31

Bella's heart was racing as she once again found herself standing in front of her . . . Well, technically, her father-in-law, though that wasn't the term that came to mind when she thought of Peter Cullen. Most of those were four-letter words that would have her father threatening to put soap in her mouth.

Her fingers wrapped around the edge of the door as she pushed it closed. Or tried to, at least. Peter threw his hand out, stopping it from closing. As he stepped into the house, she stumbled backward.

"Get out," she said, her voice cracking.

"You and I need to talk."

"We don't have anything to talk about," she told him before turning to the couch where her phone lay. She stepped forward, but Peter wrapped his fingers around the top of her arm, yanking her back. "Don't touch me!"

"You always were a dramatic little bitch," he spat, tightening his grip. "I said you and I need to talk."

"No, we don't," she whimpered, trying to shake off his hand. But he just held on tighter.

"You're hurting me!"

"I barely touched you," he scoffed but released her.

"Get out of my house."

"No." Peter closed the door, turning the deadbolt before she could move.

Once again, she stepped toward her phone, but just like before, he grabbed her.

"I told you not to fucking touch me!"

"God, you're still so annoying," he quipped, but let go.

Peter flopped down on the couch and looked down at her phone before smirking when he picked it up. Turning it toward her, he reached over and ended her call with Edward, shoving her phone into his pant pocket. "He doesn't need to be privy to this conversation."

Bella turned to the door, fumbling with the deadlock, but before she could open it, he was behind her, one arm coming around her shoulders while he wrapped his fingers around her hand, jerking it down to her side.

Panic consumed her as she whispered, "Please let me go."

"I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk."

"You and I have nothing to talk about," she cried.

"Oh, but we do."

Peter dragged her over to the couch, all but forced her to sit right next to him. He stayed on the edge of his seat, probably making sure he could stop her from trying to leave again. She had seen that look in his eyes before; the crazy, psychotic anger before he unleashed his hatred onto his sons. He wasn't one of those abusive parents who waited until they were in private before he spouted his displeasure. No, he seemed to enjoy humiliating them in front of other people.

"I assume the spawn you're carrying is, in fact, my late son's?"

Bella gasped. "Yes, not that it's any of your business."

"My grandchild is most definitely my business, Isabella."

She pressed her lips together, hating that he always insisted on calling her by her full name. Her mother called her Isabella. After she abandoned them, she refused to be called by that name. That's when everyone started to refer to her as Izzy.

"Don't be flippant, my dear. I'm here to support you."

"Support me? I don't need or want anything from you."

"Well, you're going to get it. You did turn my children from me, after all?"

"I . . ." Bella shook her head, her arms wrapping protectively around her stomach. "I did no such thing."

"Didn't you, though? Carlisle ran away like a coward, chasing you to New York so you could follow your dreams. Edward . . . That little bastard fucked up his own life, pining away for you. And Esme . . . Well, she still wanted me in her life until you started hanging around."

Bella almost laughed, but the look in her eyes kept her silent. She could admit that he scared her.

"Tell me how he died."

"No."

"Tell me how my son died, Isabella," he gritted. "I deserve to know."

"You deserve nothing from me. Nothing!"

Peter laughed, the sound sending chills down her spine. He leaned toward her. "You either willingly tell me how he died, or I can force it out of you. I don't want to hurt you, Isabella, but I will."

She swallowed against the lump in her throat before saying, "No."

His lips curled into a smirk before he grabbed her arm, jerking her so close she could smell his rancid breath. He raised his hand, but before he could strike her, someone knocked on the door. They both turned, her chest heaving as she started screaming, "Help! Please help me!"

"Shut the fuck up, you little bitch," he snarled, all but dragging her onto his lap and slamming his hand over her mouth so hard her head jerked back against his.

She still screamed, though they came out muffled. Tears fell freely down her face, and she struggled to breathe. Peter stood with her in front of him as the door was kicked open.

Jasper hurried inside, his eyes shifting from him to her before softening. However, before he could say anything, Edward followed. He clenched his jaw before he walked straight at them.

Peter laughed as he firmly pushed Bella away from him, making her hit her shin on the corner of the coffee table and fall forward. Thankfully, Jasper dropped to his knees as he caught her before she hit the floor.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Edward snarled, grabbing the front of Peter's shirt and yanking him toward him. "How dare you put your hands on her?"

Peter laughed. "Boy, that little bitch is lucky I didn't show her what being with a real man is like."

Edward spun him around, slamming him against the wall. "Don't you talk about her like that, you son-of-a-bitch."

"What are you going to do about it? Huh? You're nothing but a weak, pathetic piece of shit. Always have been, always will be, boy."

"Better than being a bastard who took pleasure out of beating his children," he spat before looking back at Jasper and Bella. "You got her?"

Jasper nodded. "Cops should be here any minute."

At that moment, two police officers hurried into the house. The first was tall and thin with dark brown hair and eyes. His name was Tyler Crowley, and they'd gone to school together. He was a year below her, but they'd taken several classes together during her senior year. He was friendly and kind, but she had never really gotten to know him. Her circle of friends was small for a reason.

The second office was a little shorter than Tyler. He had jet-black hair and dark eyes. He was younger than them and looked a little timid. Both Tyler and his partner shifted their eyes from Edward and Peter to Bella and Jasper.

"We got a call about a disturbance," Tyler said slowly.

"He forced his way into her house," Edward said, all but throwing his father onto the floor at their feet. "You need to arrest him."

"She invited me in!" Peter insisted, shifting onto his knees. "Didn't you, Is-a-bella?"

All eyes were once again on her. She shook her head. "I told him to leave and get out of my house. But he refused."

Tyler nodded before looking at Peter. "She's saying otherwise."

"You can't honestly believe her!"

"I tried to shut the door, but he stopped me. He locked me inside, and when I tried to get to my phone, which is in his pocket," she added, "he got to it first, ended my call with Edward, and forced me onto the couch. He . . . he grabbed my arm."

"You put your fucking hands on her?" Jasper groused, shifting Bella out of his arms before lunging at Peter.

Tyler stepped between them, though, as he grabbed Peter by the back of his shirt, dragging him to his feet. "You grabbed her? She's pregnant, you dumb fuck!"

"She's a lying bitch!" Peter argued.

"No, I'm not!"

"I heard her tell him not to touch her," Edward said, causing everyone to look at her. "Before he ended our phone call, I heard her tell him twice not to touch her."

Tyler nodded before looking at his partner, who shrugged his shoulders. "That's good enough for me. I'm assuming you want to press charges, Izzy?"

"Yes," she replied immediately.

"Eric, you know the drill," he said before shoving Peter into Eric's arms.

He pulled his cuffs out and turned Peter, pressing the front of his body against the wall. As he attached the cuffs around the man's wrists, Eric said, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will be used against you in a court of law."

"I just want to know what happened to my son! He was my son; I deserve to know!" Peter screeched as Eric was reading the rest of his Miranda rights while he was dragged from her house, continuing to spout four-letter words along with vail threats of revenge and retaliation.

Bella released a shallow breath, her eyes closing for just a moment.

"You okay, Izzy?" Tyler asked, causing her to look at him. "Do I need to call an ambulance?"

"I'm fine," she whispered. "Thank you. I mean, for coming so quickly. For believing me."

Tyler smiled. "You're welcome, I guess. Never liked that dick." He cleared his throat as he looked from her to Jasper, Edward, and back. "I, um, I'm going to need a statement. You can come down to the station later, though."

She bit the inside of her lip and nodded.

"If you need anything," Tyler told her before he left.

"Let me help you up." Jasper reached for her, but Bella scooted away. "Iz."

"Why are you here?"

"Edward called and said his father was here. Dad couldn't get here as fast, so I guess he called me. Thought maybe I could get here before him," Jasper explained.

"Oh."

Edward knelt in front of her, holding up his hands. "Let's get you off the floor, sweetheart."

Bella placed her hands in Edward's, allowing him to heave her to her feet. He wrapped his arm around her as they sat on the sofa. He placed his other hand on her stomach.

"When I heard him . . ." Edward pressed his lips against the side of her head. "If he'd hurt you, Izzy . . ."

"But he didn't," she whispered, shifting her eyes to Jasper. "You going to sit or something?"

Jasper sat on the edge of the other sofa. "Izzy . . ." He shook his head as he looked away. "I am so sorry. I . . . I'm just so sorry."

Edward kissed her temple before saying, "I'm going to call Dr. Black's office. Let them know we need to reschedule your appointment."

Bella waited until he was in the kitchen before she turned back to Jasper, surprised when she saw tears in his eyes. "I'm surprised you came when he called."

"Why wouldn't I? You needed me, Iz."

"But I'm stupid, remember?"

"I'm sorry I said that. I just . . ." Jasper dragged his hand over his face, through his hair. "Felt like I just got my sister back, and . . ."

"And what?"

Jasper shrugged. "You don't need me anymore."

"Is that what you think?"

"Kind of," he mumbled.

"Jay," Bella sighed, sliding to the other end of the couch and reaching for his hand. He wrapped his fingers around hers, bringing it to his lips. "I will always, always need my big brother."

"Yeah?"

She nodded. "I'm just tired of feeling like . . . like my life ended instead of Carlisle died. I'm tired of being sad and angry and . . . I miss him, you know? I miss so much." She placed her other hand on her stomach. "Little Bit's never going to know how much he would have loved him. He would have been a good daddy. A better father than he had, for sure."

"Wouldn't have taken much," Jasper quipped, glancing at the front door before looking toward the kitchen, where they could hear Edward on the phone. "You really like Edward, Iz?"

"I do. I . . . It sounds silly, I know, I just . . . he makes me feel seen, Jay. Wanted. Needed. I can't explain why. And I fought my feelings for him, I did, but . . . I don't know. Carlisle kept secrets, Jay. I know he was trying to protect me, but . . . He should have trusted and valued me as his partner, and I'm starting to think he didn't. Maybe he was so scared that he would lose me, too, that he . . . that he isolated mefrom people. I'm not saying he's the only one to blame for us leaving and never returning because I made that decision, too. But he should have told me about Esme, about Peter forcing him to support her. We were supposed to be equal partners in our marriage, yet he made those decisions alone. I deserved better than that, Jay."

"You did. Still do." Jasper glanced at the kitchen. "He's really changed?"

"He has. If you talk to him, you'll see for yourself that he isn't the same irresponsible kid he was."

"That's what Dad said."

"He did?"

Jasper smiled. "Don't get me wrong, he's worried, too, but he says it's his job to worry about us. I didn't understand that until the girls were born."

She laughed softly.

"Can you forgive me, Iz, for being an asshole?"

"You showed up when I needed you, Jay." "I was scared. I was so fucking scared."

"I will always be here when you need me, sis." Jasper scooted off the couch, kneeling in front of her before wrapping his arms around her. "Always."

"Yeah?" she cried, burying her face into his shirt.

Jasper kissed the top of her head. "You have my word, Iz."

Edward walked into the living room and cleared his throat, causing them to look at him. "Dr. Black wants you to come right in. He . . . he wants to check for himself that you're okay."

Bella nodded, using her shirt to wipe away her tears. "I just need to use the restroom first, and then we can go. You're still going to go with me, aren't you?"

Edward nodded.

"I'll, um, I'll be right back."

Bella stood, shifting around Jasper before making her way to the bathroom. She closed the door, leaning against it before she took a deep breath. Her body trembled; the feel of Peter Cullen's hand over her mouth and the look in his eyes shook her more than she had expected. She'd never been more scared of anyone than she had been the moment she saw him looming on her doorstep.

Pushing away from the door, she walked to the sink, turning on the cold water, and splashing it onto her face. She dried her skin, leaving the hand towel on the counter before returning to the living room. Jasper and Edward were shaking hands, which surprised her.

"I'm ready," she said, quietly drawing their attention to her.

Jasper kissed the top of her head before saying, "Let me know how it goes, okay?"

Bella nodded but waited until he left before she looked back at Edward. "You called him."

"I didn't know what else to do," he admitted. "Your dad is in Minnesota, and . . . Well, he was closer. Are you mad?"

She shook her head. "Relieved, actually."

"Did . . . did he hurt you? Other than grab your arm, I mean?"

"No."

Edward breathed loudly. "It took every ounce of control I had not to kill him, Izzy, for putting his hands on you."

"I'm glad you didn't." She walked over to him, laying her palms on his chest. "What did my brother say to you?"

He covered her hands with his. "He apologized for what he said at your dad's house. Said he shouldn't have reacted that way. Then, asked if we could have lunch tomorrow, talk our shit out."

"He did?"

Edward nodded. "He worries about you, Izzy. He'd do anything to keep you safe. Anything."

"Like you did with Carlisle?"

"I tried. I really tried. But we were just little kids fighting against a grown man. We never stood a chance."

"I know, love."

"If he'd hurt you . . ." Edward sniffed as he shook his head. "I will never let him near you again, Izzy. Ever."

"Promise?"

He brought his hands up to her face. "I promise, sweetheart."

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! Huge amount of gratitude to Sunflower Fran for being an amazing beta.