A/N: So here's the second part of the conversation. Jazz and E get a bit heated...

Thanks for sticking with me through the last chapter. I heard from several people that it was hard to read, but in all honesty, when is rape and abuse on a female not hard to read? I'm the real deal ladies, and I'm not about to skim over something uncomfortable like that. If I'm going to do this story thing, I'm not going to do it half ass.

Thanks again to everyone who's reviewed. We've got a little following, but a good one. I appreciate every one of you! Remember, the more reviews, the faster I update. I am already up to Chapter 29 in writing, so...it's up to you guys how fast I post.

Chapter 11: Comfort in Whiskey and Rum

EPOV

Bella's book was her story. It was her fucking story! I was nauseated to say the least when she nodded her head in agreement. My beautiful angel had gone through more in her short lifetime than most people do all together.

No one should ever have to go through...that.

She made me read out loud from her book. My stomach churned just a little more with each word spoken knowing that it was her in that situation, not just some girl that was faceless and nameless to me.

Those passages in particular were ones that I had only read over once, as they were too painful to stay in my mind. And now I had to read them again, to her. To the person that this all happened to. Bella lived this life. It wasn't just a fictional story, it was hers, and she was strong enough to share it with me.

Bella stared down at her hands, which were in her lap silently crying as I read. My voice was shaky as shit and I had to keep swallowing the fucking knot in my throat that was threatening to make itself known. If there was ever a time in my life that I didn't want my pansy ass to make itself known, it was right fucking now. I didn't need to make this worse on her.

I begged Bella not to make me continue. I was so uncomfortable, and felt like if I read the words out loud that it would make them true. Hell, I already knew they were true. From the things that Jasper told us at the shop that night, I put two and two together and knew it was my Bella in the book before tonight, but didn't want to admit it to myself.

I felt physically ill reading about her past. He raped her repeatedly. That piece of shit beat her.

My Angel.

I hate that fucker!

James, just thinking his name made my insides boil with desire to kill the asstard that touched her.

How the fuck did Jasper deal with this shit for so fucking long? And my mind asks me why he didn't go behind her back and turn the fucker in, but Bella had her powers over him as she does me. I would do fucking anything for that girl.

Jasper would too.

And that's why he kept her story silent.

This shit must've surely fucked him up inside and out.

No wonder Jasper's been attached at the hip to B all their lives. It makes total fucking sense why he's been with her through all the book tours, moves, everything. How has it taken me this long to figure this shit out?

I swear to God today was like I had an epiphany, and was finally starting figure things out. Well more than I already was, but today just solidified the evidence that I had.

I sat on the couch in Bella's living room while Jasper talked to her. I lit a cigarette and took pull after pull trying to find a little release, something to calm my nerves.

And what was with the weed before? I hadn't known my girl that long, but she'd never said anything about weed. I was no saint that was for fucking sure, but I didn't like the idea of her smoking it up.

Call me a hypocrite for my past, but fuck, I wanted better for her.

I leaned my head into my hands and rested them on my knee's. The thought of not wanting to be 'us' was almost as painful as reading those filthy words that filled her book. Of course I wanted to be with Bella. I wanted it with everything in my body. Little did she know that she quickly became the only thing that I truly cared about anymore.

The entire time she was in Cali. I couldn't focus, I couldn't really even breathe.

She told me her story, she trusted me with her story, and I was so taken back by that trust. I tried to wrap my mind around everything that she had told me and was overwhelmed with my rage to fuck James up.

Bella was right though. She was strong, we were strong, and we would get through this together.

I'd never let Bella leave my side again. That sounds a bit possessive for a new relationship, shit!

Not on another damn trip at least.

I knew exactly why Jasper was the way he was with her, and was never happier to know that another man was taking care of my baby.

I think that's the only time that I will ever say that. Ever.

If it weren't Jasper, my jealous side would be making an appearance. The mad man would be released and there would be hell to pay. I laughed to myself thinking about the possibilities. Any other man, well other than my brother, would've paid a huge price for the way they were with Bella. I was a possessive fool, but only because I loved her like I did.

I leaned back against the couch and let my head fall back. My mind was over flowing with information about my girl. I was hurt and pissed and scared for her.

Too many emotions at once.

I closed my eyes thinking about all the shit that was thrown at me, when I heard Jasper yell from Bella's bedroom. I looked over, practically jumping of the couch from the door slamming against the wall to see Bella moving past Jasper as he pushed the door open to follow her out.

I jumped up like a fucking cat ready to attack the fucker for making my girl cry as she cuddled into my chest right where she belonged.

"What do you mean you saw him here in the city? When?" Jasper was screaming at her from behind. She was crying again. She looked scared. I wrapped my arms around her loosely, kissing her forehead and rubbing circles on her back trying not to cause her any pain.

"What the hell's going on, Whitlock?" I asked angrily, not taking my eyes off my girl. I leave him alone with her for two seconds and she comes out crying, not cool at all.

"Tell him Bell. Cause if I didn't fucking know, you sure as hell didn't tell him!" Jasper yelled while throwing his hands in the air.

Bella looked down again. I pulled her chin up with my finger so she was looking at me. She didn't say anything for several minutes and I swear I was ready to go ape shit on something waiting for her to explain whatever the fuck it was she needed to say.

"James. I saw him a few weeks ago. I was reading at a coffee shop while Jasper and Alice were at the park. He just stood outside staring at me through the window. Never came in. And when I looked up again, he was gone." Her voice was shaky as she spoke, scared of my reaction. I knew my eyes gave me away. They always did.

I pulled her tightly into my side and brought us over to the couch trying with my best effort to keep my cool. Jasper followed and sat across from us in a chair.

I tried to be comforting. I tried to be relaxed. But the mad man was coming out and I was losing my grip. I didn't want to scare her, but my anger took over. James, the man that repeatedly beat and raped her was here in the city, for how long, I wasn't sure, but he was here and she didn't feel the need to tell anyone. That's seriously fucked up.

"Are you fucking serious? What the fuck, B? Why the fuck didn't you tell us?" I didn't mean it to come out so harshly, but I was so pissed that she was keeping secrets, especially after all the shit that went down. And damn it, I wanted to know!

"I wasn't thinking." She said as she looked down at her hands. Her voice was barely a whisper. She was not the confidant woman that I was in love with when she was like this.

"Bell. Fucking Christ! This is it! I'm done with this shit! I called Ben and he's doing some research for us. He should be getting back to me in the next week or so. And when we find James, YOU. ARE. PRESSING. CHARGES. You got it?" Jasper was fucking livid and having a hard time controlling his own anger. His hands clenched and unclenched into fists.

He had every right to be pissed. He'd watched Bella go through this too many times. I don't know how he kept sane this long. I was about to go off any second with the thought of that fucker anywhere near my Bella.

Alice knocked on the door and let herself in. She could see the fight brewing and sat next to Jasper trying to calm him down.

"Yes Jazz. I got it. I'm done. I throw in the towel." Her shoulders slumped over as the tears spilled down her cheeks. "I was so embarrassed as a kid that he did this to me, but... I can't go on like this. I mean, mentally I'm fine. Or at least I will be. I don't feel like I used too, but I can't be afraid that he's going to find me wherever I go. I want to live." She looked over at me, and took my hand in hers. "I want us to live."

I smiled at her letting her tears soften me as I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "We will baby. We will." My voice had calmed and I tried to control my reaction for her knowing that my anger issues were only going to make things worse.

"Until he's in jail Bell, you are not to go ANYWHERE without Edward, me or Emmett. Not alone with the girls not what so ever." Bella nodded in agreement. Jasper was over protective as shit, but I didn't mind. Not this time. He was looking out for her best interest and I knew that.

"He saw Rose and Alice too." Bella said in that small voice again. Well fuck me, of course he saw them too, damn it!

"They won't be out of eye sight either." I assured her. She nodded in agreement and stood up.

"I'm so sorry for dragging you into this Alice!" Bella looked at Alice. Both of them crying and having an unspoken conversation. "I should've never put you in the middle of all this. I should've never told you."

This confused me. "What to do you mean, told her? Told her what?"

I shot a glance at my sister wondering what the fuck else I didn't know. This was getting rediculous already.

Alice looked at the ground as she spoke. "I knew about James being in California and the coffee shop...and the mall." She said it in barely a whisper knowing that shit was about to hit the fan.

Bella shot her a glance. One more thing we didn't know about I guess. My hands tightened into fists ready to hit or break something.

Jasper pulled away from Alice, standing abruptly and slamming his fist into the wall. I stood and was ready to calm him if he needed it, but what I really wanted to do was join in the destruction, not giving a flying fuck what I was hitting or destroying.

"What the fuck Alice? You fucking knew and you didn't tell anyone? Are you fucking kidding me?" Jasper was screaming at my little sister, and I was not comfortable for her to be treated like that.

I made my way over to him and put my hand on his chest giving him a glare telling him that he'd said enough.

"Calm down, Whitlock." I stared at him in the eyes so he would get my drift. He pushed my hand back as he paced.

I placed myself in between him and the girls. They were both scared and upset, shaking with tears. Alice cried while Bella held her in her arms as they sat together in the recliner.

Jasper wasn't going to hurt either of them; I knew that for a fact, but he was fucking angry as all hell, and I didn't want his anger to scare the girls any more than it already had.

"I won't fucking calm down Cullen, and neither should you! Are you fucking kidding me? Alice? Come on! You knew what was going on and you still didn't say shit!" He was screaming at her. Alice jumped at the sound of his voice yelling at her, I could tell that she was really starting to get scared.

"Back off Whitlock. I'm serious! Calm the fuck down bro." I yelled in his direction. He wouldn't make eye contact with me, and I was about two seconds away from making him look at me.

"I'm sorry Jazz! Bella told me not to tell, that it was no big deal. I didn't want to betray her trust!" Alice cried harder while Bella looked guilty as fuck.

I knelt down in front of Alice rubbing her knee trying to comfort my baby sister.

"Sweetie, there are things you keep a secret, and things you don't, you should have told us." I looked at Bella angrily for putting Alice in this situation. "You shouldn't have made her promise."

Bella was crying, but I couldn't find it in myself to lighten my tone. I was pissed that she put Alice in the middle of all of this and she was going to know it. "You don't think I know that? I feel awful for putting her in the middle of this fucked up mess! I fucked up! Jazz, you should be mad at me, not Alice."

"Oh, I am mad at you Bell! Don't you worry your pretty little head about that, but Alice knows better than this! She knew about your past and that you aren't safe when it comes to fucking James!" He stared at Alice, and seen the hurt look on her face. He started to lose the angry edge seeing how much Alice was hurting. About fucking time!

I was just as pissed about Alice knowing and not telling anyone, but knew it wasn't going to do anyone any good for me to go off. Alice continued to cry into Bella's chest as Jasper continued to pace trying to calm himself down.

I got up after rubbing her arm and started towards Jasper's direction.

"J, you gotta settle. It isn't going to do any of us any good at this point to get all hot headed and say things we're gonna regret. You're not really mad at Alice and B. You're mad at James. That's who we're going to take this out on. Come on. Lets get a shot and chill." I stared into his eyes until he nodded his head in agreement.

"You're wrong, E. I'm fucking pissed as hell at the two of them." He pointed a finger in there direction as he ran his hand through his hair. He took a deep breath as calmness was starting to settle in. "But you're right to, it's James that's got me on fire."

I went to the kitchen and pulled a bottle of Jack and didn't even bother grabbing a glass. I took a huge swig and passed it to Jasper. He took several drinks before passing it back. He stood there for several seconds letting the alcohol settle in his system. After several minutes, a cigarette and a few more shots, Jasper visibly looked calmer.

Jasper knelt down in front of Alice and rubbed her legs. His demeanor had relaxed greatly and he looked as if he was ready to come to terms with his actions.

"Allie, I'm so sorry sweetie! I didn't mean to get so mad. Please say you can forgive me." He put his head in her lap like a lost puppy. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. I'm sorry!"

Alice put her hands in his hair and kissed the top of his head as she held him there. They sat like that for several minutes before speaking again.

Bella was standing in the corner of the room biting on her nails and I took to pacing again.

"Y-yeah Jazzy. I forgive you. But please don't yell at me like that ever again. You scared the fuck out of me. And I am sorry baby, I really am." She looked at Bella. "We won't do something like this ever again."

"Promise." Alice and Bella said together as they looked at one another.

If I didn't know Jasper, I would've gone off the fucking handle for treating my sister the way he did. But I knew why he was pissed and also that he wouldn't hurt her. After watching Bella go through what she did, he'd never lay a hand on a woman.

Jasper and Alice remained in each other's arms as they came down from the awful high they were on. I pulled a cigarette out, lit it, throwing the pack on the table for everyone else, which was then passed the circle. The bottle of Jack was passed around as well until it was empty. And I was flying high.

Jasper was beating himself up for the way he treated Alice. Part of me thought the fucker should be beating himself up for the way he went off, but the other part of me knew why he did what he did and felt bad for him.

I threw myself into a recliner taking pull after pull on my cig thinking about the things that Bella felt she needed to keep secret from me. Why was she keeping more secrets? What the fuck was she thinking?

Once Jasper was done apologizing to Alice, he made his way to Bella.

Jasper grabbed her in a hug and whispered 'I'm sorry' over and over to her as they rocked with one another. I knew this was a personal moment, but I couldn't leave her. Nor would I ever leave her again. Bella was mine. And I say that not as she's my property, but that I love her, and no one would ever fuck with her again. She would never be hurt again. I would make damn sure of it.

Alice and I sat and waited as they held each other and figured their shit out. I hugged my baby sister and comforted her while she finished with her tears.

Alice left shortly after saying she needed some room to breath. I didn't blame her.

Bella was being standoffish and I needed to make things right between us. Yeah, I was pissed as all hell that she hid that shit from me, but I needed her to know that I still loved her.

"B?" I was still sitting in the recliner and signaled for her to come sit on my lap. She slowly walked over and stood in front of me unsure of what to do. I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to my lap.

She placed her hands on my chest looking down at them. She was no longer crying but had a solemn expression across her face.

"I'm sorry, E. I don't know why I didn't tell you guys. I just figured nothing had happened yet and I didn't want you to get upset over nothing."

I placed my finger under her chin so that she was looking at me.

"Baby, I'm pissed that you didn't tell me, and even more pissed that you put Alice in the middle of it, but that doesn't mean that I don't love you. We're gonna fight. It's what couples do." I kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. "Besides, we can't have angry make up sex if we don't fight, and I'm not wanting to miss out on that, or any kind of sex with you for that matter." Really Cullen? Haven't even had sex yet, and already letting her know what you want. Good one.

I kissed her forehead as she leaned into my chest as she giggled at my innuendos. I could feel her body relaxing inch by inch.

"I know. I won't be that stupid again. If I see him, you'll be the first to know. Ok?"

I nodded in agreement and held her there for a while. We were both fucking spent from all of the emotions that had come out today, and on top of it, she was probably jet lagged and still trying to recoup from the weekend.

Later that evening after things had calmed, Jasper and I convinced Bella that we needed to take pictures for evidence. Although the thought of another guy seeing my girl half clothed made me burn inside, I knew that Jasper probably saw her entirely naked several times throughout the course of their friendship. I had to bury the mad man deep down so he wouldn't make his presence known.

Bella took off her shirt and was standing in a white sports bra. Jasper looked down with a smile playing across his lips, he was blushing. Seriously Whitlock? You act like you've never seen a pair of tits before.

"It's not like you haven't seen this all before." Bella said to him tight lipped motioning with her hand to her chest.

Jasper looked up at her with a small smile. "Yeah, but I swear you didn't have those the last time I saw you like this." He motioned with his hand towards her chest like she just did. He was talking about the piercings that were quite visible through the thin fabric. Perv.

Bella smiled and looked at me. I looked back at her with a comforting smile. She wrapped her arms over her chest clearly embarrassed. I wrapped her in a hug and whispered in her ear.

"Don't be embarrassed, love. I'm not. I fucking love them." I kissed below her ear as she blushed and looked down at her feet.

"It doesn't bother you at all that Jasper's staring at my chest?" She teased back.

"At first it did, but I figured with you guys being friends so long, that it probably wasn't the first time." I kissed her cheek and neck. "Besides, if he doesn't stop, then I'll just poke his eyes out, because really, you don't need your eyes to work, right?" I looked up at Jasper who only shook his head as he laughed off my comment, his middle finger coming up slowly aimed directly at me, before it was put down again.

"Come on Bell. Alice has hers done to. Nothing to be embarrassed about." Jasper was playing with the camera trying not to stare anymore than necessary. Smart man.

I knew Alice had several piercings, but the thought of another man seeing them was making me nauseous. I was about to ream Jasper out when Bella surprised me once again.

"I know. She showed me the day she did my first one." Bella spoke up literally knocking the shit out of me.

I swear I heard Jasper moan, and even though it was my sister, the thought of Bella seeing another girl's tits, probably when hers were out too, was such a turn on. Jasper shifted himself and I had to laugh at the poor bastard.

"So, were you both topless, and like feeling each other up?" Bella looked at him like he was a pervert. He was such a pervert. "cuz that's what I have in my head right now. But just the thought of Alice touching your tit is enough for me."

Bella threw a fork at him, he ducked just in the nick of time. Poor fool. Why would you talk about it in front of the girl?

Come on, that's shoptalk when they aren't around.

What a child.

"Ok, ok. Sorry. That image just got me all hot and bothered Bell." Jasper said as Bella began to blush a deep red.

"You and me both buddy. You and me both." I barely whispered the words, but apparently not low enough. Bella jabbed me in the side, as Jasper let out a loud laugh.

"Ok, so now that the children in this room have arrived," She looked over at both of us. "Can we get this show on the road?"

She was nervous. I could tell this wasn't something that she wanted to do, but I was so grateful that she was finally giving in. I can't even imagine how torn up Jasper must've been for the last 10 years. I rubbed her back gently, trying not to put pressure on her scratches noticing more now than I ever had before the scars that she had across her back. I had asked her about them one other time, but she simply stated 'Jake' as her answer.

Jasper nodded for us to get started.

He took pictures starting with her neck. The bruises were still blue, but were starting to turn brown/yellow. You could clearly make out the long fingers that held her so harshly. Then we moved down to her arms and took pictures from several angles. Again, you could literally make out the hand that held her there. Bella closed her eyes and unzipped her pants, letting them sit low on her hips so Jasper could get the bruises that were prominent over her hipbone.

Normally having my girl stripped down like this would be such a turn on, but this was not a normal case. 'Little E' stayed silent in my pants where he belonged.

I was a limp as a dead fish, not wanting to think about how those bruises got there.

Bella turned away from Jasper towards me and slipped off her bra so that he could get all of her back. She held her chest securely while I lifted her hair so he could get the entire thing. Her breasts were less than an inch from my chest. Her bare breasts.

When he was done, she put her shirt back on, minus the bra. Yeah, I'm a guy and would notice that kind of shit.

She said she wanted to take a bath. I kissed her softly before she walked out and I heard the bath water start.

I pulled myself up onto the counter and stared at Jasper who was sitting on the counter across from me. He lit a cigarette then threw me his pack.

"What the fuck are we gonna to do, Whitlock?" I asked taking a hard pull.

"I don't know man. I do know, however, that he's going down this time. I've told her so many times that I'd keep her safe and that this would never happen again, and look what the fuck happened." His eyes were glossy with unshed tears trying to hold them back. "I wasn't there for her. I knew I should've gone with her. But he hadn't been around in the last year, and I thought we were safe. I fucked up, and I should've gone with."

"You can't put this on yourself. As much as it kills me to say this, what happened, happened, and there isn't anything that we can do about it. We can't go back and change anything. She's strong and we'll get her through this. But what the fuck are we gonna do? I'm not just going to sit back and allow some cocksucker to mess my girl up like that. We gotta do something man!" I was trying to control my voice not wanting Bella to over hear.

"My buddy Ben is digging up some shit on him. He's a detective back in Chicago and has access to his files. And I know he has files. I'm sure Bella isn't his only victim." Jasper leaned his head back against the cupboard and banged it there a few times.

"I need to see pictures of him Jasper. I need to know what I'm up against. If that fucker ever touches her again, or even looks at her, I will kill him. I won't hold back." I clenched my fists together in anger, before flicking a glass off the counter, listening to it shatter while it hit the ground. "Sorry." Jasper just nodded at me seeming to not care about my little 'accident'.

We both stared at the glass not making any attempt to clean it up.

"I know man. I'm right there with you. Here's the plan. Until we hear back from my buddy, those girls don't go anywhere by themselves. I was talking to Emmett about this while you and Bell were proclaiming your love for each other." He rolled his eyes at me.

"Yeah, we were and it was fucking awesome." I didn't even blush, as I wasn't ashamed of that shit. "But that was after she told me about her past. God. Fuck Jasper! How the fuck could someone do that to her?" My mind raced with everything that she had told me.

"I don't know E. I don't know. But I'm glad she told you. I knew that night at the shop I couldn't tell you everything, it wasn't my story to tell." He took another pull. "So anyways, I talked to Emmett, and Rose has a photo shoot this week out in Cali. again. He got that guy Tiny to work again. He'll be with her the entire time. From what the girls said, no one would fuck with this guy. And Alice and Bell will be with us. Between the three of us, they'll be more than safe."

"He was here. In New York. I can't believe she didn't tell us that she saw him. Well, I can believe it, I just don't understand why she feels she needs to hide this shit." I ran both of my hands through my hair before grabbing another smoke.

"Yeah. I knew there was something wrong that night. Alice and I were at the park, and we were supposed to meet up with her like an hour later, and after I left her 10 messages, she called me back 4 hours later, dazed and confused." Jasper hopped down and pulled out a bottle of rum and took a swig, then passed me the bottle. "And as far as telling people, she's always been embarrassed to be used that way. She was only a kid when all this shit started and felt she brought it on herself. I tried to tell her for years that it wasn't her fault. And she doesn't want to be the victim. After years of dragging her to counseling, and I mean dragging, she started to open up and trust herself. I'm the only one she's ever let in."

"What about her friends back home?" Jasper shook his head no. "Didn't she have any girlfriends she hung out with? College friends?"

"Back in elementary and high school we had a close group of friends, but after James came along, she cut everyone out. She felt that it was too dangerous to get anyone involved. She didn't want James knowing any other females that he could go after. When we moved after high school to Chicago it was just the two of us. That was the way it always was, until she met Jake. Because he was an old family friend it didn't take long for her to trust him, but you know how that one turned out. So no, she's never let anyone else in like she did you tonight. Whenever anyone asks about who the book is about, she says with the straightest face ever 'a very close friend that doesn't want to be identified.' Consider yourself one fucking lucky fool."

"I know how lucky I am." All the alcohol was starting to sink into my system, and I felt a knot in my throat that didn't want to be pushed down. I looked down at my swinging legs knowing how fucking lucky I was to have Bella in my life. And I wasn't going to fuck it up.

I wasn't the fucked up mess that I used to be, and I was going to be whatever she needed me to be. I know we'd only known eachother for a little over two months, but she was my life now, and I was ready to put her up on the pedestal she belonged on.

"E, man, I gotta tell you. If you fuck around with her, I won't hold back. I will fuck you up." Jasper said while taking another swig. "I love you like a brother, but she comes first. She will always come first. I can't break my promise to her again. I won't let her get hurt... again."

"If I do fuck it up with her, which I won't, you have my permission to do whatever you feel necessary." I said with a smile on my face. "But really bro, I can see how my sister looks at you, and if you feel half for her as what she feels about you, you need to put her first in your life and let me take care of my girl like I should."

"Without a doubt, I love Allie with all my heart. I almost feel torn between my two girls. One is not above the other, but I won't turn my back on Bell either. She's always been my life, and I know I have to get used to someone being her knight, but I won't ever stop trying to protect her." Jasper had tears in his eyes. I could tell this shit had been eating him up for the past 10 years and he was finally getting some kind of release from the pain.

I jumped off the counter and walked over the glass to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. I waited for a second before I spoke, wanting to make my words clear.

"Jasper, I'm asking this as your friend and bro. Take care of my sister, and I'll take care of yours. I'm not trying to take your place in B's life; I hope that you'll always be around to protect her. Although she doesn't think she needs it, she does. And I think it makes her feel safer to know that she has a protector. But let me take care of her. She's my life now. I'll do whatever I have to, to show both you and Bella that I'm not going anywhere."

"Deal." Jasper held out his hand and we shook on it.

"But seriously, you gotta fucking control that temper of yours. You were two seconds away from being knocked on your ass for the way you yelled at my girl and sister. Watch it!" The last part I tried to joke with him about, I'd had enough of this serious shit for one day.

"From what I've seen and heard from Allie, you gotta a temper of your own. Tell you what; I'll keep mine in check if you do. Ok?"

I nodded in agreement. I did have a temper. If he only knew how bad it really was.

Jasper's eyes were blood shot as he looked up at me trying to push out a smile. He grabbed my other arm and pulled me into a hug just as Emmett walked in the door. He didn't knock, which was typical of him, and stood in the doorway staring at our arms around each other.

"What the fuck is this? I didn't come down here for a dick party, fuckers." He said with a smile on his face, as we pulled apart. "I hope you already got the blow jobs out of the way, because as much as I love you fools, I will have no part in that."

The three of us broke out laughing, as Emmett came over to us and wrapped his arms around Jasper and I for a two second guy hug, saying something about feeling left out under his breath. My big ass brother covered in tattoos that could pass for hulk was a fucking sap. But I loved him for it, and so did the girls.

The six of us were becoming a family. And I felt whole. I felt that I was finally finding the missing piece to my life. Not only was Bella the missing piece, but also Jasper made Alice whole, which in turn relaxed the shit out of me.

At 26 I'd never found love, well that was up until Bella walked in my life. And I'm happy as fuck to admit she's my first true love, and my last if I had anything to say about it.

Emmett broke up my self-talk by grabbing the bottle of rum I had in my hand.

"Where's Rose and Tink?" I asked worried realizing the blonde he always had on his shoulder didn't follow him.

First day on the job and we were already leaving the girls alone. Well aren't we the almighty protectors!

"They're at your place. Rose wanted to talk to Alice about the weekend. To make sure everything was ok and while you and Bella Barbie were proclaiming yourselves to each other," There were no fucking secrets anymore! I punched Emmett in the arm as he ruffled my hair. "the rest of us were busy getting some history from Jasper about Bella."

I looked over at Jasper with an evil eye knowing he gave them dirt on Bella's history. Not his story to tell huh?

"Hey man," He said with his arms in front of him blocking me from pounding him. "I only told them to look closer at her book and they made their own assumptions. They had a right to know, and you know it. We're all here for Bell. You are not her only protector E."

There really are no secrets with these nosy bitches around.

Emmett clapped me on the back. "E. She's my sister too, you know. I love her. And no one's going to touch her." Emmett was now smiling. "Do you think a guy would try anything with me around? And if he knew your past, I don't think he'd even try."

"Yeah yeah." I said shaking my head. My past. "I know."

"Just to let you guys know, he won't try anything while you're around. He wants to get her alone. He thinks she's weaker that way. But from what Rose and Allie said about their own experience with him, Bell was strong and stood up to him. She isn't as weak as I sometimes think." Jasper looked over at Emmett. "And your Rose man, She's a feisty one isn't she? Allie said she got right in his face."

"Yeah, that's my baby alright. Not scared of anything. She's never had to be." Emmett said smiling, and then his face turned down. "I'll talk to her about that though. In any other circumstance, I'd tell her to fuck up a guy if needed, but she obviously didn't know what this fuck was capable of. I don't know what I would do if it was my girl in this case."

I nodded in agreement. I looked over at Jasper who had the same expression on his face. Bella was both our girls, only in two different lights. Their relationship was not romantic, but family, and I wasn't about to stand in the way of the only family she had.

My eyes felt tired as fuck. Looking at the microwave behind me, I saw that it was close to midnight. I heard the water draining in the tub and finished the last pull on my smoke. Emmett and Jasper took off giving us some privacy. Jasper was staying over at my place with Allie. I cleaned up the glass on the floor and mentally added new glasses to the list of shit I needed to replace when I went shopping this weekend.

I shut off the lights in the kitchen after locking the front door and made my way over to Bella's room and laid on her bed waiting. A few minutes later she emerged in just a bath towel looking startled to see me lying there.

As much as I should have looked away so that she didn't feel uncomfortable, I couldn't. My dick twitched at the naked sight of her, and then my heart literally hurt seeing the bruises lining her perfect body.

I am such a fucker.

"Sorry to scare you. I thought I could sleep over, if it's ok with you?" I asked praying she wouldn't send me away. She smiled and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"You never have to ask E. My bed is yours." She came over to the side of the bed and sat down next to me and kissed my lips. "And only yours."

I smiled up at her, rubbing my hand across her waist. The pervert in me came out and I snuck my fingers in the opening of her towel. I kept my eyes on hers getting the silent ok. The last thing I wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable after her shitty weekend and the fucker that had his hands on her.

I wanted to comfort her and love her.

Oh who the fuck was I kidding, I wanted to fuck the shit out of her. Bruises and all.

Bastard was I.

But I wasn't going to do that. My cock would remain in my pants where it belonged, because I loved Bella, and was going to think with my head for once instead of the man down below.

She stood up and dropped the towel to the floor and stood before me, staring down at my bulging pants with a smile on her face. I tried to be a gentleman and not stare at her beautiful pierced nipples in front of me, but I couldn't help it.

I was the fucking devil.

I held out my arms for her and she sat on my lap straddling me naked as the day she was born.

She had to have felt my dick twitch underneath her as I told it to calm the fuck down.

My mind took over from my body and I just held her there, lightly rubbing her back as she fell deeper into my arms.

I kissed her neck and arms over her bruised skin. I rubbed her back lightly over the scratches, massaging her hips eliciting the hottest moans ever from her.

My dick continued to twitch asking me when it could come out and play.

I would need to have a talk with him later and remind him of manners.

"I love you B. I hope you know that." I said kissing her bare shoulder.

"As I love you. And I do know, but it's still nice to hear. And just to ease your mind, I'm not going to pull away and I'm not going anywhere. I heard a good amount of your conversation with Jasper and I'm done running from James. He's going to pay for what he did to me. And I'm ready to take ownership to my book. It's my story, and I'm proud of where I've come from." She stared at me smiling, a few tears streaming down her cheeks that I caught with my fingers.

"B. You are my life now, and I won't ever leave you. I know it's only been a few months, but I've never felt this strongly about anything in my life. We need each other and we both know it. I love you and you're my Bella. Just as I'm yours." I said kissing her neck. She stared at me for a second before I felt her shiver. I stood her up with me and led her to her dresser. "Come on, find something to wear before my dick comes out and mauls you. I'm exhausted, and if I am, you must be a zombie."

She smiled at me before picking out a tank top and boy shorts to wear to bed.

Ugh... she really was going to be the death of me. The shorts, if you even wanted to call them that were navy blue and hugged her ass so tight in all the right places.

She was the devil.

Good thing I was becoming used to my daily cold showers, and my left hand.

Oh, and lotion.

Never thought I would love Jergens so much.

I stripped down to my boxers and crawled into bed, patting the space next to me for her. Bella lay down in my arms, where she stayed tightly clung to me all night. I didn't fall asleep until she did and held her, enjoying the warmth I had been missing.

Bella was safe with me.

She was home.

James was going to pay for what he did to my girl.

A/N: So...Allie and Jazz had a bit of a confrontation, but he really is a good guy and we all know it.

I don't know about you, but angry Edward is such a turn on!!!

Remember, I like when the lurkers come out and say hi. I've had several people do just that. Keep it up; it puts a crooked smile on my face, just like Edwards!

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