CHAPTER 37
Edward's POV
"Edward, we found a hiding spot in the wall in your guest room. Its looks as if someone cut a hole right through the wall. It's only big enough for a crouching person." Liam's voice echoed over the cell.
My mind went hazy then. Who was able to get into my apartment with all the security? When did they have the time? Is this what Carmen's distraction was supposed to be?
"They found Carmen." My voice barely an audible pitch.
All I could do was picture James hiding in that hole, just waiting for Bella.
"And…?" She nudged.
"Liam wants me to go back to the apartment, but I don't want to leave you alone." But there was no way in hell I was leaving her now
"Edward, go it's okay, Alice or Rose could come and keep me company," She seemed relaxed by this admission.
"But they can't protect you well enough." I felt the fear clutch me.
"Just stop it!" She slammed her fist down startling me.
"Just ask Emmett or someone, I need a break from you!" She seemed spent.
But her words cut through me. She needed a break from me? All I tried to do was keep her safe. I didn't realize I was making a nuance of myself.
"I'm sorry that didn't come out right." She tried to retract her words.
I just nodded, afraid that I might cry at that moment. If she only knew what Liam had discovered in our home, I had to walk out, but I only stepped out the door. I could hear her yelling my name, regret clear in her voice. Then I heard her sobs and my resolve disappeared.
I came back in to comfort her. She wept in my arms until she fell asleep. Emmett came by and I asked him to keep a close eye on her.
I entered the penthouse, chaos all around me. Liam's security team was all over and things looked turned upside down. I immediately made my way to the second floor. As I approached my playroom, Liam stood guard by the door.
"Has she said anything?" I asked Liam.
"No sir, she has refused to speak." Liam informed me.
I nodded my head and entered the room, closing the door behind me. The conversation I was about to have with Carmen wasn't going to happen in front of my staff, even if he knew my lifestyle. As I walked in the room I saw Carmen tied to the St Andrew's cross wearing nothing at all. When she saw my face, her eyes lit up and a scheming smile crossed her face.
"I've been expecting you." She purred.
"You're pathetic." I said with disgust.
"You used to love this pathetic woman." She smirked.
"I never loved you and with the way I feel right now, I could kill you and think nothing of it. You make my stomach turn. What exactly did you think you would accomplish here? Did delude yourself that hurting Bella would make me want you? Cause it only proves more why I will never want you." The venom dripped with every word.
"That girl could never be woman enough for you. She can't even take care of herself without you. Seriously she is pathetic." Her words rolled off her tongue like daggers.
"What did you inject her with? If you don't tell me I'll make sure you spend as much time in prison as the law allows!" My patience waiving, I was done letting her believe her fantasy.
She ignored my question and purred, "I want to play Edward." Her voice was trying to sound seductive as she writhed her body off the cross trying to entice me. It only served to repulse me.
Without another thought I walked over to her and pushed her roughly against the cross. She took this as my interest in her plan to get me to play. Instead I untied her, and I walked over to the storage chest and grabbed a towel, throwing it at her. "Cover yourself; I have no interest in looking at your old saggy body." I thought insulting her might help get her to snap out of her illusion.
"How the hell did you get yourself attached to that thing alone?" I growled.
She wrapped the towel around her body, finally realizing she'd been rejected.
"I did it myself." She mumbled.
"Very unlikely Carmen. Stop fucking with me and be honest for once in your miserable life." I thundered.
"Fuck you Edward! And that little slut girlfriend of yours." She crossed her arms.
Without thinking I grabbed her by her neck, pushing her against the wall. She saw the fire in my eyes, causing fear to sweep over her face.
"Bella has nothing to do with why I don't want you. You are the reason, you and you alone. Bella is perfection; you could never come close to achieving." I let her go and she grasped for air.
"Liam come get her, take her away; I hope to God I never see her again!" I yelled and walked out of the room.
By this point the police had been called. Nothing had been resolved and many questioned still loomed in my head. To be cuffed to that cross involved two people, so who assisted her? What the hell did she inject into Bella? These questions just swirled with no answers, but ominous implications. .
Officer Bryan asked me a lot of questions, half of which I didn't even remember answering. I told him everything that had happened with Carmen and James. He took my statement and I changed my clothes, heading back to Bella's side before she knew I was gone.
A few days after Bella had gotten out of the hospital, we were lying in bed. We had since returned to the penthouse, against my better judgment. After all that had happened here I was ready to move out, but Bella didn't feel the same way; I gave in to her, but doubled the security detail.
"I really wish you would change your mind about Sweden." I mumbled as I kissed her neck.
"Edward, you don't need me there, it's only a couple days." She giggled from my touch.
"I always need you Bella, please come with me; Sweden is beautiful this time of year." I growled nibbling on her ear.
"It drives me crazy when you do that." She moaned.
"I know I'm hoping to entice you." I smirked and she smacked me playfully.
"Go with me to Sweden." I looked into her chocolate eyes, giving her my best pleading look.
"No." She shook her head.
"Please?" I pouted.
"No." She covered her face with a pillow.
"I would feel safer with you being with me." I pulled the pillow from her face.
"I have Liam and Karl and whoever else you have following me. I will be fine." She kissed my cheek, turning off the lamp.
"I doubt that." I turned on my side and went to sleep; very disappointed I had not changed her mind.
Sweden was full of business meetings and late night phone sex. I was only gone for four days, but it was agony without her. Not seeing her beautiful smile in person or watching her sleep, it wreaked havoc on me.
My home coming was brief; as two days later, I had to leave again, but this time it was only for a day. I had business to tie up in Chicago.
However the meeting ended earlier than expected so I decided to have my sister distract Bella for a couple hours while I came back home to surprise her. However Alice failed to text me to let me know that Bella was already on her way home, so hence I needed to hide out of sight.
She got scared from me making too much noise upstairs and who could blame her? She sent Karl to investigate, but he knew I was up there. I heard him give her some excuse about a window and I knew she would be coming up, so I hid in the play room. I texted Rose to have her distract Bella so I could prepare.
BST
As we entered the party, people stopped and stared. I assumed it was at Bella. She looked breathtaking tonight; I would claim her once we got home. I got jealous from the stares, but I knew there was nothing to fear because she was going home with me.
I excused myself from her side, allowing her time to talk with her old friends. I chatted briefly with some people. Unfortunately one person approached me that I was not in the mood for, Jessica. Had I done something wrong this month? Did I not donate enough money to charity? I would try to be as polite as possible and hope the conversation wouldn't last long.
She approached slowly in her long tight fitting black dress that was way too low cut in the front. Her hair swept to the side and she wore way too much make up. How she believed that was attractive was beyond me.
Don't get me wrong, she was beautiful, but not my type; hair too blonde, too gossipy. I could only imagine if I had her for a sub, everyone would know our business. She touched my shoulder softly with her finger tips, appraising me.
"Edward, how are you?' She smiled at me, lipstick on her teeth, I stifled an eye roll.
"I'm doing well Jessica, you?" Not that I gave a fuck, just trying to be polite; Esme would be proud.
"Well I'm doing good. So you and Bella?" She nodded with a smirk.
"Yes" I smiled; "what about it?" I didn't quite get her angle.
"I don't know what you see in her. I mean you could have been with me." She waved her hand in the air at herself, like she was irresistible.
I caught sight of Bella talking to Alice by a table. Her dress fitted perfectly to her shapely body. Her long brown hair looked so fuck hot the way she styled it. Those pouting lips pursing as she spoke; her makeup subtle, enhancing her feature to perfection. I was getting a hard on just thinking of her.
"Jessica, you were never my type. You never had a chance in hell with me. I'm marrying Bella; I don't know if you heard, but we are engaged. So if you say another word to me about my personal choices, you can kiss your job goodbye." I was about to walk off, but decided to turn back to her.
"On second thought you know what, you're fired. Monday you can pack your stuff up and go. I will give you a severance package, if you leave without a complaint; I just want you out of my company and my life." I didn't wait for a reply I walked off toward my girl.
We danced and flirted the night away. When I felt my presence was no longer needed here, I decided we could go. All night what went through my mind was Bella wrapping her long creamy legs around my waist as I took her.
As we entered the penthouse, a light flicking on was a shock to say the least and then to see James so leisurely sitting in my home was unnerving. Ordering Bella away to a safe place, I turned my full rage onto to this animal.
"I will kill you where you stand you son of a bitch!" I roared as I lunged at him.
We wrestled on the floor; I got a few effective punches in at him. He seemed to be out of energy, so as I stood over him I kicked him in the stomach, wiping the blood from my mouth. That's when I saw Bella's brown eyes wide and surprised.
I turned around to see James pointing a gun at me. I stood frozen, not from fear of him harming me, but what if his aim was off and hit Bella. She began to sob confessing her love for me to this psycho. Suddenly as if it happened in the blink of an eye a bullet was heading in our direction.
From where Bella was standing she couldn't tell, but it was coming straight for her. In a blink of an eye I jumped in front of her. Then the world seemed to fade away...
BST
BPOV
Everything around me was swirling surreal. Liam's men had James pinned to the wall, while all I could do was stroke Edward's head, praying to god he would be alright. I don't know what happened to me in that moment, but I reached over and picked up the fire poker that I'd just had in my hand and with one quick action , I was charging toward the bastard at full speed.
I guess Liam didn't expect it or wasn't prepared, but with one precise hit, I pushed the poker through the middle of James' chest. He screamed in unbearable agony, so I twisted it, but one of the security guys pulled me away before I could cause any more damage.
Then before I realized it, there were paramedics everywhere and police officers. My head was swimming as they worked on Edward and simultaneously lifted him onto the stretcher and wheeled him into the hallway.
When we arrived at the hospital there was a team of doctors and nurses awaiting our arrival. They took Edward and quickly moved down the hallway. James had shot him dead center in the chest. They had no idea if the bullet had hit any internal organs. After 10 hours in surgery, the doctor finally came out to give us an update. His face looked pale.
Istoodinfrontofthecasket.Itwasrainingsohard,everyoneinblackholdingtheirumbrellas.Carlisleheldoneovermyhead,Icouldn'tfindtheenergytodosomyself.ThemanIlovedwasinthatblackbox,abouttobeloweredintotheground.
I looked around at the faces of the people who loved him, his friends, family and associates he had made over the years. A lot of people loved him. There was a group separate from the rest. Women specifically, I assumed to be the subs he'd once dominated, but he would dominate no more.
I realized at this point my heart no longer existed; no it was broken into a million pieces. I watched them lower the casket into the cold ground and everyone began to throw roses in after it. They quietly gave their condolences and walked away.
After a while I realized I was standing all alone. Everyone had gone, yet the umbrella was still being held over my head. I could have sworn I saw Carlisle walk off. I turn to look to see who was holding the umbrella and it was James. He's grinning like a damn fool at me.
"Now we can be together forever." He laughed
I tried to run, but suddenly we weren't in the cemetery anymore, we were in an endless black room and I couldn't run from him. He tackled me to the floor and hovered above me.
"Now it will be me who makes you moan." He gave one last evil grin.
I jolted up and heard nothing, but the sound of machines incessant beeping. I opened my eyes to find myself in a chair in the ICU next to Edward's bed. I sighed in relief realizing it had only been a nightmare.
However I'd woken up to an almost more terrifying nightmare in itself. It had been almost two weeks since Edward had been shot and he hadn't yet woken up. The Doctor's claimed his brain activity was normal, but for some reason he was not coming out of the coma.
I tried my best to not fall asleep. The persistent nightmares that came were always of Edward dead, and I couldn't bear the thought of that. I looked at his sleeping form, that's what I told myself. He was just sleeping; he laid there connected to monitors and his eyes closed.
He looked peaceful. Every so often his lips would twitch, as if he was trying to smile. I took his limp hand in mine and would hold it for hours using it to touch my face to feel his warmth. I told him how much I loved him, how much he meant to me. I hoped that he was hearing me, to give me a sign. All I got was silence.
There had been a lot of close calls in the beginning; they even had to use the paddles on him. I cursed the fate of James. He could die for all I cared.
I wasn't sure what time of day it was or even if it was night or not even the date. I kept the curtains closed in his private hospital room. There was a knock on the door and then it began to open slowly. Esme popped her head in, giving me a weak smile.
"Hey Bella." She smiled as she walked in the room with a plate wrapped in foil.
"Esme." I gave a tired smile back
"I bought you something to eat." She held the plate out in front of me.
"Thanks, that's really sweet of you." I took the plate, placing it on the table next to the bed, I wasn't interested in eating.
She nodded, taking a seat next to me. She just stared at her unconscious son lying in the bed. Knowing how much this was hurting me; I could only imagine what it was doing to her.
"Any changes?' She asked stroking Edward's hair.
"Not since earlier when you were here." I sighed sitting back.
"Did he ever tell you that when he was a teenager he saved Alice from being raped?" She shook her head at the memory.
Hearing her words, it didn't quite click in. I had no idea Alice was almost raped, Edward had never said anything about it. Esme looked at me, obviously knowing I didn't.
"Alice was waiting for him to get out of basketball practice. He had forgotten to give her the keys to the car. A guy approached her, trying to offer her a ride. When she refused he forcefully grabbed her and dragged her into the woods by the school. She kicked and screamed for him to leave her alone. Edward must have heard her, he came running with Jasper and well, they beat him senseless." Esme shook her head once more.
"I had no idea." Was all I could say.
"It's one of the reasons why he's so over protective. It drove Alice crazy, but she loved him for it." Esme laughed lightly.
"He can be a bit overbearing at times." I laughed with her.
"His heart is really big. He just wants the best for everyone, especially for you. I'm so glad you found each other." Esme smiled patting my knee.
"I'm so happy to have found him; I can't lose him, not like this." The river I had been holding back came flooding down my cheeks. Esme pulled me into her embrace.
"Please don't cry." I heard a scratchy voice reply.
We both looked up to see a groggy looking Edward watching us. I let go of Esme going to him and just stared in disbelief. He was awake!
"Edward?' I questioned him; like it wasn't obvious it was him.
"Bella." He sighed, reaching out his hand.
I grabbed on to it, giving it a good tight squeeze. I kissed every one of his fingers, I was just so overjoyed to finally hear his voice. Esme jumped off the chair, reaching out to gently hug her son. He wrapped his arms around his mother the best he could.
"What happened?" He asked after Esme released her death hold on him.
"You've been in a coma for two weeks." I cried.
"Two weeks?" He looked lost.
"Yes, I was so afraid you weren't going to…" But I couldn't finish the sentence, it hurt just thinking about the possibility of him being taken from me.
"I'm here, I'm here." He nudged me to look at him.
I looked into those green eyes, I'd been so afraid I would never see them again. Esme backed off and I sat tenderly on his bed next to him. He wrapped his arms around me and I laid my head on his chest, doing my best to avoid the wound, but he groaned a little, which made me lean up.
"I'm sorry." I yelped.
"It's okay; it's just a little sore." He smiled weakly.
"Let me find the doctor and let him know you're awake." Esme nodded and walked out of the room.
"How are you feeling?' I asked caressing his face.
"Tired surprisingly." He laughed laying his head into the pillow.
"Sleep, I will be here when you wake up." I smiled.
"Wasn't that long ago I spoke the same words to you." He smirked, closing his eyes.
"Bella, can I ask for one thing?" His eyes never opening.
"Anything." I sighed.
"Kiss me."
Without hesitation I touched my lips to his. Even though he hadn't been using his mouth for two weeks, he was still soft. It was a brief kiss, I felt all the terror and worry of the last 2 weeks fade away, but I didn't want to overwhelm him, so I sat back in my chair holding his outreached hand in mine and watched him drift off to sleep.
Well my lovely's? Opinions …... I would never kill Edward, I love him too much!