A/N: Hey guys! Okay, you don't have to tell me, I suck at updating! I know! Lol…It's just, work is super stressful, my English teacher is psychotic, and I got super inspired for my other story, All Bets Are Off. So I apologize for taking so long! Hope you guys like this!

Big thanks to Morgan for all her help!

Disclaimer: SMeyer owns Twilight. Not me.

BPOV

"What were you thinking James?" I heard Charlie's voice shout from downstairs. We had just gotten home from the hospital a little over an hour ago. Not long after I got settled in bed, Charlie had to run out on a police call.

"He ambushed me Charlie! What was I supposed to do?" I heard James say. I cringed when I heard his voice.

"You shouldn't have hit him back! You better be glad I didn't arrest you with that Cullen boy!" Charlie shouted at him. Cullen boy? Charlie arrested Edward? I jumped out of bed too fast, falling back down from dizziness. Taking a moment to calm down, I finally stood, slower this time, and started to make my way down the stairs. Both of them turned to watch me wince my way down. Just thinking hurt.

"Bella! Baby what happened?" James asked, faking concern. He rushed over to me, placing his hands on my shoulders and slouching down to meet me at my eyelevel. I flinched away from his touch on instinct but he had a tight hold on my shoulders. I wanted to vomit.

"I fell down the stairs," I mumbled, looking him in the eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I got about twenty stitches. What were you yelling about Char…um…Dad?" I asked, pushing past James and walking into the kitchen for a glass of water. I would probably pay for that later but at the moment I was in too much pain to worry about any future pain.

"That call I ran out for earlier. Turns out it was Jessica Stanley calling about a fight at Emmett McCarty's house. When I got there, James here and Edward Cullen were going at it. The Cullen boy started it so I had to arrest him for assault," Charlie explained. My eyes were wide in shock. It was just then that I noticed the split lip and black eye on James' face. Good job Eddie! I had to bite back a smile at seeing those marks on James that I have seen on myself for so long now.

"Are you okay? Do you need some ice for your eye?" I forced myself to ask.

"No, I'm okay Bells. Thank you for caring!" James smiled, rubbing my back.

"So you arrested him?" I asked Charlie, moving away from James and sitting down at our small kitchen table. Charlie grabbed a beer from the fridge before joining me at the table. James stayed where he was, leaning back against the sink.

"Bella! He attacked me!" James said loudly, playing his role of the town's God given gift like always. I turned towards him with a frightful look on my face, noticing the evil glare in his eye. I decided to try to keep Charlie in the same room until James left. Maybe then I wouldn't get hit again tonight. If I could put him off for at least a few days, long enough for my head to heal.

"No, of course, he should have been arrested! I didn't mean it like that sweetheart!" I choked out.

"I just meant I'm surprised Charlie arrested anyone, let alone a teenager! You're too nice sometimes Dad!" I said, trying to make a joke to save myself.

"I have to be fair. Besides, I couldn't let that kid get away with beating up my future son-in-law could I Bells?" he asked with a smile, beaming at both James and I. James smiled widely and moved to sit next to me, reaching in his pocket. I tensed.

"Speaking of that," he said, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket. I instantly got a look of pure fear on my face. I'm sure it mirrored the look on Charlie's face. James seemed to notice and chuckled.

"No, I'm not proposing! Both of you can breathe!" he laughed, opening the box to reveal a very small silver band with one tiny diamond set into it.

"It's a promise ring. We've been together for a long time Bella and I love you. More than anyone ever could. I hope you will accept this promise ring as a promise of my love and that I will never love anyone the way I love you."

Yeah I caught the hidden meaning behind his words. In James World, that translated to I'm going to put this ring on your finger and claim you as mine whether you like it or not!

Tears sprang to my eyes. I'm sure Charlie saw them as tears of joy. But truthfully, they were tears of anger, sadness, and terror. I'm never going to escape this man. Not until he kills me.

******************

The Next Day:

I accepted the ring. I didn't have a choice. If I would have said no it would have been another reason for him to hit me. Or kick me. I chose the lesser of two evils. Charlie decided since it was a very hectic and stressful night, that James could stay the night.

"Besides," he reasoned, "I have to leave for work at five am and I don't want to leave you alone with that gash on your head Bells."

Because I haven't been cleaning up gashes, or covering up bruises, or lying about broken arms for almost four years now. Charlie went to bed a few minutes later, telling James he had to sleep on the couch but we could stay up as late as we wanted. I told James five minutes later that the pain medication the hospital gave me was making me tired and went to bed. But only after making up the couch for him. While he stood there and insulted me. He called me stupid. Said my lies were becoming unrealistic. Told me I wasn't good for anything and I should be thankful that he loves me.

I woke up this morning the way I always do. In stages. First, my ears woke up. I didn't move a muscle, didn't open my eyes. I let my ears listen for any sound of movement. Once I was satisfied that no one was in my room, I let my body wake up. Once again, without opening my eyes, I stretched my toes out to the edge of the bed, stretching my arms out slowly, feeling for another body in the bed. No one was there. Finally, I opened my eyes, squinting first. Not seeing anyone, I opened my eyes completely, looking up at the ceiling in relief that he wasn't standing over me waiting.

"Good morning Bella," he greeted. I shrieked, looking at the doorway of my room to see him standing there. Why didn't I check the doorway?

"You startled me," I muttered, sliding out of bed carefully.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, walking towards me. I stood next to my bed, still as a statue, scared of what was coming. I nodded my head to his question.

"That's good. Because I need to ask you something," he said with that gleam in his eye. Okay, now I'm terrified.

"What's that?" I asked, my voice quivering with fear. He stood inches from me, his right hand moving a piece of hair from my face. His hand slid from my cheek to my neck. He caressed my collarbone with a small smile before it turned into a sneer, his hand tightening around my neck. So tight I could barely breathe.

"Why did Cullen tell me last night that if I touched you again he would kill me?" he demanded.

"I…don't…know," I could hardly talk. My hands grabbed at his hand, my nails scratching his hand, desperate for more air. In all the time he would beat me, I never thought he would do this.

"Don't lie to me Bella! Are you fucking him or something?" he screamed, tightening his grip. I just shook my head violently, tears streaming down my face.

"Are you sure? Because he seemed pretty sure of himself when he hit me!" he sneered, letting go of my neck. I doubled over, my left hand on my knee, my right hand on my throat. I gasped for air, sobbing.

"Answer me!" he shouted, grabbing my shoulder and yanking me up. Before I could say anything, he backhanded me. I tried not to make any noise. The more noise I make the harder he hits. I just stood there and took it.

"Bella, I've told you a million times, you are not allowed to talk to other guys! Didn't you learn your lesson last night?" he asked, punching me in the stomach. I again doubled over, this time clutching my stomach. He pushed me backwards then, making me fall on my back on my bed.

"It's me you love Bella. No one else. Right?" he asked, climbing on top of me. I nodded, trying to stop the tears.

"Say it. I wanna hear you say it!" he growled, his hands moving to the waist band of my pajama pants.

"I love you James," I whispered, shaking at this point, hoping that would stop him.

"I love you Bella. Don't ever forget that," he whispered, yanking my pajama pants and underwear off.

"No," I cried, watching him unbutton his jeans and slide them off with his boxers.

"Don't cry Bells. It's okay. We love each other," he said slowly, entering me roughly. I cried out in pain as he thrusted over and over.

It was then that I knew what I had to do. I just hope he doesn't kill me before then.

A/N: Like it? Hate it? Leave a review and let me know!