"I got a feeling in my bones. Can't get you out of my veins. You can't escape my affection. Wrap you up in my daisy chains."—Queen Lana

"Why did you do that?" I pushed him away, but he hardly moved an inch. Those clear blues were amused, staring at my panic reaction.

"I'm not sorry." He shrugged impassively. Like this shit didn't bother him at all. I wondered if he was high or just had a death wish.

I got up. He remained and leaned against the wall.

"This is not some kind of game, Jamie." I almost yelled. Some girls were looking at us with same exact curiosity. God, I hated to draw attention.

"Who says it is?" he questioned.

I didn't have the answer for that and I couldn't be here any longer either. So I went out of the room. And the house.

That was when I realized how stupid I was.

How in the hell could I go back to Edward's house? Paul wasn't here. And fuck no, I wouldn't ask Jamie to drive me. After weighing my options, I decided to freaking walk. And what a long walk it was. I walked for a half hour until I was in the main road. Then I hailed a cab.

Paul was in the driveway when I arrived. Well, thank God for the good timing. Someone needed to pay for the cab.

I went straight to my room and of course, Edward wasn't there.

I should be relieved. But I wasn't. That didn't mean his presence calm me either. I was restless because I felt guilty. And I admitted I was afraid he knew. He sure as hell wouldn't take this kindly. What would he do?

I couldn't sleep at all. And it was not unusual for me. I was thinking about the risks. The choices I had. I didn't have many, to be honest. Whatever I chose, it would just turn ugly. I'd better be the one who told him, though. So, he would know my side of story.

I was up until six a.m. before falling asleep. And was woken up two hours later by the sound of the door shutting closed. It was Edward. I recognized that striking bronze hair anywhere. He went to the bathroom with his back on me the entire time. I sat up straight and didn't bother to tame my hair. I was preparing for the war. Which likely would end terrible.

After five minutes of silence, except for the sound of water running, I encouraged myself.

"Edward?" it came out unsure and awkward. Especially when he didn't answer. Well, I knew he heard me, but yeah, he just chose to ignore it. God, his attitude was irritating.

I got up and decided to welcome the war. The moment I stood by the doorframe, he was leaning over the sink. I watched how drops of water fell from his hair and ran to his now bare back. It was impossible to miss that against the tattoos.

I looked away from the sight and inspected my toes instead.

"I have something to tell you." I said finally. My voice was small. The guilt was clear.

He replied, though. Thank God. "About what?"

I could almost see his jaw harden at that and all of a sudden, I wasn't ready to meet those angry greens.

"I…"

How could you confess something you didn't mean to happen?

Damn it.

"Is it about Jamie?" my head shot up immediately. Only to find Edward had turned around and stood tall in front of me. I was distracted by the fresh bruises on his face, so I didn't catch his next words.

"What?"

He smirked. The wicked kind.

"He told me he kissed you." The way he said it gave me goosebumps. He was insanely calm. It was really scary.

"I-I…"

"Do you like him?" he cut in. His eyebrow raised and I thought I might take a step back. I shook my head because I couldn't fucking speak. "Good. Just forget it ever fucking happened, okay?"

That was it? This wasn't the type of war I had anticipated.

"Okay?" he repeated. And I nodded my head quickly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll take a shower."

I removed myself from the door and he didn't waste any time to close it.

I froze in my place for another minute.

Shit. He wasn't angry. Why?

I expected him to yell profanities and kick me out of the house. Yet he did none of them. Did he really forgive me? Or he was just preparing my funeral without me knowing? Since day one, Edward was always being hard to read. And, seriously, although it could have been worse, the situation didn't make me relieved either.

After I couldn't come up with a better guess of his motive, I went downstairs to the kitchen. The breakfast was served on the dining table and one of the chairs was occupied. It was Hailey. Her sunglasses on, but even I knew she only had her eyes to the person outside in the pool area.

I joined her and sat on her left. She now gained her composure.

"Morning, B." She greeted, smiling so wide like she was proud of me.

"You're early." I dipped some chips to the small bowl of guacamole and put them into my mouth.

"I'm here to see Edward." She said before corrected herself. "Well, I mean the bruises. I need to see them."

What?

"What's the deal?" I asked. Did shit go wrong last night? Who else came toward him? Alvarrez was dead. Maybe that was why he didn't take 'that kiss accident' seriously. He got something else—something more important—on his mind.

She gave me a sly grin. She looked like she wanted to rub her hands together too.

"They fought last night. It was so fucking intense I was sober immediately." I really tried to understand, but failed miserably. "Too bad Jas and Em were there." She added. Then her gaze fell to her cousin who was now descending the stairs. Edward was dressed in jeans and t-shirt. Hair was wet and fresh from the shower.

Hailey squealed. And I almost jumped because of it.

"Jamie's face is more fucked up, I know it!"

Edward scowled. Well, now I kinda understood.

"The fucker deserves it."

He sat with us, right in front of me and so casually put the enchilada to his plate. I squirmed in my seat while they had a chat about it.

"The last time you two fought like that was when you believed he stole your favorite gun." She pointed out.

"He did steal it." He grunted. "And it was the gift from nonno."

Hailey turned to me. Still with the same excitement.

"Ah, I wish you stayed a lil bit longer last night, B."

I'd rather not. Thank you very much.

Edward was eating in silence. But those eyes, they were watching me intently, blatantly. The fire and fury behind them were too obvious. Yes. Now I knew he didn't take this as lightly as it appeared. His silent anger was a lot more terrifying. I was always alerted when he was so composed and calculated. He was the mastermind of his own games.

I sipped my water and tried hard not to choke because of the intensity of his stare. Hell, even Hailey felt the need to leave and give us some privacy.

I put down the glass as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

The man didn't say anything yet with one look he was warning me. I couldn't mess up my second chance.

"I'm sorry." I said. Genuinely. Because I really meant it. That kiss wasn't supposed to happen.

"You should be." His dark smirk was beyond demonic. It gave me chills. "I don't blame you, though. Sometimes he just doesn't know the limit."

No. I felt like, in fact, he partly blamed me.

"I don't have that kind of feeling toward him, Edward." I convinced him. He needed to know that.

"I trust you." He said. It sounded too nonchalant and easy coming from his mouth. "Now pack your bags. We're leaving for Havana tonight."

EPOV

These days had been very stressful, let me tell you. Uley was back at it again lurking somewhere waiting for us to get fucked up, Rose was just being noisy as usual, and I was over thinking about Bella. Well, the peak of it was the moment I came by Jamie's house and he dropped the fucking bomb. The way he said 'I kissed your girl' made me want to kill him right there on the spot. Fucking asshole. I hoped I cracked some bones.

It was no wonder that he told me right away what he just did. We were so open with each other since we were young. Truth hurt, but it was still the truth. Our family was solid because we had always been honest to each other.

Still, shit.

I had reminded him many times that I wouldn't share Bella yet what did he do? Words didn't work so punches might do.

We never fought that hard before. Not since that stealing gun accident as Hailey mentioned. It was crazy how it proved I really cared for her. This shit was way deeper than I thought.

A buzz on the table pulled me out of my musings. I glanced at the screen on my phone only to see a text from Jamie.

Tell me she's okay.

Oh, the motherfucker was worried. Bella should be the least of his concern, though. We all knew I'd rather kill him than her.

She will not be if you keep asking was my reply.

It would definitely shut him up.

I turned off my phone just in case he called. Lighting my cig, I made my way downstairs. Paul stood up from his seat when he saw me. But my eyes were stuck to a figure standing by the glass door.

"You coming?"

She turned around. And in seconds, was by my side. The safest place she would ever be.

The flight to Havana was short. Soon after we landed, we went straight to the villa my father had owned since forever. The place was old and modest, nothing compared to my house in Tampa, but this was still beautiful.

I was watching her looking around in awe. Paul was taking our luggage upstairs, so it was just the two of us now.

"Do you like it?" by the look on her face I could tell she really loved it, but I asked anyway.

"Yes." She nodded her head before spun to me. "If I were you, I would never want to go back to Tampa."

I chuckled. True. I had thought about it too.

"We both know I can't."

"It sucks." She mocked.

I smirked. "Talk about priorities, Bellissima."

"And Tampa will be your—"

"Number one. Always."

Night went by. I did the usual thing, visiting my Cuban friends, overseeing the business and stuff. Just boring shit. Fucking tiring routine. But it had to be done.

I came home, didn't expect her to be awake. My girl was standing on our room's balcony, staring at the night.

"Hey."

She turned around.

"Hey."

"It's late." I said.

She walked inside, then. "I just, you know, can't sleep."

I locked the door then shrugging off my suit. "Sleeping problems." It was more like statement than a question. "Get a couple of pills if you want to."

"No, I'm good. Thank you for the offer, though." She replied bitterly.

I raised my eyebrow. Why was she so mad about that, huh? Not gonna lie here, but sometimes drugs just did the fucking job. The problem was we should know when to stop. I took my shoes off and unbuttoned my shirt while she pulled the cover and climbed to the bed.

"It'll help, you know." I said that only to tease her further. She barely looked up to me before turning off the bedside lamp.

I laughed because damn it, how could I not?

I showered then getting ready to bed. Bella had her back on me, but even in the dark I knew she hardly slept. I rested my head on the pillow next to her as she turned around, restless and wide awake.

"C'mere." I yanked her by her waist, but she resisted.

"Your hair's wet."

What?

"You'll make the pillow wet, the bed wet. I hate it."

Well, she never complained about it before.

"What else is wet?" I asked and she shut up. Her cheeks might redden a little, though. "Hmm?" I killed the gap between us so that I could whisper against her lips. "Tell me, baby, what else?"

She shook her head and I chuckled. My girl obviously felt my boner.

Then she faked a yawn. It just made me laugh harder. "You're mean."

"You're still the meanest of all." She pointed.

Was I?