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Chapter 9
Last Goodbye
Bella woke, disoriented and restless after having an intense erotic dream, or was it? She remembered going to the fair with Anthony and him taking her back to his penthouse, remembered him acting strange and irrational…pulling her down the hallway to his bedroom…
"Anthony?" she murmured, but received no response.
She stretched out, searching the bed with a lazy hand. Empty, she realized as her eyes finally adjusted to the first light of daybreak. She sat up and looked around and realized she was in her own room, her own bed.
But how had she gotten there?
She concentrated, and remembered his anger, remembered the sex, remembered him leaving her, her anger at him, then falling asleep on his couch…
Or had it all been a dream? Had she missed Anthony's company so much over the last two weeks that her mind unconsciously conjured him up? Anthony certainly wasn't around, though her body told her he had been…
Through bleary eyes she looked down at herself and realized she still was in her clothes from last night, and wondered once again how she got here. Apparently it hadn't been a dream after all. The faint smell of coffee tempted her and she knew that her father and mother would be up having breakfast, getting ready to leave for work. Deciding she wanted to join them, Bella stood up and stumbled out of bed catching her foot on her blanket, but caught herself before she tumbled to the floor.
Drat! What was wrong with her? Why was she always so clumsy?
She found her robe and drew it around her, wondering why everything that happened last night seemed to be a big blur. And she might have thought that their love making never happened, was just a series of dreams if her body didn't feel so thoroughly ravished. Suddenly vague memories floated through her mind. Anthony bending over her…bringing her out to his waiting limo…seeing her to the front door of her house, and placing her into her father's waiting arms…. some kind of conversation between them…
Passing by her mirror brought her back to the present. Her hair looked like a crow's nest. Bella picked up her brush to tame it gathering the heavy mass lifting it into a ponytail. As soon as she lifted her hair away from her neck she noticed the dark, blue like mark on the right side of her neck. At closer inspection the mirror revealed a slight bruising….
Was that a hickey? Her pulse began to beat faster as anger swept through her body.
With an outraged cry she dropped her hair and stepped back from the mirror, frowning. Now that she was completely awake, she remembered the way Anthony had been sucking on her neck, at the time it had felt so good; now she understood why he'd done it…he'd been marking her out of anger, and possession not passion.
Embarrassed, Bella thought she'd rather die than go down stairs and have her holier-than-thou parents see the marks on her neck. She decided to keep her hair down and hope that it would conceal the evidence, brushing it neatly over her shoulders.
Thoughts about Anthony and there fight and rough making out, followed her as she entered the hallway and made her way down the stairs.
Her emotions seemed to be all over the place as her anger started to overwhelm her once again from his harsh treatment of her. She still could not believe he just left her in his suite for hours on end and then when she finally got angry enough to leave found that he'd literally held her hostage…seriously what kind of sick joke was that? All she knew was that Anthony was going to have a lot of explaining to do. And if she didn't find his answers and explanations satisfactory she just might have to take necessary precautions and possibly end whatever it was they had between them before it was to late. Her heart gave a painful lurch, for that thought left her feeling empty, and alone.
When she entered the kitchen, her father was using the remote control to turn on the television, to catch the morning news.
He gave her a weary expression, "You're up after getting home so late?"
"How late was it?" Bella asked, pouring herself a much needed cup of coffee, frowning.
"You don't remember what time he brought you home?" she could detect the undertone to his voice indicating he wasn't happy.
Bella gave him a sheepish expression, "Well no I guess I was a little out of it."
"Masen brought you home at four in the morning."
"Really? I don't remember."
"Doesn't surprise me…you were very out of it," he answered, "I asked him what he did to you? But he said that you had fallen asleep and he was just making sure you got inside safely." Charlie said taking a sip of his coffee giving her a calculated stare. "For some reason I didn't believe him…he was acting uneasy and strange."
Bella gulped and lowered her eyes down to look at her half empty cup of coffee. I'll bet he looked uneasy! More like guilty, She thought spitefully. He deserves everything he got, after the way he used me last night to appease his anger. Figures he wouldn't go into detail about what actually happened between the two of them, and she wondered bitterly if he was trying to protect her or himself.
"So you goanna tell me what happened?"
Bella sighed placing her coffee cup down on the table, "He took me to the fair on our way home…we, I mean -I must have fallen asleep." she hedged not wanting to tell him. Yeah, we went to the fair something happened he started acting weird took me back to his place and tried to almost rape me then hold me against my will. Now that would go over so well with her father, she thought sarcastically.
"Bells, there is something about him I don't like-"
"I know dad, but it's not what you think." Bella said. Thinking that she couldn't figure him out…the man was becoming a mystery to her. And she was getting sick and tried of him eluding her questions, and his constant mood swings. If Charlie ever found out just how much danger she always seemed to be in when around Anthony…why he'd take her down to the police station lock her in one of the cell's and throw away the key.
"Humph…just be careful is all I ask."
"Charlie, leave the poor girl alone," her mother Renee, piped up.
"But Renee' she needs to be aware, especially after what happened at her place of work last night."
"I know but still-"
Bella raised her head up, "What happened at work last night?" she asked, cutting her mother off.
Her father sighed, "Seems that your old boyfriend Jacob Black made a visit to La Bella Italia last night drunk, and high out of his mind asking for you."
"Me-me, but why?"
"Dun no, when your boss told him you were not there he went crazy and trashed the place, he hurt a few of your coworkers including your boss."
"What-what? And you're just now telling me this?"
"Bells, I tried to get a hold of you last night, but you were not answering your phone…didn't you get your messages?"
Bella gasped and shook her head. No she had not received his messages because she'd been with Anthony, "No- no I didn't."
"I was worried about you, it was like you disappeared…we couldn't find you and thought that maybe Black had gotten to you somehow. I was ready to send a search party after you when that man showed up carrying you up the front steps oblivious to the world," he paused to gaze at her, "Can you imagine what ran through my head seeing you like that? I wasn't nice to him especially after the last time I saw him with you on the front door step of my home."
"What what did you do?" she asked. It didn't make sense for Anthony to worry about bringing her home after the way he treated her last night. Ugh! The man was so frustrating…
"We had a few choice words and I took you from his arms which he didn't seem happy about. He tried to follow me into the house, but I stopped him then told him he needed to stay away from you. Needless to say he became very upset when I asked him to leave. I think he wanted to make sure you were okay, but I wasn't having it. Have I told you I don't like that man?" Charlie said.
Good, serves him right. Bella thought grumpily. It still bothered her, how he could be so caring one moment then uncaring the next…Damn it! She needed answers and until she got them she knew she would continue to feel more agitated and upset with him.
"Did anyone that Bella worked with have to go to the hospital?" her mother asked snapping her out of her thoughts.
"No, they were just badly roughed up."
"Oh thank God," Bella breathed out in relief glad that no one had gotten seriously hurt, but for the life of her she couldn't understand why Jacob Black would be seeking her out after all these years. Surely he didn't want to get back together? Not that she would after what he did the last time they were together.
"Has anyone caught Jacob?"
Her father shook his head, "No…and that's another reason I want you to be extra careful…he has not been caught, and he's very unstable. I still don't understand what happened to that boy. He was such a nice kid when he was younger…Anyway make sure you have mace on you at all times."
"Dad I'll be fine please don't worry." Bella said, knowing full well that Anthony had bodyguards watching over her right now.
"Humph, I'll worry because trouble seems to be your middle name," he mumbled. "There's something else you need to know."
Bella gave her father an inquiring look.
"Mr. Volturi, told me some interesting news…did you know that Mr. Masen is his nephew?"
Bella's mouth fell open in complete shock, "His-his nephew?" she spluttered, as another spurt of anger shot through her. Why hadn't Anthony told her that? Why did he want to keep that information a secret from her? The more she got to know this man the more of a mystery he became…and she didn't like that one bit.
"If you'd only trust me, Bella…or even trust yourself, your own feelings,"
Those few words spoken over a night ago, popped back into her head. How was she supposed to trust him when at every turn there was something all ways standing in their way? And this time she was going to get to the bottom of it if it was the last thing that she did, she thought as another flood of anger filled her body…
All day Bella was unable to banish thoughts of Anthony from her mind. Though having him calling her cell phone and leaving a voice mail or text message every hour didn't help. She decided to ignore his calls, which she wasn't ready to speak to him just yet. She was still very angry and hurt for the way he acted and also apparently for lying to her. Every time she thought about that it sent a new wave of anger rushing through her veins, and to think before she'd met Anthony she was a calm cool and collected individual who never gave in to bouts of anger. That wasn't the case anymore, she found herself confused, angry, hurt, upset and last but not least in love with a man she hardly knew. As much as she wanted to have it out with him now was not the time…she needed a moment to herself to collect her thoughts, and when she was ready then she'd talk to him.
The evenings were still long, and after having a meal she wondered about the back yard in her mothers garden. Feeling bored and restless, she decided to go for a walk. Perhaps it would help her clear her mind from the pressing memories of a night ago, and help her get to sleep, lately she'd been lying awake for hours on end trying to stop her mind from centering on Anthony.
The small town streets were quiet except for a few children romping on their lawns or riding bikes along the sidewalk. Twice she met couples strolling arm in arm, and exchanged a smile and greeting. And tried not to envy them.
She really liked living in the small town neighborhood. There was an air of familiarity and solidity about the mature, lush, evergreen trees, the old weatherboard houses built before Bella was born.
She breathed in deeply of the air smelling fresh and clean. When she turned back into her own street the light was becoming dusky, the sky above washed-out pink. Her step faltered at the sight of a shiny, silver Volvo parked outside the front of her house. She told herself it wasn't, couldn't be, Anthony. But when the driver's door opened and he got out and slammed it behind him, she knew it was he.
What the hell was he doing here? Didn't he realize that she didn't want to see him? That her father meant what he said about leaving her alone? She thought, as she walked steadily toward him with an air of anger about her.
He stood by the car watching her approach, and even at a distance there emanated from him a subtle air of tension. He didn't move once she reached him turning an enquiring look on him. Instead he just kept watching her with an unnerving, unreadable stare.
Good he needed to feel nervous, she thought.
"How long have you been here?" she asked then turned her gaze to her house looking to see if her father was home and sighed, when she didn't see his cruiser.
"A while. Where were you?"
"Walking," she huffed. Not that's its any of your business.
"You went walking alone…at night?" He frowned looking around, "Where are your guards?" He asked alarm in his voice.
Humph! As if you actually cared! She thought, but said instead. "Why are you here, Anthony?" she was unable to disguise the resentment in her tone.
He dragged his gaze from her face and met her angry eyes, "Are you going to invite me in?"
"Your doing it again," she snapped.
Anthony cocked his head to the side, "Doing what exactly?" he asked.
"Answering a question with a question, why must you do that?"
Ignoring her small outburst, Anthony asked, "Well are you?"
Bella hesitated momentarily, than shrugged, "No I don't think so…after all my father warned you to stay away."
Anthony had the gall to give her a sheepish look, "So he told you about that did he?"
"Yes, he was very upset. You should be glad he didn't shoot you."
"We need to talk," he said curtly.
Bella shook her head defiantly, "No we don't."
She watched transfixed as he ran a hand distractedly through his bronzed hair, which she learned he was prone to do when he was angry or upset.
"Yes we do," he sighed before taking a step closer to her. "I've been calling you, leaving texts but you haven't called me back."
"Its because I didn't want to talk to you!"
"Bella, we need to talk-"
"Why? So you can make excuses to justify your rude behavior from the night before?" She asked spitefully.
"Listen to me! My behavior last night was uncalled for and you didn't deserve-"
"Deserve to be treated like a-a whore, as if I meant so little to you," she spat. "To have your bodyguards hold me in your suite like I was a prisoner!"
He gave her a dismayed look. "Is that what you think? That I have little or no regard for you? That I treated you like a slave, a sex object and nothing more?"
"Well isn't that what you did?"
He drew in a deep breath, and shook his head, "No Bella, that's not what I… How I meant to-"
"Seriously? I can't believe you just…Do you have any idea how your actions, and words affected me? To know that I was merely there to appease you and your needs."
"Bella, it was a bit more complicated than that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she cried, "That I'm not supposed to hold you responsible for your actions?"
"That wasn't my intensions at all."
"Somehow I don't believe that, I think you had every intension of doing just that."
"Do you seriously think that I wanted to treat you like that? Do you think I haven't beaten myself up for the past day…how I acted... losing control. I should have known better!"
"That's the crux of it isn't it?" Bella asked. "Since the first time I met you, you've never treated me as an equal. I was just someone you felt responsible for, that you wanted to control, just as you control your business and employees, and everything else in your life."
He took a step toward her, scrawling, "Bella that's not true, I-"
"You what? Thought I was a party girl as you once called me. That I would be an easy lay for you…Well I guess you were right. It didn't take you long to break down my barriers now did it? Did you like that I made it easy for you? Well did you," She cried angrily, disgusted at him at herself for so easily falling into his seductive trap.
"You complain now but at the time you seemed to enjoy my attentions."
"That's not the point!"
"Yes it is. Did you actually think I didn't care?"
"Yes…and last night just proved it!" Bella said incensed.
"You think I don't care?" his voice incredulous.
"That's just it! If you had you would have never manhandled me than left me there naked in your bed feeling like a cheap whore," she shouted irately at him.
"You're being a bit redundant." He snarled folding his arms, adopting an exaggerated attitude of patient listening, a faint sneer on his handsome face.
Bella stared at him, angrily, and swallowed back the cutting words she so wanted to scream at him right then. Then her chin came up and she resolutely met his eyes. Keeping her voice quiet and even, she said, "Is that so?"
He nodded his head, "Yes… you have already made up you're mind not to listen to what I have to say."
"Do you blame me?"
"No I don't and that's why I am here, to try and fix what I have done."
She shook her head, "No, Anthony this isn't working. I-I think you had better leave."
He remained where he was, staring at her, and a new light came into his eyes, perhaps a hint of surprised respect. Finally he sighed then nodded, and unfolded his arms, "You're right," he said. "This isn't going the way I had planed it to."
He walked past her with a bleak expression on his face. Bella stood a foot or so behind him as he pulled on the handle of his car to open the door. For some reason the door stuck and he jerked at it impatiently, and it came free causing him to elbow her in her breast.
Bella gave a small cry of pain, a hand going to her breast, even as Anthony whirled around with a muffled oath, and his fingers closed on her upper arms, "Did I hurt you? Damn it!"
"I'll be okay," she said instantly raising her face to look at him, and found him so overwhelmingly near that her voice faltered.
Even in the darkening light she saw the softening of his strong features, the dark fire in his emerald green eyes, that were locked with hers and one of his hands moved to cover her aching breast. "I'm sorry," he murmured, as his heavy lidded gaze followed the movement of his hand.
Her heart was thudding unevenly. She knew she should draw away, but was quite unable to. Closing her eyes, she whispered in agony that had nothing to do with the small pain she was in, "Anthony…"
His hand was now stroking soothing circles on her heated flesh, carefully as though he thought he might hurt her again. His other hand now found purchase at her waist, bringing her snugly to the hard warmth of his muscular body. In that instant no matter how mad she was at him she was lost in the feel, the intoxicating scent that was he, and was unable to resist the invisible pull between them. She flattened both palms against his chest, feeling the rise of his chest through the cotton of his expensive dress shirt. "Anthony…"
"Are you cold?" His voice was deep, and raspy as though he were just as caught in this hypnotic spell that bound them to each other.
"I-I can't"
"Can't what, *cara?"
"Do this."
"Why not?"
"I'm…afraid," she whispered as she made herself open her eyes and look at him,
"Of me?" His hand stopped moving, but she was acutely conscious of it gently enfolding her breast.
"Of-of this," she said tensely waving her free hand between them.
"*Dio!" Anthony breathed roughly. "You're not the only one, *cara."
He bent his head, and Bella's lips parted willingly even when her brain was screaming, No! Don't let him do this!
But her voice refused to utter a word, and then it was too late. Anthony's mouth had found hers, and with a smothered cry she surrendered to his passionate assault on her senses. Her arms of there own accord went up to his shoulders, then round his neck, while he kissed her as if only she could slake some long-starved, driving need within him.
His hand left her breast to rove over her waist and hip then behind her, instantly shaping her lower body, splaying over the rounded curves and urging her closer so that she couldn't help recognizing his instant arousal.
The scent of him was all around her; soap and fresh sweat and musk, and she felt him shudder as she moved longingly against him, spurred by memory and erotic intimacy of the kiss.
He turned slightly bringing her with him, wrapped his arms about her and eased his thigh between hers, sending a wave of heat throughout her entire being. Bella you need to stop this, you need to make him understand that he can't treat you like this anymore, the voice inside of her head warned.
Burrowing his hands in her hair, he withdrew his mouth at last from hers, and buried his face in the soft abundance.
The darkness of the approaching night swirled about them. Bella's fingers were on the warm, damp skin of his neck, aware of the pulse beating furiously below the surface. She tried to think, to fight free of the fog of need and sensual enthrallment that all but engulfed her; her breath brushing his cheek as she said, "Anthony…Anthony! What do you want from me?"
She felt the sudden rigidity of his arms before he groaned deep in his throat and lifted his face, gazing down at her as though trying to make out just whom she was. Then he heaved air into his lungs and abruptly freed her, turning to smash both his fists against the top of his Volvo, his forehead resting between them. She nearly collapsed after he'd left go of her, finally opening her eyes.
"Damn you! Why must you be like this?"
Now she was frustrated as well as angry. He knew why she was being this way…she had every right to be angry with him. She straightened finding her voice, "You have some nerve accusing me of acting this way, Anthony Masen, and especially after the way you treated me last evening."
"What are you saying?"
Silently, Bella recoiled a couple steps, "I didn't ask you to come here tonight."
"I know." He straightened up, and turned back to look at her. "I should have known better than to come here! It was a bad idea."
Her clenched hands at her waist, "I didn't ask you to kiss me," she said raggedly.
"But I thought that you understood from our desire last night that you and I-" He trailed off…
"Understood?" She blinked at him giving him a revolted look. "I didn't even want to see you! After last night," she scuffed. " I can't do this, my emotions are on overload."
"*Dannazione! Bella I am trying to make it right!" he pleaded running his hands through his already disheveled hair.
Bella stared at him accusingly, keeping her voice low, "Really. You're trying to make this right between us? Then why don't you start by telling me why you manhandled me last night? Why you were being so nice to me one minute and then after you saw that man you became angry and upset?"
He looked down at the ground and took a deep breath before raising his head back up to look at her. "I've already told you I'm sorry for my behavior, what more do you want from me?"
She laughed bitterly, "Why don't you start by telling me the truth."
He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. "What are you talking about?"
"Anthony why didn't you tell me that, Aro is you're uncle?
He gasped, "How did you know about that?"
"My father told me that Aro told him that you were his nephew last night when he was attacked at the restaurant by my Ex-boyfriend. Why didn't you tell me?"
He looked deeply into her eyes, "Bella, I'm sorry for keeping that information from you."
"But why would you?" she cried.
His nostrils flared; his eyes seemed to darken, "Why does it matter?"
"So you admit that you lied to me!"
"I didn't lie to you…just kept that information from you. Besides why are you so mad over something like this? Its not that big of a deal." he thundered. "You don't think I possibly had anything to do with my uncle's attack? Bloody hell you just admitted your ex-boyfriend was the one who attacked him."
He looked so fierce, so angry, but Bella refused to back down, even as she felt the familiar stirrings of fear creeping up her spine when confronted with his bursts of temper. " Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Do you think I am unworthy of your trust?"
"No, Bella, I-"
"I mean you ask me to trust you, but how can I when you won't give me a chance? Instead you'd rather lie to me; keep me in the dark…what else have you lied to me about?"
"Nothing!" he exploded.
"Do you really think I am going to believe that right now?" She asked crossing her arms over her chest one eyebrow raised.
"Fuck, Bella, I meant only to protect you."
"Protect me? What are you talking about?"
"Damn it! Even when you are with me you're not safe. I acted irrational because I thought we were in danger,
"Danger!"
"I have reason to believe I am being watched, that I have a stalker. When we were at the fair I thought that I saw someone last night…it sent me into a tale spin …I was unable to control my frustration and anger over the situation and I took it out on you."
"I don't understand."
"That's just it, you don't have to understand. Things are as they must be. I did what I thought was best for you and I always will."
"You did what you thought was best for me?" she asked in disbelief. "By taking me back to Calypso and treating me like-like, ugh!" she said as anger burned in her chest, "Well if that's the best you can do, thanks but no thanks. I could have done with out your highhanded thoughtfulness."
"I understand why you are unhappy with me for the way I acted last night," he said stepping closer to her. "Hell you even feared that I was going to harm you. I could never harm you." He bit out.
Bella willed herself not to flinch in the face of his anger, as his fiery eyes locked with hers, but she was caught, transfixed by his gaze. Her blood hummed in her veins. Yet she managed to croak, "I had reason to fear you last night."
He moved even closer, leaning over her until she felt his breath on her face. Her heart thundered in her ears. "Bella I only wanted to protect you."
"Right lets not forget that the mighty Anthony Masen must protect me," she said, with sarcasm.
"It's what I have, and will remain to do…even if you prefer otherwise."
She couldn't believe this, he was such an ass hole. How dare he stand there and act all righteous when he was completely out of control a night ago. She was still resentful, still trying to deal with her anger at him from the previous night. "I need some space."
"No, Bella you don't mean that," he said roughly.
Bella made a face, and then stuttered out, "I need some time alone to think about all of this…us...I'm so confused…I need to just get away from everything for a while."
" Stay with me, be mine, Bella." he implored.
She felt a wave of desire but fought it, "I don't think that would be wise."
"Bella, *Per favore cambi Lei è mente?" he whispered so softly she couldn't make out what he had said.
"I think it would be better if you and I put some much needed space between us for awhile." Perhaps they should part forever.
"Is this what you truly want?" he asked in a somber voice.
Bella stood there glaring at him in defiance. Her mind was made up; she needed space to sort through her feelings. She loved this man but she knew that he did not love her the way she wanted him to. She needed to make sure that she wasn't selling herself short when it came to a lifetime of happiness she could have with someone else if not him.
"Yes, that's what I want." She expected him to be furious, but he remained detached, cool, almost as if unaffected.
"Fine, I will leave you alone if that is what you want. But I will not stop fighting for you…I'm not giving up."
Bella swallowed, again seeking strength, "I think it's best."
She moved away from him and he paused with his hand on the handle of his car door, an odd expression in his lustrous emerald green eyes. She could swear they looked haunted, defeated, and sad.
"I need you to be careful, Bella," he warned her. "There is someone roaming the streets of Port Angeles, someone who apparently has a grudge against me for some reason. I don't think they will harm you, but is aware that you are in my life." Then he wrenched the door open, got in his Volvo and slammed it shut. "You need to stop taking late night walks by yourself, and to make sure that my guards are with you at all times." he commanded.
Bella's hands dropped to her sides, still clenched into fists. She wanted to throw something at his head through his open window. She'd like to smash something…like the mirror or taillights, something that he could hear the sound of to know how furious she was at him. Where the hell did he get off, he was the one that treated her terribly last night, he's the one that sought her out this evening, expecting her to take him back with open arms, having the gall to start making love to her on her sidewalk no less where anyone could have seen them, and to top it all off by trying to control her. If she had anyone to fear, and be worried about her safety with than it was he…
Once again she couldn't help wonder what Anthony was keeping from her, why anyone would try to use her to get to him, "Are you sure you don't know anything about this guy other than what you've just told me?" she asked stiffly trying to hold onto her temper.
"No…other than he is obviously a madman." silence stretched between them as they stared into each others eyes, finally Anthony looked away, "Make sure you don't spend your time alone," he went on, "If anything else should happen…try to contact me, and I'll come for you."
"What do you mean? How would you be able to come to me if I was unable to tell you where I was?"
But he was gone, he had somehow drove away from her without her realizing he'd done so. Thoroughly upset, Bella walked toward her house and collapsed in her kitchen chair and fought against her tears. What was she going to do now? And why had she found the one man on earth who could very well make her ex-boyfriend Jacob Black look like an amateur. Jacob might swindle and embezzle, threaten if he had to, but he had always avoided anger and violence at least he had at one time.
Even with her misgivings, her fear, Bella could only focus on Anthony's departure, try to fight the overwhelming longing for him to return, The pain inside her was like an open wound, but after all she'd been the one to tell him to leave, and now she was going to have to sort out her feelings before moving forward with her life.
…...
(Two days later)
WITH HIS HEART heavy, Edward spent the remainder of the next day and a half preparing his men for the attack on one of Lucas's illegal gambling locations. On one hand he was hyped up but on the other he found himself regretting how he'd given Bella what she wanted. He knew he would never be satisfied with anyone else where a woman was concerned, and it almost killed him to walk away from her last night. His heart had torn into a million pieces with each mile his car left behind as he made his way back to his mansion. But what did he expect?
He had agonized over the last remaining hours of the morning after he dropped Bella off at her home, only to be integrated by her fucking nosy father. He had every right to be angry, every right to want to stay and take care of his Bella. But no that bastard had threatened him by telling him to stay away from his daughter, and was unwelcome at there home. Well fuck that he had no intensions of respecting the police chief's orders. The fucker should thank his lucky stars that he's Bella's father…for that was the only reason he was still alive.
At first he'd been angry that she'd not returned his phone calls or texts, he was climbing the walls as usual, and by evening he could not take her silence any longer and sought her out at her home ignoring her father's warnings to stay away. He was worried that she was angry with him for the way he had treated her, and after her ignoring his calls he knew he had to make things right between them again. Though once he talked to her she'd let him have in both barrels. He tried to make his peace with her explain why he acted the way he had but found. Hell she even confronted him about catching him in certain lies…and what did he do? He lied to her more digging the whole deeper. Fuck! He deserved her anger…but he hadn't expected her to want space between them…
He told himself that if he really cared about her, he should give her the much-needed space she'd asked for. To be willing when that time came to let her go, because in the seeable future there was a possibility that there relationship would never lead to happiness. But he knew that he could not, would not be able to do that, eventually he'd seek her out, unable to knock her completely out of his life. Bella was like a drug to him…. there was no way he could stay away. Not to mention that his grandfather had been the one to seek him out yesterday morning and tried to stuff the idea of marriage with Tanya Denali down his throat once again.
Ah, his grandfather, damn him. The bastard had been at the fair two nights ago, he had not been a fleeting shadow, he thought remembering the conversation from when he confronted him.
(Flashback)
"Its not a crime to want to join in the festivities for one evening." his grandfather scoffed at him.
"So you were there, are you following me?"
Alistair chuckled, "Dio! My boy, why would I want to do that?"
"To make sure I am following through with your orders."
"Which leads me to wonder if you are…following my orders." Alistair said leaning back in his chair, and glaring knowingly at Edward.
"I did what you told me, grandfather," Edward replied through gritted teeth. Though he had no intentions of keeping Bella out of his life for long not if he had anything to do about it, even if it was her idea, he thought.
"Good, good, because I have already made plans with Tanya's father for you two to meet before the mobster's ball."
"You did what?" Edward roared.
"You heard me. I told you that this was going to happen, and I will not take no as an answer. Do I make myself clear?"
Edward sat there fuming, he wanted to pull out his gun and kill his grandfather so bad right then he cold taste it. All he had to do was reach back and take the gun out of its holster aim it at him, pull the trigger; It would be so easy, he thought as a sadistic smile played about his lips.
"Why are you smirking? Do you think I am joking with you? That my threats are empty?" Alistair asked angry at Edward's arrogance. "Don't think for a moment I didn't see you with that skirt on the wheel."
Edward's eyes narrowed on his grandfather as he continued.
"It was quite rousing…the little show you put on… so involved with her not to notice your surroundings or the people around you. It was so touching…."
"Fuck you," Edward spat as he rose from his chair knocking it to the ground.
"More like fuck her…wouldn't you say?" Alistair asked amused.
"It was you wasn't it? You've known about her for awhile now haven't you?" Edward asked as dawning crept in. "That I have become attached to her…"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Bella! It was you who put out a hit on her knowing that you wanted me to marry the fucking Denali princess." Edward spat angrily. "She's in the way of you're plans…"
"No Edward, that was not me…but it could be," he threatened.
Without thinking Edward lunged at him over his desk taking hold of his grandfather by the collar of his dress shirt, "Don't you fucking touch her…I told you I won't tolerate anything happening to her."
"Then get rid of the skirt once and for all. I know who she is Edward." Alistair warned not showing any kind of fear in the face of his grandson's anger.
"What do you mean?"
"I've had her investigated. When were you going to tell me that she was the chief of police's daughter, none other than our arch enemy Charlie Swan?" He paused taking a moment for that information to sink in. "I didn't know you had it in you boy, even for you that's low."
"What are you talking about?" Edward spat letting go of his collar and sitting back down in his own chair.
"That you would try to get at the chief's daughter to end him." Alistair said with glee. "Sounds like something I would have done, ruin a daughter or another loved one to get at the one your really after."
"You're fucking sick-"
"I'm sick am I? Tell me what is your little whore going to think of you once she knows the truth. I'm sure you didn't plan keeping it from her," he paused and gave a chuckle when Edward turned his head away from him angrily, "Ah ha! You were not planning on telling her were you? Poor Edward. Its better to end whatever you had between you before it's to late. You will meet with the Denali girl mark my words or you will regret it…"
(End of flash back)
He hated to think about that conversation, hated to think that he would have to meet the Denali princess to appease his grandfather, in hopes that he would leave Bella alone. He still wasn't going to take Tanya for his wife, but it was the only thing he could think of in that moment to keep Bella safe. He also didn't want to think that he and Bella were at an end. No what his main concern should be right now was making sure that his plan was carried out correctly, so there would be little causalities on his part. His enemies needed to understand that he wasn't one to be trifled with and if they chose to ignore the warning signs then they'd have to face the consequences. But at the moment all he could do was sit they're in his chair, in his underground conference room staring at the thirty men in front of him and all he could think about was her…
By midnight Edward and the thirty other men with him, arrived at James Lucas's illegal gambling operation, located in an abandoned warehouse on La Push beach. He had, had suspicions that Black was helping Lucas, and this location confirmed to him that his suspicions had been correct. He smiled a sadistic smile for he learned through the lower life living on the streets that Lucas and Black had planned to be here tonight, and looked forward to getting his revenge on the bastard for what he did to his uncle.
Under the cover of the night they slowly inched closer to the warehouse. He almost laughed when he saw only two burly men stood outside the entrance of the run down building. He raised his hand above his head to catch Jasper's and Marcus's attention, he motioned for them to take down the guards with the silencer.
Jasper aimed and shot the first man and the second, but the sound of there dead body weight falling to the ground alerted another man just inside the entrance who took issue, reaching for his gun beneath his jacket once he stepped through the doorway to see the two guards lying dead upon the sandy ground. Before the weapon could be drawn, Edward had rushed forward and slammed the man up against the brick wall of the building.
"I don't think so," he snarled next his ear.
"Who are you?" the man asked Edward.
"Your worst nightmare," he replied. He struck him in the side of the head, sending him lurching to the ground by the lifeless bodies of the other two men. Then leaned down and unsheathed his knife at his side and slit the bastard's throat to make sure he was dead.
"Search them for weapons," Edward commanded.
Jasper, Emmett and Marcus searched there dead bodies for more guns and weapons, and slid them into the waist of there dress pants to serve as extra ammunition if the need for them were to arise. Edward stood up and motioned with his head for his goons to prepare to attack.
"Remember no one gets out alive," he said in a deadly voice. He pulled out his Colt 45 and held it in the palm of his hand, before turning toward the door.
Emmett opened the warehouse door fully, motioning the all clear for them to advance on the unsuspecting goons inside the building. They were met with thick smoke that hung low over the motley group of a dozen or so men and women who either crouched or stood about as Lucas's gang members rolled the dice and flipped and dealt the cards. No one turned to entranced in what they were doing to notice them at first until Edward shot his gun in the air to get everyone's attention.
A sudden silence fell over the group as the room echoed from the gun shot, a stiffening of posture when they saw that thirty men now held them all at gun point. Hands moved towards pockets and jackets, where Edward knew they were reaching for there own guns.
Brandishing his Colt 45 menacingly, "Do not try anything. I will not hesitate to kill all of you. Where is Lucas?"
No one answered him, until the man holding the dice stepped forward and spoke up, " I ain't seen him. He ain't showed up here tonight."
"When is he expected?"
The man laughed, "Don't rightly know."
Edward approached Lucas's henchman, keeping his eyes on the surrounding unsavory characters, "You had better not be lying."
"Don't like to argue when I have thirty guns pointed at me."
" You should be afraid."
To prove his point, Edward raised his Colt and shot the man in both
legs. The man crumbled to the floor screaming in pain, Edward turned his eyes back to the audience. Fear paled many of there faces and the crowd drew back murmuring. Then he moved forward and grabbed the man by the scruff of the neck, forcing him to stand back up. His men moved forward to protect him from some of the other goons trying to take aim at him, causing them to back down. They knew they were out numbered and the Cullen name was putting fear into them.
"This is your last chance to tell me where they are," he warned.
Through the pain of his wounds the henchman gasped out, "I telling…you…not here."
Which made Edward glower even more fiercely, and snarl. "Then so be it. Tell Lucas that Cullen is onto them that I will continue to hunt them down like the dogs that they are, until they learn to take the hint and leave my family alone. If not, he and everyone else that does there bidding will wish for death once I get through with them."
Then with a strength they didn't suspect that he had he threw the man directly into the crowd knocking over a few of them. "Make it good boys," he shouted to his men over the viewer's yells and curses. "Emmett kill everyone except for him," Edward pointed to the one he'd just thrown toward the crowd, "I need him alive to make sure Lucas gets my message."
"Sure boss."
The shots rung out as Edward slowly made his way back to the entrance, as well as the sounds of his men tearing up the place and the returning gun fire of the other occupants. A bullet whizzed past his ear and he turned sharply to his right to take down the assailant.
He scanned the area to see if he could find there hiding place, somewhere that may have a good view of the warehouse and realized that there was none that the man had been telling the truth when he said that Lucas was not
there. How the hell could that be, for no one had known other than his people that they would attack tonight…something wasn't right and if what he suspected was true he had to figure out whom might be feeding them information from the inside. He had thought he'd taken care of that problem when he'd killed Laurent, but there seemed to be more than just one rat amongst them.
Eventually Edward knew that his path and Lucas's would cross. When that happened, he would likely risk his life to regain what he was trying to take from him. Not that life looked so inviting right now without the one person who meant so much to him to share it with. And once again Edward felt the searing pain in his chest at the possible loss of his Bella.
Outside he sought the shadows and tossed one of the dead mans weapons into the ocean water near the dock. The sounds of the people screams over the gun shots inside the warehouse was slowly dying out and eventually he was greeted with silence, except for the distinct sound of someone walking up behind him on the dock. Edward spun around gun in hand and pointed at the man who stood before him.
"Whoa there boss."
He breathed out a relieved sigh, "Emmett," he acknowledged lowering his arm.
"Mission accomplished," Emmett replied.
"Did anyone get away?"
"No there all dead, except for the one you wanted to live," Emmett said with a smirk.
"Good, burn it to the ground, we don't need any evidence left as to what took place here tonight."
"What about Lucas?"
Edward laughed angrily, "Somehow he knew we would be here."
"But how?"
"What yah think?" Edward asked in a steely voice, "Seems I was correct we have another mole amongst us."
"Damn…."
"And I have no fucking idea who it could be," Edward snarled frustrated.
"Don't worry, boss will find out who it is."
…...
(Four Weeks later)
THE NIGHTCLUB ECLIPSE was a happening place, and seemed to be hopping tonight, Bella thought as she walked through the entrance to be met by the loud, booming music. Passing by one of the many booths off to the right of the entrance Bella scanned the area looking for Rosalie and Alice, and wasn't surprised when Rosalie glanced up from the last booth to catch her eye. After all it had taken Rose forever to convince her to come out with her and Alice this evening. Rose had thought enough was enough with all the moping she'd been doing over the last four weeks. Sitting in her room, not answering her phone, going to and from work without a word to anyone other than whom she needed to talk to. She was completely missing Anthony…missing him so much it hurt knowing that she was in love with a man who wasn't on the same wavelength as her. Though what could she say when she'd been the one to ask for space, space that she found was lonely, and bleak without Anthony in it. She learned that if she tried hard enough she would be able to live without him in her life should that need come, and the way things were going it looked like that was going to be the case. So here she was now, after letting Rosalie talk her into coming here dreading letting loose, for that was the last thing she really wanted to be doing.
With a heartfelt sigh, Bella nodded and pointed toward the bar, indicating that she wanted to get a drink before joining them in the booth. She made her way over and ordered her usual jack and coke, and was just getting ready to turn when a voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Bella Swan."
She whipped her head to her right to connect with the dark eyes and felt fear slice through her body, for Jacob Black her ex-boyfriend stood in front of her, four weeks after the attack on her boss and coworkers.
"What-what are you doing here?" Bella stuttered, not knowing to be shocked scared or outraged.
Jacob assumed his lady killer pose, the hooded dark eyes, the slouch, and the lazy grin. And Bella found herself wondering how she ever found him to be attractive to her. Ever since she found out about his true nature she realized his manner was conniving, manipulative. He was after all a fraud, with little regard for anyone including her.
"Aw, come on babe." He leaned toward her, his smile tightening when she scrawled, and tried to move away. "I thought you'd be happy to see me."
She laughed bitterly, "Yeah right, after you viciously attacked innocent people I work with," she said not bothering to hide her irritation, as her eyes scanned there surroundings hoping for once that one of her bodyguards were in close proximity.
"You make me sound so bad, it's not like I have ever tried to lay a hand on you." The sincerity in his voice made her force back a chuckle. Her annoyance hadn't even registered with him. "You were always able to see right through me. That's one of the things I love about you.
She stared hard at him. "You didn't have to use physical force to abuse a relationship," she snapped.
"Bella, baby," he purred leaning even closer to her, "I never meant you any harm. Though I didn't know what a gem you were until…well you know."
"What do you want from me, Jacob?" she hissed. Suddenly feeling the need to get away…she didn't trust him and looked around for her bodyguards, spotting Felix slowly making his way towards them.
"Why you of course," Jacob said with a sinister smile plastered on his once handsome face.
That stopped her cold, as apprehension and dread flooded through her. She didn't like the way this was going at all. Why would he want her back? What could he possibly need with her to seek her out like this? "No, it's to late."
He moved closer to her and tried to put his arm around her shoulders, frowning when she shook him off, "Come on baby, don't say that. I know I've made some bad choices when it came to you. But I'm goanna try and make up for them. It was just one of those things that happened…but its over between her and I."
She slanted a quick uncertain glance at him, wondering what was coming next. "I'm sorry to hear that."
He reached out to push a wayward hair out of her face but she slapped his hand away from her. "So sweet," he murmured, "I knew you'd understand. Leah and I have parted ways."
"I'm sure you were the cause of the breakup," Bella said scratchily.
"Of course not. I actually put her first. But it just didn't work out…there was a few mistakes made along the way between us. I just hope you won't make me pay for our own," he said and tried to snake his arm around her on top of the bar. "To think how good we were together."
Bella shifted away from him, "Look Jacob, I'm sorry things didn't work out for you. But-"
To her astonishment he flung his arms around her and brought her close to his body, and took one of her hands in his.
"Jacob, what do you think you are doing?"
"I want you back, baby…I still love you…I always will." he said derisively into her ear. Than tried to kiss her.
"Stop Jacob." she said, pushing away from him and out of his arms.
"I didn't know what a good thing I had until I threw it away. Take me back, Bella."
"No Jake," she said and tried to move around him, but was stopped when he tightened his grip on her wrist restraining her.
Unbelievable, he would never change.
She was about to give him a piece of her mind, tell him she'd be stupid to take him back, when she sighted Anthony suddenly in the crowd. His dark emerald green eyes turned in her direction burning with suppressed anger. She froze, caught her breath, a shiver of fear running up and down her spine.
"The only thing Bella will be taking," came a low deadly, velvet voice, "Is the pieces after I get through with you. Unless you have a death wish, I strongly advise you to take your fucking hands off my woman."
There was a stunned silence that followed the threat.
Bella's gaze flew to Anthony. He commanded respect with his larger than life, an angry and furious demeanor. Standing there in his dark tailored suit, he could have been carved in granite. His expression was the coolest, most dangerous one she'd ever seen on his handsome face before.
Jacob's gaze traveled from Anthony to Bella and back again. His grip on her wrist tightened causing her to cry out in pain.
Of all the times for Anthony to walk back into her life uninvited, Bella thought wildly, why now? Then she completely went brain dead as she stared at the virile male hostility that was Anthony Masen. She tried to free her wrist, but Jacob held on.
"Fuck You ASSWARD!" Jacob replied.
Bella sucked in her breath, and watched the two men regard each other with undisguised animosity. "How-how do you both know each other?" Bella asked in a small voice.
Anthony didn't return Black's smile, when he answered Bella. "Believe me his reputation exceeds him." Then turned back to look at Black, "I can not say that this is a pleasure."
"Who do you think you are?" Jacob snarled at him.
"I'm her lover," Anthony said in the same menacing tone in which he'd issued his threat.
"What!" Jacob snorted.
Bella felt the blood drain from her face, and glared at Anthony in seething silence. Please tell me he didn't just say that, she pleaded with herself.
"There is no way that my Bella slept with you," Jacob sneered.
Bella could feel the embarrassment and anger set in. Hands curling into fists, she took a step toward Anthony, but was stopped with Jacobs grip still on her wrist. "A couple nights in your bed doesn't make you my lover."
"The hell it doesn't," Anthony growled.
"What the fuck, Bella you never slept with me and we were child hood friends," Jacob yelled indignantly.
"Oh my god! Both of you need to shut up!" she cried completely mortified that her dirty laundry was being aired in a very public place in front of Anthony's guards and who knew whom else, though she kept her furious gaze on both men as Anthony took a step closer to Jake.
His gaze left hers and settled on the man behind her, "She gave herself to me. Bella belongs to me. She's just having a little trouble understanding that. Now you have one minute to get your hands off of her and out of here."
Jacob's smile faded and he quickly stood up to his full height in front of Anthony, "She doesn't belong to you."
"Thirty seconds," Anthony, snarled.
Appalled that there might be a fight, Bella tried to keep herself in between the men, "Will the both of you stop talking about me as if I am not standing right here. Jake, just go I have nothing more to say to you," she turned toward Anthony to also give him a piece of her mind, "And you-" No one was more surprised than she when Anthony simply lifted her off her feet and set her protectively behind him.
…...
AS EDWARD STARED fixedly at Bella across the expanse of the nightclub, he noticed how frightened Bella seemed to be of him or was it…that no good for nothing Jacob Black. How the hell did he stay under his radar for so long, and then show up here apparently stalking Bella. He couldn't help assuming an accusatory stance. How dare the man seek out and try to make a move on his woman?
He gave a nod to single to his men to follow him as he approached Bella and Black at the bar. He noticed that Black had his hand on her wrist and tried to kiss her. All he wanted to do in that moment was pull Black by the scruff of his neck and beat the living shit out of him. One for attacking his uncle, two for even daring to touch what was his...his Bella. Where the hell was Felix?
"The only thing Bella will be taking," he said in a low deadly voice, "Is the pieces after I get through with you. Unless you have a death wish, I strongly advise you to take your fucking hands off my woman," he snarled.
"Fuck you ASSWARD," Jacob replied, with a smile on his handsome face, and a furtive gleam in his eye.
Edward didn't let it go unnoticed the semi slip of his true name, coming out of this pricks mouth. His hands clenched at his sides, trying to keep his hands off this bastard. Not here not in front of Bella, he chanted to himself…wait until he's alone then make your move. He was also aware of Bella's indrawn breath.
"How-how do you both know each other?" Bella asked in a small voice.
Edward didn't return Black's smile, when he answered Bella. "Believe me his reputation exceeds him." Then turned back to look at Black, "I can not say that this is a pleasure."
"Who do you think you are?" Jacob snarled at him.
"I'm her lover," he said in a menacing tone.
"What," Jacob snorted, "There is no way that my Bella slept with you."
Edward clenched his teeth as a stab of jealous rage possessed him when Jacob dared to call Bella his. Fucking bastard she's mine! His inner voice raged. He could also detect the hint of anger cross Bella's features as she tried to take a step closer to him and hiss in his face.
"A couple nights in your bed doesn't make you my lover."
"The hell it doesn't," he growled.
"What the fuck, Bella you never slept with me and we were child hood friends," Jacob yelled indignantly.
"Oh my god! Both of you need to shut up!" she cried looking completely mortified, though she kept her furious gaze on him as he took a threatening step closer to Jake.
Edward's gaze left hers and settled on the man behind her, "Bella belongs to me. She gave herself to me. She's just having a little trouble understanding that. Now you have one minute to get your hands off of her and out of her life," he threatened.
Black's smile faded and he quickly stood up to his full height in front of Edward, "She doesn't belong to you," Jacob said.
"Thirty seconds," Edward stood as indifferent as a stone.
Bella tried at that moment to insert herself between the two of them, "Will the both of you stop talking about me as if I am not standing right here. Jake, just go I have nothing more to say to you," she turned toward Edward, "And you-" but he cut her off when he surprised her by simply picking her up and set her behind him, and away from Black.
"Funny I could say the same about you."
Edward took a threatening step towards him, "Go to hell!"
"Stop this!" Bella shouted trying to jump in between them again but failing when Felix stopped her, "I will not tolerate such juvenile behavior."
Edward watched as she turned a hard look on him, "Anthony, you don't understand what's going on here. Our conversation has nothing to do with you."
Edward's jaw clenched stubbornly, "Everything you do is my business, whether you like it or not, you belong to me."
"That's just it, she doesn't belong to you, Cull-"
Edward moved closer to Jacob until he was in his face, cutting him off before completing his name, "Leave…Now!"
Jacob's eyes bored into his as dawning crossed his face after picking up on Edward not allowing him to call him by his real name, "So you haven't told her yet," he sneered.
"Told me what?" Bella asked.
Edward gave him a hard push on his shoulder, "I said leave," He demanded.
"Or what?" Jacob asked puffing out his chest. "She deserves to know."
"Leave it alone, Jacob," Edward snarled as he pushed him again. Wanting so bad in that moment to shoot this fucker between the eyes, but he couldn't; not with Bella standing they're to witness it.
"Anthony what-what is he talking about?" Bella asked him while her eyes widened with apprehension of a fight to break out between them.
Edward's anger flared, he scowled at Jacob who was giving him a triumphant smirk…not for long bastard, he thought.
"No one can protect you here," he snarled at Jacob instead of answering Bella.
"Fuck you! I don't need anyone's protection." Jacob said with balled fists.
Suddenly one of Edward's guards were in-between them pushing both men away from each other, while Felix stood protectively in front of her. "You need to back down now, Black."
"Fuck off," Jacob snarled in anger.
"Anthony, behave yourself." she poked him in the back with her index finger. "If you so much as try to hit Jacob, I'll never speak to you again as long as I live."
Edward turned his head to give her a bewildered look, as she started on Jacob next, "You ended our relationship the moment you turned to Leah for pleasure. We broke up because of you and it was the right thing for me to do. Really it should have never happened at all. I don't love you, Jake. I realize now that I never did."
Jacob dropped his gaze, but when he looked back up at Bella there was pure seething anger in his eyes, "So he's your boyfriend now?" he asked Bella not paying any attention to Edward's body guards. "What's so special about him? Unless he's good in the sack? Is that it? Was he telling the truth? That the ice queen finally gave it up?" he snarled at her from behind Felix.
Edward turned his gaze upon Bella as she gasped, her hand covering her mouth in shock at Jacob's words. Seeing the hurt and pain in her eyes that Black's words caused her sent Edward over the edge of reason. How dare he talk to her like that? With out thinking Edward's fist swung connecting against Jacob's jaw, and sending the younger man slamming into the wall behind him, not caring about Bella's threat not to hit him from a few moments before.
"Don't ever talk to her like that again or I'll kill you," he threatened, as he stood over him breathing heavily. This bastard had some nerve coming into his club and then making advances on his girl as if he owned the place.
"Lucas's protection won't help you here," he snarled under his breath, hoping Bella didn't hear him.
Jacob's eyes widened as he stared at him, a sinister cackle fell from his lips, "I was with her first…friendship is a good basis for something more, we could be so good together."
"No!" Edward 's voice cut through the room like a steel blade.
He glared at Jacob wanting to finish him; the blood lust racing through his veins was calling to him begging him to do so. He closed his eyes and took a deep steadying breath, knowing that he couldn't let himself lose complete control with Bella still cowering behind him. He turned his head to glance at Bella and saw that she had covered her face with her hands and was visibly shaking. That sight was the only thing that saved Black's life in that moment, and he backed off somewhat.
"Bella will come back to me… she always does."
"She won't." Edward said without taking his eyes off of Bella.
"Just go Jake, leave me be." She pleaded.
The sound of Jacob straightening up caused Edward to whip his head back in his direction. Jacob stood there holding onto his jaw his eyes filled with undisguised rage and hatred, "You'll pay for this," he hissed as he turned and stalked off toward the entrance of the club.
"I want him followed, make sure he doesn't cause anymore trouble," Edward snarled at his guards. Which they knew what he really saying was
'Follow him then take him to Calypso' before they took off in the direction Jacob had disappeared. Edward turned to look at a frightened Bella, and it tore at him to see her so scared and panicked.
"Jacob may be a bad man but you didn't need to threaten him." she whispered.
What the fuck! He was making a move on her, insulting her, and she had the audacity to stand there and tell him he had no right to threaten Black, he thought perplexed. What the hell was wrong with her, the man had hurt people seeking her out.
"Bella-"
"No listen to me!" she cried, spinning out of his reach when he tried to touch her, and moving closer to the bar.
Edward's gaze softened for the first time since he approached her that evening, and took a step closer to her.
"No! Don't move any closer to me!" she ordered. To her surprise he complied. "I'm still very upset with you. And to top it all off you have no right to threaten, Jacob and barge in on our conversation acting like a caveman, when you don't know what was going on. What's the matter with you? Why do you insist acting like a Neanderthal every time I am around you?"
The flames in Edward's eyes burned brighter. He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. "I had no intensions of following through with my threat. Even though he deserves it." Edward lied trying to appease her. Oh he would definitely enjoy roughing him up later once he was taken to the interrogation room. But he wondered at her defense of Black and noticed that she seemed to be distancing herself toward him. "Though upset doesn't begin to describe how I am feeling right now," he muttered.
"Yes you did mean it!"
"Why are you protecting him? Do you still want him?" he accused. He was unable to curb the fierce stab of jealousy at the thought of his Bella having feelings for any other man than himself. Even after not seeing her for the past four weeks he still wanted her to be his and only his. Selfish bastard that he was, he didn't like sharing.
"How dare you!" she cried angrily.
"I dare a lot of things especially when it comes to you." His mouth twisted wryly. "Look Bella, I've respected your wishes to keep our relationship platonic until you say otherwise. I've done everything I could think of to win you over…including swearing off other women." He dragged in an angry breath. "So explain to me when I am here tonight, I spy you with another man who had his hands all over you? How could I let him do that when you belong to me?"
That infuriated her all over again, and gasped, "I can't believe this. I don't belong to you, Anthony. I'm not an object you can own like a piece of furniture. I love you, but I don't belong to you!" As soon as the words left her mouth, she couldn't have been more horrified. Oh my god! I didn't just say that did I?
She heard Anthony's sharp intake of breath. "I wish I hadn't said that," she murmured, and opened her eyes.
He was standing there in front of her looking stunned. For the first time since they met he seemed to not know what to say or do. At last he asked quietly, "Did you mean that?"
She smiled weekly, what was she going to say? How could she have let that slip? Finally with a long drawn out breath she answered him, "Yes, I meant it, and yes I wish I had not said it."
He rubbed his hand over his face, and sighed deeply, "Well this changes things." His voice sounded bewildered, she realized he was in actuality talking more to himself, not her.
"What are you talking about?" she asked unconsciously rubbing her wrist where Jacob had squeezed none to gently.
"Bella, we need to have that talk"
She shook her head stubbornly, "No not tonight, I'm not ready to talk to you yet."
Edward noticed her unconsciously rubbing her wrist; concern conflicted with his jealousy as he reached out to take her hand in his. "What's wrong, Bella? Did he hurt you?"
"Wrong?"
She blinked at him giving him a scared look.
He raised her arm up to look at her wrist, and felt her shudder slightly, "Did he hurt you?"
"No!" she squeaked.
He wanted to shake her for her stubbornness, but knew that he wanted Bella Swan to trust him, "Again I ask what is wrong? Why don't you want to talk to me?"
"Nothing…I-I just have a lot of things on my mind is all."
"Such as Jacob Black?" He asked, as another spurt of jealous rage possessed him. If she even thought for a minute that he'd give her up to go back to that dog than she was sadly mistaken. Mine!
Bella made a face, "No of course not." But she paused then stuttered out, "What-what are you-you doing here anyway?"
"Bella, It should be I asking you that…after all this is my club…" He trailed off staring at her thinking that he'd never felt so alone as he had in the past four weeks, trying to give her the space that she'd asked for. Now after not seeing her and having her standing there before him, touching her, talking to her…he couldn't describe the emotions tumbling through his mind and body at that moment. All he wanted to do was pull her close and never let go.
"You're club?" she scuffed. "I should have known, seems to me like you own pretty much everything in Port Angeles."
"What do I have to do to show you how sorry I am for the way I acted toward you four weeks ago," he said stepping closer to her. "Hell you even feared that I was going to harm you…harm him, your former boyfriend. Have you decided to take him back?" he demanded in a dark tone.
…...
Bella WILLED HERSELF not to flinch in the face of his anger, as his fiery eyes locked with hers, but she was caught, transfixed by his gaze. Her blood hummed in her veins. Yet she managed to croak, "I told you I have no romantic feelings left inside of me for Jacob."
He moved even closer, leaning over her until she felt his breath on her face. Her heart thundered in her ears.
"He can never make you feel the way I can, Bella," he said in a low mesmerizing, possessive voice.
Indeed, her flesh grew warm. Her breasts swelled, her knees grew week. She yearned to throw her clothes off right there, give herself over to him, a naked, quivering offering. He raised her chin with one hand, stroked it with a finger, let his lips hover over hers. Longing for his kiss, she opened her mouth, and left her eyes drift closed.
"No Anthony," she pleaded, and pushed away from him. She wasn't ready to forgive him even when her traitorous body wanted her to.
His nostrils flared; his eyes seemed to darken, "Why are you doing this to me? Why do you insist in keeping me at arms length? Hell, you even let that dog get close to you, when you know damn well it was he who was behind the attack at your place of work, the very one you were protecting a few moments ago?"
"Oh that's right how could I forget that the great Anthony Masen will protect me," she said, once more moved to sarcasm.
"I will always protect you…even if you prefer another man's attentions."
She couldn't believe this, he was such an ass hole. How dare he accuse her of cheating on him? She was still resentful, still trying to deal with her anger at him from his previous actions. "If you're talking about Jacob, I am not going to even dignify you with a response to that accusation."
"Then don't shut me out, Bella," he pleaded in a husky tone, his dark, smoldering, hypnotic, and emerald green eyes locking on hers.
She felt a wave of desire but fought it, "You've given me no choice."
She said as she stepped around him and fled toward, the front entrance of the nightclub. Managing not to stumble though her legs felt shaky. Her heels tapped on the hardness of the concrete, breaking the stillness of the night once outside.
She resisted the urge to run to her truck when she heard someone following behind her. Once at her truck she spun around and slanted a reproachful glance in his direction.
"What do you want, Anthony?' her voice came out as a weary sigh.
He stood there regarding her steadily. What emotion, she wondered, caused him to look at her so oddly?
"Did you mean it?" he asked. "About how you feel about me?"
She blinked, more than a little surprised by his almost humble question, though she knew that he didn't feel the same about her, and that was what made this all the more hurtful.
"I already told you how I felt."
He nodded, "I always knew the first time I met you that we belonged together." He looked at her with such need and longing, but he couldn't say the words, couldn't give her what she wanted most. She felt her knees go weak, and could feel the beginnings of tears prick at her eyes at that knowledge.
She closed her eyes, "Please just let me go. I need to be alone."
"I can't," he whispered.
When she opened her eyes it was to see his retreating back headed toward the entrance of the nightclub, then he turned his head to look back at her a sad smirk playing about his lips.
"Lei sarà miniera." he called out to her before retreating back inside of the club.
…...
ONCE EDWARD REENTERED his nightclub he was met at the door by his sister Alice who stood they're glaring at him with her arms crossed over her breasts.
"What?" he snarled.
"Where's Bella?" she asked him.
He stiffened noticeably, "She wanted to leave."
"Why? What did you say to her? She looked upset." Alice asked her eyes moving from him, to the door than back to him.
"It's none of your business," he muttered under his breath as he walked past her.
"Bella's my friend, Edward…and it seems lately you haven't been yourself. Are you two fighting?" She asked him like a pesky insistent bee that didn't know when to leave you alone.
"Leave it alone, Alice," he muttered. Not wanting to talk to her about his problems with Bella. He had bigger ones to take care of just then, starting with Jacob Black.
"She's not upset about what happened a few weeks ago, when you got mugged…is she?"
"No."
"Then what's the problem?"
Edward walked through the doorway to his office and stopped turning to glare angrily at his pest of a sister, "What do you think? She's upset with me…and she has every right to be. Though I refuse to stand by and watch another man move in on what's mine," he said stiffly.
"Oh my god, does she know who you are? Did you tell her the truth about our family?"
"Fuck no, Alice!" he shouted pulling her the rest of the way into his office slamming the door shut, "And I prefer it stayed that way," he finished reaching for his trench coat and jerkily put it on.
"So then what is it, that's got you in such a dark mood as of late?"
Edward took a deep breath to try and hide the sudden emotion that overwhelmed him in that moment. His heart felt like someone had literally drove a knife into it as the thought of possibly losing Bella sunk in.
"I-I did something bad," he cried frustrated at the situation.
"What do you mean?" Alice asked worry crossing her face.
"About four weeks ago I took Bella to the fair. Everything was going fine until grandfather made an appearance. I-I lost control of my temper and panicked, because he has threatened to take Bella out of my life." he paused running his hands through his hair and started pacing back en forth in front of her. "I was cruel to her…I treated her roughly and almost raped her at my Penthouse." Once he started telling her about there past events he couldn't seem to stop.
"Oh my God!" Alice cried her hand covering her gaping mouth, her eyes accusing. "Please tell me you didn't go through with it?"
Edward looked down at the carpeted floor of his office and ran his hands frustratingly through his tousled hair, "I stopped myself…but…I still made love to her I couldn't …I needed, Oh fuck!" he chocked.
"Edward how could you?"
"That's not all, after we were done, I got a phone call about Jacob Black going to Uncle Aro's restaurant and attacking him when Bella wasn't there, apparently Bella used to date Jacob. Anyway I left her to go to a meeting with my men…I didn't offer an explanation…no apologies.
"Edward, I can't believe you did that. No take that back yes I can…you're known for being an ungrateful, uncaring, prick. But how could you do that to Bella? She's such a nice person…so selfless, so caring.''
"I don't know…I have been paying for my actions since. Hell I can't get her to talk to me, and when I do we are constantly fighting of late. I don't want to lose her…but I, fuck!"
"Is that what happened tonight…you had another fight?"
Edward bowed his head in shame, "Yes, " he said thinking back on their words spoken, their anger, and his jealousy towards Jacob fucking Black. Speaking of Jacob he couldn't wait to beat the living shit out of him once he got back to Calypso…he didn't know what he had coming to him at the wrath of his hands for coming near his girl. Remembering that she'd said she loved him…. and for the first time in four weeks even with the anger he was now harboring for himself; he let himself hope that she truly meant what she'd said. That there was a slight chance that they could still be together no matter what the future would hold between them.
"You have to fix this, Edward. I want to keep her as my friend…and-and whether you know it or not she's perfect for you."
"Yeah right," he scoffed. "Men like me don't deserve anyone like her."
"Edward Anthony Cullen, yes you do"
"Listen, Alice it might be to late, she wants space."
"Do you hear yourself? I can't believe you're saying that. For the first time you've met a woman not willing to play your game, someone you have to actually work hard at to get. Bella's not like all the other sluts that you've had in your life. She's sweet, innocent and completely selfless, something your not used to. I never thought I'd see the day that my brother the ruthless, most powerful mob boss of the Cullen Crime family fall head over heels in love with a sweet down to earth girl like Bella Swan."
"I'm not in love with her…I just want her." Edward said stubbornly not willing to admit that he might be in love with Bella Swan.
Alice laughed gleefully, "Keep telling your self that and you might believe it. But from where I'm standing brother-of-mine that is exactly what you are…"
Edward scoffed at her before opening the door to his office, "What ever Alice, now if you'll excuse me I have some unfinished business I need to take care of." he said as he made his way out of the door.
"Of course, though I see your still the same old Edward."
Edward stopped in his tracks, and turned his head to look at her, with narrowed eyes, "What do you mean by that?"
"Running away from your feelings instead of just facing them head on, mother was correct about that."
"Fuck you, Alice…you don't know anything," he snarled.
Alice smirked and raised her eyebrow, "I don't, do I?"
"No." Edward clipped, before turning and disappearing down the hallway.
AUTHOR"S NOTE: Well there was chapter nine, I hope you all liked it. I am looking forward to your reviews. Needing 60 more before starting on the next chapter.
Thanks
Gokdeneyes123
Meaning of Italian words
Dio! = God!
Cara = Dear
Dannazione! = Damnation!
Per favore cambi Lei è mente = Please change you're mind?
Lei sarà miniera = You will be mine (or) my.