Hi Ladies,

You will be getting a double dose of Edward. This will be his chapter, and the next two will be Bella. I hope you enjoy it. You will not want to miss the next two chapters. Thanks for being here for this ride.

Please let me know what you all think;)

Chapter 20

Edward-

Jasper was standing near my front door when I stepped off the elevator to my floor. His head whipped in my direction, concern evident in his glittering steel gaze. I'd never witnessed the hostility radiating from those gray depths before and immediate apprehension coiled like a tight spring in my gut.

"Where's Bella?" The words tripped off my lips with little effort, not even needing to be told his rage had to do with my troublesome wife. I'd known Bella was a handful, but the way Jasper's hands kept flexing into tight fists drove the knowledge home. If he couldn't handle the assignment I'd given him, I had no choice but to find someone else.

He rolled his shoulders to relieve the tension he was apparently feeling, his mouth set in a firm line. "She gave me the slip off of Michigan Avenue …"

"Are you telling me you're not competent to keep tabs on her?" My gaze never wavered from his, growing aggravation claiming my soul. "Where the fuck is she, Jasper?"

"Boss," he started, swallowing as if he were attempting to find the right words. "I caught up to her in Millennium Park under the bridge. By the time I got there some cop had her cornered and was in her face. He looked like he was about to slap her …" As he explained, a dazed expression came over his normally calm features—like he was replaying the events in his mind. "I got her out of there. We came immediately back to the condo but she ran inside. She wouldn't tell me anything. She won't answer the door or her phone. Hell, she wouldn't even talk to her friend …"

"What the hell was she doing in Millennium Park?" I wanted to know, the mention of a cop in Bella's face had me on instant alert. While I wanted to end this conversation and speak directly to Bella, I wanted to find out as much about the situation as possible. "What friend?"

"When we got there she had some sort of box in her hand. A small jewelry box or whatever. I'm not sure what was inside. Her friend Alice spent the day shopping with her." Jasper shifted as if he was uncomfortable as I reached for the door eager to find out exactly what happened. I started to push inside my apartment when Jasper's next statement gave me pause. "Mr. Cullen, I don't know what precisely went down but I overheard something disturbing before I interrupted their encounter."

I went instantly still. A sheet of ice slid in place, everything in me frosted over. The muscle in my jaw worked overtime as I turned my attention to Jasper. Daggers shot from my eyes as I studied my number one guard. When he refused to meet my gaze, my growl filled the hallway as I urged him to continue. "What did you overhear?"

He looked positively fearful, shifting nervously from foot to foot. Eventually he pulled his eyes from his feet to stare at me. A muscle in his cheek jumped and I could see the rage burning in him, emanating off him in thick waves. "She said someone snuck into her room every night. He said he didn't believe her, and she continued saying there was a reason he was so sweet. I don't know what happened but …"

Jasper didn't need to say anything else. Urgency took over, and I rushed inside, slamming the door behind me. I encountered an eerily silent apartment. I stood in the living room for a moment, my gaze roaming and encountering nothing but empty space. Not even one light brightened the dimly lit condo, and if it weren't for Jasper telling me Bella had locked herself inside, I could have sworn the place was devoid of human life. A quick glance toward the kitchen produced the same results as the living room. The door to my study was shut and locked with a deadbolt. There was zero chance she was there. Slowly I turned toward the hallway leading to her room, and after a quick inspection, I found a rumpled bed and no Bella.

What the fuck?

"Bella?" I asked, edging toward her bathroom. The door was slightly ajar, yet no lights were on. Pushing the door open, I stood there dumbfounded and at a complete loss. Aggravation was starting to mount, and scratching my head I did a slow circle.

Was she hiding? After what Jasper related to me of her confrontation with her father it wouldn't be far-fetched. My gut curdled as Jasper's words played over and over through my mind.

Okay—if she was hiding—where the fuck would she be? As if a lightbulb went off, I left her room and headed to mine. My closet door was closed—which it hadn't been this morning. Brisk strides carried me across the wood floor, and I didn't even pause as I pushed the door wide, and headed for my secret room.

I winced as a sharp pain shot through my chest when I found Bella curled up in the chair, her head pillowed against the arm with her eyes tightly closed. She appeared to be sound asleep, yet tale tell signs—like the way her eyelids kept flinching and her halty breath—told me she was conscious.

Even so she looked so vulnerable. I swallowed tightly, shoving my anger into a deep hole, causing my stomach to pitch. I needed extra patience to deal with the mounting heap of bullshit my wife had to endure throughout her life. Brushing a lock of hair from her cheek, I tucked the strand behind her ear. The way she flinched away from my touch infuriated me beyond all reason. It was like all the progress we'd made went right out the fucking window in a few short hours.

As soon as I found out who had put their hands on Bella, they were in serious shit.

"Princess," I called, clearing my throat. I sounded like an outraged bear to my own ears, so I could only imagine the impression she was getting. Seeking a calm I didn't feel, I said, "I know you aren't sleeping. Come on, princess, open your gorgeous eyes."

Her dark lashes fluttered against her cheek before they lifted revealing startling emerald eyes. Ever so slowly, she turned her head to look up at me. Her pretty pink tongue darted out to wet her dry lips, and I withheld a groan. The woman needed compassion, not another man with no restraint. "Why are you curled up back here, princess?"

Her shoulders lifted in a stiff shrug and gradually she moved into a sitting position, her lower lip quivering. "I just—it was the only place I felt safe."

"Hmm," I sniffed, standing straight up, I shoved my hands deep into my pockets to keep from reaching for her. "Have you eaten yet?"

Her lashes fell as she squinted at me like she was trying to figure me out. Finally she shook her head—apparently unwilling to depart with any information. "No. We didn't get a chance when we were out."

I tipped my head in the direction of the door. "Come on, I'm starved. I'll make dinner something while you tell me about your day."

"I'm sure you know about my day. Jasper probably already filled you in on everything," she whispered with skepticism in her voice.

"Yeah," I admitted, dipping my head in a nod. "But I would rather hear it from you, princess. Let's go make some dinner and talk."

Her chin rose in a stubborn angle. "What if I don't want to talk about it?"

"I'm sure there is something about this day you would like to discuss." Holding my hand out, I reached for hers. With reluctance, she clasped my fingers and stood on wobbly legs. Leading her toward the door, I glanced over at her. "Did you find anything interesting while shopping?"

"I found a lot of interesting things," she said with a grimace as she followed me into the kitchen. Her lips were pinched, chewing the inside of her cheek. Releasing her fingers, I headed to the fridge and sorted through a stack of steaks until I came to two NY Strips. "I just feel kind of bad."

Tossing the meat onto the counter, I studied her intently over my shoulder. "Why's that?"

She crossed her arms over her chest with a shrug, leaning against the counter. "I spent more on clothes today than most people make in a year. It's kind of ridiculous." She nibbled on her fingernail with shadows clouding her eyes. Inhaling a deep breath, she blew it out in a rush. "It's kind of sad."

After spending the last two years swindling men for their cash just to survive, I understood where she was coming from. I don't know how I could make idle chit-chat with Bella, because normally I wasn't a patient person. Somehow I managed however, passing her veggies to make a salad as I continued to sear the steaks. "So you didn't encounter any problems using my card?"

"No," she shook her head, chopping lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and an assortment of other vegetables. "There was this one chick who looked down her snotty nose. She said I couldn't afford anything in her stupid shop. I told her where she could stick her nasty attitude before Jasper pulled me out of there." She broke off a piece of carrot and crunched on it. "I really wanted to put her in her place. Snooty bitch." She glanced over her shoulder through the curtain of her hair. "What did you do today?"

Her question reminded me of the donuts Rose had sent to her. I'd been in such a rush to get up to the condo they'd completely slipped my mind. Pulling two medium rare steaks from the skillet and placing them on plates, I hurriedly went to the front door. I found Jasper leaning against the far wall. "There's a box from Crème Center on my backseat. Bring them up to me, and then you can go for the night."

He swiped the keys from my hand with a nod. "I'll be right back."

I closed the door behind me and headed back to the kitchen. Taking a step closer to Bella, I watched her stiffen slightly and my jaw clenched, the muscle ticking with frustration. I let the tips of my fingers graze her cheek before letting my hand fall away. "I have a little surprise for you."

"What surprise?" She asked with curiosity.

The velvet box seemed to weigh a ton, reminding me of the ring I had in my pocket. Right then wasn't the time to give her that ring however, I decided, collecting the food and heading to the table. "Jasper just ran down to get it. I didn't realize you knew Rose."

"Who?" She asked around a mouthful of salad, her brow furrowed as she studied me.

"Rose. The woman from Crème Center. She said she'd met you and you used to come in for donuts," I explained, cutting into the steak. Remembering my sister-in-law telling me she'd caught Bella digging through the trash, suddenly the meat before me didn't appear appetizing. "She's married to Emmett. You remember my brother, right? She's my sister-in-law."

Bella's eyes went wide. "She's your sister-in-law?

Pushing my plate away, I was content to just watch the woman across from me eat. After hearing what transpired today, I was very doubtful I'd be able to calm her down. "Yeah. When I told her we'd gotten married, she sent a box of donuts home for you."

Bella's expression softened. "She was very sweet to me. Crème Center was one place I always felt comfortable going because she never made me feel like a project." She scoffed, her eyebrows rising. "Of course I was, you know, but she never made me feel like it."

I found it difficult to digest her declaration of being a project. I stared intently at her wanting to comfort her. Strange. I had never felt compelled to comfort anyone in my life. A light tap on the door signaled Jasper's return, saving me from these confusing emotions. Standing, I headed to relieve Jasper of the donuts and dismiss him for the night. As soon as I placed the white box on the table, Bella lost interest in the food she'd been picking on her plate.

"These are my favorite," she commented, snatching an eclair from the bounty. My nostrils flared when she pulled the sticky treat apart, licking the crème from her fingertips. I was so intent on following the path her tongue took over her delicate skin I didn't notice her expression.

When my lower body started to respond to her eager display, I had to forcibly tear my attention away. I found her staring at me with confusion. Swallowing the mouthful of sugary dough, her gaze narrowed. "You're looking at me really weird. What are you thinking about?"

I doubted she wanted to know what I'd been envisioning. Clearing my throat, I gestured toward the living room. "It's been a busy day. Why don't we go relax for the night?"

I plopped in my recliner near the window. Scratching my chin, I gazed out over the city as Bella came in to sit on the sofa. As soon as I spotted her reflection in the glass, I lost interest in the view. I spent millions of dollars for the ability to stare out at the skyline around me, yet I'd rather focus on the woman sitting awkwardly on the plump cushion. She was nervously twisting a lock of hair around her finger, chewing at her lip. Finally, she tilted her head in my direction. "Why don't you just ask me what you're dying to ask?"

I shifted in my seat to face her, quietly studying her for a long minute. I held out my hand, urging her to take it. After what seemed like an eternity she wound her fingers through mine, and with a tug I pulled her from the couch. When she stood inches away from my knees, I smacked my thigh. "Sit."

I anticipated her refusing. There was no one around and no reason at all for physical contact. I fully expected her to argue, yet to my astonishment she hesitantly sat on my lap. She wiggled awkwardly until I laced my arm around her waist to stop her movement. Ever so slowly, she began to relax, her side nestling into my chest and her head pillowed on my shoulder.

Several different fragrances assaulted my senses, yet the combination was strangely appealing. Nuzzling the top of her hair, I inhaled deeply. "You smell good. Did you attack a perfume stand?"

My lips brushed her hair as I spoke, and the softness was addicting. She tilted her head back, laughing. "Yeah, actually. I saw all these bottles and I couldn't help myself."

"I hope you bought a few of them," I admitted, taking another deep breath. My hand slid across her stomach, traveling down the length of her thigh. The muscle jumped beneath my hand, and she was seconds away from leaping free. Tightening my grip on her leg, I held her in place, not giving her a chance to escape. I was surprised when she didn't struggle. Resting my chin on her shoulder, I asked, "Why did you take off from Jasper, princess?"

She picked at the frayed material of her jeans. "I had to get to Millennium Park. I promised Alice I would help her pay for her rent. I had a stash down there."

"What kind of stash?" I couldn't resist the temptation to stroke the length of her thigh, relieved when she seemed to melt against me.

"Well, you know what I did to make a living," she started, continuing when I nodded. "I used to save their cufflinks, sort of like trophies. The collection has grown quite a bit and I figured I'd give them to Alice to sell."

"So that's what was in the box?" I asked, her nod confirming my assumption. "Babe, I told you we'd figure something out for Alice's rent. I meant it. You didn't have to go retrieve some secret stash."

Bella pressed her head against my shoulder, seeming to grow more comfortable by the second. "You've already done so much for me. I didn't want to ask for anything else."

Gradually my hand left her leg, coming up to pet her long silken hair, winding the strands through my fingers. "Princess, I told you I would do whatever I could and I meant it." Silence filled the space between us, stretching for endless minutes. Kissing the crown of her head, I felt my eyelids beginning to droop. "I want you to be able to trust me with whatever is going on." I stroked her head, tracing the shell of her ear. "What happened with your dad?"

"Hmm?" She whispered, nestling deeper into my shoulder, her head tipping slightly to reveal her closed eyes.

I wanted to shake her awake and demand she answer my question, yet I was immobile. This woman—the woman who didn't trust a soul—had fallen asleep in my arms. How the fuck could I ruin that with reality?

The corners of my lips lifted with amusement, and I simply sat there for a long time studying her relaxed features. Her lips were tipped with a slight smile, and her pert nose was too much to ignore. Brushing a kiss to the tip, I reached for the lever and gently laid the chair back.

Bella must've felt the movement, her arms locking around my waist as she laid fully against me, mumbling, "Please don't go, Edward. You're so warm and comfortable."

"I'm not going anywhere, baby." There would be plenty of time to extract the information I wanted, I determined, taking advantage of the rare situation. I had fucked many women in my day, but I'd never let any of them sleep with me. Shockingly, I buried my face in her hair and closed my eyes.

I must have drifted off because the next thing I knew I blinked awake to the sound of weeping. At first, I was confused as fuck, yet the weight of my wife's body laying against mine reminded me where I was. Another whimper left her parted lips, and wet tears coated her ivory cheeks. "Please. Please don't do that," she cried, struggling against my chest. "I said to stop. Please, John just …"

I was frozen. Ice traveled throughout my body, stealing the warmth of her embrace. She obviously was having a nightmare, confirming what Jasper related in the hallway this afternoon, and my anger swiftly returned.

I was through being patient. These people had controlled her life long enough. "Princess, wake up." When she continued to cry, I gave her a soft shake. "Come on, baby, wake up."

She awakened with a start, jerking out of my arms. If I hadn't gripped her waist holding her in place, she would've tipped the whole chair. "Princess, it's me. You're safe." Wet green eyes locked with mine, after blinking several times she seemed to focus on me. "Are you awake?"

"Yes," she whispered, her eyes dropping and she avoided my gaze.

Gripping her chin, I forced her to look at me. "Tell me. Right now. It's time to stop hiding. Tell me, princess."

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