FOURTEEN
"Zane wait," I yell after my brother.
I'm chasing him in a cold, wet and dark alley beside the bar. He walks toward the street desperate for an exit. But he turns to unleash.
"This is how you got the money," he snaps at me, "whoring yourself out on some stage. What the fuck, Isabella. Dad would lose his fucking god damn shit. Imagine if the press found out. Swan's daughter resorts to being a slut because she's poor."
"Get fucked," I scream in his face, tears well and truly streaming down my face, "You know nothing. I had no choice. It's not stripping. It's just bartending with a side of dancing."
"You know this is shameful, otherwise you wouldn't have kept it from me," he shouts.
"When the fuck do you ask," I shove him slightly, "when you call it's about you. Lucy. The baby. How you are so poor and sad. At least I dust myself off and kept fucking going."
"Into some strangers bed," he snaps tears streaming down his own face, "my sister is doing this. I'm mortified, You're my baby sister."
Edward and Rosalie burst out the side door of the bar.
"Found her," Rosalie calls off inside.
Emmett, Alice and Jasper duck their head out too.
"Look more of your stripper friends," he scoffs.
"Don't speak about them that way," I smack his chest, "they have been more of a family to me these past ten weeks than you have been in our whole life, Even when mum died you.."
"Fucking do it. Say it. I dare you," He screams in my face, making me jump back slightly, "Say it."
"You gave up on me," I say quietly.
"Gave up on you? You haven't got a damn fucking clue do you?" he glares at me.
"Maybe we should go inside?" Alice tries to grab my arm but I shrug her off.
"Enlighten me, Zane," I say.
"That company was fucking mine. You took it. He gave it to you like a silver platter because I made a mistake that wasn't even fucking mine. It was mine," he snaps, "You got into the degree I worked my ass off for. The one I got kicked out off because someone planted drugs in my bag. Then the fact I fell in love with Dad's intern. That was thrown in my face. I loved the fuck out of her and it turned out to be a fucking lie."
"What are you saying?" I shake my head.
"The baby isn't mine, Bella," he bursts into uncontrollable tears.
My mouth drops. I'm completely unsure of what to do. I want to hold him. The other part of me is too angry to touch him.
"She lied," he says, "she fucked some investor from the company Dad got bought out by. He used her to get an in. Had her access Dad's money and transfer it all. He had her find out the weaknesses, made big clients drop out. I caused this. Now my baby sister is stripping to top it all off because of my stupidity."
"Zane. No," I shake my head, giving in, wrapping my arms tightly around my brother, "this isn't your fault. I am not a stripper, I swear."
"You're wearing nothing," he scoffs through the tears, soaking into my cape.
"It's Halloween. Everyone dresses like this," I say, "I only danced tonight because someone was sick. I only work behind the bar. Occasionally I dance on it but fully clothed. It's classy. Burlesque like the Christina Aguilera movie I made you watch. I also work at a coffee shop."
"Two jobs? Fuck Bella," he shakes like a leaf.
"Why don't we go inside?" Emmett offers with more conviction then Alice did before.
Alice takes my brothers arm from me guiding him to a private room ahead of us.
Edward grabs my arm, eyes full of concern.
"It's okay," I rub his arm as I walk past him, holding my brother, "remote fights, remember."
"Are you okay? What he said was hurtful," he whispers.
"Sticks and stones. It wouldn't be the first time we screamed harmful things at one another in an alleyway," I nod, "I forgive him. He's scared and angry. I just need to be there for him."
"I'll be there too, then," he kisses my cheek, "I love you no matter what, Bella."
"Mr Cullen," A deep voice breaks us from our private moment, "We've seen all we need to. Unfortunately, we're going to have to withdraw our interest in partnering."
The man holds his suited hand out to shake Edward's hand. The investor. Shit. Shitty. Shit.
Edward ignores the man's hand.
"Sorry. I don't understand? Bart, you said we were set," Edward shakes his head.
"Something came up," Bart can't resist looking at me.
He knows who I am. Why on earth would he partner with someone in a relationship with me? A girl who's father is a failure. Who's life has resorted to her seeming like a stripper… when she fucking isn't.
Bart leaves, not wanting to stick around for Edward's fury which was obvious on his face.
"It's my fault," I whisper, "I destroyed your business too."
"What?' His head snaps to me, angry.
"He probably googled me. That's all you need to connect me to my dad. I would bring bad publicity," I whisper, ''I'm so sorry. You deserved this opportunity."
"Fuck him," Edward grips my face in his hands, "I will find something else. Something better. He cannot take your father's mistakes out on you."
"Edward that's your future," I shake my head.
"You're my future," he growls, "You are my next step. That's why I bumped into you. I know it."
"Edward.." I begin.
"Don't you dare use that as an excuse to ruin us," he warns.
I don't know what to say next. My thoughts are trying to betray us.
"I love you. Please listen to me," he grips my face to look at me, "Understand me? I love you. Fuck Vegas. Why do I need cheap strippers and casinos when I have hit the jackpot already."
My heart skips a beat. My tears from before my return.
"I'm sorry. I love you," I whisper.
"Don't you ever, ever apologise to me again for who you are," he kisses me hard, through my tears, through the pain.
I wrap my arms around his waist, letting him give me his all.
"Guys," Rosalie clears her throat, "I hate to be a buzz kill and wreck this beautiful moment. But Bella, your brother is in the middle of another burst of rage and Emmett may or may not have just punched him in the face."
"What!" I scream.
This night was the worst night of my life.
Slowly my brother opens his eyes, lying in Edward's spare bedroom on the plush bed. He groans rubbing his face where a purple, swollen bruise had formed on his forehead.
"Hey," I say, "Take this."
I hand him some painkillers and a bottle of water.
"What happened?" he groans doing as I instruct.
"You had a rage breakdown I guess. Edward's brother hit you," I say, "I wasn't there. I was right behind you but I had to speak with my boyfriend."
"Fuck Edward and his brother," Zane groans.
"Edward is my boyfriend," I smile at him, "Remember how I told you about the guy."
"Oh the guy," He nods, "I remember. Something about groceries."
"Basically," I smile, "You can properly meet him later. My friends are all out in the lounge. Emmett wants to apologise when you are up to it."
"Emmett is?" he asks.
"The big dude that hit you. The blonde's kinda boyfriend," I say.
"Oh, fuck did I hit on her?" He asks.
"No," I shake my head, "You started freaking out about Dad and he couldn't calm you down. You said he was going to get her. Did you mean Lucy?"
"I know she fucked us over. I know that, but she's pregnant. Dad will have her put in a cell," he whispers sadly.
"It's not your concern. She lied to you Zane. You're not the father. You built your hopes so high. I wish you had told me about the drugs and college. That company should be yours," I say softly, "I never really wanted it. I just didn't want to let Dad down."
"Please tell me you aren't actually stripping," he takes my hand.
"It's bartending, I promise," I say.
He sighs, squeezing my hand. I lean down over the top of him so he can properly hug me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything I said. I just saw you up there dancing and freaked out. I walked into the bar after arriving at my hotel for a drink and saw you. I came to find you, but I didn't mean to find you like that. I was going to call tomorrow. What I said about you stealing from me, the names, even your friends. I'm so sorry," he says.
"I'm sorry for saying what I did about Mum. I didn't mean it either," I say.
"You did. But it's okay. I'm sorry for leaving you to grieve alone for all these years. I should have been there more. From now on I will be," he says, "for everything. I love you, Bella."
"Zane, I love you too," I kiss his cheek, "Are you hungry?"
"A little," he nods, "I want to try a New York pizza."
"I'll order," I laugh.
Thanks so much for reading.
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L