Chapter 19

~Rock, Meet Hard Place~

Emmett pulls up at the back of the building next to the stairs leading to my deck. He runs ahead to unlock the door and turn the lights on. Bella, who was slumped against me the entire drive, stirs at my side.

"Where are we?" Her voice is sleep-laden.

"My apartment. There are stairs. Do you feel up to climbing them?"

I slide out of the car, and she follows, gazing at the steep stairway. "I think so."

I hover at Bella's side, shadowing her as she takes each step slowly. Halfway up, she collapses, breathing hard. I scoop her up and carry her the rest of the way. "Emmett, let us in!"

Emmett opens the door, his eyes full of questions. I also see that stubborn look I know so well—he's not leaving without answers. I rush past him and head for the bedroom, depositing Bella on top of my comforter.

She crosses her arms over her chest, hugging herself and shaking. I grab a thick blanket from the closet, placing it over her slim form. She looks like a lost child. I kneel next to the bed, and she immediately grabs for my hand, holding it tight.

A large shadow falls across the bed, and Bella gasps, curling into a ball. Her nails claw at my wrist, and the terror in her eyes is unmistakable—fear for her life.

"It's just Emmett." I grip her hand tighter and turn to look at my best friend. "Em, I need you to wait out there. Maybe you could brew some tea?"

"Yeah, no problem." Emmett's eyes are wide with shock, and he closes the door gently behind him. I'm pretty sure he saw the same terror I did.

I squeeze Bella's hand. "Hey, it's just you and me now. Tell me what's going on."

Bella closes her eyes, and the walls start going back up. "I'm clumsy. I tripped over my own feet, and the vase slipped out of my hands."

Anger and disappointment race through me. Between Bella and Jimmy, I feel like the butt of a huge joke. Ever since Jimmy came back to town, my life has been turned upside down.

"No. You don't get to do that!" The sharpness of my tone snaps Bella to attention. Based on her expression, I think she might try another fairytale, so I shake my head. "I didn't ask for any of this. Jimmy asked me to take care of you and barely gave me any fucking information."

"And you took great care of me, Edward. Just leave it alone. Please." Bella is clearly exhausted, but I sense she's trying to manipulate me.

I rake a hand through my hair. "I snuck you out of the hospital against my better judgment. My sister is going to kill me! And I know there's a lot more to the story. Your scan showed old injuries." I lower my voice because I have to whisper the next part. "You were whipped. Who hurt you that way?" Tell me because I want to hurt them back.

Bella's face falls. All attempts at subterfuge are gone. A sob hiccups out of her, and then the tears start flowing, running over her cheeks in rivulets. She tries to tug her hand from my grasp, but I don't let her. Instead, I pull her toward me and slowly put my arms around her. At first she's stiff and unyielding, but then she softens in my embrace and leans into me, resting her face against my shoulder.

"It's okay. You're safe," I whisper against her hair.

Broken sobs vibrate against my chest, and she grabs fistfuls of my shirt, keening into the smooth cotton. I hold Bella, letting her cry it out. When she is spent, I lower her back to the bed and smooth the hair away from her face. She grabs my arm, digging her nails in. "Don't go. Don't go."

"I'm right here." When her gaze meets mine, I ask if she wants some tea.

"Yes, p-please."

I hold her gaze, hoping mine is strong, steady, and reassuring. "I'll just be gone a few minutes, okay?"

She searches my face, asking a silent question. "Okay. I trust you."

I back away slowly. She turns her face into the pillow, crying quietly. I leave the door open a crack and walk through the living room to the kitchen. Emmett is sitting at my table, doing something on his phone.

He glances over at me with raised eyebrows. "Dude, what the fuck?"

Steam curls from two mugs on the counter. "Thanks for making this." I busy myself with the tea. I don't know if Bella likes hers sweet, but I add some honey. I pour a healthy dollop of brandy in mine. When I turn around, Emmett is staring at me. "What?"

"Really? What is going on?"

I sigh. "I'm not sure. I heard a crash from upstairs when I was leaving the shop tonight. I found Bella unconscious on the floor. She was hurt, bleeding. I called an ambulance and went to the hospital with her. Alice was there. She ordered some tests . . ." I falter, ignoring the tea and taking a few gulps of brandy right from the bottle. "Jesus Christ. What have I gotten myself into?"

"But why the hell did you sneak Bella out of the hospital? Alice is going to kick your ass, man! Have you checked your phone?"

"No, I—"

"Edward? Where are you?" Bella's frightened voice comes from the bedroom.

"I have to go to her." I grab her tea and take it with me, leaving Emmett gaping in the kitchen.

Bella sits propped against the headboard. She looks frightened, and I'm not sure how to help. I perch on the side of the bed and offer her the mug. She holds it between both hands and sips it. "Thank you."

I keep her company while she drinks the warm brew. She hands me the empty mug and lies down, drifting to sleep almost immediately. I watch for a while, her chest rising and falling, face serene. It strikes me again how innocent and childlike she looks. What horrors has this woman been through? Is Jimmy responsible, or did he save her as she claims?

I feel protective of her though I have no right to. She doesn't belong to me.

Voices rise and fall outside the bedroom. I get up, careful not to wake Bella, and follow the voices to the kitchen.

Alice sits on the counter swinging her legs, reminding me of when we were kids. Her angry blue eyes, filled with disappointment and betrayal, pierce into me. I feel shame for upsetting my sister, but I would do it again.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she whispers fiercely. "Do you have any idea of the trouble you caused?'

"I did what I had to do. I am sorry you were caught in the middle."

"Caught in the middle? Are you for real right now? What you did is messed up on so many levels. Half of the ER knows who you are! You snuck a patient out of the hospital who shows signs of abuse!"

I close my eyes and rub my forehead. I know she's right. "What happens now?"

Alice hops off the counter, glaring up at me. "I went to the apartment and brought Bella's medications with me. I'm taking samples of these unlabeled drugs for testing. Expect a visit from Meg, the social worker. She's going to need some answers, or the police will be notified. The police still might be notified based on the information gathered." Labeled baggies with a few pills in each one sit on the counter next to the bottles.

"I think testing the pills is a good idea."

"Have you spoken to Jimmy?"

I glance around, looking for my phone. It's on the table, and I scroll through my notifications. There are several increasingly angry texts from Alice, two from Jasper, and one from Jimmy.

Currently incommunicado. Will call soon. ~J

I show her Jimmy's text.

"How convenient." Alice crosses her arms.

Emmett mutters to himself, rubbing the back of his head. "E, what should I tell Rosie? She woke up and wants to know what's going on."

"Just tell her Bella had an accident, and I needed you to drive us home from the hospital." It's technically factual.

"Yeah, okay. The truth is too crazy to believe anyway."

Emmett taps out a text, cursing a few times when his huge fingers hit the wrong letters.

Someone raps loudly on the door. I roll my eyes; who else needs to get in on this crazy situation?

The knocking becomes more persistent, and I hurry across the kitchen. "Okay, okay!"

I open the door to three police officers. I don't know any of them. Did Alice or Meg rat me out?

"Edward Cullen?"

"Yes?"

"We're conducting an investigation. Where were you tonight between the hours of midnight and two a.m.?"

~oOo~

Bella won't give up the info easily, but there's a shift going on between her and Edward. Alice isn't playing around. And what is Edward in for now with the police? Poor guy can't catch a break. Keep on sharing your thoughts and theories. I love reading them (and some of you get close sometimes)! See you next week!

**Red Kryptonite and Give Me a Sign have been nominated in the Top Ten Completed Fics in 2022! Thanks to all of you for your support! Voting ends on February 24, 2023. Poll can be found at TwiFanfictionRecs site.

I post teasers and links to updates on my blog and on Facebook in the No Rules Twilight Fan Fiction and It All Started With Twilight groups.

Thanks and gratefulness as always to my awesome betas, SassySue (chayasara) and Wendy wmr1601. These ladies make my stuff much more presentable!

Follow me: atSaritaDreaming, Facebook SarahAislingAuthor, blog saritadreamingdotwordressdotcom.

PSA: Fanfic has made a ridiculous update that will turn email notifications OFF. This is the default setting. You will need to go to "settings" in your FF account and opt in to receive email notifications. Even if you do this, this setting will automatically default back to NO every six months, at which time you will need to change the setting again. Just one more way FF is making our lives difficult.