eat alone so frequently and I was thankful Carlisle and Esme returned home, so I was no longer on call for the Funeral Home every fucking day of the week.
One evening Alice asked us all to meet at the only other bar in town aside from Volturi's Nest—The Forks Pub—for happy hour. I thought it was an odd choice, but I supposed Jasper didn't want to hang out at his work; shit, who the fuck did?
We didn't flaunt our relationship in front of Alice, Jasper, Rose, and Emmett, even though it was no secret to them. Bella said she just didn't feel right about it since she was still legally attached to Mike. I hated Mike more and more.
I swung open the door and scanned the room for Alice and spotted her. She was perched at the bar and jumped down to hug me hello.
"I need your help," I said as I embraced her.
"You want me to help you get Bella's cell phone? So lame Edward. I will help you, just you wait," she told me cryptically.
"What are you planning," I said with a coy smile.
"In about thirty minutes, Mike and Lauren are going to show up here for dinner. I am not sure how this will change the game Edward, but I'd like to see this show go down almost as much as I want a front row seat to a bloody massacre . . . Bella is going to walk in in less than a two minutes with Rose, Emmett, and Jazz. Try to keep your dick limp and order her a drink; she is going to need it," Alice said while she hopped back on her bar stool.
"Why you sneaky little minx," I said before turning to the bartender. "Can I get a scotch on the rocks and a skinny margarita?" He placed the drinks down at almost the exact same time Bella walked in the bar. She looked hot as hell. Tight pencil skirt with a white ruffled shirt tucked in, black heels, and those damn stockings with the line going down the back of her leg.
My dick was hard; it never listened to Alice.
"Hey," she quietly greeted me as I handed her the drink.
"You look nice," I said and then kissed her cheek.
"So do you." She lifted my tie and straightened my collar.
I didn't think I'd ever get tired of feeling her hands on me. Hell, she could probably have run me over in her car and I would have died a happy man knowing I came to my end by her hand.
Down boy . . .
Bella gave me her beautiful smile and looked around until she caught Alice's eye. I was always nervous when Alice spoke to her . . . I never knew what she would say.
"Bella, you look lovely today."
Bella's eyebrow twitched in response. "Thank you, Alice. You always look . . . put together."
Alice's eye twitched, but she didn't reply.
I hid my snicker behind my hand. I wasn't sure if Bella knew that Alice didn't particularly care for her at first, but I had a suspicion that she knew. That's not to say that Alice didn't care for her now, it's just that I wasn't really sure where Bella stood with her.
My life had become so difficult. I'd always had just one constant woman in my life besides my mom, Esme, and that was Alice. She had never been difficult to read; she always flat out told me what she wanted or needed from me. Bella was different. I never knew what I was going to get with her. One minute, I would think she was fine with the concept of us, and the next minute she was pushing me away. I wasn't sure if that would happen again in the future, but I guess time would tell.
Time will tell? Are you saying you're not going to kill her?
Fuck. That's not what I was implying . . . was I?
"Hey, you," Rose greeted Bella.
Rosalie's disdain for me bled through her pores. She was yet another woman that came into my life recently and I wasn't sure I liked it. Nothing thrilled me more than the vision of her strapped down to a metal bed, gagged, with her tears streaming down her face in fear. I was sure it was not far from what Emmett had in mind, but what I had in mind wasn't for sexual pleasure. Rosalie just got in the way. Alas, I had to bear her for Emmett's sake.
"What's up, blows?"
"What?"
"I said, 'What's up Rose?' " I gave her my best angelic smile, which only made her eyes narrow in my direction.
"Watch it, Cullen"
I chuckled darkly. That bitch had no idea who she was messing with.
That earned me a death glare from Emmett, but hey, I was allowed to have fun, wasn't I?
I sat down and watched everyone talk and laugh and noticed how carefree Alice and Emmett seemed to look. I'd never seen them so unguarded around other people, and I had to admit it felt nice to sit there with other people and just be . . . normal. Even if we weren't. It had never seemed fathomable before, but now . . . well, maybe I could have a normal life. Right.
What about your bloodlust? What about your past? What about that need you have to kill . . . ?
As much as I wanted a "normal" life to be possible for me and Bella, I knew it was a long shot. I didn't think Bella would be okay with what I did for living on the side. Fuck, she helped people and I destroyed them. How was that going to translate into a happily ever after?
I could sneak out in the evenings and do my thing without her knowing. There are people who do that, right? Maybe I could be a killer on the side . . . it had possibilities.
I chugged back the last of my scotch and watched Bella down her third skinny margarita. I smiled because I realized my girl could drink . . . and that was fuckin' sexy as hell.
I was about to slide my hand between Bella's thighs when I got kicked under the table. At first I thought it was Rose, since she was directly in front of me, and was about to give her the kick of her life when I got kicked again . . . by Alice.
"What?" I mouthed.
Her head tilted toward the entrance of the pub. Right when I turned, the door opened and in stepped Mike . . . and Lauren.
I couldn't stop the smile on my face even if I tried. It was like the joy I felt when I saw the life leave my victims eyes for the first time. My dream, my wish, was going to come true. I watched as they walked to a secluded part of the pub and sat down. I had a great view of them, but Bella didn't.
My head turned toward Bella, but she was in a deep conversation with Emmett. I had no idea what they were talking about, but since Emmett didn't care about anything besides threesomes and sex, it couldn't have been that important. Unless Bella enjoyed threesomes . . .
Focus idiot!
I shut my eyes and opened them again and glanced at Alice. I watched as a smile crept up on her face and I knew she had a plan. I could always count on her. If there was one thing I learned, it was to never bet against Alice.
"You know, I've got to go to the ladies room really badly. Bella, will you come with me?"
Bella smiled and nodded her head and got up to join Alice. She was a bit unsteady at first but got her bearings quickly. I knew this was going to be an epic showdown and I had a great view from where I sat. Bella squeezed my shoulder and told me she'd be right back.
I watched them as the other three at the table continued their conversation. Bella was talking animatedly to Alice while she just nodded and listened. At the right moment Alice tripped over nothing and collided with Lauren who had her drink in her hand. It spilled all down Lauren's shirt and the bitch was not pleased.
What happened next was something I would probably remember for the rest of my life.
"What the fuck? You better watch where you're going next time! This is a five hundred dollar cashmere sweater that I got as a gift!"
The whole place was swept up in silence as everyone leaned in to hear what was going on.
Alice ducked her head and replied, "Oh, I'm so sorry . . ."
Bella looked closer at Lauren and then turned her head and spotted Mike.
"Mike?" I couldn't see the expression on Bella's face but I bet it was colorful. "Michael, is that you?"
Lauren and Alice were no longer talking.
"Bella . . ."
"Mike . . . what the hell is going on? Who's this?" Bella's hand moved up and down in Lauren's direction. "Is this the slut you've been sleeping with?"
Lauren's indignation rose to the occasion. "Slut? Oh no, I think you're mistaken. I'm the love of his life, the most important thing to him in this world. I give him what you can't!"
I saw red when she said those words to Bella. My beautiful Bella was ten times the woman Lauren would ever be and I hated the fact that she was cutting her down in front of everyone. Speaking of cutting . . .
Bella held her own and didn't need my help. I loved feisty Bella.
"You blonde bitch! You are nothing to him but a piece of ass and as soon as he gets what he wants, he's going to drop you faster than he clicks out of internet porn when I walk into a room. I don't care about you or what the fuck you do." Her attention then turned on Mike. "I can't fuckin' believe you, you . . . you . . . asshole! What the hell are you doing?"
Mike jumped up then and got right in Bella's face. If he didn't calm down soon, I was going to have to calm him down myself.
"It's none of your goddamn business, bitch! You wouldn't put out anymore. I had to find someone that was willing to get down on her knees and make me feel like a man again. You brought this all on yourself Bella."
Bella's mouth fell open as fire lit up on her eyes. "Myself? I brought this on myself? Fucking prick, how the hell did I do that? I was always there for you Michael! I did everything for you, short of wiping your ass! Don't stand there and tell me I didn't put out for you because I did! I never withheld sex from you until just recently and only because I knew you were seeing someone else, I just didn't know who!" Bella turned back to Lauren for a second. "And who knows what kind of diseases this bitch is carrying."
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. Go Bella!
Lauren opened her mouth to speak but Mike got to it first.
"Don't blame this on me, Bella. Lauren is better at everything than you ever were. You haven't made me happy in a long time. You're like a chain around my neck . . . a thorn in my side. You drag me down, Bella. I could be so much more if it weren't for you! Lauren sees my potential and is far more willing in bed with me than you'll ever be."
"Just because she has been around the block and learned some tricks does not mean she is better than me!" Bella spat.
Lauren made a sound of protest behind her. Alice had grabbed her wrist and yanked her down to a seat.
How I was able to stand there and hear what was going on without snapping, I'll never know. Probably because I was stunned that Mike had the balls to say all that to Bella. I was angry to say the least, but to come in between a lover's spat would have dire consequences, ones I was not willing to put Bella through. I just hoped this would make Bella run to me instead of the opposite effect.
"Trust me," Mike said through narrowed eyes. "She's better."
Bella's hand came up and swiftly slapped Mike's cheek hard, like the bitch he was. She had tears in her eyes despite her feelings for him. I was sure her pride was hurt most of all.
She was about to slap him again when Mike's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist to stop her. I started to make my way over there when I saw Alice's hand shoot out and grab Mike's wrist in retaliation.
"Now Mike, don't do anything you'll regret." Alice's tone was even, but I was sure her face was not. She could be a scary mother fucker as I was sure she was at that moment. One glance from her and Mike quickly let Bella go. She turned around and quickly stormed out of the pub, not giving anyone a glance as she bolted out.
"Well . . . shit." Emmett's brilliant response was hardly soothing.
"I'd better go see if I can help her." Rose quickly shot up and dashed out of the restaurant to be with Bella—a place I desperately wanted to be. I had to hand it to her . . . Rose was a good friend to have when you were in need.
Jasper, Em, and I walked over to where Alice stood and as soon as I stepped into view, Mike spoke to me. "Cullen, can I please speak to you?"
I quickly looked over to Jasper, but he was in the middle of a conversation with Alice. More than likely checking her for any bruises or damage. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She was a lot tougher than she looked.
I tilted my head to the side and motioned for Mike to follow me out the door. I wanted to bash the motherfucker's head into the sidewalk and watch the blood leave his body. I wanted to throw him out in front of a speeding train and watch his brain and body get smashed from the impact . . . but above all that, I wanted Mike to bleed for what he just said to Bella.
I couldn't though; I couldn't blow my cover. No matter what, Mike was the last person on this planet besides Jacob who could know I was involved with her. Our lives depended on it.
Once I was a safe distance from any eyes and ears, I spun around and confronted Mike.
"What the fuck do you want, Newton?"
He started to pace in front of me. "Dude. You were in there, you saw what happened. It will only be a matter of time now before she divorces me! If that happens, I will never get my money! I worked my ass off for it. I wasted years of my life on that bitch and if she divorces me, I'll get nothing. Nothing!"
I swallowed quickly, biting back my tongue. How could he stand there and call his wife a bitch? Bella was out of Mike's league. I would never, ever understand what she saw in that guy.
"Well, you shouldn't have been philandering inside a public place with Lauren, dipshit. You expect me to have compassion on you? What the hell were you doing with her out in public? Everyone can see you."
The irony that he and Lauren were out in public as were Bella and I was not lost on me.
"Look man, can you just please speed up the process? I'll pay extra. I just don't understand what's taking so long to get the job done!"
I grabbed his shirt and pulled him to me, his nose almost touching my own. "Don't. Tell. Me. How. To. Do. My. Job. I know exactly what the fuck I'm doing. It's not easy to kill someone in the same town you live in without causing a scene . . . and you talking to me in public is not going to help either of our cases, you understand? Unless you want to go to jail for murder, let me do my job."
His pale face was beaded in sweat and I knew he was scared. He should be. Fucker was inches away from the Grim Reaper.
"Everything okay here guys?"
Emmett and Jasper had come up the walk and I quickly let Mike go. This wouldn't look good in front of Jasper.
"Everything's fine. I was just telling Mike here that he shouldn't be treating Bella how he did inside. After all, he was the one that fucked up behind her back. They are still married."
I glared at Mike and he quickly nodded his head in acknowledgement. Jasper just nodded and I quickly walked away from them all. Alice was standing by my car waiting for me.
"This isn't good, Alice. Even though I'm ecstatic that Bella knows the truth now, I'm not happy that I have to speed up on killing her."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, you knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I'm so glad it's sooner though, that way, we can be done with this whole mess."
I sighed and pinched my nose. This was the opposite of good.
"How's Bella?"
"She's fine. Rose is with her. She said that Bella will call you later once she's calmed down some. She also said she was pretty hysterical. I'm sure Rose can get her to calm down."
I nodded and quickly got in the truck and waved a quick bye to Alice, anxious to get home. I probably wasn't going to get a call from Bella anytime soon so I settled on going home and just relaxing.
I pulled my truck up into the driveway and I quickly got down. I marched into the house and threw my things down as I made my way into my bedroom. I needed to get away from everyone and everything. My life had become so stressful since Bella Newton came into my life . . . but I wouldn't trade that for anything.
I considered turning off my phone while I slept, but decided against it. If Bella wanted to talk to me, I wanted to be there for her.
I settled into bed and quickly fell asleep. Sometime later, my phone went off. I opened my eyes and gazed groggily at my phone. Bella's name was flashing on the screen.
I sat up quickly and answered it, noting that it was two in morning. What the hell was she doing calling me at two in the morning?
"Hello?"
Silence.
"Hello? Bella, are you okay?"
Nothing, again. Suddenly, I could hear her sobbing on the other end and that just made my nerves come alive. Something wasn't right.
"Bella, baby, talk to me. What's wrong?"
I heard her take a shaky breath. "Oh Edward . . ."
"Sweetheart, it's okay. You know it's going to be okay. Please don't cry." I was in the process of getting my pants on when she spoke again.
"No, it's not going to be okay. I-I-I'm in trouble. I didn't know who to call. Oh God, what have I done?"
I stopped moving at that point. Bella wasn't distressed. She was beyond distressed; she was frantic.
"Bella, honey . . . what did you do? Where are you?"
"I'm so sorry . . . Oh God, I'm so sorry . . . I don't know what to do . . . blood . . . there's blood everywhere! I can't get it off . . . I'm making a mess! Please . . . please help me. Edward . . . please help me! I'm scared!"
I think I stopped breathing. I couldn't be sure. All I knew was that Bella had done something—something so wrong it shook her to her core. I threw on my shoes and ran out the door, not even bothering to lock up. My phone was still at my ear as I was soothing her, but her hysterical cries were still coming.
Whatever Bella just did had altered the course of events. I didn't have to be a psychic to know that.
Blood's not thicker than money.
—Groucho Marx
A/N: We know, it's a cliffy, but we promise a delicious chapter after this. If you review, you will receive a preview of the next chapter just like always.
Always, thank you Bri for beta-ing this chapter.
On another note, there have been incidents of stories being removed (namely popular stories) from FF because of a group of people who have made it their mission to turn stories in for not following the rules. One of those rules is no stories that are "MA" are allowed to be posted, and well . . . you might as well just throw us under the bus. If anything like this happens to WA, you will be able to find us at The Writer's Coffee Shop, where we will start to post our story this week. We have blocked as many of the culprits as we can, but there are no guarantees that our story will not be pulled due to content. We are not saying this will happen, but you never know.
Thanks for being loyal fans,
Devilish Pleasures
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