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Song: Bulletproof by Godsmack


"You want cream and sugar?" I double checked. Alistair nodded, and I placed the order into the speaker. I may have also muttered "pussy" under my breath, but I was pretty sly about it.

I drank my coffee black, how it was intended. Not with all this additional shit that didn't even enhance the taste.

As we drove down to the pickup window, Blondie rested his arm on the passenger window, smirking, because he knew I was actively trying to be nicer to him.

After my failed attempt at dinner and breaking a few kitchen appliances, I figured activities with Alistair would have to take place away from my house. I was too finicky to fuck anything else up in my crib.

I yawned, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, mentally cataloging everything I needed to do that day. Too much shit, and all I really wanted to do was chill.

"Rough night? Broads keep you up late? Or was it just one broad, as in Bella?" the fuck—the smartass—next to me questioned.

Bella had in fact kept me up all night. She practically fucked my brains out, not that I was complaining, and there were all the things she did with her tongue, goddamn.

But then I yawned again, being reminded of why I was so fucking tired this morning. She left my house at six AM, cursing and jumping around to scoop up her shit. This chick was afraid of her pop's wrath. If I wasn't already in the doghouse with Aro, I would've iced the fucker just to make screwing her easier.

"Yes, late night," I muttered, giving him a semblance of an answer. I pulled my shades down from atop my head to cover my eyes. Fucking sun.

My phone started buzzing, so I pulled it out of my pocket. Speak of the devil—it was Bella.

"Hello, sweet cheeks," I grumbled softly, so the shitbird didn't hear.

"Hey, Edward. I wanted to let you know that my dad and I got into a huge fight. He basically called me a slut, so I got my shit and left. I'm staying at Jasper's." She sniffled and sounded like she had a cold, or had been crying.

Oh now I really wanted to clip her pops. What a stupid fucking guinea. How could the motherfucker say that to his daughter?

And how could she stay at that fanuk's house? Nope, nope, nope.

"Is Jasper's girlfriend staying with him too?" I asked. I figured I better get all the facts before I went a little oobatz.

"Fuck no! Alice doesn't live here. Besides, in the mood I'm in, I'd break her fucking legs. Plus they broke up," she grumbled.

I bit back a laugh. "All kidding aside, you ain't staying with that fucker. You're staying with me. I promised to keep you safe, and so let me live up to my word," I reasoned, grabbing the tray with the two coffees from the server, ignoring the looks I was getting from Blondie as I placed them between us and drove forward.

"Do you really think that's a good idea, Edward? I mean, we're not even in a relationship, and even if we were, it'd still be too soon to live together."

"Look, those are all just semantics." I picked up my coffee and took a sip of the steaming liquid, enjoying the way the heat slid down my throat. "Think about it this way. Your pops doesn't know who I am or where I live. Don't you think your little bathing buddy is the first place he'd look?" I cackled, practically spitting coffee out into Alistair's face. I'd been hanging around Emmett too long.

She let out a sigh and huffed. "Well, how am I supposed to get in? Is it unlocked?"

"Nah, I'm just grabbing coffee, but I can swing by in like ten minutes." I looked at the clock on my dash. "You wanna coffee?"

"That'd actually be great. Just black, please! I didn't have a chance to grab one before my dad went apeshit on me. I'll head over now and meet you at your house. Though Jasper is probably gonna be pissed at me for leaving without telling him."

"You gotta stop giving a fuck about what other people think. You live for you and you alone. The outside noise don't mean jack at the end of the day," I ranted, pulling around to the drive-through once more.

"It's a hard habit to break, Edward," she murmured.

"I'll give you plenty of distractions," I whispered, trying to be discreet since Alistair kept leaning in to listen to my conversation. I gotta start my "can't kill him" chants again.

Bella laughed, finally. "I'm sure you can be very distracting. I'm gonna go put my shit in my car so I can make it to your house without making you wait," she said.

"Okay, see you soon."

Alistair started laughing maniacally.

"What the fuck is your problem?" I shouted, paying for Bella's coffee. The girl at the drive-through window gave me a side-eye.

"I told you to be nice to the girl, not move her in." Alistair snorted, pleased with his attempt at a joke.

"Har har. She needs a place to crash. Her pops is an asshole." I resisted the urge to hit him, and instead, I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white. I loosened my grip and ran my fingers through my hair, tugging on the strands.

"She's not a stray animal, EC. You can't be taking in randoms off the street." Blondie was mid-sip of his coffee when I swerved into the next lane, effectively soaking him in hot liquid. "Ahh, EC. You're literally the worst driver ever." Alistair danced in his seat, shaking droplets off his lap and onto my leather interior. "Ouch, Ouch."

"Oh shut it, you big baby. It was mostly milk anyways," I quipped, turning onto my street.

Bella was already standing outside of the brownstone. She was pacing back and forth on the stoop, her cell phone pressed to her ear, and she was gesturing angrily. When she saw us pulling up, she hung up quickly, shoving her phone into her bag.

"Yo, you must be Bella," Alistair yelled as he got out of the car, coffee stains covering him. I bit back a laugh.

Bella waved hesitantly at the stunad motherfucker next to me. I ran up the stairs and engulfed her in a big hug. She tucked her head into my chest. After a minute, I lifted her chin with my fingers. "Hey," I said, trying to get her to focus on me. "You okay?"

She shook her head. "I'm so far from okay right now, Edward, but I am glad that you invited me to stay with you." Her eyes narrowed as she got a good look at me, and her gaze turned questioning. "What's up with your hair? It looks like you were swept up in a tornado or something?"

I crooked my finger in Alistair's direction, and then I patted down my hair. She was right. It was all sorts of fucked-up. I'd stopped putting product in it, so I'm not surprised. I had to stop fucking with it before I developed a bald spot, but better that then some busted knuckles from pounding on Blondie. Fucker made me want to lose it on him on the daily.

Bella's eyebrows arched dangerously as she looked over at Alistair. She extracted herself from my embrace and stomped over to him, looking pissed and downright scary. "What the fuck did you do to him?" she yelled at him.

I burst into laughter, doubling over, not able to control my amusement. This broad really did have a good instinct. I walked down the stairs to be closer to her.

"I'm serious. I have been through a lot of shit today, and I'm really feeling the need to hit a motherfucker, so if you don't want to be punched or put in a headlock by a girl, then you need to start talking." Bella was clearly out of patience at that point because she lunged for Alistair.

I looped my arms around her waist and held her back, whispering in her ear, "Thank you, baby, but not yet." I smirked, proud of my girl. Wait? What the fuck?

Alistair threw his hands up defensively. "Listen, I don't want no trouble. I didn't do shit to him. Do you see my clothes?" He threw his hands up manically. "That's courtesy of your boy toy over there." He dipped his chin toward me.

I took a page from his book and blew a kiss at him. And then kissed the top of Bella's head.

"Let's get you inside, and you can take the rest of the day and relax." I started climbing the stairs, holding her hand as I pulled her behind me.

Blondie wasn't welcomed back in my crib, so he'd just have to stand out there and wait until I was good and ready. Or better yet, he could just start walking.

"I don't like him. Who is he?" Bella asked me, concern still written on her face. Bear ran up to her and sat at her feet until she acknowledged him. She squatted down to give him attention, rubbing on his sides and belly, waiting for me to explain.

I waved her off. "He's nobody. A little bitch I have to train for my business. Giving him a shot is testing my every last nerve."

"I know I interrupted your morning, and you're probably busy, so you can go. I can get settled myself. Oh, and if Rose calls you, I'm not talking to her and you haven't seen me." She stood and gripped my shoulders to make sure I was looking at her. "Okay?"

"No bother at all. I ain't telling anybody oogatz," I vowed, pecking her on the lips, and then headed out the door to find Alistair kneeling on my doorstep.

"'O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?'" he quoted, with a piss poor accent. He had lost his ever-loving mind. I'd have to ask Aro if I could drug test him. Who was I kidding? If he was taking them, Aro probably was the one who gave him them in the first place.

"You're a sick motherfucker. Get back in the car," I commanded.

Blondie scrambled off the floor and made his way back to my whip, getting in without protest for a change.

As soon as I climbed in, I caught a strong whiff of spoiled milk. The entire car reeked of coffee and I grimaced. "You're paying for this shit."

"Yeah, yeah, send me the bill." Blondie laughed, lighting a cigarette.

Maybe I was the one that needed to start doing drugs.


After doing some recon for a hit of a low man that was working with the Irish, my stomach grumbled and Alistair decided he wanted to try this food truck by the water. I didn't eat shit like that. I had a sensitive stomach.

Blondie was ranting about seeing some girl with a bubble booty. I wondered if he was a fucking virgin. On second thought, I really didn't give a shit.

I pulled over and gestured for him to get out. I wasn't an Uber, and this job didn't exactly give out lunch breaks.

I watched as Blondie chatted up the guy in the food truck, probably boring him to death. After a few minutes, where I mindlessly scrolled through my phone, he came back with a bagful of food. He settled back into the passenger seat, and the smell of grease and cilantro when he unwrapped his food made my stomach turn. Alistair didn't seem to mind and he dug right in, taking a huge bite and spraying crumbs all over the place. He needed a fucking bib.

"Want some?" He offered me a tin foil wrapped burrito. With a slight upturn of my nose, I shook my head and continued driving. He shrugged and continued to devour his meal.

We drove toward Avenue S and I pulled over when I spotted the douchenozzle Liam opening an SUV's trunk.

Liam was a higher up in the Irish mob. Fucker thought he was the shit because he worked his way up through the ranks quickly, and his crew were all little teeny boppers who followed every move he made without even batting an eye.

Alistair yelped. "Oh no!"

I looked over at him and he was doubling over in his chair. He better have not spilled anything else. Hot sauce didn't come out and I'd be damned if I rode around with that stain. Not to mention the smell was rancid.

As I looked around to see what he'd fucked up, my senses were then overloaded with another rancid smell. Motherfucker let one loose. I couldn't resist smacking his arm.

"Ow." He rubbed his bicep, wincing as he clutched his abdomen. "EC, I need a bathroom now. It's an emergency." He squirmed more. He better not even think about shitting in my car.

"Hold it the fuck in," I yelled, trying to get a better look at what Liam was unpacking from the truck. Black duffel bags. One was slightly opened, so I reached down for my binoculars, and Alistair's shaking leg kicked me in the face.

The surprise from hitting me and his need to shit must have been too much because all you heard was an explosion.

I hit my head on the steering wheel. "You're buying the fucking car."


Back at home and shit-free, Bella and I settled into my bed for the night. We talked about random shit before her eyes fluttered shut, and I crawled out of the bed to go to the bathroom. When I returned from actually using my bathroom for my business, unlike some fuckers, I found Bella moving restlessly around on the bed and muttering incoherently.

I lay down in the bed next to her, debating whether I should try to reach out to her, and then her words finally started to become clearer as she started to scream. "No—please stop—no—leave her alone!"

I shook her hip gently, nudging her awake. "Bella," I whisper-yelled. When she didn't wake, I shook her a little harder. "Bella!"

She jolted awake, still screaming. She started to panic when she felt my hands on her, but I smoothed the hair away from her face and told her it was just me. She started to calm down and looked at me with watery eyes.

"What happened?" I asked, rubbing up and down her arms, "What was your dream about?" I pressed.

Bella shook her head and looked away from me for a moment. "It was a nightmare. Of something that happened in the past."

"Bella, we all have shit that haunts us in the middle of the night. Please talk to me about it," I pleaded, worried about the beautiful girl before me.

She sighed and fisted her hair in her hand. Letting go of it, she let her hands fall to the bed. "When I was in my second year of university, my roommate and I went to a frat party. She was drinking way too much and flirting with a lot of guys." She bit her lip and looked away from me again. "We went upstairs to go to the bathroom, and two of the guys followed us. When we came out, they grabbed us and pulled us into an empty room. It was dark, so we couldn't see much, but one of the guys pushed her down on the bed. I tried to get in between them to stop them from hurting her, and the other guy subdued me and held me down. I was able to get up after I kicked him in the nuts, and I ran down to the party to get her help. My dad freaked out and made me move back home to finish my degree, and Carmen dropped out of college and went back to Colorado." She had tears pooling in her eyes, and she shook her head. "I can't believe I told you that." She let out a strangled sob and pushed me away from her. She got up and rushed out of the room, and shortly after, I heard the door in the hall bathroom close.

I got up to bang on the door. "Bella, open the god forsaken door," I pleaded. "Don't shut me out, not after telling me that shit."

She didn't answer me, so I tried the doorknob and, thankfully, the door was unlocked. I had been fully prepared to knock down the door, so it was a good thing that I didn't need to do home repairs.

Bella was sitting in a corner of the bathroom, her knees tucked against her chest. I walked into the room and crouched down in front of her, trying to get a good look at her face.

"What are you doing?" she asked, trying to hide the fact that she was crying.

"Taking care of you." I kissed her hair and brushed the hair out of her face, wiping away some of her tears with my thumb. "I don't like seeing you like this. I'm here," I reassured, grabbing her hand in mine.

"That's the problem. You're here. I don't cry in front of other people. It's weak and stupid. That's why I ran away."

"Well then I'll look away, but I ain't leaving you like this." I narrowed my eyes. "Fuck, do you want me to close my eyes? I might have a blindfold in the closet somewhere," I tried to joke.

"Why? Why do you care?" she asked, still crying and looking broken somehow.

I grimaced. I didn't do feelings and shit, so how was I supposed to answer that. "Bella, I don't fucking know why I care. But I do." I kissed the top of her head again and muttered, "I really do fucking care." I was more so making this admission to myself rather than the haunted girl in front of me.

Bella scooted over closer to me and clung to me like her life depended on it. She rested her head in the crook of my neck, and I felt her slump slightly, as if she was completely drained by her episode.

I gathered her tired body in my arms, pulling us both off the ground, and headed back to my bed. I laid her down before crawling in beside her and lifting the blanket to cover both of us. She turned on her side, putting her back to my chest, her ass resting in my lap. But for once in my life, I wasn't thinking about anything sexual. Just this need to protect and console Bella. I rested my arm over her hip, keeping us connected. Eventually her breathing evened out, and I hoped she had fallen into a peaceful sleep this time.

"I think I'll always care when it comes to you," I whispered into the darkness, not sure if she was still awake.


The moment I entered the crazy ward, my brother's booming voice echoed through the house. A mix of garlic and tomato sauce permeated the air, and the smell was instantly comforting. Unfortunately, the peace was disrupted by my brother's ruckus.

"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled, forgetting about the no-swear rule.

Ma ran up behind me, waving the wooden spoon. Oh shit. Now, I'd seen some scary shit and had been hurt, but nothing hurt like the wooden spoon. Fuck, I may have run in the opposite direction of her.

"Edward Anthony Cullen!" Ma spat as she ran after me with the dreaded spoon. She caught up to me and bopped me on the ass. Ow!

"Hello to you too, Ma," I grumbled, walking into the kitchen to find my brother, Pops, and none other than Rosalie Lillian Swan, Bella's sister.

This was going to be interesting.

"If it isn't the guy who has my sister's head turned upside down?" Rosalie narrowed her eyes at me.

I snorted. Jesus Christ! The broads in this family were spitfires.

Emmett decided it was a good time for him to interject. "Ma loves Rose already." He fucking winked at me.

I looked at my watch. "Wow, what has she been here all of twenty minutes? Let's wait a little while." I smirked. She clearly made Emmett happier than a pig in shit, but I didn't know her. Plus Bella wasn't too fond of her right now, so that was everything I needed to give her an attitude.

Pops came strolling around the counter to grab some Tang from the refrigerator. I had no clue how he drank that shit.

"Dinner's ready," Ma announced, putting on a big smile for Rosalie's sake. Typically she'd be bitching at us for not helping and being ungrateful, citing that one day she was going to be dead.

We all followed her into the dining room, taking our usual spots around the table. Rosalie tried to sit beside Emmett in Nonna's spot, but the pussy shoved her out of the way to the other side. Not that I blame him—Nonna's fucking scary, so I wouldn't want to deal with what the old broad would do if she saw her sitting there.

"This looks delicious, Mrs. Cullen," Rosalie said, politely. Kiss ass.

"Wait until you see what's for dessert," Ma responded, with a knowing smile.

"Where's Nonna?" I asked, worried about the old pain in the ass.

Ma's eyes widened. "She's having 'bathroom issues,'" she said in air quotes.

I groaned. Was everyone I knew full of shit? Well actually they weren't…

"Why don't you go check on her?" Pops cackled, and Rosalie laughed along with him. Sure, get brownie points with the old man.

I tried to grab two pieces of garlic bread, but my hand was swatted away. I looked up at Ma, questioningly. I wasn't doing the low carb shit she made me do last year again.

"Edward, we have a guest. Let her fix a plate first." Her eyes narrowed, giving me a death glare.

I chanced a glance at Rosalie, who looked so fucking smug. You got this round, Bitchy Blondie.

As if reading my mind about another blond pain in the ass, my brother took the opportunity to speak. "How's Al?" Emmett muttered, shoveling food into his mouth. Why the hell did he get to eat?

"Dead." I grinned, flipping him the bird. He should know better than to bring up my associates at Sunday dinner. Not that I considered Blondie an associate.

Emmett visibly gulped, taking a sip of water, and before he could reply Rosalie gasped. "Who's Al?" Rosalie did the sign of the cross. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

"His boyfriend," Emmett said solemnly, and at that very moment, my Nonna decided to leave the shitter and grace us with her presence.

"Fuck don't tell me both my grandsons are fanuks?!" She yelped, setting her cane down next to her seat and grabbing me for leverage as she lowered herself down into the cushioned dining room chair.

"Nonna, this is my girlfriend, Rosalie," Emmett announced, kissing the back of Rosalie's hand.

I rolled my eyes, finally eating my fucking garlic bread. I was starving. Maybe I should bring a little food back to Bella. I think she'd appreciate Ma's cooking.

"So she's your beard?" Nonna said, chewing loudly. If her dentures flew out of her mouth onto Rosalie's plate, I would give her all of my money.

"Does my sister know you're gay?" Rosalie quipped, sipping her wine.

"Your sister knows full well I ain't no fanuk," I said bashfully, wearing a smug smile.

Ma brought out more sauce for the pasta. Baked ziti gets a little dry sometimes.

"Speaking of Bella, do you happen to know where she is? Have you heard from her? Have you seen her?" Rosalie interrogated me. Fuck she was like a fucking Fed. Worse maybe.

"I have no clue what Bella does when I'm not with her. And as for talking to her, sure we talk," I said, noncommittally, as I scooped myself another helping of pasta.

"Edward, is she okay?" Rosalie pressed, the room growing silent with the tension between the other Swan and me.

I nodded, not wanting to discuss Bella any further. Thankfully she got the hint and dropped the subject.

Unfortunately, now my family picked up on Bella and wanted to sink their claws into me.

"Bella, who's this Bella? Rosalie's sister? Is it serious? Do you need my ring?" Ma asked, rapidly blurting out more questions.

Before I could answer, Nonna woke the fuck up. "Is she interested in being a beard too? What the hell is wrong with girls these days? In my day, we had respect for ourselves." She started yelling about the olden days.

"How's she in the sack? Can she handle the braggiole?" Pops joked, his mouth filled with food. "You know your ma and I—"

"Enough," I bellowed, slamming my fist on the table, jostling my plate in the process. That was sure to leave a mark. Great, just great.


A/N: Let us know your thoughts! Also be sure to check out samviolawrites for her newest story, Swan Dive.

Summary: A girl from the Upper East Side, trying to recover from her fall from grace, meets a man in a bar in Brooklyn, one whose lifestyle couldn't be more different. Is it possible to put the past behind you when your name and face are recognizable everywhere you go? Bella sure hopes so because for once in her life, she's found a man she wants and she's not letting go without a fight.