As always, none of this is mine. I'm just the perv who want to make our beloved Twilight characters swear, drink, and go at it like horny rabbits. This story will be a combination of love, suspense, some violence and steamy, sweaty sex.
Chapter 119
EPOV
My dad came with me to Bella's brownstone while I picked up our clothes. He said he wanted to see Bella's place ... our place ... but, I think that he wanted to make sure that I didn't lose my shit. I had been walking a fine line of anger, sadness and frustration since I stepped into my condo. Rage was close to the surface, too. The fact that James was behind all of this, it made me sick and I wanted nothing more than to pound him into the next century. The man was a monster, preying on my sweet fiancée. I didn't want her to feel any more pain.
All she's felt since her relationship with James was pain and he was still causing her this unnecessary anguish. I was not happy in the slightest. Couple that with the loss of my condo? I was one angry motherfucker.
"Edward, it's okay to be pissed off," my dad said, his hand on my shoulder. I shot him a look. You think? "You've lost nearly everything and at the hand of Bella's ex-boyfriend, supposedly."
"What confuses the hell out of me is how they got in?" I grumbled, unlocking the back door to the brownstone and leading my father up to our bedroom. It still smelled like sex and just us. I couldn't find it in my heart to really care. In fact, I was strangely proud. Offering my dad a seat, I picked up my duffle bag from the floor of Bella's closet and stuffed in some boxers, a pair of jeans and a hoodie for me. I found some comfy yoga pants and another one of my hoodies for her, along with something to sleep in for Bella. I walked back into the bedroom, looking at my dad. He was comfortable on the chair opposite of the rumpled bed.
"Why does how they enter confuse you, Edward?" he asked.
"Because my condo is secured. The only way you can get in is if you have a key or the elevator code from the parking garage. From what Garrett told me, the door was locked from the inside. They had to force it open with the battering ram to put out the flames. How did someone get inside? The only people who have the key are you, Alice, Emmett and Bella," I said, walking to the bathroom to pick up our toiletries. I tossed them into my bag and put that into the duffle. "You were at work and Mom was hanging out with Alice. Emmett was at the fire house and Bella was with me. Who got into my condo?"
"That's something you'll need to discuss with the police," Dad said. "Do you have everything?"
"I think so," I replied, slinging the bag over my shoulder. I also picked up Bella's e-reader and my own book before going downstairs, getting into the driver's seat of my Mustang. We drove to my parent's place, parking on the driveway. Mom was waiting for us in the foyer, her eyes troubled. "Is everything okay? Bella?"
"She's sleeping. I gave her an anxiety pill because she got so worked up. She asked for it," Mom murmured, her green eyes shimmering with tears. "This is all so much for her. I know that you lost your condo, but the possibility that her ex-boyfriend and her mother are behind this? It's weighing her down."
"I know, Mom," I sighed, tugging on my hair. "Should I get a bodyguard? Some form of extra protection? This is too close for comfort."
"That's a conversation you need to have with Bella," Mom soothed, rubbing my back. "Now, why don't you go up to your room and lay down with Bella? She was exhausted, but fitful." I nodded, kissing my mom's cheek and going upstairs. Bella was curled around my pillow. Her beautiful face was covered with tear stains and she looked so troubled, even in sleep. I slipped off my clothes and pulled Bella into my arms. She whimpered, but settled quickly against my chest. Her fingers were pressed to my torso and her ear was right above my heart. She sighed, cuddling closer to me. I didn't sleep. I just held her, running my hands through her long, silky hair.
She stirred an hour later. When she realized she wasn't alone in the bed, she shot up, staring at me warily. "You're here," she rasped, her voice tired. "Why?"
"Because you're hurting," I murmured, sitting up and reaching for her hand. The hand that wore my ring. "Because your past is coming dangerously close to ruining our future."
"Why would you want a future with me?" she spat, curling up in a ball and tearing her hand away from me. "I'm poison. Everyone around me is getting hurt! First, Victoria, then Leah, Seth and Jacob and now you!"
"You are not poison. James and Renee, they are the poison," I said, wrapping her in my arms and forcing her onto my lap. She struggled but gave up, slumping against me. Weakly, she wrapped her arms around my neck and she cried quietly. Her tears were falling freely on my shoulder. I held her tightly, wishing I could take her pain away. "Do you want to stay up here? Or do you want to spend time with my parents? I know my mom wants to love up on you."
"Your mom is awesome," she said, her voice sounding sad and dejected. "She helped me when I had my breakdown." More tears fell down her cheeks. "Esme ... She ..." Bella was getting hysterical.
"Hey, hey," I soothed, brushing her hair away. "What is this?" She didn't respond, only shaking her head as tears spilled down her cheeks. My mom came into my room, carrying a tray and some tea. I looked at her. There was only one meal on the tray. My mom wanted to care for my fiancée. I was being banished, but it was probably for the best. I wasn't helping her. "Bella, sweet girl, my mom's here. Do you want her?"
"Y-Y-Yes," she hissed, her body shaking uncontrollably.
I kissed her forehead, confused by her emotional outburst. Moving her onto the bed, I quickly dressed and gave my mom a look. She grasped my hand, holding it tightly before lightly shoving me out of the bedroom and closing the door. I went downstairs. Alice and Jasper were in the family room. My sister ran into my arms, hugging me tightly. "Are you okay, Edward?"
"I'm fine. My condo isn't, but that is the least of my worries. Whatever happened to my condo is hitting Bella hard," I said, sitting down on the leather sofa.
"The place where she felt safe, protected ... it's been tampered with ... she's exposed," Jasper said. "Her biggest fear is losing you and the fire in your condo was a little too close for comfort."
"You're telling me," I snorted humorlessly. "What can we do?"
"We protect her with our lives," Alice said, her eyes fierce and her posture rigid. "James and Renee will not hurt that wonderful, beautiful woman ever again. She's been dealt enough sadness. All Bella deserves is happiness, joy and love. We can give her that. You are the embodiment of that, Edward."
"Then, why does she want Mom?" I asked, my brows furrowed.
"She wants a mother's love. Renee never gave her that," Dad answered. "She had it with her grandmother, but even that was temporary and fleeting. Bella loves you immensely, but the fact that her own mother has a hand in what's going on in her life. It's stripped all of her emotions raw." We sat quietly, not really watching what was on the television screen. I was worried for Bella and prayed that my mom would help her. Around midnight, Alice and Jasper left since he had to go to work. My father stayed with me until he couldn't keep his eyes open. Despite my exhaustion, I just stayed on the couch, staring at the television, not seeing what was dancing on the screen.
Eventually, I dragged myself up the stairs. I slipped into my bedroom, seeing my mom in bed with my fiancée. Mom was gently caressing Bella's hair, humming quietly. Bella was gripping her, almost crushing her. It was like she was afraid that my mom was going to disappear. Mom gave me a sad smile. "She's so easy to love, Edward. Now, I know why you chose her."
"Is she alright?" I asked.
"She will be. Her mother's involvement in all of this has broken her spirit. The fact that your home was desecrated, burnt to a crisp, just made her so anxious," she replied. "So very upset. She's worried about you. Worried that you'll realize that she's not worth the trouble."
"Mom, no. I love her," I said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. I picked up Bella's hand that was gripping my mom's shirt. My ring sparkled on her finger, reminding me of the promise we'd made to each other.
"I know that. You know that, but right now, she is struggling in believing it," Mom murmured, kissing Bella's forehead. "Tomorrow, you need to talk to her. Put her mind at ease. She was too emotional today to see any sort of reason. Then, you discuss your plan on protecting her. We also need a plan on protecting you, too."
"I don't need protecting," I scoffed.
"Edward, you may be strong and believe yourself to be infallible, but you're not," Mom said harshly. "Those monsters got into your condo. Your secure condo. If she gets protection, so do you. And that's final."
Mom's eyes broached no argument. Nor was I going to give her one. With a nod, I replied, "Yes, ma'am."
A/N: Yes, Edward lost his condo, but Bella's feeling of safety was shattered. That's why she fell apart. Up next will be their discussion, planning their protection and meeting with the cops. And let's just say that this is the tip of the drama iceberg.