Aw guys thank you so much for your kindness; it means more than you will ever know. Thank you Audrey for being the incredible woman you are! Life needs to get better that's all I can say, but we all have problems and I feel sometimes this helps me forget mine for just a little while...I do not have an updating sechdule, I do apologize for how long its been taking me to get you updates, I just been busy with real life. But thank you all for the love!

CHAPTER 35

Edward immediately slammed the door in her face, her smirk disappearing behind it. She began to bang on the door repeatedly. In all honesty you would think her of all people would know the temper this man had. Banging on the door would not get him to talk to her, hell nothing would get him talking to her if he didn't want it to.

I side stepped him and opened the door back up, Carmen stumbling as her fist tried to connect with mahogany wood.

"What part of door slamming in your face don't you understand? He has no interest in hearing you out, so get the hell out of here before I call the police." I crossed my arms firmly over my chest.

"Maybe if you heard me out, you wouldn't be so quick to slam doors." Carmen mocked.

Her sarcasm was unwelcome and unneeded. She should be a little more respectful considering she is the one who came here looking for Edward, not the other way around.

"Carmen whatever you have to say spit it the fuck out before I call security." Edward went to close the door one more time, but Carmen's hand pushed on it before it could close.

"Does a James Andersen interest you at all?" She gave me another sarcastic smirk.

All the blood drained from my face as the named rolled off her tongue. All I could do was stare at the devil in front of me. I was frozen in place.

"I see that got your attention." She pushed past me to get inside, but Edward stopped her before she could get any further.

"What do you know about James?" he demanded, grabbing her by the arm.

Carmen pulled back violently from Edward's grip, rubbing her hand over the spot on her arm he grabbed.

"I know that he wants her, badly. Somehow he knew you and I shared a history, but I don't know how. He said we could work as a team to get what we want. I wasn't sure what he meant by that." Carmen stared at her fingernails.

Finally that made me snap out of my trance.

"This can't be happening." I shook my head in disbelief.

"When did he come to you? How long have you guys been in contact?" Edward's voice was very demanding.

"He came to me about a week ago. Said he knew about us." She quoted with her fingers.

"He told me that he and Bella were college sweethearts, but lost contact. He wanted to get her back." Carmen's voice began to crack slightly.

"I thought there was no way he could have known about us, nobody knew except Eleazar and he wouldn't tell, he is way too concerned with his own reputation. Then he mentioned Alistair." Carmen gulped.

"Fuck! I knew it!" Edward pulled at his hair and he began to pace.

"Knew what?" Carmen questioned.

"Alistair was involved with this. I'm going to fucking kill him when I find him." Edward's anger rose.

"Why is this happening? Oh god, why can't he leave me alone?" I could feel the tears flooding my face.

Edward wrapped me in his arms, pulling me into his chest.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't think this would involve others! I don't want my problems to infect you." I began to sob into his chest

"Baby, stop it's not your fault. We will work this out. Shh, don't cry." He cooed over and over as he stoked my hair.

"Why is she so upset?" Carmen asked looking between us puzzled.

"Because James just got out of jail for serving 6 years for stalking and almost killing her." Edward roared.

"I had no idea Bella, I'm sorry." Carmen tried to reach out to me, but Edward gave her a look that must have said don't you dare.

Carmen backed up, just looking at us.

"Bella look at me." Edward pulled away to stare at me, pulling my eyes to his like a magnet.

I looked up into those beautiful green eyes that were so full of concern. He stroked my face gently, trying to sooth me.

"I'll protect you, he will never get near you, but I need to call Liam, why don't you go sit on the couch; I'll be right back." I nodded and he kissed the top of my head.

I walked into the living room while Carmen and Edward spoke in hushed voices. I could tell from his tone he was angry. She sounded very apologetic. She looked to have grabbed at him, but he pushed her away. The whispering stopped and Edward walked away from her. She saw me staring and walked toward me.

Without a word she approached the couch and sat down next to me. We sat there awkwardly for a few minutes before she touched me lightly on the knee, trying to gain my attention. I looked up and saw the concern on her face.

"I'm truly sorry about all of this, honestly." She leaned over to embrace me.

It seemed awkward, and then she whispered in my ear. "But I love him too."

With that I felt like I got stung by a bee on my neck, then the room went black...

Edward's POV

I ordered Carmen out my apartment and I walked toward my study to call Liam. I needed to update him on these findings. It only took one ring for him to answer me.

"Sir." Liam spoke.

I explained the current situation to him and asked him if he could come over. I asked him to add some extra security to the building until further notice; I walked back into the living room to find it completely empty.

"Bella! Bella!" I screamed frantically through the apartment.

There was no answer. No! No! This is not happening right now! I flung open the front door and ran down the stairs faster than I ever thought I could. But nobody was there. I saw Benny the security guard knocked unconscious on the floor. How could I be such an idiot, I should have made sure she was out of the apartment before I left the room!

Liam came running through the front door then, as if he knew what had happened. He saw Benny first and then looked at me with a look that said, what the fuck?

"Are you okay? What the hell happened here?" Liam's tone shocked.

"I can't find Bella. I think Carmen set me up. I left them alone in the living room. I mean I asked Carmen to leave. But Bella was in there when I went to call you." I pulled at my hair.

"There is no way they could've gotten out the building. I got my men all over; they would have noticed someone taking her" Liam pulled out his phone and began barking out orders.

He was talking to various people all at once, asking for their locations and post inspection. He told them it was a high alert, Bella was missing. I was numb at this point. What the hell was Carmen's plan here?

Did she really thinking helping James would get her in my good graces? She was just as insane as him. I was clueless how to proceed from here. I went back into my penthouse to retrieve my cell phone, but what I found when I got there shocked me the most.

Bella was sound asleep in the middle of our bed. She was nicely tucked in and looked like a peaceful angel. I drew out a sigh of relief. I texted Liam to let him know she was here. She was safe.

I collapsed onto the floor. I had never felt anything so terrifying in my whole life. For one second I thought she was gone from my world, I thought that sick bastard stole her from me.

However, Benny being knocked out still caused some alarm. Who did it? Liam was reviewing the surveillance footage and the police were called. I climbed under the blankets and pulled Bella close to me, whispering how much I loved her and needed her. I drifted off to sleep.

"Edward?" I heard Bella's sleepy voice whisper in my ear.

"Mm?" I replied and began to open up my eyes.

"What happened to me?" Her voice somewhat tense.

I took a good look at her then. She looked scared, almost panicked. I immediately pulled her into me, trying to soothe her racing mind.

"Carmen did something to me. I felt like I got stung, then I woke up here." She seemed very disoriented.

"What do you mean she did something to you?" I held her face in my hands.

"Here." She took one of my hands and traced it along a spot on her shoulder blade. I felt a tiny mark.

I turned her around so I could examine her better. She indeed had a strange rash on her back.

"I'm taking you to the hospital." I didn't wait for a response as I got off the bed and dug through my closet for some clothes.

"I feel fine Edward. I don't want to go to. I hate hospitals; they make me very nervous." Bella pleaded.

"Alright no hospital, but we are going to see my doctor." I ordered.

She just simply nodded her head, sighing as she got off the bed to look through her dresser for something to wear. We made our way to Dr. Weston's office across town. I had left Liam to secure the building while we were gone.

Liam had reviewed the security footage, finding that someone had indeed knocked out Benny, but it wasn't Carmen. You actually never see her leaving the building. So therefore, I had my security team on high alert. I needed to make sure she wasn't collaborating with James.

I had known Carmen to be a lot of things, but this goes beyond even what I could comprehend. I guess it just goes to show how well you really don't know someone. But for her to harm Bella was extreme. An extreme I wasn't willing to deal well with.

"Isabella Swan." The redheaded nurse called looking at the chart in her hand.

Bella gave me a small smile and we both stood up, walking to the door where the nurse called us to. I held the door for both of them, causing the nurse whose tag read Betty to blush. Normally I was flattered at how a little polite gesture made women swoon, but right now my focus was making sure the love of my life hadn't been harmed.

The nurse handed Bella an examination gown, instructing her to have the opening in the back. Bella changed quickly and folded her hand between her knees looking very apprehensive.

"Are you alright?" I asked massaging her shoulders.

"I'm sorry for everything I've put you through with this. I just want it to be over for good." She closed her eyes gripping my hand.

"I talked to the police and got a restraining order against both James and Carmen. They are investigating this Bella. I will not let him harm you again." I vowed to her.

She nodded her head once more, the sad expression on her face heart breaking. I didn't know what else to do for her. I had my upcoming business trip to Sweden; there was no way in hell she was staying here by herself. Perhaps, I could ask Emmett to watch over the store for her while we were gone.

In walked the doctor. He was an older man, I would say in his mid-60's. He was tall with white hair and a mustache. I had known him my whole life.

"Hello Isabella, I'm Dr. Weston." He greeted her holding out his hand.

"Bella, you, can call me Bella." She muttered.

"Okay, well nice to meet you Bella. Hello Edward, it's good to see you again." The doctor nodded at me as he looked through Bella's chart.

"Your chart says you might have possibly been injected with an unknown substance. Let's have a look at the site, shall we?" He smirked, moving the robe from the spot exposing her left shoulder.

I watched biting my nails as he examined the mark on her shoulder. He hmm'ed and mm'ed a lot but said nothing. It was driving me crazy.

"I'm not sure what it is but it appears you are having an allergic reaction at the site. Do you have any type of allergies Bella?" He wrote something down in his chart.

"I used to be allergic to peanuts as a child, but I haven't had any problems for a long time." She shrugged.

He nodded again and jotted something down into the chart.

"Well we are going to run some blood tests and I would like to do a biopsy of the skin, just to cover all our bases; we don't want to take any chances." He tapped his pen on the clip board and exited the room.

Bella let out a deep sigh and held her hand out to me. I grabbed hers instantly. She touched my hair with her hand and stroked it gently. Her smile was soft and weak, but reassuring. Without words I knew what she was telling me. She was okay.

The nurse came in the room and took some blood from Bella and I excused myself to get an update from Liam. He didn't have anything new to tell me, especially about the whereabouts of Carmen. It all seemed so strange.

How did she get out of the building unnoticed? More importantly what did she do to Bella? I went back into the room with the doctor and he explained it would take several hours to get the results, that he would call us.

I thanked him for his time and escorted Bella out. We headed to the W Hotel. I figured it would be the safest placed for us until things got sorted out.

"I really don't think this is necessary Edward. I mean I feel safer in your penthouse." Bella muttered as she unpacked her suitcase into the dresser of the hotel suite.

"Just humor me for a few days, okay?" I smiled kissing her forehead.

"What about Sweden?" She arched an eyebrow at me.

"That can wait until I know Carmen didn't poison you or anything. You are more important than a business trip." I kissed her lips softly.

"I don't feel so good Edward." She became unsteady on her feet, wobbling back and forth and the color drained from her face.

I grabbed hold of her instantly, trying to steady her.

"What's wrong Bella?" I eased her onto the bed.

She gripped at her head, scrunching her eyes in pain.

"My back hurts, I feel very nauseous." She moaned.

"Let me call the doctor." I picked up my cell and scrolled through my contacts to find Weston's number.

I explained to him what was going on and he asked me to evaluate Bella's pain. She admitted it was 9 out of 10. He advised me to take her to the hospital immediately.

By the time we reached the emergency room, there were already a slew of nurses and techs waiting to take Bella in; it all happened so quickly. She was placed on a gurney and rushed inside. She was moaning in pain at this point and gripping harder at her back.

All I could do was watch helplessly as they worked her up, placing an IV in her hand and trying to give her pain medication. Her face twisted with a tortured expression from the medicine which must have been burning her hand. Finally everything began to calm, Bella started to relax.

Finally everyone left the room and I took the chair next to her bed, squeezing her hand. She gave me a sleepy smile and just gazed at me before her eyes began to droop from exhaustion.

She was fighting it for my benefit no doubt.

"Sleep pretty girl, I'll be here when you wake up." I kissed her forehead and she sighed, closing her eyes.

I had Alice call Rose and tell her what was going on; I was not in the mood to deal with Rose's attitude. At some point watching Bella I dozed off myself, only to be awoken by someone shaking my shoulder. I awoke with a start, only to find Dr. Weston looking at me with concern.

"I'm sorry Edward didn't mean to startle you, but I got the test results back." He looked from me to Bella.

"You can tell me, I don't think she will be waking up anytime soon." I ran a hand through my hair.

"The results show that she has an elevated white blood cell count. This means she as some kind of infection going on. So I had them run other tests for strep, pneumonia, flu, but all came back negative. However she does have some traces of anesthesia is her blood. Has she recently under gone any kind of surgery?" He looked at me expectantly.

"Bella's been perfectly healthy doctor. She hasn't been to any doctor that I am aware of." I looked at him, puzzled.

"I see. Would you mind if I took a look at her vaginal area." His tone calm.

"Not while she is unconscious. I would prefer you wait until she wakes up." I protested.

"I just want to make sure she wasn't sexual assaulted without either of you being aware." Dr. Weston spoke softly with concern.

"She was missing for only an hour, there is no way that transpired without me knowing." I challenged.

"Edward?" I heard Bella's groggy voice.

My eyes shot up to her face and I was by her side instantly. I moved the sweaty hair from her brow and tucked it behind her ear, giving her a small smile.

"How are you feeling baby?" I gazed at her.

"I'm a little thirsty." She smiled.

"Would you like something?" I stroked her cheek.

"Could you just get me some juice please?"

"Of course." I kissed her head; "Doc, can we finish this in the hallway?" I nudged my head toward the door

"I want to talk to him alone for a minute, if that's okay with you?" Bella's hoarse voice pleaded.

"Um, sure." I answered but felt uneasy about her request.

I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me, but I watched Bella talk fanatically to Dr. Weston through the window in the door. There was a lot of nodding and then he pulled the curtain, blocking my view of them.

I knew whatever Bella had asked, it was private and I would respect it, even if I didn't understand what she was not telling me. A few minutes later I reentered the room to find Bella sitting up with her knees to her chin, looking rather glowing.

"Feeling better?" I smirked handing her the glass bottle of juice

"Yes, much." She smiled brightly popping off the top and taking a long sip.

"Why did you kick me out?" I said trying to make my tone light.

She looked nervous as she placed the bottle down on the table. She relaxed her knees, pushing her legs back under the blanket, rearranging the pillows.

"As much as I love having no other man, but you between my legs, I felt awkward you being here while he examined me, there." Her face turned completely pink.

"So you kicked me out so he could look at your pussy? I'm quite jealous now." I gave her my crooked grin she loved so much.

"Edward you make it sound so dirty." She giggled.

"Did he find anything out of the ordinary?"

"Said I looked in perfect order." She bit on her lip.

"You definitely are."

Her mouth fell open and she smacked my arm. I couldn't help love the lightness of the moment, but knew this soon would pass.

"Have they found Carmen?" her smile all but gone.

"No, but Liam won't stop until he finds her."

"Good, I would like to give that bitch a piece of my mind." Her voice determined.

Just then my cell phone began to buzz and it was Liam calling. His ears must have been ringing.

"What's the update?" I asked my tone serious.

"You need to come here now! You will want to see this." Liam spoke swiftly.

"See what?" I questioned.

"I found Carmen."

Well what do you think? Good place to leave off?