A/N

As always, huge thank you to Fran, Kate and Pearly for their help. I appreciate you all so much.

Apologies for the later update this week...I'll try my best to get it to you on time for next week.

Did you miss Masen last chapter? Well he's back ;)

Chapter Eleven: Daisy Chains

Edward

xXx

My chest brushes the floor, the muscles in my arms burning. I hold the position for a moment before pressing myself back up, air hissing out from between my lips. Breathing hard, I flip onto my back, driving up and touching my hands to my ankles before controlling the descent back to the floor, my abs straining.

This routine, 50 press-ups and then 50 V-sits, it's something I started in prison, and I've done it every single fucking day since.

"Twenty," I pant, driving up off the floor again, the muscles in my stomach knitting tight and aching. This was my final set, making a firm fucking 500 reps total.

I collapse to the floor, panting, my hands resting on my spasming abs. When I can squeeze in a gym workout, I only do five sets of this, but I can't fucking go anywhere without Isabella, and she hasn't left her room all fucking day.

SJ went home a few hours ago, and Pattie's probably gone home now too. They both knocked at her door and tried to get her something to eat, but she ignored them.

I rub my face wearily. She's probably too fucking sad to eat anyway, not that I fucking care.

Rolling up to my feet, I tug my boxers down my thighs and walk into the shower. I'm fucking bored. It's just after six, and normally I'd be chilling with Tommie on the couch, Es cooking us something. She's all motherly and shit for Tommie, making him fucking pasta and sandwiches. Shit is kinda bitter-sweet, but I'm fucking grateful he's being looked after. I wish I had enough money to cover her too so she could stay home with him all the time.

Her boyfriend Ralph won't be happy she's ditching him for the weekend, but seeing as I'm stuck here with the bitch from hell, Es promised she'd stay with Tommie and do some of the shit I was gonna do with him.

I scrunch my face up under the hot water, anger knotting in my gut. I wanted to take him to the skatepark today; he's miles fucking better than me - skating was always more James' thing than mine - but Tomie's scrawny, and it's a rough area, the kids round there would pick on him if he went alone.

Thinking about Tommie and knowing I won't get to spend any real fucking time with him over the next week, that shit just pisses me off. Kid is supposed to be in school on Monday and Tuesday, and I'll be damned if I let him skip while I'm around. Es lets him get away with whatever 'cos she feels fucked up about everything, but I want Tommie on the straight and narrow, want him to have the chances I never fucking had.

I get out of the shower and throw on a fresh pair of boxers, opening the door and listening out for Isabella. I don't hear a fucking thing, so I shut it again and lie down on the bed, ringing Tommie.

I wish we had Wi-Fi at home so I could see his face, but that shit is an added expense Es doesn't fucking need right now, so a voice call has to suffice.

He answers straight away. "Ed!"

"Hey, little man," I greet. "How's your night?"

Tommie laughs, and the sound makes my chest expand. "Mom made us mac and cheese, and we're watching TV, it's good, but I wish you were here."

"Me too, bud," I tell him honestly. "But Monday, I'm gonna pick you up from school, and we're gonna have a fucking awesome time."

Tommie giggles, "What are we gonna do?"

I mock gasp, "Like I'd give it away, kid, something to look forward to."

"Aw, Ed, please tell me!" Tommie begs.

"No way." I grin to myself.

"No fucking fair," Tommie moans. I hear Es chuckle in the background.

"Oi," I warn playfully, "watch your-"

"-fucking mouth, I know," Tommie says playfully.

"So help me, Tommie, I'll be over there in five fucking minutes to wash your mouth out." I laugh.

"Good," Tommie says quietly. "I miss you, Ed. I wish you were around more."

I wince, something sharp sliding under my ribs. "I know." My voice is hoarse, "I'm really sorry little man, but I promise, just a few more months and I'll be with you all the time, you'll be fucking sick of me."

Tommie's voice is soft. "Never."

I rub my chest, trying to soothe the ache there. I'm doing this for him, but being away from him all week, it's fucking shit.

"So...what are you watchin'?" I try to change the subject, barely holding back my sigh of relief as Tommie launches into a play-by-play of some cartoon.

After a while, my eyes start to get heavy as fuck, and I hang up, letting the phone drop to my side and succumbing to sleep.

I wake up in a panic, lurching up in the bed, searching for whatever threw me out of sleep. My heart is fucking racing, and my hand goes straight to the gun on the bedside table, my head cocking as I listen. I don't hear anything for a moment, and I jump out of bed, my feet padding across the floor soundlessly. I can hear the hum of a TV, low voices, and sounds. So Isabella's awake then. I relax, but there's a sudden burst of male laughter. My eyes narrow, is that the TV?

I put the gun down on the bed and pull on some joggers, throwing a T-shirt over my head, then I pick the gun up again and carefully open my door.

White lines and thick shadows swarm across the hallway, creating stripes over my hands as I hold the gun out in front of me. I pause in front of Isabella's door, listening. I hear nothing for a second and start to relax, when suddenly I hear a low male groan and then a feminine squeal.

I roll my eyes and then frustratedly huff as I re-engage the safety. Did she manage to sneak a fucking guy in here past me? I'm fucking pissed I didn't wake up. I tuck the gun into the back of my joggers, then turn the handle and throw the door open.

Please don't let her be fucking naked.

My eyes widen when I take in the two half-naked boys on her bed, Isabella lying in between them in nothing but a tiny little thong.

Fuck. Me.

They all start in shock and look at me with such horrified expressions it takes a considerable amount of effort to not crack up. Mercifully, no one is fucking anyone, and I force my gaze up to Isabella's face and away from her fucking full, perky tits.

Her eyes meet mine, and I arch my eyebrow. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

The guys are looking at me nervously, and Isabella looks pissed. "What are you doing here?"

I roll my eyes. "I work here. Guarding you, which apparently I'm not very good at, seeing as you have two boys in your bed." I shake my head, trying not to laugh at the incredulity of this situation. How the fuck did she get them in here? The cameras would have triggered my phone if they went off.

"All of you, get fucking dressed, come on." This shit is pretty amusing, but I'm also pissed the fuck off that she got people past me; what if someone had tried to sneak in and grabbed her? The boys seem to read the look in my eyes clearly, both flying up off the bed. I knew she had something going with the dark-haired boy; I've seen them hugging at school, but the blonde one too?

Isabella sits up and stares at me angrily, not even bothering to cover her chest. "Where's Demetri?"

"Sick." I narrow my eyes at her, still not looking at her dusty pink nipples or the way her waist tapers small enough to get my hands around her ribs.

The dark-haired boy turns to me with a raised eyebrow, his shirt in his hands, "Aren't you going to turn around?"

I cross my arms and lean against the door, meeting his gaze. "No."

His blue eyes flicker and then drift down my body, checking me out.

I smirk at him. "You're not my type."

He smirks back, "I'm everyone's type."

Isabella gets up off the bed, sweeping her long, thick brown hair to the side as she bends over to pick up her leggings. My eyes go straight to her juicy fucking ass, the tiny thong barely hiding anything. I swallow, forcing my gaze higher. My eyes widen in surprise when I see the tattoo running down her spine, tiny little daisies attached in a chain, starting at her shoulder blades and stopping at her waist. She spins around again, and my eyes flick back to her tits for a second before I look away.

I hear a low laugh and turn my head to the dark-haired boy; he's dressed now and looking at me with a knowing glint in his blue eyes.

"Is she your type?"

"Cilian …" Isabella laughs, stepping up to him and kissing his neck; she's holding the leggings across her chest, hiding her breasts.

The blonde-haired boy is dressed now too, and I arch my brow at them, "Out. Now."

Cilian kisses Isabella briefly and grins at her as he pulls back. "Let's try this again?" he asks her, quirking a brow.

She winks at him. "You two just go have fun without me."

The blonde-haired guy steps up to her and kisses her as well, and I roll my eyes. He murmurs something against her lips, and she laughs, grabbing his ass gently. "Fuck him, good Cilian."

"I always fuck good, baby." Cilian winks at her.

I snort, and he raises an eyebrow at me, "What?"

"Nothin'." I smirk, "You remind me of me when I was green, is all. Cocky little shit."

Cilian shrugs, and both boys leave.

"Go through the usual exit, Cil!" Isabella calls after them.

I frown at her. What the fuck does that mean?

Suddenly Isabella's face falls, and I realize with surprise her playfulness before was just for their benefit, "Don't tell him who they are, okay? Please, Masen...he'll... I don't want them hurt," she pleads.

"I-" I start to say, but she turns around from me, the sight of her curvy fucking body rendering me speechless as I watch her ass jiggle with each step. Jesus fucking Christ. She slams the bathroom door behind her, and I spin around, almost walking into the fucking wall.

I go into my room and fall on my bed with a slight groan. My eyes close, and immediately all I can see is Bella's full tits, dusty pink nipples, pointing up slightly, begging to be sucked and licked. I bite my bottom lip, my cock achingly hard all of a sudden. Fuck and her ass, perky and round and her tiny little waist, that tattoo...little daisies in a chain.

I palm my cock, biting back a groan as my head swims with the vision of her bent over, that tiny thong barely covering her pink pussy.

Fuck me; I bet she's tight as hell too. My cock throbs as I imagine wrapping that thick brown hair around my fist as I slam into her, watching my dick disappear into that sweet pussy, her back arching, that tattoo twisting with her body as she pants and moans.

I grit my teeth, quietly hissing as I press my head back into the pillow. My balls fucking ache, and my cock feels like it's going to explode. I tear at my hair. She's seventeen; she's seventeen and a fucking bitch. I refuse to jerk off to her.

Fucking refuse.

I coat the wall of the shower in less than two minutes.

xXx

"Did you fucking see that Mase?" James crows, hooting.

"Fuck yeah!" I fist-bump him, grinning. "That was sick, dude."

He drops the board next to us, his cheeks flushed, blue eyes sparkling. "Been trying to nail the rail for like a fucking year."

"I know. I'm fucking blown away, thought you'd never get it," I tease, handing him the cigarette from my mouth, I've only just started it.

James takes it with his thumb and middle finger, smoke rushing from his parted lips as he leans against the wall next to me.

The skate park is busy today. Sun's out, glaring down on the concrete and making it fucking glitter and gleam. Looks pretty but still hurts like hell when you eat the floor, which is why I'm standing here, my skateboard resting on the wall next to me, covered in my blood.

"How's your fucking arm, wimp?" James asks me playfully, running a hand through his sweaty hair.

I smirk. "I'll live, fucker."

James chucks the cigarette on the floor and meets my eyes with a serious expression. "Are you sure you wanna do this tonight, Mase? Is it really worth the risk?"

"It's our way out," I say softly, staring at the kids messing around in front of us. They look happy, carefree, how kids are fucking supposed to look.

Now we're eighteen, that ship has sailed; no fucking do-overs, but the rest of our lives, that shit is up to us, and I want more. I want to buy a fucking sick place for Tommie and Es, a cool place for me and James nearby so I can see them all the time.

Some girls start walking up to us, and James chuckles as the blonde one clutches her friend's arm, her eyes all wide and shit.

"Bet they've got cash on them," James mutters in my ear.

I nod. "Hot too, bonus."

James smirks at me, and the girls stop in front of us. I eye up the curvy brunette, and he flashes a sweet smile at the blonde.

"Hey," the brunette says coolly. Her bottom lip is pierced, but I can see all over her face that she's a good girl, just trying to play bad. The shoes on her feet, the fucking material of her shirt, this girl has money, they both do. We could spot it a mile away. Even the way their hair shimmers screams nurture. No one on our block looks like that.

"Hey yourself," I say, shooting her a smirk. I don't offer anything else, don't fucking need to. Girls fall over themselves for me, always have.

This one's in college; I recognize the little insignia on her bag.

Columbia. Bet they've got nice rooms. Will be nice to fuck someone in a bed for once.

She bites her lip, and I lick mine, my hand tracing down her arm as I lean into her ear. Her skin is soft as hell, and she smells good, like vanilla.

"What brings you over here, sweetheart?" I ask her in a low voice. She shivers, just like I wanted her to, and I hum, leaning back and winking.

It's all it fucking takes.

A few hours later, James and I are walking from their dorm, three hundred dollars richer and satisfied as fuck. Stealing is wrong, sure, but we have fucking nothing, and we treated them good, real good from the sounds coming from each of them.

They lose some money, and that's shit for them; I fucking appreciate that, but this dough gives James and me a fucking month of food, and we're just fucking lucky that Marcello lets us stay in that shit hole block; otherwise, it'd go on rent.

When we were fourteen, getting to spend the night under a roof was a fucking luxury, now that shit is normal for us, but we're never comfortable, never let our guard down. It could all change in an instant, and that's why we have to do this.

After tonight, we're free.

I wake up, gasping for air, my body drenched in sweat. The room is bright, sunlight streaming through, but it's fucking early, my alarm hasn't gone off yet, and it's set for six am.

My eyes close, and I grip my hair, my jaw clenching. There's a familiar ache under my ribs, the byproduct of dreaming about James.

Blood everywhere. James' panicked eyes. The feel of it on my skin, too hot, too much to stop. Mas-en.

I throw myself out of bed and start doing push-ups, the bursts of air from my lips as I move, the only sound in the quiet house.

This time I don't fucking count; I just go until my body is screaming, then stand in the shower for ages, resting my forehead against the cool tiles as hot water slams down onto me.

Pattie is in the kitchen when I get downstairs, cooking up a storm, and I arch an eyebrow, smiling at her. "That's a lot of food," I say playfully. She's a sweet old thing, kind as hell and cheeky too.

Pattie grins at me, "Got the whole lot of them coming for brunch today, because of yesterday…" She sighs, "Bella didn't eat anything, huh?"

I shake my head, and Pattie tuts, "Poor girl, SJ will talk some sense into her; she'll be here in a few minutes. Take a seat, love, want a cup of coffee?"

"Course I do, especially if you're making it," I flirt, hopping onto a barstool and giving her a grin.

Pattie laughs, her cheeks flushing. "You're a charmer, Masen."

I bat my eyelashes playfully, "Only to the pretty girls."

Pattie giggles, and I hear a gagging sound at the door. I glance and find Isabella looking at me with a grimace.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" Pattie greets her, giving her a warm smile.

Isabella nods at her but doesn't reply, taking a seat next to me. I clench my jaw; she's so fucking rude.

"Masen," she says quietly, "please don't tell-

"I won't," I say, not bothering to look at her. "Shit makes me look bad, but you and I are having a fucking serious conversation about how the fuck you got them in."

"You swear?"

I scoff, "Like that means shit, but yeah what-the-fuck-ever, I swear."

Isabella's quiet for a second. "Fine."

Pattie places a coffee down in front of me and then one in front of Isabella, too.

"Thank you, Pattie," she says softly.

I glance at her curiously.

"Good morning!" I hear from the doorway.

My head turns, and I smile, "Hey, SJ."

She smiles back, her blonde hair in its usual high ponytail, gray eyes crinkling. "Pattie, make Bells some avocado toast, please."

"I'm not-"

"Quiet," SJ orders, stepping around to the front of us and arching an eyebrow at Isabella.

To my surprise, the devil incarnate actually listens to her, and it must show on my face because Pattie laughs, winking at me.

"Can you fuck off now, Fido? Your presence is literally turning my stomach," Isabella says suddenly, turning to me and arching a brow.

SJ sighs wearily, and Pattie grimaces.

I shrug. I don't want to fucking sit with her anyway; I just wanted a coffee. I grab the bowl of cereal Pattie made for me and wink at her before taking it out of the room.

As I head up the stairs, I hear SJ talking to Isabella in a low voice, too quiet to make out the words.

A/N

More and more tangled ;) What are you thinking? Thank you so much for all the reviews, follows and favourites. It still completely blows my mind that this many of you are reading my story. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

You can see the teaser pictures for this chapter over on the Creaatingmadness FB group ❤️