Chapter 3

Hello everyone,

Once again, I am floored by the reception this story has managed to get. I love hearing from each and every one of you. And creating these stories is a privilege, and I enjoy every minute of it.

I won't bore you with a long author's note, but I want to thank everyone for joining me on this new ride.

One last note: I realize Edward's treatment of Lily is harsh, and I promise that this will change. But I won't say it isn't an emotional ride. It will be totally worth it; however, I promise.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.

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Edward wandered from his study when the text of Emmett's arrival to the house with their new guest came through. Spotting his mom in the hallway with her, he waved his hand in annoyance. "Take her to the stables. There's shit going on, and I don't want her around to see it."

"Since when do we conduct business here at home?" Esme wanted to know, her eyes going wide with the prospect. "Your father never brought his affairs here. He always …"

"Mom, take her to the stables." Just as Edward finished speaking, the front door popped open, and he heard heavy footsteps enter the foyer. Casting one final glance in their direction, he gave an impatient snort. "Go."

Esme shook her head and offered her hand to Lily. "Come on, baby, let's go see Sage."

Lily's startled gaze darted between Esme and her father. Flinching from his twisted features, she leaned into her grandma, whispering, "Can I ride him? I should bring an apple for a treat."

"Good idea," Esme agreed, leading Lily down the hall toward the kitchen.

Edward watched them go hand in hand, his heart tripping in his chest as he took in his daughter's long honey locks. He could almost hear his wife's whisper as he stood there transfixed on their daughter. "Edward, please be kind to Lily. She needs her father. I can't be there to love her. Love her for the both of us."

Of course, then, his mind whispered back, "How the fuck am I supposed to do that? I know nothing of being a father, not the kind she needs. You were supposed to be here to teach me these things."

His heart twisted, and his lashes fluttered as he broke the spell, holding him frozen in the hallway. If Edward concentrated hard enough, he could almost-almost feel Irene's fingertips graze his cheek as she'd so often done in the past to calm him. With a heavy sigh, he followed the sound of rustling taking place in the entryway.

Edward rounded the corner just in time to see Emmett as he stepped inside with the slight figure slung over his shoulder. Emmett's bottom lip was split down the middle, and traces of blood marred his chin. Edward's dark brows lifted with interest when he also noticed the scratches on his brother's cheek. "She can't be handled easily, huh? What did the doc have to say?"

"Fuck no," Emmett half moaned and half laughed. If Edward wanted a play-by-play of what the doctor had to say, he was going to have to wait until he'd ditched the baggage over his shoulder. "She's a squirrelly little shit. Where did you say you wanted her?"

"I can't breathe," Bella growled as the two men talked around her. She lifted her head, trying to decipher where she was, yet the bag over her head made it impossible to see. "Your mammoth shoulder is digging into my stomach."

Emmett's arm locked over her hips as she began to struggle, firmly holding her in place. "If you don't hold still, I'm going to dump you right here on the marble floor. Might serve your little ass right too after busting my lip."

Edward was slightly bemused by the woman's effort as she paid no heed to Emmett's warnings, nearly bucking her way out of his hold. Ocean blues scanned the black bag over her head and the zip ties binding her hands and feet. Gesturing towards the unbreakable ties, he looked to Emmett. "Was all that necessary? She looks like a trussed-up turkey."

"You said you wanted her upstairs above your study, right?" Emmett ignored the amusement in Edward's stare. "I want to put the witch down before she takes out my eye." Emmett didn't wait for Edward to answer, promptly turning for the staircase, and started to climb to his destination.

Edward hung back several paces, watching as the woman fought all the way. With every step Emmett took, she slammed her arms against his broad back, yet his brother never wavered on his feet as he ascended the stairs. Edward followed close behind as Emmett threw the door to the room he'd had prepared wide and heaved the slender being up and off his shoulder.

Of course, with her feet bound as they were, she slowly sank to her butt, her tied hands waving around as she continued to cuss. "Stupid … ingrate ... degenerate … animals."

Emmett withdrew a pocket knife and stepped closer. "Hold still so I can cut these … damn … mother …" he cursed as she continued to kick when he tried to cut the ties.

Edward watched with annoyance as Emmett cut the ties from the woman's ankles, yet she refused to hold still, so he nicked her with the blade. Edward rolled his eyes as blood beaded on the wound. "Jesus … can't you do anything right?"

"If you think you can do a better job," Emmett barked back, throwing a glance in Edward's direction.

With a firm hand, Edward snatched the knife from Emmett, placing a strong hand on her knee; he pushed down, flattening her leg against the floor as he said, "Hold still before I cut your damn foot off. And if you would like to see tonight or have use of your fingers, I suggest you stop struggling."

The wench went still under his harsh tone. Edward quickly cut through the bindings on her ankles before proceeding to the ones on her arms. The blade hovered on the zip tie as Edward leaned close. "If you so much as act as if you will hit me when these straps come off, I will keep you tied up for the duration of your stay. Do you understand me?"

Bella's head shifted in his direction as if she were trying to see him. Finally, her head tipped forward as she nodded in agreement. "Why am I here? What have I done? I don't … I don't understand what is happening. I came here seeking help, not to be taken against my will. Why? Just tell me why you are doing this?"

Edward didn't bother to answer her questions. Quickly, he cut the ties before pulling the hood from her head. Instantly, her eyes blinked rapidly as her gaze adjusted to the light. Without paying another moment of attention, he turned abruptly and headed for the door. Once he crossed the threshold, he turned back to Emmett, not sparing her a glance. "What did Demetri have to say about her wounds?"

Emmett gestured to Isabella's recently bandaged wrists and the cuts that had been thoroughly cleaned. "He said her wrist was sprained. She has some bruises and looks like she was roughed up—."

"I told you," Bella hissed as she glared at the men before her. Were men all the same? Did they just imagine women were weak and unintelligent? Her nostrils flared as she willed herself to calm down while facing the king of the Midwest. "I told you, Charlie was forcing me to marry that nasty old man. What part of that didn't you understand? The night he told me, I tried to walk out." Holding her wrist up for Edward to see, she continued, "He grabbed me by my arm, preventing me from leaving."

Edward's gaze stabbed through the minx before him. While everything she said made sense, there was no way he would trust an outsider while his family resided here. "This room is to stay locked … at all times, and no one is permitted in this hallway besides to deliver meals …"

"You don't mean to leave me here?" Bella shouted as complete understanding hit her all at once. Somehow while shopping for a wedding she didn't want, Bella effectively found herself in the middle of a never-ending nightmare.

First, her goons had been killed, and she'd been chased tirelessly through the forest. Once she'd thought she made it to safety, she realized her mistake far too late. As he'd said in the stables, Edward Cullen was not a charity and had no intention of helping her.

Instead, Bella found herself right back at the beginning. Under the control of another tyrant, it was yet to be determined if he were as bad as her father. Yet Isabella had never heard of anyone surviving the king of the Cullen's once taken prisoner. When the door slowly closed as they left the room, panic-filled Bella. "Edward, please, I just wanted some help. Don't leave me up here."

Neither man answered as they strode from the room, and the door was securely shut behind them. It dawned on her as a key slid into the lock; she was being taken prisoner. Scrambling from where the elephant had dropped her, she scurried across the room to the door, forgetting all about her tender feet. Frantically, she beat on the heavy wood, gasping as pain shot through her wrist. "Hey? Hey? Come back … Why am I being kept here? I just needed help getting out of this God-forsaken place. Please, someone…"

Bella's face contorted as pain shot through her palm. She barely spared her new prison a glance as she continued to pound on the barrier. "Help … someone help …"

Shifting closer to the obstacle, she leaned her ear against the hardwood, yet all she managed to hear was the pounding of her own heart. "Fuck …" she mumbled, glaring at the solid oak. Growing more frustrated with each passing second, she stomped the floor, and another pain shot through her heel. This time when she cursed, the word fuck seemed as though it bounced from the walls and came right back to her.

With nothing left to do, she turned and looked around the elegantly decorated room. A large TV was placed over an equally large fireplace, two towering cherry wood shelves on either side, a king-sized bed with an army green comforter, and matching pillows. Heavy drapes lined what she assumed were windows … windows … windows.

Without a second thought, Bella hurried across the plush carpet to the drapes, and with a firm yank, she attempted to rip them aside. When the curtains didn't part for her, she tugged harder, hearing a snap overhead, effectively tearing the silk from the windows. With the curtains hanging haphazardly from the rods, disappointment shot through her chest as she calculated the distance between the window and lawn. To her complete dismay, they were merely cranks and nothing she could easily slip through. "Fuck! Fuck!"

She should cry. Hell, she should be a sobbing mess on the floor. The Kings had her, and there was no telling what their plans were or why she was being kept here. Yeah, so, technically, she should be a blubbering fool, yet … she just felt … felt so pissed.

Bella's gaze dropped into a glare as she remembered where they said the location to his office was. "Right below my feet."

A wave of anger like she'd never experienced consumed her. In a fit of rage, she picked up the vase sitting on the desk. Examining the delicate glass, she considered it for a long moment, weighing the object in one hand. "I bet this is pretty expensive."

Not even hesitating, she let the vase fly, satisfaction filling her as it crashed against the wall. A quick study of the room forfeit several rather pricey items. One by one, she marched around the spacious prison and destroyed each one. Like a little tornado, she spun around the room, whipping books in the direction of the shattered vase. Each thud took a fraction of her anger, yet not entirely deplete; she cursed and stomped until she was thoroughly exhausted.

Breathing heavily, she plopped on the bed with nothing left to do or destroy. "Now, what the fuck am I supposed to do?"

As the quiet settled around her, Bella stupidly stared at the TV hanging over the fireplace at a complete loss. An open doorway loomed next to the fireplace, and curiosity getting the better of her, she made sure to stomp extra hard across the floor to it. Bella was taken aback when she walked into the luxurious bathroom, complete with double sinks and a garden tub.

Hands-on her hips, she took in the marble and brass decorating the spread. "What can I expect when dealing with the biggest mobsters in the area?"

Honestly, if she were to be held captive, there were a lot worse ways they could've gone about it. Of course, she'd never heard of anyone else being a guest of the Kings and making it out alive, so she was one up, at least for now, she supposed. Bella had a feeling the douche who'd threatened to cut off her foot wouldn't even blink before tossing her ass in the river.

Edward's gaze rolled to the ceiling as crash after crash penetrated the walls, and with every shatter of expensive glass, his jaw clenched tighter and tighter. Finally, the breaking stopped, and the thudding started, and now, his temples throbbed with annoyance.

In hindsight, perhaps he should've left her bound. Again he flinched as a thud sounded, followed by stomping across the floor and muted what he assumed to be cursing. When the thudding resumed, his gaze swung to Emmett. To his utter irritation, Emmett looked beyond thrilled by this new turn of events. Edward's dark lashes dropped into a glare. "If this continues, I will truss her right back up."

Edward focused on his late wife's photo, usually finding solace in the image when the world refused to provide peace. Even the smile on her lips wasn't enough to take this new aggravation born to him. With a snarl and a flare of his nostrils, he reached for the whiskey at the corner of his desk.

"Isn't it a little early to be putting that away?" Emmett wondered aloud, following Edward's movements as he poured half a glass. "Edward, maybe it's time to talk …"

"Don't … just don't …" Edward took a long swallow, his lashes falling against his cheeks as the familiar sting of whiskey coursed through his veins. "You have no idea what it's like to lose …"

Edward broke off with a shake of his head. He couldn't even put words to this massive ache in his chest. Or how Irene's death had left him a shell of who he'd once been.

"Edward," Emmett began, flinching as the girl upstairs ripped something. It sounded like a storm had started in that room. "Maybe I don't know because you've never told me, but …"

Edward's hard stare stabbed at Emmett from his place across the desk, and his top lip curled. "Did we turn into women or something?"

"Jesus, fuck." Losing his patience, Emmett hopped to his feet and paced the study. Jerking as another thud erupted near his head, he ducked as if dodging a missile. "Fuck … What is she doing?" He threw a look toward the ceiling and back to his brother, who sat transfixed staring at that damn picture. Sometimes Emmett wanted to collect all of Irene's shit and…

Hell, maybe just hide it. Just for a while, but he was certain Edward would murder him if he did. "Edward, we all know you loved her, but she's gone, man. Nothing can bring her back, and you are punishing everyone in your life."

Edward tapped the glass on his desk as he considered Emmett for a long silent moment. A snarl filled the study as Edward leaned forward with a humorless smile. "I know she's fucking gone, asshole. Now, you can get the hell out of my office. And tell that woman upstairs to shut it, or I will shut it for her. Should've just left her tied the hell up. I have to make a call to her dear old dad … so business awaits."

"Fuck off, since I'm not good for anything and completely incapable, according to you, you go tell her," Emmett stated before heading out of the study. As he slipped into the hallway, he slammed the door behind him.

Edward let out a string of curses as the ruckus upstairs ensued. Finally, everything went quiet, and peace returned, and Edward retrieved his cell. Finding Charlie's information, he hit the send button. As the phone rang, Edward flipped through the file in front of him. As Charlie's gruff voice greeted him from the other line, he sat back in his chair and crossed his ankles. With more pep in his tone than he felt, Edward said, "Hey, Charlie. With every passing minute, my patience with you evaporates."

"I haven't forgotten anything. I told you earlier I'd have the funds by Saturday. I'm just … just trying to seal a deal with the Mayor, and it can't be rushed any more than it has been. Fuck, Cullen, some patience would be fucking great."

"I don't have any more patience," Edward drummed his fingertips on the desk staring at a sliver of light seeping through the closed curtains. "You know, speaking of the mayor, I have something of yours, and if this deal you are talking about has something to do with my new guest and the mayor, you might have a problem fulfilling your obligations on that score."

"What the fuck are you talking about, Cullen?"

"My boys ran into a little blonde girl that happened to stumble onto my property, and after some persuasion, she has agreed to be my guest," Edward chuckled, rubbing his chin as his gaze lifted to study the ceiling as another crash reached his ears. "Perhaps the word guest is stretching the facts a bit, but you get the drift, right?"

"You … you … are shitting me. Just state it point fucking blank. Tell me exactly what you are saying, and stop speaking damn riddles."

Edward flipped through the papers in front of him. "I am not shitting you, Charlie. Isabella Swan, twenty-four years old, attends Washington University full time and recently became engaged with mayor Winthrop. What did I tell you in our little meeting, Swan? I would find something precious to you and use it as collateral. Mission accomplished. I want my money, and until I get it, Miss Swan-future Mrs. Winthrop will remain here. Are we clear?"

"Cullen, I told you I would have it… wait are you talking about my daughter?"

Edward hung up the phone and tossed the cell on his desk. Pinching the bridge of his nose as his ceiling fan rattled when his guest stomped across the floor. "For the love of Christ," he mumbled, taking his last sip of whiskey before climbing to his feet.

Heading out to face his household, Edward gathered everyone into the kitchen. Making sure to avoid looking at her, he pinned his mother with a hard stare before looking among the occupants-which consisted of two housekeepers and a cook, and his family. Licking dry lips, he cleared his throat, saying, "We have a visitor for the next few weeks. She is in the east wing, and no one-no one is allowed down that hallway. If I find anyone on that side of the house, jobs will be lost. Do I make myself clear?"

As Edward spoke, a pair of hazel eyes followed every move he made. A sliver of unease slipped down his spine as he tried to ignore the effect of Jane's unwavering attention. Soon—soon, he would have to deal with the issue of her overbearing presence in his life. Right now, however, he had other pressing matters at hand. Ignoring Jane's intrusive stare, he turned to look at Emmett.

"Emmett, if you think you can handle it. You can deliver her meals, but outside of that, there is to be no visiting or talking." Edward's gaze went from his staff to his family.

While most would've thought housekeepers and the like couldn't be trusted, Edward paid them exceptionally well for their discretion and worried little about information leaving these walls. Even though Jane was persistent in her unwanted advances, she consistently maintained an air of professionalism required of his staff. While collective nods went around the room, Edward promptly gestured for them to return to work. With one final meaningful look toward his family, Edward left them staring after him as he strode for the door.

A petite blonde head lifted to look down the hallway in the direction her father indicated. Curiously, her head tipped as a string of curses echoed through the house. Lily's eyes went wide, and she leaned closer to her grandmother. "Nana, is it a princess?"

Esme's fingers caressed Lily's blonde mane. "No, Lily, you heard what your father said. You will ignore whatever you hear and mind your business."

"Ok," Lily whispered. When Aunt Alice and Uncle Emmett turned away, she slipped down the hallway, coming to the foot of the stairs. As the noise continued, Lily's foot dawdled on the first step and very quietly mounted a few, swaying against the banister.

Her daddy didn't need to know anything. If she were super-duper quiet, he wouldn't even know. With this thought, she moved further up the staircase until she came to the landing. "Fairy princess, Lily whispered so quietly the words weren't even audible.

Ever so quietly, Lily lingered in the hallway, even as it started to get dark. She would've stayed longer, yet footsteps coming up the stairs indicated someone was coming. Hurriedly, she scurried in the opposite direction and slipped down the stairs undetected. She was in the foyer when the door upstairs creaked open, and the woman's cursing got louder. As a crash followed by more bad words happened, Lily's large blue eyes widened, and she whispered, "The princess is so mad."

"Don't worry, Princess," Lily sang as she hurried away so her Uncle Emmett wouldn't catch her dawdling. "I will be back very soon."

"Lily, come get supper," Esme called.

"Coming, Nana."

Meanwhile, in the prison assigned to Bella, she stood face to face with the brute responsible for dumping her here. Long scratches marred his otherwise flawless features, and she might have felt bad if she weren't being held against her will. Her nostrils flared, not even slightly intimidated by his size—actually, she was very much scared of his massive form, yet she wasn't about to let him know that. "Why am I being kept here? I didn't do anything but come here looking for help. I should've known it was a waste of my time."

Emmett ignored her question, looking around the room in disbelief. How could one tiny chick cause so much mayhem? The neatly laid out room was in shambles, drapery hanging from the windows, books and vases and pictures shattered. "Edward is going to have a shit fit."

"Edward can suck one," Bella announced as her fury was reborn. Whatever was on that tray had her stomach groaning with hunger, yet she was far too stubborn to give in to the craving for food. "Just release me, and I will find my way. I don't want anyone's help any longer."

That was not exactly true. Bella wanted to be a million miles away from here. If she ever went home, she would be forced into a marriage with that decrepit old fool. The thought was enough to make her cringe. Her eyes rolled at the thought of that man touching any part of her, effectively causing her empty stomach to pitch.

Emmett wandered further into the room with a shrug. Holding a bottle of meds, Emmett popped the cap and poured a single pill into his palm. He held it up for her to see the capsule. "I brought you something for the pain in your wrist. I'm sure all your recent activity hasn't exactly helped your condition. As for your demand for release, I want to do a lot of things. We don't always get what we want."

"But why?" Bella was beginning to feel helpless. "What do I have to do to get out of here? It would help if I knew why I was even here. Just point me to the road, and I will be gone. I swear."

Edward's warning came to mind about socializing with their guest. Emmett ignored her statement as he placed the pill next to the tray on the dresser. "Edward said to keep the noise to a minimum, or he will shut you up. Understand?"

"Oh really? What's he going to do? Tie me up, or throw a sack over my head?" Bella sidled to the left of the giant, spying the door. If she just angled a little more this way … she could slip by …

The monster must've understood the direction of her thoughts because he too sidled that way. "Don't think about it. Or you won't only have Edward to worry about. And don't take his warnings lightly; he can be a nasty son-of-a-bitch when he wants to."

Bella shook her head. "As I said, Edward can suck it. So, I guess he wouldn't be overly excited if I just sang at the top of my lungs."

Something about her statement was amusing as he considered his brother's head exploding. With a half-smile twinging his lips, he gave a nod. "You know what. Sing. Sing as loud as you can. Hell, I will bring you a radio."

Bella's brow wrinkled as he encouraged her. What was he trying to do? And why did he look so excited all of a sudden? She didn't get time to speculate because he waltzed out into the hallway and shut the door behind him. The smell of food wafting toward her had Bella wandering closer to the tray.

An apple and what appeared to be roast topped with potatoes and carrots adorned the tray. The smell of perfectly cooked beef had her regretting her subsequent actions as she took the tray and threw it against the wall. Plates and the cup of coffee shattered, food sliding down cream-colored walls.

Now, hungry and mad, Bella thought over her conversation with the brute. 'Sing. Sing as loud as you can.'

Glaring at the door, she cut loose, "Jingle bells, Edward Cullen smells, the brute can suck an egg, his car lost its wheel, and Bella got away … hey."

Over and over, she went, and when the rhyme grew tiresome, she sang every Christmas song she could think of. When the Christmas songs weren't cutting it anymore, she carried on with all the nursery rhymes she knew. Either Edward Cullen would tie her up or kick her out, and she wasn't stopping until he did.

Edward sat in his study. His jaw was so tight; he thought his teeth would shatter. The witch's wailing went on and on until he was sure his head would pop right off his shoulders. With frustration mounting to staggering degrees, Edward grabbed the remote to his TV and turned it up until the sound of horrible singing could no longer be heard.

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