I decided to start my first day by visiting Books and Beans. I know what kind of coffee Carlisle likes, but I'm unsure about Maggie. I grab creamer and sugar packets in case she doesn't like it black. I arrived early, but Carlisle's car was already at the hospital, so I headed inside.

As chief of staff, he's only in his office three days a week to see patients. The rest of the week he's handling hospital business. He says he can never give up patient care entirely, which is good because he's the only doctor I've ever trusted.

As I'm getting out, I see the goddamn BMW again parked a few rows behind me. I roll my eyes and stomp over to it as Jake rolls down the window.

"Stop stalking me," I say.

He smirks. "When are you dropping the complaint?"

"I'm not. Have Edward charged."

He huffs. "I saw you with him yesterday. You know, I could always counter with adultery."

"I'm not having an affair." I shake my head. "Just fucking go home. Leave me alone. Let me have some peace after all the hell you've given me."

"You're trying to ruin everything I've built. Drop the complaint, and I'll go back to New York. Don't fucking test me, Bella."

"Fuck you. I'm going inside and calling my dad. For your sake, I hope you're gone by the time he gets here."

I turn heel and walk back to the hospital. I won't let him ruin my first day, but I am calling Dad and then Jane. I need a restraining order, and I have all the proof to get one—I should have done it sooner.

Carlisle is the only one in the office when I get inside, and he smiles warmly at me before creasing his brow.

"Are you okay, Bella?"

I wave him off and place the coffee on the table. "Yeah, just the jackass is here."

His nostrils flair and he looks furious—which is not an expression you see much from him. "Where?"

"Out front. But it's fine. I'm calling my dad."

He stomps past me, and I rush after him, but by the time we get outside, the BMW is speeding away. "Son of a bitch."

"Carlisle, it's fine," I say, placing my hand on his arm. "He's just being a pain in my ass. I'm going to get a restraining order."

"I'm telling security to call the police if they spot that car here again."

I nod. "Okay. Let's go back inside. We can't let him ruin our day—that's what he wants."

He smiles forcefully and agrees. Draping his arm over my shoulder, he leads me back into the office while I call Dad and then Jane. She has all the photos and emails Jake has sent, so she says she'll get right to work on a restraining order.

"Oh, I forgot to mention. Maggie is out sick today," Carlisle says, taking a cup of coffee. "But we don't have many patients on the schedule, and the biggest thing I need you to do is make appointments and reminder calls. I'll show you how to schedule and confirm them."

I nod as he pulls the chair out at the counter for me. He goes over things slowly, making sure I understand as his nurse arrives. I know Lauren well from school, and she's gone from a snobby bitch to a kind and compassionate nurse—which is good because we did not get along well in high school. I offer her the coffee I got for Maggie, and she takes it with a smile, grabbing some of the sugar packets.

"I'm going to prep the exam rooms, Doc," she says.

"Thanks, Lauren. So, any questions so far?"

I shake my head. "No, seems pretty straightforward."

"Good." He smiles as the door opens and our first patient arrives.

He lets me check her in and she eyes me closely. "Are you Chief Swan's daughter?" she asks.

I nod, smiling. "Bella."

"Oh goodness! Look at you all grown up," she gushes. "I babysat you when you were just a tiny little thing."

I honestly have no idea who this woman is, but I just keep smiling. "It's good to see you."

"Didn't you move to New York?"

I nod. "I did, but I'm back now."

Carlisle saves me. "Let's go on back, Ms. Prudence."

The rest of the morning is a lot of the same. People recognized me, asking about New York and why I moved home. I deflected the last question a lot. When lunch comes, Carlisle takes me to the cafeteria and asks how I like the job.

"I didn't realize I was so popular with the older generation," I say with a laugh. "I've seen my T-ball coach, my guidance counselor, two of my neighbors, and, of course the one who babysat me."

"The curse of a small town," he says as I notice Edward enter.

"Um . . . can I ask a question?"

He nods. "Anything."

"Edward is chief of the ER, right? But he told me he did a fellowship in Trauma Surgery, so wouldn't he be better suited working in a bigger hospital?"

"He would, but he wanted to come home. He's an excellent surgeon and has privileges at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles—where he's on call every other weekend. I trained in General Surgery before returning and doing an Internal Medicine residency. So, while I can operate, I'm better suited to being a physician. It's good having him here because we're so far from a highly trained trauma department. He's saved lives that would have otherwise been lost. He's also cost me a pretty penny in medical supplies and devices. We have our own little trauma room now and a more advanced OR."

"That's good. You ooze pride in him."

He grins. "He has a natural talent for being a doctor."

I watch from the corner of my eye as Edward walks over with a sandwich. He does look natural in that white coat.

"Mind if I join you two?" he asks.

Carlisle looks at me, and I nod. "Yeah, of course. Your dad was just telling me about your job here."

"Which part? That I've blown his budget for the entire year or that I'm remarkably good at what I do?"

I smirk. "Both. I feel kind of lame. I mean, you both studied for years and love your careers, and I'm sitting here as a secretary with a useless history degree and an incomplete Master's degree."

"You'll get a teaching job eventually," Carlisle says.

Edward nods. "Or go back and get your Master's. You could do it online."

"True."

"So, how's your first day? Dad treating you well?"

"Absolutely." I nod. "I'm really enjoying being out of the house and interacting with people. Apparently, the whole town remembers me."

Edward smiles. "Yeah, I got that too when I came home."

"I'm going to go straighten up the waiting room and play around with the computer system—if that's okay, Carlisle?"

He nods. "I need to go check on some patients upstairs, and Lauren will be back in about a half hour. Text me if you need anything."

I smile. "Will do. Bye, guys."

. . . . .

I'm putting all the magazines back as the door to the office opens. "Sorry, we're still on lunch," I say as I turn and find Jake closing and locking the door behind him.

"My lawyer got a call from yours," he says, narrowing his eyes at me. "He said to expect a restraining order by the end of the day."

I walk around the desk and nod. "I'm tired of you following me."

"What did I tell you, Bella? If I can't have you, no one will."

He stalks around the desk, and I swallow thickly. His eyes are full of rage. The only weapon I have at my disposal is a sharp letter opener, and I slowly reach for it, clasping my hand around it.

His hand goes to his back, and he pulls out a gun.

My breath hitches.

"J-Jake."

"I love you, Bella."

I shake my head. "Then don't do this. If you truly love me, you'll let me go."

I should have broken Dad's rule about keeping the gun in the house—registration be damned.

We circle the desk, and tears fill my eyes. He's going to kill me.

"What about your career?" I ask. "If you do this, you will lose everything."

He shakes his head. "I don't care anymore. You're my life. My life is over without you."

"Please, don't," I sob. "Please, please, please."

He raises the gun and fires quickly. I don't feel anything. I just fall on my back and then look down, finding blood spreading across my chest.

Then I feel it.

He's suddenly on top of me, gun pressed to my temple. I feel the metal opener in my hand and do the only thing I can think of. With every ounce of strength I have left, and with a guttural groan, I stab it into the side of his neck. He collapses next to me and pulls it out as dark blood sprays everywhere. I try to roll over—to crawl to the door, but the pain is too great.

I can't breathe.

My heartbeat is in my ears.

I blink and realize this is it.

I'm dying.

. . . But so is he.

Don't own Twilight.

Thanks to my beta Fran and prereaders, May, Mary, Sarah, Ashley and Christina.