A/N:

Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.

Thank you to Thaigher lillie, Skyebella98 and Joesmomma for helping me make this chapter look good.

Thank you to CitizenCullen25 for rec'd this. Her sequel LAMTAF 2: La Famiglia is up, both here and in her blog. If by any chance you haven't read Like a Moth to a Flame, go check it out. The link to her blog is in her profile.

To all those reading/rec'dng/alerting this story, thanks! =)

Important: I wouldn't be able to post every Thursday of every week as I had planned-sorry. Got so many things going on right now. I'll try to post every two weeks though.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

EPOV

I woke up with a huge motherfucking headache. I scanned my surroundings, and knew I was alone. It took me a couple of minutes to realize I was in a hotel room. Not just any hotel, it was Bella's hotel. I checked the time, and confirmedit was late afternoon. I had slept well over ten hours, and I still felt like shit. On top of the hangover, the absence of Bella's familiar scent, which I had grown used to waking up to every morning, was fucking with my already clouded mind. The clean scent of the mattress did nothing to help calm me down. I could smell the alcohol and cigarettes from my breath, so I pushed myself up to get ready. I rubbed my eyes, trying to clear my vision as I staggered to the bathroom.

The cold water hitting my heated skin was refreshing, and the throbbing in my head had lessened. I was feeling much better, although, the painkillers I took before the shower might have something to do with it.

I grimaced as I thought of the amount of alcohol I had consumed the night before. The last time I had that much to drink was when I left Bella in New York. I knew I finished a bottle or two of vodka, and had a couple of tequila shots in between. After that, I couldn't remember what went down.

I closed my eyes, allowing the water to flow through my whole body. I wasn't fully awake yet, but I needed to go back and see Bella. I knew she would be pissed I didn't go to her the night before. Damn, I don't even know what I was thinking not going after her. The numbness I felt after Emmett's confession had made my head fuzzy. All I wanted was to forget everything, so I went to a bar and drank myself to oblivion.

Regardless of how much I would like to remain in that state to escape my guilt, I knew I couldn't. The fact that she overdosed still remained, even after all the alcohol. I knew it was time to face everything, and I needed to be sober when it happened.

Goddammit! Why didn't she tell me about it?

Her accident the week before nearly sent me to the brink of insanity. I was so scared I'd lose her. I stayed with her the entire time she was unconscious, afraid she wouldn't wake up, and I wouldn't be able to stop her from leaving me. It was a little stupid since the doctor already gave the assurance she would be okay. However, I still felt the need to be with her at all times.

But then I was hit with another blow. Fuck! Thinking about another hospital where Bella was in when she just came from one was too much. I wanted to go to her so badly, but I was afraid Emmett mentioning the overdose might make her reminisce that particular event in her life. It terrified me it might make her change her mind about me, or that she'd be angry and eventually convince herself I wasn't worthy of her. I wouldn't know what I'd do if she declared she didn't love me anymore. I couldn't handle to see regret in her beautiful eyes. Any contrition she might show on her decision to marry me would surely devastate me.

I could face a deranged group of motherfucking assholes or some crazy, power-hungry feds without flinching, but when it came to Bella, I seemed to lose my shit every time. The idea of Bella not wanting me anymore was unacceptable. I would do everything in my power to change her fucking mind if she decided to leave me. I swear to God, if she ever decided to leave me… I'm going to fucking kill Emmett! I would put a fucking bullet through his head like I should have done years ago.

I turned off the taps and stepped out of the shower. My phone rang just as I finished getting dressed. It was Jasper.

"Yeah," I answered. It was a good thing Jasper called because I needed a distraction. "Tell me something."

"Edward," he said cautiously. "How's Bella? Alice told me she was brought home from the hospital."

"Yes, she was lucky to have only minor injuries," I informed him. I didn't really want to talk to him about this, but I'll indulge him a bit. "The fucking car was smashed."

Just thinking about the accident and the unknown perpetrators infuriated me. My grip on the phone tightened, wanting to crush something.

"Goddamn stupid of those motherfuckers to fuck with you," he said. "You got some leads?"

"No fucking clue just yet!" I answered. "But I plan to rectify that situation very soon." He remained silent for a while before he cleared his throat.

"Edward, I know everything is tense there with the accident and all that," he said. He sounded hesitant. "But I've got to tell you about this."

I tensed at the way he said it. "What is it?" I asked. It was either good news or another fucking bad one.

"We have news on Snake," he briefed. That information made my heart race. I knew this would somehow help me score major points with Bella. Besides, I promised her help with solving Charlie's murder, and finding out who was responsible would make her happy, which in turn would make me fucking ecstatic.

"Vicky is trying to penetrate a bar where he frequents somewhere in Bellevue," he filled in. "But he is rarely seen with a woman, so we are assuming he is gay. It's hard to bribe him with sex when we don't know his sexual preference."

"Fuck, you know that's a shitty excuse!" I snapped. I was irritated he was giving me plausible excuses. "You make goddamn sure he is handled, Jasper! You fucking know how important this Snake is to me!"

"Damn, cool it there Edward!" he said, trying to pacify me. "I just told you we found him. We are going to fucking get him, if it's the last thing I do!"

"Yeah, that's fucking right, J," I confirmed. "You fucking get that asshole!"

"We'll need more surveillance though. He sounded excited, the way he always did when we found new leads. "Nothing to worry about there, boss. We'll cook something up! I can't wait to fuck this asshole up!"

"Make damn sure he won't make an escape!" I told him. "And J, I will be dealing with him myself when you get him."

His exaggerated laugh was all the response I needed. Jasper knew what I wanted, and he would deliver. He promised to get back at me when he had more news before he hung up.

I started pacing in my room. I was still so riled up. There were so much fucking shit I needed to deal with. The urge to get high was so great. There was a limitless supply of coke if I ever wanted to test our goods, but I was sure it wasn't the best idea. I knew I needed to be on top of my game and doing that shit would just mess me up. I needed to release some of my frustration some other way.

I had to get back to Bella. I didn't even know if I could look her in the eye after what I learned. Shit, she fucking overdosed because of me. It was all too much to bear, and it was fucking with my still throbbing head. I thought we were over that shit in New York. I had been adamant to finish it all because I wanted a fresh start with her. It seemed I didn't fucking know everything.

I palmed my face, trying to dispel the images of her in another hospital bed. I grabbed my gun, tucking it in the front of my jeans rather than in a holster, and my cigarettes, making sure I had enough for the day. I was about to go when Alice appeared.

"Good, you're up and ready," she said. "Rosalie's here. She wants to talk to you."

That one piece of information caused me to race out of my room. There in the living room of the presidential suite stood Rose. She looked pissed, and I had a feeling I had something to do with it.

"Cullen," she muttered. Her frown didn't leave her beautiful face. She walked over to me like a caged lioness out from her cage. She crossed her arms over her chest. "I want to know why the hell you didn't go to Bella last night?"

"What? I...I...shit!" I stuttered. I was confused as to why she had the audacity to be angry with me. "I got fucking wasted last night! When I woke up, I was here," I informed her. "And correct me if I'm wrong…but didn't you tell me to stay away?"

I knew I could've gone to Bella without any problems if I had wanted to. No one, not even Rosalie, could've kept me away from my wife. I wasn't going to tell Rosalie the reason I didn't visit Bella was because I was a fucking coward. I'd rather let her believe her threat had a hold on me.

Rose arched an eyebrow, and I just stared at her irritated. I needed information about Bella to appease me. "How is she?"

"Good," she replied curtly. She sighed loudly before continuing. "When I left the house, she just went back to her room to get some rest. That girl is beyond frustrated right now and it's all because of you, you moron!"

"What?" I asked frantically. I didn't want my babygirl agitated. "Why?"

"She fucking waited for you all night last night!" she spat. I could understand her anger. She was protective of Bella; everybody was, it seemed. "I didn't think you'd take my warning seriously! The least you could've done was say goodnight or something. She was freaking out, you know. I even had to promise her you wouldn't leave her."

"What? Of course, I won't fucking leave her!" I shouted. I was sounding like a complete moron, but I didn't care. "Where did she get that absurd idea? Shit, I can't even think of anything but her anymore!"

"Yeah, that's what I told her," she said. She raised her eyes from the floor and just looked at me. Then she pointed a finger at me, shaking it in my face like an adult scolding a child. "But you better fucking make sure you do what I promised her!"

I looked at her and nodded. The tension in me was radiating from my body, and I knew she could feel it. I fumbled with my pocket to get a smoke and lit it. I needed my hands to be busy, or I might smash them against something. I took a long drag before looking at her again. I was dreading what I was about to do, and I didn't even know if she was the right person to ask, but at the moment propriety was no longer an issue. As long as she had answers, I really didn't fucking care.

"What the hell happened in New York, Rose?" I asked. My voice was rough, and I was sure the pleading tone in it wasn't lost to her. She just stared at me for a while, her manicured brows creased.

"Please," I begged.

I knew I was an asshole, but that one quality also made me a great boss. I was ruthless in taking what I wanted. I had no mercy. I didn't care who got in the way of what I wanted. As long as I could have it, everything could go to hell. Now that I had Bella back, I would make sure she stayed. She was my life now, and everything about her was important to me.

Rosalie sighed and walked over to the sofa to sit, motioning for me to do the same. When we were both seated facing each other, she started her story. "I really wasn't there when it happened." I opened my mouth to ask where she was, but she held her hands to silence me. "Don't interrupt me, Cullen," she snapped.

"Sorry," I mumbled. When I turned my head to the right, I saw my older sister sitting on the sofa as well. Alice had been so quiet I didn't realize she was still in the room with us. Alice had this worried expression on her face, but I didn't have time to ask her about it because Rose started again.

"I met Bella a month after the overdose," she informed us. "But from what I have heard, it was awful. For everyone involved."

She stared off into the room in front of her, but I knew she really wasn't seeing anything. Her eyes were blank. It was obvious it was something she wasn't too comfortable to talk about. She remained silent for a long time. "I will never forget Emmett's face when he told me about it. Even several months after the 'incident', it still was a sour topic for him to discuss." She sighed, and ran her hand through her blond locks. "Do you know Emmett would do anything for Bella? I think if it comes to the point where he has to choose between the two of us, he would choose Bella." I raised my brows in question. "Oh, no, no! I'm not jealous. I'm just stating a fact," she quickly added. She then did a sarcastic laugh before staring at me. "So don't expect him to forgive you."

I shifted in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position. I remained quiet so I could hear everything she had to say. I took another drag from my cigarette as she continued with her story. "They said she was at a party with her friend Lauren, I think. I've never met her," she said, the frown on her forehead deepening.

I met her. Lauren, the Skank. I didn't say that aloud though.

"I think that particular party had the usual drugs. I knew Bella would smoke some pot, but she never did cocaine," she said. "I don't know why she did it. Nobody knows."

I closed my eyes and tried to block the incoming guilt. Bella was an intelligent girl, and I knew she wouldn't have done any of this if I hadn't orchestrated that scene with Victoria. It wouldn't have happened if it weren't for me. I opened my eyes and took the last puff of my cigarette before putting it out on the ashtray in front of me. Rose was staring at me, maybe assessing my reaction to what she told me so far. When I didn't say anything, she seemed comfortable enough to continue.

"From what Emmett told me, Bella took more than her body could handle. The stuff they used was pure so once she inhaled it, her body responded severely. She slumped against the floor, unconscious." She ran her hand through her hair before adding, "She was in ICU for a week or so. It was a miracle she woke from her coma."

My breath hitched, my heart was hammering so hard I thought it would beat out of my chest.

Shit, I caused that!

"Once she awoke, she was thoroughly interrogated by both her brother and father," she said. She was looking at me like she thought it was my fault it happened to Bella. "She just mentioned the name Masen, but nothing more. So they were never able to locate you."

That was the exact reason I used 'Masen' when I was in New York. I didn't want to be easily found just in case I fucked up while I was there. I couldn't risk it - the possibility of being targeted by someone who knew who I was. I only planned to spend my summer there with Jasper, who promised me there was plenty of fresh pussy to fuck. I had just graduated from the university and was officially free of the academia. I was just waiting for my father to assign me something, or somewhere, as an official member of the mob. I didn't plan on meeting the love of my life.

Rosalie stopped talking again and the silence in the room was deafening. Alice, who was usually a chatterbox, didn't make a sound. She was looking down at her hands that were folded on her lap.

Suddenly, Rose stood up, and I followed suit. She came closer and looked me square in the eyes. "Cullen, you need to go to Bella and don't you dare upset her anymore than you already have!"

With that, she walked out of the suite and left me staring after her.

The voice of Alice interrupted my reverie. "Go to her, Edward. Don't keep her waiting." She touched my arm, and it was a gesture of comfort. I turned and gave her a smile before leaving the room to go to my babygirl, but not before grabbing the box I asked her to get for me a couple of days ago.

ooooooooOOOOOOoooooooo

I arrived at the Swan house a couple of minutes ago. I lingered downstairs, smoking another cigarette because I was procrastinating. What if she didn't want me anymore?

I slowly made my way to Bella's room when I could no longer stand the suspense. I didn't know what to expect from our reunion. My heart was hammering against my chest. I could hear the 'thumping' sound ringing through my ears. I pushed the door open and quickly checked to see if she was in the bed. The room was dark, but I could see she was not where I expected her to be.

I stepped inside quietly and surveyed the room. My breath hitched when I saw Bella perched in a chair near the window. She was staring at something outside, oblivious to my entry. The light filtering inside just slightly reflected her form, and I knew she was sad…and it was all because of me. The guilt slapped me full force, but I pushed it away. I needed to do this. I slowly made my way toward her, my eyes not straying from her beautiful face. Her tortured expression pierced through my heart like a lancet, and all I wanted was to gather her in my arms and take all the sadness away.

She might have felt my presence because she suddenly whipped her head in my direction, her eyes widening in surprise. I knelt down in front of her, and it was then I saw the tears streaming down her face.

"Baby, why are you crying?" I asked. I touched her right cheek with my hand, and she shifted so her face was cradled in my palm. She sniffled and closed her eyes. She began sobbing, and I pulled her to me. Her small body was trembling against mine, and I held her tight being mindful of her injuries. I needed her warmth. She was all I ever needed. I kissed her hair as I comforted her.

When her sobs finally subsided, I picked her up and carried her to the bed. I placed her on top of the comforter and arranged her against the pillows. The whole time I was working to make her comfortable, her gaze never left me. I sat on the bed beside her and raised my eyes to hers.

"I'm so sorry, babygirl! Please don't leave me!"

I looked at her pleadingly. I was ready to beg, even if I had to get down on my knees. I didn't know what I would do if she decided she didn't want me anymore. I was still staring at her; my heart felt like it was beating a thousand beats per second. Then she gave me the most breathtaking smile I had ever seen, and I released the breath I was unknowingly holding. She started giggling, and I must have looked confused because she reached for my hand and intertwined her fingers with mine.

"I was just thinking the same thing, Mase," she said. I remembered what Rose told me earlier, and I leaned down to kiss Bella's lips.

"That would never happen, babygirl!" I said firmly. "You stupid girl, I couldn't stay away from you even if I wanted to."

She gave me another smile, however, this time it didn't reach her eyes. I squeezed her hand because I knew what she was feeling. We needed to talk about her overdose.

"So," I started. "Can you tell me what really happened?"

She sighed and tried to pull her hand away, but I didn't allow it. I held on tight and gently squeezed to show her that I was here for her.

"Well when you left, I got really drunk. When Jessica came by to see me the next day at my apartment, she immediately knew you had dumped me," she informed me. She frowned a bit, and her brows squished together. "She couldn't hide her joy even if she had wanted to," she said. "I think both she and Lauren were kinda jealous that you noticed me instead of them."

Fucking bitches. Bella was gorgeous and amazing. Even when she was hanging with those two skanks, she was still so intriguing. It was no wonder men were attracted to her. There was just something about her that made people gravitate towards top of all that, she was beautiful and had a fuckhot body. Yeah, I would notice. I was so fucking lucky she was mine.

She leaned forward, and her boobs were now in front of me. I was suddenly distracted by the sight of them, which were visible under her thin shirt. I snapped my eyes back to her face when she started talking, mentally scolding myself for my inappropriate thoughts.

"Anyway, that same night they were having a party," she continued. "I had been so wasted the night before I didn't see the need to stop. It was also a good excuse to try some new things." Her eyes were void of any expression. "You made me feel inadequate! I thought I was not good enough for you. Not beautiful, not sexy, not fun. You made me feel like I wasn't enough to keep you satisfied!"

I tightened my hand around hers and said, "Fuck, you know that's not true."

She just stared at me, neither confirming nor denying her agreement with what I had said. "So I decided I'd re-invent myself. That night, I vowed that I'd try everything. So I started my 'new image' by inhaling a packet full of coke."

I closed my eyes, trying to block the images conjured up by her statements.

"It really wasn't your fault," she stated. I opened my mouth in protest, but the look she gave me shut me up before I said anything. "Yeah, I know you, Edward. You would beat yourself up about this," she said softly. "When it was, in fact, my fault. It was stupid really."

She looked at me and I nodded for her to continue. "Well, you can say the catalyst of it was the thing I saw….you know, you and Victoria," she informed me, her forehead creased a little. I was still tense, although, her presence was calming me down. "But it was my choice to snort the coke. Not Lauren, not Jessica, not even you made that decision for me." She shifted so she was staring me straight in the eyes. I knew what she was doing. She was trying to absolve me of my guilt. "It was mine, Edward. That stupid choice was mine alone! Even if everyone doesn't agree with me."

I gathered her in my arms as best as I could. She was the best thing in my life. Nothing could compare to how precious she was to me.

"I love you so much, babygirl," I whispered as I kissed her cheek. "I'm so sorry for everything!" I wanted to elaborate, but I knew she understood what I meant.

"I love you," she said softly. "I'm so happy you're here now. I was so scared you'd leave and not even say goodbye." I shook my head and stared at her unable to say anything else. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it, but I didn't know how."

"Shhhh," I said. "It's okay, baby. We're okay." I rubbed my hands up and down her arms, comforting her. I was happy we finally got past this. I could face anything as long as my Bella was beside me. Now that I knew she still loved me, I could breathe much easier.

I pulled away, with a protest from her. I slowly walked to the door where I dropped the jewelry box earlier. I grabbed it and slowly made my way back to her. I handed her the box with the designer's logo.

"Mase, what is this?" she asked. I gave her a shy smile, feeling like a schoolboy all over again.

"I bought that for you as a get well soon gift."

She grinned back and my heart swelled. I watched as her eyes glow while she opened the gift. With twinkling eyes, she looked at me and I saw all the love she felt for me reflected through those beautiful brown orbs.

"This is beautiful, Mase!" she said. She handed me the bracelet and offered her uninjured hand for me to fasten it on. Once it was clasped, she pulled me in a sweet kiss. I refrained from deepening the kiss because she wasn't ready for that just yet.

"How much did you spend on this, Mase?" she asked. There was no way I would tell her I spent over thirty grand on that bracelet. I just gave her a smirk, and she giggled. "Not that I care, it's just that it we would save Rose the trouble of asking the store herself."

I couldn't help but laugh. I gave her several small kisses, careful not to hurt her still bruised face. She scooted away slowly and patted the bed beside her, motioning for me to lie down with her. I carefully moved down and wrapped my arms around her waist, rubbing my chin on her shoulder and smelling her delicious scent.

I closed my eyes and savored this moment with her.

Now, if I could only find out who the fuck was responsible for her accident, everything would be much better.

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