Chapter Fifty Three

Jasper

I left because Bella asked me to but I couldn't go, I couldn't walk out of that hotel and leave her with that woman, mother or not. I made it half way down the hall when I found my feet wouldn't continue, I couldn't put one foot in front of the other. I leaned against the wall, every fibre of my being pulling me back towards my mate. Then I heard what Renee was saying and took my phone out calling Charlie.

"Jasper? What's wrong? Is it Bella?"

"Charlie I need your help."

"Sure, what do you need me to do?"

"Ask Garrett to drive you to Bella's hotel. I'll meet you outside her room and Charlie... hurry"

I know he was terrified that Bella was ill but I couldn't force any more words out, a red mist was descending across my vision and my hands were shaking with suppressed rage. If it had been anyone but Bella's mother who had treated her like that they would have been dead and even now the urge to protect her was so strong I was losing the battle. My feet started moving back towards Bella's room and as much as I struggled I could do no more than slow them hoping Renee would stop before I lost control altogether and ripped her to pieces.

Bella

Renee had stopped talking, she just looked at me waiting for me to say something but I couldn't speak, instead a feeling of dread filled me and I glanced towards the door knowing time was running out. Renee started again,

"Is he still lurking outside listening? It's not the sort of behaviour I would expect from Edwards family but then I guess a guy who has the front to seduce his brothers ex can do just about anything. Alice told me all about him Bella, his history, the kind of man he is. Did you know he was dangerous? That Carlisle and Esme took him in as a charity case? That he seduced her then left her? That he has a string of abused girlfriends he's left behind? Why do you think he's interested in you? Have you thought about that?"

I just stared, what had Alice done? What had she said?

"I thought not, Alice told me he made a bet with Edward that he could make you fall in love with him, that he could get you to the altar but that he had no intention of going through with the wedding. Why would he want someone handicapped like you for a wife? It's a game to him Bella and you fell right into his trap. Now collect your things, we're leaving. He may have fooled your father but he doesn't fool me."

She grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the bedroom scowling at the rumpled bed, the tell tale signs that Jasper and I had made love there recently.

"Are you completely blind girl? He wasn't going to meet you at the altar, he was just playing with you, it was a laugh, a roll in the sack with the brain damaged girl who was so grateful to get the attention she would do anything to keep someone like him interested."

I sank to the floor sobbing for the injustice of it all. I knew Jasper and I knew he loved me. This was all down to Alice and I was going to kill her for this but the thing that hurt most of all was that my mother thought so little of me she was willing to believe Alice's pulled open the drawers and closet door and started throwing my things on the bed. When Renee pulled out my wedding dress, still in its zip bag, I held out my hand for it but she just dropped it on the floor and stepped on it as she took an armful of clothes to put in my bag. I couldn't help a cry of distress and that's when I heard the door smash open and there he was, Jasper, standing looking at my mother. The look on his face was murderous and I knew in that second that he would kill her but as he moved forward there was another blur of movement and two figures went through into the bathroom the door slamming so violently that the plaster work around it cracked and fell to the floor.

Charlie

Garrett drove me straight to the hotel breaking every speed limit and explaining as he drove.

"If The Major called for you urgently then something bad is going down, he needs us."

"Why me though?"

"Well let's find out shall we?"

I hadn't realised we'd reached the hotel and as I ran through the doors Garrett threw the keys to the valet and almost carried me up the stairs to Bella's floor.

"Fuck"

We saw Jasper kick the door in as we appeared and Garrett shouted instructions as he ran forward in a blur.

"Whoever's in that room get them out. Take the car and get to the motel. I told Peter we got trouble, you stay there until you hear from me."

I nodded but he'd gone and I followed into the room to see Bella on the floor and Renee, of all people, standing open-mouthed looking at the bathroom door.

Bella

I saw Charlie at the same time Renee did and she ran to him for protection,

"Charlie, someone just ran through I thought he was going to attack until another man ran in. I told Bella she isn't safe, we have to get here out of here."

Charlie broke free of her clutch and knelt down by me,

"Bella are you OK?"

I nodded unable to speak and he helped me up looking around at the mess,

"Did someone try to rob you?"

I shook my head looking at Renee and understanding dawned in his eyes,

"Come on we have to leave"

Renee nodded and grabbed her bag making for the door but I was held in place by the waves of anger coming from the bathroom and the savage noises emanating from there.

"You go, I can't."

She turned at my words and snapped,

"Bella get over here. You'll get yourself killed, now move"

I looked beseechingly at Charlie who wavered and then Peter appeared. I tensed waiting for him to send me away but he merely looked at the bathroom door then turned to Charlie

"Go, I'll keep Bella safe."

Without waiting for any argument he passed through to peer into the bathroom and Charlie grabbed Renee by the arm and dragged her, still protesting, into the corridor.

Peter

From the noise I'd already realised that Garrett was in trouble, he'd got a hold of The Major but if he weakened or made one false move our friend would rip him to pieces. The only person who could talk The Major down sat white-faced in the centre of the bedroom. I approached her slowly smiling reassurance,

"Bella are you OK?"

She nodded still looking at the closed door,

"Tell me exactly what happened quickly."

As I listened I knew was right, if The Major broke free he would kill not only Renee but anyone who got between him and his target and that meant Charlie.

"I'm going to help Garrett before he gets himself killed in there but I need you to come with me. I promise you that I wont let any harm come to you. I want you to make eye contact with The Major and talk to him. It doesn't matter what you say you just need to get his attention. Can you do that?"

"Yes. What if I can't talk him down though?"

"You can Bella, you're his mate, you're the only one who can."

"But what if I can't?"

"Then we have a serious fucking problem so now is not the time to start doubting yourself. Come on"

I took her arm and helped her to the door then looked her in the eye,

"You ready?"

She nodded and I opened the door slowly to get a good view of what was going on...it was worse than I'd feared. Garrett was holding on by the slimmest of margins and The Major was out for blood.