AN: Jasper and Bella go for Renee.

Chapter fifty six: John and I

Jasper, September, 2011..

"What do you mean?" I asked Bella as I watched her get dressed. She was tossing and turning a minute ago, now she was up and saying we had to go and help Renee? What the fuck?

"Baby, are you okay?" I reached out and touched her forehead while she pulled on her black tights and then she grabbed her biker boots. She was already wearing a tank top. After she put on her boots, she grabbed a blue plaid shirt and pulled it on.

"Get dressed, Jasper," she said seriously.

"What for?" I actually chuckled. Bella must be sleeping walking. And if so, it's the best case of it I have ever seen. She was dressed and standing in front of me with a hand on her hip and determined look on her face. "Because we need to help Renee."

"Something is wrong."

"You damn right it is," I said. "You're sleepwalking and I need you to wake up, baby."

Bella rolled her eyes at me. "I'm not sleepwalking. I'm awake. I need you to call Jenks. Since you don't believe me. You've got someone watching her. Tell me she's okay and I'll get undressed and crawl back to bed."

I chuckled and walked over to the bedside table. I was about to prove Bella wrong when my cell rang. She scoffed and folded her arms over her chest. She was nervous. I saw it in her eyes but she was trying to put up a brave front. I answered my phone and Jenks' panicked voice came on the other end, "I'm sorry, sir."

Things have been going well with Peter and I. So I was back in control of things concerning Jenks and his surveillance on James Carter. A part of me actually missed it. I liked knowing what the bastard was up to. Not that I had a problem with Peter relaying what was happening, but I felt better being in control again. Bella was fine with it as long as I didn't let it get to me.

"What happened?"

"Ms. Higginbotham is on her way to the hospital." I looked at Bella and she was staring at me. She mouthed, 'What happened to her?'

"What happened to her?"

"Our guy trailed her to Mr. Carter…" Jesus, was this going where I think it was? What did James do? "He stopped a way off. Just enough to keep her vehicle in sight, but a nosy neighbor made him move by calling the cops on him. A contact I have in the police department said James told the old neighbor some story about Ms. Sawn being your captive, without naming you of course, and he claimed James said you were holding her for a ransom he couldn't afford. The old guy ate up and called the cops on our guy."

The more Jenks talked, the more pissed off he grew.

"Then what happened?" I watched as Bella took a seat on the edge of the bed. I moved close to her. She grabbed a hold of me and hugged herself to my stomach while I ran a hand through her hair, in attempts to calm her. If anything changed, I was going to take her straight to the hospital. I wasn't taking any chances.

"Our guy went back after the cops left. He said James' front door was ajar and he took the chance, since Ms. Higginbotham's car was still in the driveway, and went in."

"What did he find?" Renee wasn't my favorite person, but she didn't deserve whatever Jenks was about to say.

"He went in with his gun in hand. He said there was no one inside the house besides Ms. Higginbotham, who he found in the living room, bloodied and unconscious."

"What happened?" Bella said to me.

"They found Renee, beaten up and unconscious." I was hoping like hell she didn't collapse after I said that.

Bella pushed me away so she could stand. She held her hand out for the phone. I was too surprised by her sudden change in mood to refuse her so I handed it over.

"Hello, Mr. Jenks," she said and then nodded. I assume Jenks was greeting her.

"Good. I wanted to thank you and the man who helped my mother. But I need something else. I cannot believe I'm about to do this, but I won't feel better until I know Renee is safe. So you and Jasper are going to pull all stops to get her transferred from California to a hospital in Houston, until she can be moved down here in Henderson."

Wow! It was all I could think. It wasn't the best time to be thinking what I was suddenly thinking about, but I loved how forceful and demanding my fiancée sounded.

"I want her under twenty four hour protection. I know James and his dad. They'll try to hurt her if she stays. Victoria will be another problem. She loves James. He does no wrong in her eyes. She's as mad as he is. You have to keep my mother away from them."

She threw the phone back to me and stormed out of our bedroom in tears.

"Get it done, Jenks," I said and hung up after he promised to.

I grabbed my jeans and a shirt that was hanging on the back of the chair and followed Bella. She was carefully making her way downstairs. I trailed her as she made her way to the kitchen. She got something to drink and went over the breakfast table and sat down. I ripped off my sleep pants and threw on my jeans right there. I pulled the shirt over my head and went to sit down in front of her. She looked like she was in a daze.

"Baby, do you want to go to the hospital? Are you feeling any pain? Any discomfort?" I was firing questions at her. I was ready to do what she wanted.

She smiled at me as a tear ran down her face. "She and I aren't in the best place right now and I don't know if we'll ever be, but it doesn't mean he gets to hurt her too." Bella cried.

I got up and went to her side. I pulled her in my arms as she sobbed on my shoulder. "Do you want to go over to the main house? Do you want my mom to help?"

She sighed and pulled away. She ran a hand down my face and then leaned in and kissed my cheek. "You're so good to me."

"I always will be."

"I'm fine. I just want Jenks to get it done. I'll feel better when I know we can get her away from them."

Maybe this was the wrong time to ask, but I had to know. "How did you know something happened to her?"

Bella dropped back in her chair and sighed. She took a sip of her drink while I patiently waited for her to speak.

"I dreamt I was going to James'. I pulled up to the house, got out of my car, and was about to walk to the door when I saw Garrett. He wanted me to turn around and leave but I wouldn't listen. I continued into the house and I saw James. He was high. But I thought he was drunk."

"I get what you're saying but how did you know the difference?"

"I didn't understand until later in the dream but it was like I was experiencing it and watching it happen all at the same time."

"Please, go on." I told her.

Bella nodded. "James and I talked, but everything started to change because I refused to be called 'Marie'. I think I told him my name was Bella. He got pissed. We argued. I was ready to leave when he started pretending to be sad yet understanding. He lured me in, and by the time I realized what was happening, we were fighting. When he told me no one would hear me scream, I felt like it was all over. I think I was experiencing what was happening to her, Jasper. He used her the way he use me. He hurt her because he can't hurt me. I know I sound crazy."

"It's not crazy. I refuse to believe that. Just tell me…what did he do to you?"

She looked deep into my eyes as she said, "Horrible things. Everything he used to do."

I heaved a sigh and placed my head in her lap. She ran her hand through my hair.

It took a while to get Bella to rest after that. It took calling Momma and Sue over to get her comfortable enough and then it took Sam trying to convince her that we will get things done. Eventually Zafrina won when I called her after Bella went hysterical on me when I merely suggested she calm down. I don't know what Zafrina threatened her with, but it earned me the stick eye, however, she did go to sleep.

Momma and I were on the phone with Jenks as soon as she was out. Peter and Edward were conference in as our lawyers. We wanted to do all we could without any legal issues. Peter and Edward were at odds during the conference as to why we should help Renee.

Momma won by saying. "She's her mother. It's Bella's business why she wants to help! We're here to assist Bella!"

The argument was kaput after that.

Carlisle and Esme came on board by morning. Carlisle had a few buddies in California and thankfully one worked in the hospital Renee was currently at. He was one of the first doctors to assist her.

Bella was cranky and edgy as the day moved ahead. She wanted things that were impossible at the moment. Renee couldn't be flown yet. She had just got out of her second surgery where she had suffered a stroke. It was a lot of damage. James had put the woman through hell. The doctors were working tirelessly to repair most of the damage. Carlisle's friend said it was a fucking miracle she was alive.

Day two found us waiting on Renee to be able to be moved. I was going to fly up to California, but Bella started panicking and Carlisle took my place along with Emmett. Rose was the only one who could console her. Zafrina came over and administered a light sedative after putting Bella on bed rest for the rest of the day.

Carlisle and Emmett had flown out last night. Today was day three and Bella was handling things a lot better. Momma, Rose and Sue were a great help to us. They kept Bella comfortable and eased her mind for a bit while I handled business with Jenks. We couldn't find James.

"Caius is helping him hide," Bella stated to me over lunch after Carlisle called to say they working with Renee's doctors to get her moved by tonight into tomorrow morning. It was great news to Bella. She had also spoken to Charlie, who wasn't too happy about the situation, and told me to keep a close eye on his daughter. Sue asked to speak with him and watching her light up while she spoke to Charlie was a sight to see. It made me happy to know that the woman who had cared for me all my life was finding happiness.

Sue and Charlie spoke almost every day. Bella always had a knowing smirk on her face whenever Sue told her about speaking with her dad. I think Bella wanted to see her friend and her dad get together as much as I did. They deserved to be happy.

Renee was safe to move this morning. It was day four. She and Carlisle and Emmett were on their way to Houston right now. Bella had insisted on meeting them at the hospital, but I was objecting which led to an argument.

"Not today." I said it with enough finality so she would get the point but Bella wasn't backing down.

"I want to see her!" she yelled.

"Not today!" I yelled back. Momma and everyone else in the room stopped and stared at me cautiously. "You're pregnant. You're high risk. I'm not going to sit around and watch you run yourself into a rut and endanger our child anymore than I did because of Renee!" I huffed. "Bella, I'm doing this for you…and only you! That woman is not my favorite person, but she didn't deserve what James did to her. But, so help me, I will check you into the hospital myself and have Zafrina tie you to the bed if you shout or overexert yourself one more time!" I hissed at her.

She looked shocked as she slowly took a seat on the couch. As she took a deep breath, she glanced down in her lap, playing with her fingers. "I'm sorry," she said so softly, I almost didn't hear. She looked like she was about to cry.

"I'm sorry too," I said as Momma shooed everyone out of the room, leaving me and Bella. "I shouldn't have been so harsh but I don't want you to hurt yourself, baby."

She nodded. "I know."

On day five, we argued again but it ended with a better outcome.

The family's private jet had flown Carlisle and Emmett and Renee to Houston. She was then taken to St. Jospeh Medical Center. I was heading up there today with Sam. Security detail had doubled. Bella didn't really like it, but she found it necessary.

"I want to see her," Bella said as soon as I got off the phone with Jenks. "I have to see her."

"It might be traumatic."

"I had to live to with that bastard and look at the damage he'd done every day afterward," she countered with a raised eyebrow. "I think I can handle it."

"I can't handle you traveling."

"Jasper!" She yelled and then took a deep breath, closed her eyes and wet her plump lips. Even in an argument, I wanted to kiss her.

When her eyes snapped opened, they held fire, but I wasn't going down without a fight. "I want to see her. If you don't accompany me, I'll find my own way there."

"I won't let you." I defied her.

"Let me?!"

"Bella, calm down," I said with a roll of my eyes. She huffed and I continued as if she didn't because this wasn't getting us anywhere. We shouldn't be fighting about it. "I'll let you go. But you won't be alone."

She chuckled and came into my arms, wrapping hers around me as best as she could. "I wasn't going anywhere without you," she told me as she laid her head on my chest.

Sam drove us to Houston with Zafrina in the passenger seat while Bella and I sat in the back.

"This is a bad idea," Zafrina reasoned. "You shouldn't be traveling, Bella."

Bella rolled her eyes for the millionth time. "I'm going to a hospital, aren't I?"

Sam faked coughing to cover his laughter. Zafrina promptly shut up. And I beamed proudly at my incredibly strong and sexy fiancée.

Bella took control as soon as she was out of the car. I spotted Mr. Jenks waiting in the ambulance bay. He stepped forward as we approached. Mr. Jenks was a tall, strong built, African American man with a few gray hairs peppering his hairline. Bella recognized him from pictures I had shown her and beamed at him after he introduced himself to her.

"It's so nice to meet you!" She pulled him into a strong hug. He looked surprised to be tackled by a small pregnant woman with unbelievable strength. I shrugged my shoulders at him and he smiled and hugged her back.

"It's nice to meet you in person too, Ms. Swan."

"Bella," she told him as she let him go.

"Bella." He smiled.

"Thank you for coming."

"It's wasn't a problem," he said. "Besides, I need be here."

"What's been going on?" I asked Jenks.

He acknowledged me, cutting right to the chase. "With James' disappearance, I think he's coming after Bella. He's working in the dark. I think he's deluded enough to think he can get away with her."

"So we're sitting ducks?" Sam asked with an edge to his tone.

"Yes," Mr. Jenks said. "Armed and ready sitting ducks."

Sam smiled and I chuckled.

"I'm right here. He can come after me all he wants. He won't win. I'm not afraid of him anymore." Bella was defiant and brave as she spoke no truer statement. I wasn't about to let anyone take my family away from me.

We all went inside the hospital where Bella took charge again. She walked right up to the front desk and demanded to know where her mom was. I had to intervene and relate, more calmly, the issue at hand to the nurse on duty. Bella was spiffy.

"She's ogling you," she muttered when we sat down.

"Bella…" I whined.

"She was!" she exclaimed. "She was watching your ass as you walked away."

I shook my head at her and told her we had to wait on Carlisle to come down from the ICU where I knew Renee was.

During the wait, Jenks and I spoke. Bella told him she hated all the new people running around on the ranch but she understood the necessity. Even if it made her feel like a prisoner. She never admitted it to me and it pained me how James was making our lives uncomfortable from wherever he was.

We devised a plan and then Jenks bid us good bye for now. He wasn't going far. Just for breakfast. Two guards were already upstairs with Renee. They were posted outside of her room.

Not a minute after Jenks left, we spotted Carlisle making his way over to us. With mine and Zafrina's help, Bella stood. She waddled half the way over to him. Carlisle stopped in front of us.

"Carlisle, how is she?" Were the first words out of Bella's mouth then she apologized. "I'm sorry. Thank for doing this. How are you?"

Carlisle smiled and waved it off. "It was nothing. You're family. And you don't have to apologize. I know you're worried. I'm good. Exhausted but I'm okay. As for Renee, it was touch and go before we left. I'm not going to sugarcoat things, Bella. You're not the type."

Bella nodded. "Thanks for noticing."

"Well, it was bad. There were complications and we were worried at first about making the trip, but things were in our favor. Here in Houston, I've got a med school buddy, Dr. Baker. He's going to be doing all he can for Renee."

"Okay," Bella said. She swallowed hard and asked another question. "Jasper said she was in a coma."

"She is. A medically induced one. We want to see if we can allow the body time to heal without interruption and then take it from there."

"Okay," Bella repeated. "Can we see her?"

"Let's go," Carlisle said, leading us up to the ICU.

We got off the elevator and turned down the hall. Emmett was outside the door I assume to be Renee's room, talking with a guy who looked to be in his forties. He was about six foot tall, lithe built and speaking intensely with Emmett about something.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"We're worried about the damage to her head. We don't know what it'll be like when she wakes up." Carlisle relayed. He beckoned the doctor over when Emmett looked our way.

Dr. Baker introduced himself to us before Emmett pulled Bella into a hug. We heard the same thing over again while Bella soaked it up like a sponge.

"I want to know what exactly happened to her," she whispered to me after Dr. Baker said we could go in. "They're giving me bits and pieces."

"And you want me to be responsible for sending you into labor?" I asked sarcastically.

"So?" she shot back with a smirk that told me not to worry. I still was. "My doctor's here."

I glanced at Zafrina over Bella's shoulder as we were about to enter the Renee's room. She shot me a hard look. She wouldn't be pleased if the situation sent Bella into labor.

Bella gasped when we stepped further into the room and saw Renee. Dr. Baker and Carlisle strolled in with Emmett behind us. Zafrina and Sam were standing by the door. Both held solemn expressions on their faces, though Sam's was far more hardened than Zafrina's. I knew what he was thinking. I was thinking the same. What kind of monster does this to a person?

Renee's face was swollen. Her right eye…black and blue.

"Some of the swelling has gone down," Emmett said.

Bella turned to him. "Tell me…what did you see when you got there?"

Emmett shook his head as if remembering something horrific. "She was in bad shape. I didn't know she would make it."

Bella took a deep breath.

Zafrina stepped forward out of concern. "Bella, perhaps, this is too much."

"No," Bella dismissed her. "I'm sorry, but I have to know what he did to my mother."

Zafrina nodded and backed off.

I kept a supportive hand on the small of Bella's back, rubbing it gently. Letting her know I was here for her.

Emmett looked to Carlisle and he nodded to go ahead. "Take a seat, Bella," he said gently. I pulled the chair over for her and she sat down, staring up at Emmett expectantly.

As he began, he wasn't the friendly guy she had come to know. He was serious, yet, gentle, as he spoke to her. This was Dr. McCarty. I was used to him like this. Bella wasn't. She seemed a little stunned by his sudden change in demeanor.

"Renee has suffered a lot. Though, as a doctor, I'm not as privy to believing in miracles, I have to say, your mother's continued survival is nothing short of that," Emmett said. Bella took another deep breath and took my hand in hers, resting them on her shoulder. "As you can see there are visible bruises. Enough of them to make you think she was a member of a fight club." Emmett smiled and Bella slightly chuckled. He wanted to ease the weight of his words a bit. "The large bandage on the left side of Renee's face is to cover a deep scar. Perhaps, if she makes it, she might want to do something about it." Bella nodded as if she would pass on the information to her mother. Emmett continued, "Renee is a medically induced coma. It will assist her in recovering from her internal injuries. She had broken ribs, at least four of them. She had a concussion and there was a fear of brain swelling."

"He hit her in the head a lot," Bella explained. I hated that she had the firsthand knowledge of James' handiwork. "He loved to do it when you try to escape."

Emmett sighed and shook his head but went on. "There are scars on almost sixty percent of her body. I'm sure Jenks declined to tell you, but when his guy found her, she was partially nude."

Everyone gasped except for Bella, Emmett, Carlisle, and Dr. Baker.

"Bella, you don't have to listen to this," I quickly said. I thought it was enough. She didn't need to know this part.

"I'm fine!" She snapped her up and hissed at me. She didn't mean to be mad at me. I could see it in her eyes. Her anger was toward James.

Emmett backed off, but Bella began to question Carlisle so he spoke up. "The lacerations on her lower body caused us to do a…" Carlisle fumbled over his words there. He wouldn't meet Bella's eyes, but she bravely added the words he failed to supply.

"He assaulted her. And I know why he did it, Carlisle. He hurt her because he can't get his hands on me to do the exact thing."

Dr. Baker chimed in. "Whoever this madman is, I hope they stop him soon."

Bella gazed at him long and hard. "They will. This is the end."

Bella has been sitting with her mother for a while. It was getting late. I wanted her to head to the penthouse for a good night's sleep. I would stay with Renee. But my stubborn fiancée didn't want to leave.

"I'm fine." She could be impossible when she wanted to be. Her back was killing her. I knew it. Even if she won't admit it. The recliner wasn't a suitable for her to sleep.

I ignored her statement. "You're not. Sam is going to take you to the penthouse and ensure you get some sleep." She moved to argue and I cut her off. "Just to make sure you behave, Zafrina will be staying with you too." She moved to speak again, and I stopped her. "I'll be here in case anything changes." I hoped it appeased her. I admired her wanting to be there for her mother, but I didn't want to endanger our child. We already took a risk traveling up to Houston with her. She was heavily pregnant and I shouldn't have let her sucker me into it. So we had to be careful.

"You don't believe anything is going to change any time soon," she countered with a snarky attitude.

As hot as it was, it wasn't up for discussion. "Bella, I won't say it again. We're going to do what's best for the baby. Now that's you getting a good night's rest at our penthouse," I said roughly. It was the only way she seemed to listen to me these last few days. She has been argumentative and combative at every turn. A part of me loved it. Another part worried it was putting stress on her and the baby. Her blood pressure was still in a delicate state. Zafrina had taken it earlier, and said all was well. I would still rather be safe than sorry though.

She stared me challengingly before she threw in the towel by giving me a hard kiss and huffing as she waddled away with Sam, two more guards and Zafrina out of Renee's room.

"I heard you proposed," Carlisle chuckled from behind me, reminding me that he was still in the room.

I turned to him with a grin. "I can't wait to marry that girl."

I loved snarky Bella.

The night has been uneventful so far. I just hung up with Bella after she woke up and called me. It was four am. I should get some sleep. My eyes were drooping.

Renee was the same. Stable and asleep. Carlisle and I had spoken at length about her condition before my conversation with Bella where we talked about her mother's condition. She thanked me for telling her. I told her Zafrina was going to kill me if she went into labor tonight. She laughed it off.

It was a good contrast, hearing her laughter, as opposed to the worry in her tone as we talked more about Renee. She had suffered a ruptured womb. A hysterectomy was done. She had a punctured left lung, and her heart stopped twice during surgery. Bella and I feared Renee's left side will be partially disabled when she woke up. Bella was prepared to help if Renee wanted. She was remaining positive. Her mother would wake up.

I loved my hopeful and courageous girl.

My eyes were closing so I eased my head back in the recliner and closed them. It would be a quick nap. We had guards outside the door so I had nothing to worry about.

He didn't look a day older than he did when I was twelve. It was strange, but then again, this was a dream. He smiled at me and I left like a kid again staring up at his hero. My dad chuckled.

"It's funny how you see me, Jas, 'cause I see the man that you are."

"I guess…I don't know what to think. I'm just happy to see you."

"I'm happy to be seen," He said and I laughed.

"You still got a quirky sense of humor."

"You're still as stubborn as your momma."

"Yeah, I guess I am."

We were sitting on this bench, staring out at the sea. It was sunset. It was peaceful. "Is this your version of heaven?" I asked. I was a little curious as to why we were on a beach staring out at a sunset. I always thought everyone had their own version of heaven.

"And what would your version be like?" He said as if he could read my mind. "It's not really mindreading when it comes to you, my boy. Your questions and emotions are written as clear as day on your face for me to see. You were never able to hide anything from me, Jas. You know that."

He was right. Dad always saw right through me.

"My version would anything involving me spending the rest of time with Bella." The answer left a smile on my face. It was the easiest thing to think of since Bella was the center of my universe.

"You love that girl so much," he stated. "It was hard watching you struggling and not be able to help. But then Isabella came along and I breathed a sigh of relief. You became each other's savior."

I chuckled and looked out at the sunset. "I suppose we are."

We were sitting in silence for a little while and I couldn't help but break it. I sighed deeply and said, "I miss you, Dad."

He glanced at me with a warm smile. Staring into his crystal blue eyes was like looking into a mirror. "I could say that I missed you too, and in a sense, I do, but Jas…I'm never far away. I'm always with you. Wherever you, your momma and your sister, I'm never far behind."

It was comforting to know. "I've always wondered."

"Now you don't have to," he supplied.

I decided to be cheeky. "Wait…that means when Bella and I are…"

Dad stopped me, shaking his head profusely, his shaggy blonde hair with the hints of gray, dancing around. "Oh no, no, boy. I'm never around for those private moments. I prefer to be blissfully ignorant to my kids…activities."

I laughed and he joined in.

Finally we sighed and stared out at the sunset again. It seemed like it was never going down, but for the love of me, I didn't care. The scenery was perfect. "Do you think I'll be good dad like you?" I asked, not looking at him. It was one of my deepest fears. Would I be a good father? I had learned from the best. I knew the depth of my father's love for me and Rose. I knew he had done whatever was necessary to make us safe. I could attest to that.

My dad scoffed. "You don't even have to ask, my boy. You'll be a great father. Hope will love you."

I turned to him and smiled wide. "You know her name?"

He leaned in as if to whisper. "I know her."

"How?"

He chuckled at my question. "We know things here."

I grew serious when he said so. "James is coming for Bella, isn't he?" It wasn't a question. I knew he was. I could feel it.

"It's as Bella said, 'This is the end.'"

"Jasper, wake up…" Her voice was gentle as she nudged me. I reached out and wrapped myself as best as I could around her protruding midsection. She let out a little squeak and then laughed.

"Let me go."

"No," I mumbled into her belly. "You're so comfy."

"That's a great way to tell your girlfriend she's fat," she said sarcastically.

"Fiancée."

"Fine," she huffed. "Fiancée."

"What are you doing here?" I pulled back and looked up at Bella.

She smiled down at me, running a hand through my hair. "I'm here with breakfast, sleepyhead. It's seven in the morning."

"What?!" I backed off and scoffed in disbelief. "I just put my head down."

"And the nurses didn't bother to disturb you." Bella supplied. "You were resting peacefully. And they are so in love with you because you're sitting by your mother-in-law's bedside like a dutiful son. I'm telling you you're going score some major stalkers."

She teased me and I pouted. "I'm not playing with you."

I got up, closed my eyes and stretched. It felt good to straighten my back. When I opened my eyes, I found Bella openly admiring me. "What?"

"I'm such a lucky girl."

I laughed and took the coffee she offered along with the bagel. While I ate, we talked as we sat with her mother.

Renee was still in the same condition. No change since last night.

When I got to my dream and I couldn't help but tell Bella how good it felt to see my dad. Even though hearing him utter Bella's words put me on alert. I told her what I said to him about James coming for her and his answer.

She agreed with Dad. "It's why we have to be ready."

"A side of me wants to believe he wouldn't dare."

"He doesn't like losing. When he gets an idea in his warped mind, it's stuck."

"You're not a possession," I hissed.

"I know," she whispered. "But with Caius and Vicky stroking his ego and feeding him bullshit, he'll make a move."

"We should work something out."

"Probably," Bella agreed.

"I think we might have to move you."

She looked as worried as I felt. I reached for her hand and she gave it. "We'll be okay."

"You promise?" She sounded so small. "I've never had anyone fought this long with me before. Usually, I'm alone in this."

I smiled, hoping to reassure her. "Not anymore, baby. And yes, I promise you. We'll make it. We're gonna be okay, darlin'."

Vicky, September, 2011…

"You're fucking insane!" I screamed at James. "How could you go so far? Why would you attack her mother?! Have you completely lost your fucking mind?!"

"Shut up, Victoria!" Caius yelled.

"Oh fuck off!" I directed that at him.

Caius was stunned but I didn't care about my dumb ass former stepdad trying to shut me up. This had gone too far. It was supposed to be fun and it wasn't fun anymore. How were we going to get our hands on Bella, have a little fun with the bitch then kill her so I can have James all to myself when he goes and does something like this?

James looked at me and smirked. I couldn't tell if the idiot was high or not. Usually, I knew, but he seemed to have a handle on it nowadays. It was hard to tell.

That, however, was beside the point.

How could Caius allow James to get high at a time like this?

We should be thinking about where we were going to hide him until this blew over? Jasper's security detail had us running around like fugitives. It made me hate Bella with even more. I couldn't wait to torture the tramp. The men who worked for her lover were like ex-CIA. They had us cornered. I felt like a convict. How disgusting! And for what? Some tramp and her whore of a mother who probably gave it up to James?

But James didn't have to take it to the lengths he did.

"I'll do what I want," James said with defiance etched in his tone. "Renee was…" He giggled. "…just being generous. At first she didn't want to, but then she realized she was more like Marie than she cared to admit to herself. I couldn't have the daughter, so the mother had to do."

"I hate to say this, but you're sick, James," I scoffed at him. "How the hell does the old board suffice for Be…Marie?"

He chuckled as if he knew some secret Caius and I didn't. ""Let's say…like daughter, like mother."

I slammed my fist down on the table and got up. We were on his dad's yacht in one of the staterooms. It was the only place I could think of to take him after he showed up on my doorstep with bloodied fists and high out of his mind. I don't know how he got to my place without causing in an accident. I called Caius thinking he would talk some sense into James after he laughed through his confession to me about what he did to Bella's mom. I didn't feel sorry for the bitch. But it was a dumb move. Someone had to be following Renee on behalf of Bella's lover.

"Do what you want?" I challenged James. I got in his face.

"Shut up, Vicky!" Caius shouted at me. And I turned away from James and aimed my fury on him.

"Don't you talk to me that way, you old bastard!" I yelled at him. "This is supposed to be about Bella and getting her ass back here so we can do what we want to her! Not her dumb mother!"

"Don't fucking call her that!" James sprang at me, faster than anything I had seen before. He grabbed my throat so quickly I didn't have time to catch my breath before he slammed me into the door. "Marie! MARIE! Her name is MARIE!"

"Let her go, James!" Caius demanded while I slowly lost air. "Let the tramp go. She's just like her mother…always panicking."

James looked at me and then his dad while my vision blurred. "But, Dad…" He whined.

"Let her go," Caius said in a deadly tone and James released me.

Why was James doing this to me? I didn't deserve it. All I did was love him. He knew this. If he would take his head out of his ass for one second and see I could more than Bella he would realize it. I was the right woman for him. No one else. We were two of a kind.

"Why?" I hoarsely asked him. "Why do you love her more than me?"

Caius groaned and then rolled his eyes. James gave me his full attention. He didn't say anything so I went on. "James, I love you and I want to help you."

He looked at me as if I had grown two heads. "You love me?" He chuckled darkly. "Vicky, you don't know what love is."

Tears almost came to my eyes but I held them back. "You love Bella more than me?" I will kill her. As soon as I left here, I was going to wherever she was, and I was going to choke the life out of her.

I almost missed what James was saying because I tuned him out. "…my Marie loves me, Vicky. That's why she's going to come home with me."

No! He couldn't beat me to it. I was going to find her first. He couldn't have her! James was supposed to be with me.

"James! No! You can't go there!" I found my voice and started to argue with him again.

Even Caius jumped in this time, though he didn't know my true motive.

He and James argued. Things were getting louder than they should be, but it all ended in blood when Caius scoffed at his son and called him delusional.

"Bella…" I was shocked Caius was calling her Bella. "She never loved you. You were too dumb to see it. You don't need them to love you. How many times must I say the same thing before you get it through your thick skull, you idiot?!" James was turning purple as Caius berated him. "Wives need demands and structure! Get her back! Teach her the lessons she needs to learn and try not to let her get away again by being the sappy, love struck, deluded idiot you've always been."

Caius rolled his eyes at James and shook his head as he moved to walk away from his son. "If you don't win, consider yourself disowned, James. I'm through with you. You'll be nothing to me if you can't bring one dumb girl back where she belongs, under your roof awaiting your command! You disgust me!"

Caius' last words weren't what James wanted to hear.

It happened as if it I was watching on a movie screen in slow motion.

Caius was walking away when James picked up a small statue off the table close to him, reached out and clobbered his father over the head with it. Caius staggered and turned to fight his son off, but James was too strong. I watched in horror as he continuously beat Caius in the head with the statue until Caius fell to the floor. James climbed on top of him, screaming at him as he hit him repeatedly.

When he pulled himself off of his dad, Caius was unrecognizable as his head was bashed in. There was blood splatter was all over the place.

I was still standing in the corner, close to the door. Something inside me said to run. James was too angry to be reasoned with, but I couldn't move. 'I won't abandon him' I stubbornly thought.

"James…" I whispered and his dark eyes snapped to mine. I started to walk backward. I just had to get through the door and make a run for it. Screw being here for him. I have to get away for a while. Perhaps, I'll head down to Texas and put my plan into action. Get rid of Bella so James would want to be with me. I shouldn't be around James at the moment. He wasn't thinking clearly. He needed time to calm down.

"You're going to leave me too, Vicky?" he asked in a deadly whisper. I scoffed and chuckled. I was about to answer when he said in the same breath, "I can't allow that."

I knew it before I saw it coming. It was the same look he had when he killed Garrett, and the exact look on his face as he killed his father not a moment ago.

I knew I should run, but my feet weren't working. Still, I willed myself to try and move out of the room.

James was faster.

I got the door open and was about to scream when I felt his hands on my neck, tightening and turning it, then…there was nothing.

It all went quiet.