An: James goes for Bella.

Chapter fifty seven: Road to Marie

James, October, 2011…

My heart thumped wildly as I watched Jasper help her into the truck. She smiled at him and it made me growl. How could she smile at him? He wasn't me. She was mine.

Soon.

Soon I will have my Marie in my arms again and I will never let her go.

It had taken some time to get here undetected. But I wasn't going to fail. I was winning from here on out. I wasn't proving anything to anyone anymore even if I hadn't planned on removing my father from the situation. I was better off. With him and Vicky out of the picture, I will have more time to focus on undoing whatever brainwashing technique Jasper used on my darling Marie to get her to betray me.

If I closed my eyes and only pictured her from the chest up, she was still as beautiful as the last time I saw her. She was still my perfect girl. Naïve and gorgeous.

"Gloriously naïve," I thought with a smile.

Reality, however, had to step in, making me grimace at the disgusting sight of her protruding stomach. Didn't she know the country hick was just coveting her for the sake of his seed growing inside her? He didn't even love my Marie the way I loved her. He didn't know the love of a good woman. He was probably fucking his sister. I don't know how they did things down here in nowhere land.

I watched them drive off after the hulk of a bodyguard got in the driver's seat. I hated that bastard. He was never far from my darling. He followed Marie wherever she went. I saw her in town on more than one occasion when I thought it would have been a good time to grab her, but that hulk was always around her. She went to a restaurant after a doctor's office and he never let her out of his sight for one second. Sometimes, he caused a shiver to run down my spine the way he would unknowingly look in my direction. I knew he didn't recognize me without the blonde hair. The black hair along with the baseball cap and dark glasses were a great disguise. Nevertheless, I could respect the hound dog's suspicious manner. It was as if he knew I was here.

It was the same with Jasper. He was never too far from Marie. She was never far from his reach when he was around her.

Neither of them would deter me. I had come too far. I had given up too much for my Marie not to have her. She was all I had left. She was all I would ever need.

After I dumped my father's and Vicky's bodies into the water with weights around their ankles, I waited to feel some form of remorse but none came. The only things I felt were relief and freedom. I was free to be with my Marie. Free for us to have our happily ever after without interruption. All I had to do was come to Henderson and retrieve my love from the clutches of a country hick who thought he could stand in my way. My Marie was seriously deluded if she thought anyone could 'protect' her from me.

So when I left the yacht behind on fire, I thought of nothing but my darling and how wonderful our reunion was going to be.

"I'm coming, Marie." Was my only thought as I drove away from the pier in my father's car.

For the next few days, I stayed hidden. My father's and Vicky's disappearance made the news and I smiled. They're fish food by now. No one will ever find them. I would have regretted getting rid of Vicky if I didn't know she planned on hurting my Marie. She wanted Marie dead. My darling was no use to me dead. Vicky thought I could want her. She was delusional! It made me laugh whenever I thought about it. Why would I want her? She was tainted. Vicky wasn't innocent or easily controlled like Marie. She was a demanding bitch who had to have things her way or else. That didn't bode well with me. I wasn't a man who could be or would ever be easily controlled. Even if the need to kill her hadn't arisen when it did as I watched her try to make a run for it after she witnessed me extinguished my father's life, I still would have killed her at a later time.

It was only supposed to be Marie and me. That was always the plan. Vicky was merely a distraction.

Father's words had cut me deeply. He had to be punished. And I saw it fitting to end his life the way he ended my mother's. He always thought I was too soft with her, and admittedly, I might have been, but he couldn't lecture me when Mother tried to escape so many times. In fact, he had beaten her to death during such attempt after he caught her.

I killed the engine and got out of my cheap rental car, making my way to my motel room. No high end vehicle for me. Couldn't raise suspicion. I had to keep a low profile if I wanted this to work the way I intended. The same went for lodging. I couldn't stay anywhere in Henderson. Everyone knew the Whitlocks. I couldn't even go around asking too many questions about them. They were very popular. Everyone sympathized with Jasper's girlfriend who had escaped a terrible man to be with Jasper. It was the lie he fed those people about me. The lie he forced my Marie to tell on me so he could have her all to himself.

She didn't have to worry though. I would get rid of Jasper soon.

Marie will witness her lover die by my hand. Only then, she will realize there was no one for her but me.

Before leaving California, I had stayed in cheap motel rooms, switching them every night. I had an account in another name, Bradley Peters, for emergencies only. It was Laurent's idea. He claimed he was sorry he gave me the idea after he realized what I would do with it or the lengths I would go to get back my Marie.

Laurent has been detained because of Jasper's security so I couldn't share my exploits with him. It was always fun to practically feel Laurent trembling through the phone when I shared my darkest thoughts with him. Oh well, he was of the past. I couldn't waste time lamenting. I had learned enough from him to know how to get to Marie undetected. They were expecting me to try something stupid and insane like just walk right up to her and try to take her. Did they think I was as dumb as them?

No, this would be a surprise. By the time they realized Marie was gone or that Jasper was dead, we would be in Canada.

I had changed my hair. Dyed it black. I bought cheap clothes, about six different baseball caps and dark glasses, and a nine millimeter along with a round of bullets, all cash. No credit cards. They left a trail behind.

So here I was after renting a Toyota Camry, I didn't even care what year car it was, it burned me to my core to drive something so beneath me. I hated sitting in it or feel the steering wheel under my palm. I felt like I was going to catch something. But the thought of all the lessons I had planned for Marie for making me go through this kept me going.

I drove day and night, only stopping to sleep and eat, not that I could get anything from a five star anything, but the disgusting food had to suffice. It was all in aid of retrieving my darling from the grips of a thief. I didn't get high as much as I would like. I had to keep a clear head, which bothered me. I hated it.

When I got to Henderson, I was immediately reminded of the time I came here during that ridiculous fair and saw my Marie laughing and smiling with those people. I knew she felt me there. I knew she wanted to come to me so badly, but Jasper prevented her from doing so.

Not this time.

When I met him at the Doctor's Convention, I could have hurt him. I didn't because it wouldn't have been right without Marie there to witness it.

She would be…this time.

I switched on the television and threw my sandwiches down on the bed. I opened the soda and grimace at the thought of drinking it. It was so…cheap. I closed my eyes and reminded myself that this would end soon. Very soon. I just needed one more day. My plan was set and I will be putting it in motion tomorrow. I won't wait another day. I couldn't go on without my Marie.

They didn't know that I knew he was moving her. Sometimes, workers talk a little too loudly while at lunch.

About two days ago, while I was seriously considering forgetting all I had planned and just grabbing Marie whenever I saw her again, when two guys walked into the restaurant I was at. They sat down in the booth behind mine and I learned enough to make me smile.

Dumbass one was telling dumbass two that Jasper, their boss, had been really protective of his pregnant girlfriend. More guards were around because of the crazy man threatening her life. Dumbass two wanted to rip my balls off for treating Be…Marie badly. I wanted to put a bullet in him for calling her that.

Dumbass one agreed. I wanted to kill him too.

Apparently they knew Be…Marie and she was nice. She was kind to them and they loved her cooking.

Jasper had my darling cooking for the help?!

Anyways, Dumbass one said things might let up soon. I perked up. Myself and Dumbass two wanted to know how come because he was late for work this morning and missed some meeting or something.

Jasper was a fool. Not that I cared. But he actually conversed with these idiots or has someone do it? Why? They're the help! Just tell them what to do and have them do it!

Again, I was caring about rubbish.

Dumbass one informed Dumbass two, much to my delight, that Be…Marie was leaving for a while. So security would be letting up.

I had to get on that ranch. And they provided my answer. They were going to pick up stacks of hay from the McCarty property to take to the ranch tomorrow morning around six. I would be following them onto the Whitlock ranch where I would get Marie back.

I could hardly sleep. It wasn't upset stomach from the disgusting, cheap sandwiches I had to eat. It was giddiness from anticipation. Marie would soon be in my arms again.

Morning couldn't come quick enough. I was up by five am. I checked out and drove away from the motel, happy not to return. I had already mapped out the Whitlock and McCarty properties. It was hard not to notice them. They were vast. Where McCarty property ended, Whitlock's began. Everyone in town knew the names. They were two of the oldest names in Henderson and two of the richest. Though, Whitlock's held more stature and millions.

I already knew what Dumbass one and two would be driving. Their boss issued GMC trucks to all workers.

I had a little problem figuring out how I would get in the hay filled bed of the truck if I wanted to get on Whitlock ranch. If I asked the guys for assistance and they took me on the property, security would want to check me. I couldn't have that. I had to find a way to stow away in the back, as much as it pained me to. But the promise of Marie was far too great to give up this opportunity.

Where were the dumbasses? I checked my watch and it was fifteen minutes past six. I was about to have an outburst in the car when I saw their truck coming down the road, heading to McCarty's property. I almost squealed like a school girl. I was so excited. I watched it turn down the short trail that led to the gates. The gates opened for them and they drove in. I waited a while and almost got frustrated to the point of screaming as I waited for them to come out.

About twenty minutes later, I saw the GMC truck coming down the short trail from the McCarty property. I saw Dumbass two on the passenger side and smiled as I allowed them to pass and then I started to trail them.

The more they drove, the more worried I became. How was this going to work? I had to get into the bed of the truck amongst the hay. I had my gun with me. I knew my Marie wasn't herself so I would have to persuade her. Jasper, on the other hand, the gun was definitely to threaten him. I wouldn't shoot him. That was too easy. He had to suffer before he died. Bullets would be too nice for that.

At first, it looked like they weren't going to stop in town, but I nearly screamed for joy when they did. It was perfect. Dumbass one and two stopped for breakfast or whatever and I parked my cheap rental and got out. I carefully made my way to their truck and when I was sure no one was paying attention, it was too early in the morning for most people anyways, I climbed into the back, burying myself into the hay.

I worried for a bit if it would work but if they checked around here, I would kill them. It was as simple as that. I didn't care how many people I had to get rid of to have my Marie.

The truck started to move and I smile internally. We drove for a little while and then we came to a stop, reversed into somewhere, they killed the engine and someone called the dumbasses. They both got out of the truck and went to the person. I quickly climbed out to find somewhere to hide myself in what looked like a stable. There were horses around and I felt sick to my stomach to be around these flee infested animals.

Someone was coming. I quickly hid myself away behind an opened wooden door so I could see the person, but they couldn't see me. It was a woman. She looked older, but too refined to be a worker. She was ordering the men around. She sounded demanding but not overtly so. In a way, she reminded me of someone and when Dumbass two called her 'Mrs. Whitlock' I realized this was Jasper's mother. I smiled as I thought of a few ways to kill her, but I couldn't. I had only two missions at hand and they didn't include her. One was getting my Marie back and the other was getting rid of her son.

They annoyingly spoke for a while as she told them what needed to be done for the day and they all left. It was my opportunity to escape. My only problem was, I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know where Jasper was holding my beloved.

As if fate was on my side, I heard someone coming, but as disastrous as I thought it would have been if they spotted me, it turned out to be quite the opposite. The man was speaking loudly and said he was heading over to Jasper's.

I don't know how I did it, but I found a way out of the disgusting stable from around the back. They were men at the front who didn't look like workers. Their body language indicated these were bodyguards. They weren't that many out here. Then again the dumbasses I had ridden in with said since my beloved was being moved to another location some of the men were leaving. Probably going ahead to prepare the prison Jasper would be holding her in. He was doing all he could to keep my precious Marie away from me.

It won't happen. I was here now. I would save her from him.

I hid in the bushes beside a large house. I was beside a kitchen from what I could tell. The man had gone around what I presume to be the front. I took a peek and there was no one inside the kitchen. I heard someone coming and I hid myself again as they passed. I had to get around the front because this door was locked. Shit! How was I going to do it?

I stole another peek and had to duck back down quickly. Jasper was in the kitchen. He almost spotted me. What was he doing in there? He was probably going to drug my darling so he could take her to his hiding place.

I knew I had to get my hands on her, but how?

I had to wait. Good things came to those who wait. I smiled internally at the saying because nothing but good things has been coming my way of late. Marie and I will escape this…place and be together forever.

I waited until the right time and then I moved. I used the hedging to hide my body as I made my way around the house to the front door. The bear of a man who I saw with Marie, just walked out of the house. He hopped into his truck and drove off. Now would be the right time but I knew Jasper in there. How was I going to do this with all of these guards around? I had to isolate the two of them. I needed to have my Marie by my side and Jasper dead.

"How to do it? How to do it?" I thought as Jasper stepped out of the house with a smile on his face which made me smile too because he was giving me the perfect opportunity to grab Marie.

I knew what to do now. I would lead him somewhere with a little white lie of returning Marie to him. I would torture him and kill him before his 'guards' could get their hands on me.

Did Jasper truly believe he was 'helping' Marie? Keeping her away from me was hell on the both of us. I knew my beloved missed me. She needed structure, not pampering. She needed a man to tell her exactly what to do, not a pussy who asked her opinion. Marie had no opinion. She was a woman. Her job was to serve and obey me.

There would be no other time. This was it. I had to move now. Marie's cushy little escape plan ended today. She was coming home with me where she belonged. We were going to build a new life somewhere remote where she would be taught lessons she will never forget again. She wasn't that much of a victim in this. I had to remember that. She let Jasper take her from me. She let him convince her I was a bad man. She let him feed her lies about me. She turned the beautiful life we had into a nightmare with lies and by pretending not to enjoy all we did together.

But today would be my day of reckoning. After I killed Jasper and ripped his spawn out of her womb, Marie will learn never to cross me again.

All this trouble! I had gone through so much for Marie. I hoped she will come to realize how much I love her. I wouldn't have gone through this hell if I didn't. My father believed we didn't love each other. I knew otherwise. My Marie loved me as much as I loved her.

I saw an opening and I took it. I watched Jasper drive off in a black truck. I got up and walked up to the door. I tried the knob and it turned freely in my hand. I smiled as I opened it and waltzed right in like I owned the place. Though, it would look far better if I did. The house was sickening. The 'homey' feel to it made me want to throw up. It raked my nerves just being in here. I could only imagine how unhappy Marie was.

I slammed the door at first in anger. Then, I changed my mind when I saw a great opportunity to grab Jasper, lying on the end table and opened a little, leaving it ajar. Forget leading him to us. I would take him with us and dispose of him from now. Before we re-started our lives together. I knew Marie would come and check. She had to hear the door slam. She was always an inquisitive little thing. She will be so happy to see me. I couldn't wait.

I was about to walk further into the house when I heard her.