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Chapter Twenty-Six

"What the fuck?" I widened my arms.

Bella had her claws out, aiming for him. "Lauren? You fucked Lauren!?"

Jake smiled. "What…? Baby, I don't understand." He backed up a few steps.

Bella advanced while I followed her, wanting to grab her before she took a swing at him.

Jake's the pussy-type to swing back, hit a woman, and then I'd really have to kill him.

"I know all about it! So, why don't you just admit it?" Her foot tapped.

"You're so brave, talking to me like that in front of this cat?" Jake pointed to me.

Bella surprised the fuck out of me when she apologized. "I'm sorry." She moved back toward me.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to study their behaviors—still in a state of shock, I believe.

Jake stared down at her. "You think I won't?" he laughed, his gaze coming back to me again.

I was too busy staring at my silly girl.

Though, all I could focus on was how...the life left Bella? How she seemed almost dead on her feet? No emotion showed on her usually-expressive face—not anger, not necessarily sadness or fear, and certainly not joy.

"What's—" I wasn't sure what to ask, pointing two fingers between them, my hackles rising. Anger filled me instantly, this instinct to shield her from him very strong. My muscles were coiled.

Ready to spring, I silently berated myself. There was no way I wanted Bella harmed. She had to go, leave the scene before I could do a damn thing. Or, maybe I just wanted her away from Jake very badly—just away.

Leave me alone with him.

Bella turned to me. "I'm okay, Edward. Just go inside."

I snickered, walking closer to her. "I think—" Before I could tell her to go inside, as I wanted to have a chat with Jake, he demanded my attention.

He snapped his fucking fingers. "Can you give us a minute?" He never waited for my answer, grabbing ahold of Bella's arm to drag her away from me.

"Oww—" Bella didn't even fight against him.

Laughing, thinking this fucking ridiculous now . . .

I mean, the balls on this fucking prick.

It took me a second to declare him the dumbest motherfucker on the planet before I got between the two. "Keep your fucking hands to yourself. Understand?" I asked, dipping my head to be at eye-level with him, as he's a few inches shorter than me.

He smirked, standing to his full height. "You really wanna do this?"

I smiled, looking around us and taking off my jacket. "I've been waitin' to do this." It was true.

"Edward, no!" Bella was in my face. "Just stop—"

"Relax. Go inside." I used my arm to place her behind me. "You ready?" I asked Jake.

"Only a real douchebag would get between a guy and his girl. What I do—what we do—is none of your business!"

"Why you stalling?" I asked, taking a step toward him.

"Stalling?" He looked for Bella. "Don't you go inside. After I handle this, I wanna talk to you—" Speaking of talking, he was doing too much of it.

I cut him off with my right hook, which sent him flying into a parked car.

Bella gasped.

Jake held his face.

I punched my chest like an ape, getting amped and then widening my arms. "Let's do this!"

He wiggled his jaw, standing straight. "I beat your ass, you don't interfere no more. You leave me and my girl alone, and you keep your eyes to yourself. You don't look at what's mine and you don't talk to what's mine. You understand? Think I don't know you gotta hard-on for her?"

I nodded. "She's not yours, nor has she ever been yours." I smiled. "When I beat your ass, and I will, you'll leave—you forget Bella exists."

"Guys!" Bella shouted.

We ignored her.

Jake narrowed his eyes, and then he came barreling toward me—using his shoulder to get me in the gut and slam me into the trunk of my car.

I grunted, lifting my knee to get him in the chest.

He fell back onto his ass.

"Get up," I said, adrenaline running through me, feeling alive and excited.

Jake caught his breath, getting to his feet. "You're a dumb motherfucker, you know that?" He took off his shirt, and I saw a nine sticking out of his waist. "I play fair." He grasped it and placed it under his car's wheel.

I didn't say anything, watching his movements.

But this wouldn't be a fair fight, and I knew it.

I'd definitely have the advantage.

He can be as street as he thinks he is—run around with whomever, but I was here first. I ran these streets before him, and I had years as a Marine on me. Trust. I know how to fight. My skills surpass just knowing how to defend myself.

And my chest was heaving, hate, jealously, and anger flowing along with that adrenaline. Ironically, this wasn't about what he did to Bella—why I was so heated—but it was a part of it. I hated him on principle alone. That was when I realized how much Bella had affected me.

Jake's girl or not . . .

Jasper's baby sister or not . . .

I was very attracted to her.

I wanted her.

I wanted her for me. I wanted to take care of her, make her smile again, make her happy.

Alas, Jake was merely one obstacle I'd have to go through.

I could do all those things I wanted...except having her for me, my own selfish needs.

I'd be her friend. I'd be whatever she needed.

That's how I'd care for her.

Bella was obviously going through something emotionally. I hope one day she trusts me enough to tell me, but I'd be there for her in any event.

She was mine.

"Let's go!" I called him with my hand, 'cause this dude is forever stalling.

"Stop!" Bella shouted.

He came at me to push me.

I didn't budge. "The fuck was that?" I got him in his nose this time.

He didn't fall onto his ass again but ran at me, knocking me to the ground. We rolled around a bit, fists flying. I wasn't surprised to have the upper hand. I knew I would. I was just waiting for Jake to come at me.

I had something to prove, and I was doing it well...without a nine, without a weapon, with just my fists.

Gritting my teeth, straddling Jake, I landed blow after blow—right hook, left cross—getting out all my anger and aggression.

"Edward—stop!" I barely felt Bella pulling on my shoulders. "You'll kill him. That's enough!"

A growl vibrated through me, and I got Jake one more time in the face.

"Edward!" Bella knocked me with something—her purse.

I shook my head, my chest still heaving. I'd stopped hitting him and got off him, standing to his side. "Point taken?" I asked. "Stay away from her."

Jake coughed, trying to get to his feet. "This ain't over—"

I cupped my ear like I heard him wrong.

"You ain't shit, Masino," he laughed, bloodied and beaten and still on the concrete.

I smirked and kicked him in the gut. "Get the fuck outta hea. Now." I pointed down the street. "It's not over? You wanna come at me again? By-all-fucking-means, but you leave her alone!" I jerked a thumb to Bella.

He smiled and spit blood onto the ground, his eyes going to Bella.

"Jake?" she sniffled, placing her hand on his back.

"Get off, bitch!" he spat, nudging her away.

Bella groaned, using her stiletto to kick him in his ass.

He fell to the ground once more.

I held back my chuckle, yet I was still angry—now at her, for seeing if he was okay. What games was she playing? That motherfucker didn't deserve her concern, especially since…

She went to him first…

The fact that she went to him at all and not me…

Was I wrong to be concerned? Was I wrong for defending her?

Through our travels, I'd have beat his ass anyway, but tonight...?

Her heel nearly went up his ass, though.

"I hate you! Don't come back! I never wanna see you again! We're done!" Bella hollered after him before running to her front door.

I guess that settled that.

When I saw that Jake never grabbed his neglected piece, I did.

I placed it in my waist and turned for the house, getting out my keys, as I spied Jake paces away already.

Bella was in front of me now, and I reached around her for the lock.

"Shouldn't you check your man?" I asked, opening the door. Her concern for him was still grating on my nerves.

She didn't say anything. Bella stared at me for a long moment.

"Bella?" I raised a brow.

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