Eesh. I wanna hide. Told yall it couldn't be all rainbows and sunshine! But we'll get there again. 3


-99-

"Baby, please. I know I messed up, but I'll pay you back for the meal, and I'll make it up to you. I can be so good for you...to you. We had fun, right?"

Jacob is advancing on Bella, who is pressed against the dingy, brick wall of the building, her chest heaving with scared little breaths. His words are slurred, and his steps are uneven, so when Bella's eyes flash to me, I hold my finger to my lips to let her know she shouldn't alert him that I'm here.

The only reason I don't tackle him right away is that reminder that Bella may or may not be a hitwoman. She's feisty enough, so either way, she can handle herself, but I'm here to make sure she doesn't have to.

Jacob catches the glance she throws behind him and whirls around, staggering and catching himself on the edge of the dumpster before he falls.

"Hey! It's the dude that fucked shit up with my girl! What are you doing here?"

A feral growl rips from my chest before I can stop it.

"She's not yours, asshole, and I'd appreciate it if you left my girlfriend alone."

"This guy, Bells, really?" He scoffs, whipping his head back to her.

"Jake, you should go," Bella offers, her voice shaky. I want to run to her, comfort her, wrap my arms around her and protect her. But I don't know what Jacob is capable of. I don't know if he's hiding a weapon under his untucked button-up or if he's the kind of guy that would attack her just because she's turning him down.

I know he has no qualms harming women when they're unconscious; who's to say he'd change his mind when they're awake.

"I'd listen to her if I were you, Jake," I warn through gritted teeth.

"Nah, I think I'm good." The fucker laughs, throwing his body back against the dumpster.

"Ya know, I've been with a lot of women," his head rolls side to side, his lips turned up in a smug smirk I'm dying to wipe off his face with my fist. "But Bells?"

He looks at me, then, venom in every inch of his features. "Can't blame ya, man, cause she's got the sweetest little pussy I've ever had the pleasure of fucking. Has she done that thing with your balls yet?"

Rage blinds me, and I throw myself on top of him, unable to process Bella's screams or the sickening sound my fist makes with his face.

And yet, the fucker keeps laughing. He doesn't even attempt to block me or get any swings of his own in.

"Oh, got yourself a feisty one, Bells. I like that." Jacob spits out a mouthful of blood and slumps down to the ground, right as Bella's hands on my shoulder are enough to pull me back. Not physically, but her touch grounds me enough, and I realize that pulverizing him isn't going to do anything besides land myself with a lawsuit.

"Thought you liked them better when they couldn't fight you," I spit without thinking, swinging my foot back to kick him.

"Edward, what the fuck!" Bella screams, stopping me from delivering the blow. Her eyes dart between him and me, filled with anger like she's putting pieces together.

"What did he do?" She whispers.

But I have to ignore her because I need to get out of there and get us home. We both need to calm down and discuss what just happened, and then maybe help each other forget it for a little bit.

"You stay the fuck away from her, you sick bastard, or I'll fucking bury you." I deliver the parting words with my arm around Bella's shoulder, but she's so pissed off that she delivers a kick to his groin before I'm able to pull her away.

It shouldn't make me as proud as it does.

My knuckles are bruised and bloody, but otherwise, I'm fine, and once we're back in the bar, I make it crystal fucking clear to Vick that I'm taking Bella home. Neither she nor James put up a fight when I explained why, but unfortunately, as we leave, I can feel the anger rippling off Bella in waves.

She doesn't say a word as we drive back to her place, and when we get there, she stomps in without waiting for me. I follow her into the kitchen right as a bag of frozen peas is hurled at my chest.

"Get those on your knuckles and start fucking talking," she demands.

"Why the fuck are you mad at me? I saved you before he could hurt you."

"I'm not some princess that needs saving; I had him handled. But you clearly know something about him I don't, so you can either tell me, or you can get the fuck out."

Groaning, I flop down on the couch, holding the peas on the knuckles of my right hand and contemplating how exactly I should tell her.

"He's been under investigation; that's why I was there that night. The night you guys went on the date and you saw me?" Fuck, I need to lie better than that, but Bella has spent three months now disarming me before she even knew she was doing it.

"We have reason to suspect that he's...essentially date-raped multiple women. We've found no evidence he's using drugs or anything, but there have been reports that he's gotten them way too drunk and then taken advantage of them."

If looks could kill, I'd be fileted and laid out over a grill while Bella squeezes lemon juice into my wounds.

"And in all our time together, you never thought to tell me that?"

"I'm not exactly supposed to, Bella. It's an active investigation."

Silence stretches between us, and I can't even look at her. But her next words break my fucking heart.

"I need you to leave."

"What? Why? Seriously, you're going to let that asshole get between us?"

"The only asshole in this room right now is you. I need you to give me some space."

I may not be the smartest when it comes to relationships, but I know that can't be good.

"Bella, sweetheart, please…." I go to reach for her, but she steps back, and I can physically feel another crack make its way through my heart.

"Not now, Edward. Go."