Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Ex Delicto Chapter 27

A little bit of time has lapsed, as noted in the first sentence.

I made a stop at my father's office after one of my scheduled therapy appointments the next week. Ben was currently escorting me every time I left my apartment, mostly for my own peace of mind, and because I trusted him implicitly. He stopped outside the inner office door after Maggie walked us back.

I was surprised to see my brother there, he and our dad seated at the table with papers spread out in front of them. "Daddy, Emmett," I acknowledged them both politely.

They watched me as I sat, and I worked hard not to squirm at the thought of how my scars looked. Dad started speaking first. "We've discovered the identity of the mole," he announced without preamble.

My eyebrows shot up. "That's great news." My eyes flicked to Emmett, whose presence hulked despite being seated, and I noted the hard expression on his face.

"Randall," he sneered the name. My face surely conveyed my shock, as my head swiveled from one to the other.

"It's true," my father confirmed. "We have a prepaid cell phone that he was using to communicate with DeLuca and Newton. I was standing there with him, about to give him a goddamn commendation, when it rang in his hand. I recognized Aro's attorney's phone number, despite him trying to hide the phone. Needless to say, he was shocked when I wound up arresting him instead of awarding him."

I dropped my gaze to the table, trying to put a name to my feelings. "I was so careful not to say anything in front of any of the men on my detail. I mentioned Newton to Liam in the store, but I'm positive Randall was out of earshot."

"He confessed to bugging your apartment," Emmett said. My face heated at what that meant he'd heard. He took a huge breath and huffed it out. "I've been thinking over things that happened Bella, and I realized that I am really fucking pissed at you," he growled.

My head jerked up at his sudden change of subject, and I stared at him defiantly. "I know how you feel about-"

"No." His impassive interruption brought my oncoming tirade to a halt. "You are smarter than the woman who got herself kidnapped. I spent so much time keeping an eye on you, I even left my wife alone to oversee your safety."

"Goddammit, Emmett!" I cried, rising half out of my seat while my face flamed at the thought that he hadn't wanted to help me.

"I'm not finished!" His hands fisted on the table, knuckles white. I glanced at our father and noted that he was looking at his paperwork, trying to give us a minute. I sat back down and turned my attention to Emmett again as my eyes pricked with unshed tears. "I would gladly do it all again. I love you, Bella. Do you have any idea how it felt to hear that he had you? And then to realize that it was your fault that he did, because you abandoned all common sense?"

"I know! I know, okay? I struggle every day with my own stupidity. I made assumptions about Black because I despise him, instead of using my brain. I didn't fight on that sidewalk because I panicked, and I knew he wouldn't hesitate to kill innocent people."

"It just took me some time to realize that I'm not mad because you fell in love with Edward. I'm downright pissed because you abandoned who you are that day, and I don't understand why." His voice was frustrated, and I understood that sentiment all too well.

"I don't either," I whispered, clutching my hands in my lap. "It wasn't intentional, because I've explored that theory ad nauseum with my therapist. I was egotistical to think I didn't need Black because he's a useless piece of shit. I was arrogant to assume that he was brought in to this office without checking first." I inhaled deeply, recognizing and processing that I still smelled fertilizer. "However, what happened on the sidewalk was my fight or flight instinct cowering in the face of a man I'd studied endlessly. I knew what and who he was, and I fucking panicked."

Daddy placed a glass of water in front of me, and as I glanced up I realized that he'd gotten up and was standing at my side. "You don't have to do this. Emmett can get over his feelings faster than you'll get over your PTSD. And while we're at it, I apologize for letting Emmett go as far as he did in your hospital room. You know I generally don't get between the three of you when you have disagreements, but this time I should have. So, I'm sorry. I've spoken to Edward, and told him I don't agree with what was said. I believe that he forgives me, but we may have to see how he feels about your brother," he leveled a steely gaze at Emmett.

"Edward has been an enormous help," I pointed out, looking straight at Emmett as well. "He comes to most of my appointments, and he's gotten pretty good at defusing my panic attacks." I scrubbed my hand over my face. "There are still days where I'm terrified to leave the apartment."

"And I know you have the strength to work through this," Emmett assured me. "Rose gave me the 'come to Jesus' talk, and I realized how rude I've been. So I just wanted to apologize for the way I acted while I was trying to work through my feelings. It scared the shit out of me, B, to see you tied to that chair covered in blood." He paused, almost seeming to catch his breath, and I shivered. "And I've paid a personal visit to Officer Black, and let me just say he's adorable in the street uniform." He waggled his eyebrows, and I laughed. It felt good to be able to laugh with my brother again.

"Randall has been dealt with, and Aro has accepted a deal to give up everything he knows. His attorney was passing information, so he's been charged as well. Aro is down to a public defender, who has cooperated wonderfully with the DA. The pair of them will spend many years in prison."

My father's assurances eased my mind a great deal, but I knew it would be a topic of discussion at my next session nonetheless.

I felt lighter as Ben and I left, and I asked him how it was going with my paralegal. He and Angela had been dating for about a month, and they were enamored with each other. When I unlocked my apartment door, I told Ben to head off on his date, because I was going to be okay.

My heart was waiting for me inside, and I would be more than okay.

I found him in the kitchen, my apron tied around him as he moved from the stove to the fridge. There was soft classical music playing from the radio, and I just watched him being domestic for half a minute. The love inside me swelled up, and when he set his stirring spoon down, I moved forward and wrapped my arms around him. The scent of Edward, woodsy and clean, and the smell of chili coming from the pot replaced the olfactory memory that constantly plagued me.

"Hey, love, I'm so glad you're home," he said as he held me, the sound rumbling in his chest under my ear. "How was your visit with your dad?"

"Emmett was there. He's still a little mad at me, but he apologized. And they caught the last guy."

Edward pulled back enough to meet my eyes. "Really?"

I nodded. "It was Randall," I said bitterly. His left eyebrow rose. "He bugged the place, by the way. Dad is sending someone tomorrow to remove the devices, but they've turned off the receiver he was recording on. And then Ben will be relieved of his duty where it pertains to babysitting me."

"How do you feel about that?"

"Violated all over again." I buried my face in the apron, pleased that it already smelled of him. "I don't want to worry about it, though. I want to have a nice dinner that you made for us, and cuddle on the couch watching anything at all on TV."

"You're an angel, Bella," he crooned in my ear, squeezing me tighter.

"If I am, I have two broken wings."

"You're my angel, and that counts for something. The chili is ready, so why don't you change into your pajamas and I'll bring our dinner to the couch."

"That's sounds perfect."

I want to point out that although Bella has always accepted responsibility for the mistakes she made, they all know that Mike is ultimately responsible for what happened. So, it's a step in the right direction for them all.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Ex Delicto, Teaser Chapter 27

Dad started speaking first. “We've discovered the identity of the mole,” he announced without preamble.

My eyebrows shot up. “That's great news.” My eyes flicked to Emmett, whose presence hulked despite being seated, and I noted the hard expression on his face.

Dad continued, “We have a prepaid cell phone that he was using to communicate with DeLuca and Newton. I was standing there with him when it rang in his hand. I recognized Aro’s attorney's phone number, despite him trying to hide the phone. Needless to say, he was shocked when I wound up arresting him.”

I dropped my gaze to the table, trying to put a name to my feelings. “I was so careful not to say anything in front of any of the men on my detail.”

“He confessed to bugging your apartment,” Emmett said. My face heated at what that meant he'd heard. 



Monday, March 27, 2017

Perdition Chapter 7

Now

I watch the light bending to the will of the earth as the sun disappears below the horizon, while sitting in my car outside the bar. I'm expected inside Dead End, but I don't have it in me. I'm so exhausted, utterly bone-weary and sick of this new life. I've forced my feet forward every day, dragging toward a predetermined destiny I'm already disgusted with. I'm a thief, a con artist, a pawn in the mob's game; I don't even want to play, but I can't afford not to win.

Banging my head on the steering wheel doesn't clear my mind, but I get out of the car anyway since I don't have a choice. Paul would just find me and yank me inside despite my protests, and then I'd have to answer to Jake. I've avoided him like my life depends on it, and in more ways than one, it does. If I cross him, he might kill me for sport. If he gets bored, he might enforce his offer of marriage and, frankly, I'd sooner die. I'd rather be his pawn than his bitch.

Paul greets me with a raised eyebrow, and I give him a small wave, knowing I'm a few minutes late. I go to the back and store my purse in the locker provided to me, along with my all-weather jacket. My shirt, if it can be classified as such, is tiny as hell with the bar's name scrawled across my boobs in bright red. It's tight, low cut, and short, with fringe along the bottom that sort of hides my midriff. I hate it. I run my brush through my hair, knowing it makes Paul happy when it's down and styled. Slicking siren red lipstick on, I inhale deeply, holding it until I think I'll pass out before huffing it out loudly. I straighten my shoulders before heading out to the main area of the bar.

"Squeaking by, Isabella," Paul warns. Humming in acknowledgement, I clock in and grab my waist apron. I feel ridiculous heading over to a table, but that's not likely to change anytime soon. I really do suck at this so-called job.

"Hi, what can I get for you?" I ask the guy in a fake chipper voice. I have to write his order carefully, since my memory is shit, and I sit in an empty chair in the hopes I can scoop his keys up under my order pad without him noticing. My adrenaline spikes as I'm successful, and I back away from his table a few steps before turning and practically sprinting for the POS system.

Paul saunters over casually, and I palm him the set of keys so they don't rattle. The music is fairly loud, but I never succeed with this part and I'm not taking any chances. He sends the car key through the code cutter, then hands the entire set back to me. I grab the order I placed and return to the table and set the glass down before bending over and pretending to retrieve his set of keys.

"Hey, looks like you dropped these." I smile sweetly as I drop them in his hand. He gives me a leering grin in return.

"Thanks, babe. I know exactly how I can repay you," he smirks. I try not to shiver visibly.

"No thanks, fraternization is against the rules." I'm lying, Paul wouldn't care if the girls were giving blow jobs in the bathroom to keep the marks occupied. Hell, he'd probably be thrilled. Turning on my heel, I head to another customer and try to calm my nerves. I'd been taught to look for high-end car logos on the keys, and the next guy does not qualify as a mark.

My mood worsens as the night wears on. The guys doing the boosting are careful to wait and watch the customers, making sure there are no overlapping men running in and yelling about their stolen cars. Eventually, I'll learn to not take each set of keys that look right, waiting for the first victim to leave before another unsuspecting victim strolls in. There's only a total of about three thefts per night, but it adds up over the course of the weeks and months. The very idea that I'm at least partially responsible for wrecking these people's lives sends me running to the bathroom by the end of my shift, retching on my hands and knees. I just want to go home and shower off the disgusting feeling this job gives me.

The next day is my day off, and I find myself worried and stressed over the decision I made last night while I was lying in bed unable to sleep. I make a point of wearing subtle makeup and a flattering dress, styling my hair until it looks exactly right. I can't walk in heels without face planting, but I put on my favorite sandals and grab my purse, easing out the door to a semi cloudy day. In Forks, that's a good sign. My nerves almost get the best of me as I feel my breakfast threatening to rise, but I take a few calming breaths and go.

With information I learned from Angela, I make my way to the bank downtown and sit on the picnic bench in front of the founder's statue in the park across the street. I'm so nervous I'm staring at my hands as they wring on top of the table; I feel him before I see him, a tingling that starts at the base of my scalp and runs down my spine. My eyes seek him out, and I'm disappointed all over again at the look in his eyes. Edward hates me, which I deserve. I wish it could be different, and so I'm going to do my best to make that happen. I see the slowing in his gait as he recognizes me in his usual lunch spot, and the confusion on his face because I'm sure he didn't expect me here. He approaches the table with the same caution given a wild and unpredictable animal.

"Is this some kind of joke?" he rasps out. The lunch bag in his hand is squeezed, his empty hand in a tight fist.

"No, Edward, of course not. I just wanted to talk to you and explain some of the things you've wanted to know." My face is flushed, my embarrassment at his loathing causing a deep blush. There was a time he would have greeted me with a passionate kiss, but today is definitely not that time.

Edward stares at me for a good long time, until I squirm under his scrutiny, until I'm positive he's going to tell me to get lost. Finally he sits across from me, pulling plastic containers out of his reusable sack and getting out a fork. I watch, mesmerized, as he opens a container and starts in on meatloaf, wiping his lips on a napkin before opening a bottle of water. All of this is done without a single word uttered on either of our parts. I can't decide if he's going to ignore me or hear me out.

"I guess I'll just talk," I mutter before swallowing thickly. He doesn't look up. "As I told you when… when I left, Charlie had advanced from verbal abuse to smacking Mom around. So she decided to take me and leave, finding a house in a close-knit community in Florence, Oregon. We lived an idyllic few years, in a quaint house on the beach where Mom never had to be sad or scared again." I pause for breath, wishing I'd brought water with me. When I glance up I see him focused on my face, finally paying attention for the first time. "Before we left, I thought to myself, you just can't screw up Edward's life when he's got so much potential right in front of him. And yet, I was going to."

"Bella-"

I cut him off with a sharp shake of my head. "No. You deserve the answers I can give you. I was going to beg you to come to Oregon, I swear to God. You didn't know about what I had to do to Emmett yet, and I thought I could hold on to you." I make a sound of disgust and drop my eyes back to the table. "That was the worst kind of blasphemy, telling you I didn't want you. And it wasn't just that I knew you'd find out what I'd done and hate me for it, it was because I- I-" The trembling stops me from speaking for a minute, and I feel his gaze boring into the top of my head. And I'm terrified, and liberated by what I've shared, but I can't seem to say what needs to be said. I can't get the words past the regret, and instead I try to swallow the lump they've formed.

I stand abruptly, thinking this is a massive mistake, and stride quickly away from him, away from the sunshine and flowers of a park in an ordinary world. I know what truly lies beneath, and it is not good. It's the epitome of evil, and I can't entangle Edward in my web of deceit. I won't be the black widow again, luring him in only to feast on his implicit faith in me. I'll love you forever, Bella. I have to break my promise of forever to keep him and his daughter safe.

"Bella, wait!" I hear his voice just before I hear his feet pounding behind me, and his hand grabs my shoulder, forcing me to spin and face him. I don't know what I must look like, but I can feel the warmth of the tears tracking down my cheeks. He's so close, so close, and my gut is churning at the expression in his eyes. It's all too familiar, and I don't have the strength to back off as he lowers his head, his soft lips touching mine for a brief kiss. It stuns me, this display of anything besides hatred, and from the look on his face, he feels the same.

"I thought I could say it, just tell you and maybe take some of the weight from your heart. I guess I was wrong. Again." I have to turn and walk away from the love of my life again. I'm still running scared, hiding my heart and trying desperately to guard his.






Sunday, March 26, 2017

Perdition, Chapter 7 Teaser



I stand abruptly, thinking this is a massive mistake, and stride quickly away from him, away from the sunshine and flowers of a park in an ordinary world. I know what truly lies beneath, and it is not good. It's the epitome of evil, and I can't entangle Edward in my web of deceit. I won't be the black widow again, luring him in only to feast on his implicit faith in me.

“Bella, wait!” I hear his voice just before I hear his feet pounding behind me, and his hand grabs my shoulder, forcing me to spin and face him. I don't know what I must look like, but I can feel the warmth of the tears tracking down my cheeks. He's so close, so close, and my gut is churning at the expression in his eyes. It's all too familiar, and I don't have the strength to back off as he lowers his head, his soft lips touching mine for a brief kiss. It stuns me, this display of anything besides hatred, and from the look on his face, he feels the same.


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Ex Delicto Chapter 26

It's hectic around my house this morning. We went without power for two hours last night, and school is delayed. Send coffee!
Let's see how Bella fares out of the hospital.


Every single thing was unraveling around me. The doctor discharged me as being physically competent to be released but, in my opinion, I was not as mentally or emotionally ready to be home as I would have liked. Esme and Carlisle were on the brink of divorce, her faith in him shattered by his actions toward Edward. Emmett was estranged from the family, deciding that he didn't want to be around me or Edward, putting a strain on the family dynamic. Then Charlie, in anger and frustration, had gone on a rampage and fired half of the employees of the city of Seattle. Jake was demoted to traffic cop after he admitted that he was flirting with a woman that turned out to be a hooker paid off by Newton; his uncle being the only thing that kept him from getting fired. He claimed the woman was giving him pertinent information, but he deserved the cracked skull, in my opinion.

And me… I was falling apart at the seams. Edward was just barely holding the jagged pieces of me together, something I couldn't seem to do myself anymore. The night terrors were so real, so tangible, I would fight off Edward while he tried to calm me. I had a scent trapped in my lungs, of dampness, blood, and a soulless monster. I could smell him in my dreams, the way the acrid odor of fertilizer clung to his skin as he came for me again and again. I'd ripped more than one set of stitches thrashing around, and finally the doctor gave me something to help me sleep without dreaming.

I didn't know where the badass version of myself went when I got home. I kept going over that day in my head, at all the mistakes I'd made. When it came down to it, I failed myself. I went from focusing on survival, to focusing on healing the pneumonia, to just… living. I was trying to live hour by hour, some days minute by minute. I had panic attacks now, and I couldn't fight off the feeling of foreboding.

Newton was dead, so I couldn't watch him being torn apart in the courtroom. No witnesses, no victim impact statements. It pissed me off that he had avoided the justice system I believed in so strongly. I also knew there was no way in hell he'd gotten away with everything for this long without help. There had to be a mole in the department, someone that told him Dad was coming for him that Monday. Someone that helped him cover everything up and hide when the deputy chief went looking for him. I had no idea if that person was still coming for me, or who they could be.

Aro DeLuca would have a trial. He would spend plenty of time in jail since he thought adding breaking and entering to his list of charges was a dandy idea. As happy as that made me, he wasn't the bigger picture. He couldn't replace Mike and suffer the worst injustices of the prison system, the way that bastard had deserved. What did it say about me that I wished Mike had been tormented instead of dying, taking the easy way out?

I knew that it wasn't over. I hated feeling weak, someone who couldn't take care of myself or go through a full day without a panic attack taking me down. I was wretched, lashing out at Edward as he tried to help me.

"You need to go!" I screamed at him, fisting my hair at the scalp and yanking until the pain brought me to the present. "I'm no good for you," I wailed, the tears overcoming me. The room was too close, everything looming and feeling like it would touch me if I wasn't curled into myself protectively.

"No." It was impassive, authoritative.

Dragging in air, listening to it whistle through my lungs, I frowned at his monosyllabic answer. "What?" I wheezed.

"I'm not leaving," he replied sternly. "I'll go in the kitchen. Do you need anything?"

I couldn't understand why he hadn't bailed yet, why he put up with my lunacy. "Nothing," I whispered, just needing space.

I watched Edward walk out of the room, and I practiced deep breathing, visualizing a safe and happy place. He didn't deserve my ire, or my insanity. I envisioned a sunny meadow filled with wildflowers and wind whispering through the tall grass. Edward lay by my side, smiling sweetly at me as I unbuttoned his shirt and trailed my hands over his chest.

The bubble burst when that scent crept back in, the flowers wilting and decaying and giving off a rotting smell. I blinked, trying to focus on my living room; my pictures, my books, my knick-knacks. I was safe, I was at home. He couldn't touch me anymore. A different odor was overtaking the apartment, and I realized that Edward was brewing coffee on the other side of the wall in my kitchen. I stood, glancing at my pajamas and robe, and felt disgusted with myself. Making a hasty decision, I rushed into the bathroom and stripped before I could change my mind. Ignoring my reflection in the mirror, I turned the shower on and stepped in. I scrubbed roughly, careful of my stitches but getting truly clean for the first time in a long time. I'd underestimated the value in washing my hair and face, brushing my teeth and shaving. I felt like a new person as I climbed carefully out, wrapping a towel around my naked body. The steam was overpowering my bathroom, so I opened the door before my claustrophobia could kick in.

I stood in front of my bedroom mirror and dropped the towel. I forced myself to study the array of colorful bruises and reminded myself that they were badges of survival. I would have physical scars, but I accepted that I needed to work to ensure I didn't also have emotional scars. I didn't want to be a broken woman, unable to stand the presence of others or even myself. I wanted to be strong again, the way I'd always thought I was. Flawed, but courageous. That was to be my goal.

With that in mind, I made my way to the kitchen without bothering to dress or hide my imperfections.
When I walked in, Edward glanced up from the little desk in the corner that was bathed in weak sunlight, a coffee cup frozen halfway to his mouth. I took in the way his eyes gave me a once over, inspecting for damages the same as I had done. Then his gaze landed on my face and I gasped slightly at the burning heat I saw there. I took two tentative steps toward him, and he finally set the cup on the newspaper he'd been reading before extending a hand to me. I closed the gap between us with more purposeful strides, accepting his offered hand. To his credit, he kept his eyes locked on mine.

"What, uh… how are you feeling?" he rasped, and I watched his chest rise and fall rapidly.

"I'm trying."

"That's all you can do," he agreed.

"I need to lie down. Will you hold me?" I watched his eyes carefully, and I saw the patient, understanding love shining from them.

"Of course."

I stepped back to give him room to stand, gesturing for him to go first. I wasn't quite brave enough to let him watch me walk across the apartment naked. When we reached my room I grabbed a clean nightshirt from the drawer and slipped it on; it wouldn't be fair otherwise. Edward had turned back the covers and I slipped in under the cool sheet, watching him reach behind his head to grab a handful of shirt and yank it off. I faced him for a moment when he climbed into bed with me, then rolled and let him pull me against him. There was comfort here, for now, and I relaxed into his embrace. I felt his hands stroking down my hair, fanning the wet strands out across my shoulder. A whisper of breath met my ear, and I shivered as he spoke into the shell.

"Sleep, my love. I have you."

I breathed steadily for a time before I felt the pull of sleep, allowing it to take me into the void. I woke up screaming, thrashing against Edward's chest and scrambling to stand. My chest was heaving painfully as I stood there breathing hard, and Edward blinked up at me, cradling his jaw.

"Did I- did I hit you?" The words scraped my throat as I said them, the regret brutal in my heart.

"It's fine, sweetheart. You had a nightmare," he answered soothingly, placating me.

"It's not fine! What the fuck is wrong with me, and why aren't you pissed about this!" I turned away from the bed, pushing my hand through my hair. I couldn't even cry anymore, I was just so tired of everything.

"I'm not fucking going anywhere, Bella." He was suddenly behind me, maybe a few feet away, and there was anguish in his voice. "I thought I made it perfectly clear that I am here, no matter what. I'll give you space if that's what you need, but I'm not giving up on you."

I dropped my face into my hands, sobbing without tears. It took me several minutes to realize I was hyperventilating into another panic attack. Edward's strong arms went around me, and he cradled me to his chest, his hand cupping my head. "Deep breaths, don't fight it. I love you, you're safe. You're safe."

I didn't think I'd ever feel safe again, but I burrowed into his chest and held on regardless.

"We need to find a therapist, Bella. You need the tools to deal with what you went through. You can come with me to mine, and decide if you like her enough to see her on your own."

He was right, of course. I would continue down the rabbit hole if I couldn't climb out. I nodded. "You're right."


Edward is loyal to the core.

Thoughts and feelings on Charlie, Jacob?

Ex Delicto Chapter 25

Based on the reactions on the Facebook page, y'all are gonna pretty much hate Emmett by the end of this chapter.


I only had a short nap before more people showed up. First Esme, to reassure us that she was really okay. She stayed for the better part of an hour, and I noticed she didn't feel the need to focus over my shoulder. She tsked over my injuries, refilled my water cup, and brushed and braided my hair. She felt truly like my mother, and I caught her in a hug before she could flit off again.

"Thank you, Esme."

She smiled at me, and I watched as she sat on the foot of my bed and picked at the fuzzballs on my beige hospital blanket. "I hear Carlisle visited," she ventured.

"He did." I waited for her to gather her courage before saying what was weighing on her heart.

"I told him… when Edward was released, I told him he had to fix his relationship with his son. Instead, Carlisle worked longer hours and avoided us both." She looked up from the blanket. "After you were found, I insisted again that he repair his relationship with Edward."

"It might be irreparable, Esme," I murmured. My own heart was heavy with the thought that Edward's father had ruined his chances of truly knowing his son.

"They were always inseparable," she sobbed quietly, her trembling hand resting on her temple. "They were two of a kind, and Edward wanted nothing more than to make Carlisle proud of him. That's only one of the reasons he wanted to become a doctor." She worried her lower lip between her teeth for a second. "Carlisle was furious when I put up the bail before his trial. He told me he hadn't raised a rapist, and my response was that he was right, we hadn't. He wanted to disown him, and I wanted to prove his innocence."

"You've spent years at odds, haven't you?" I asked gently.

Esme nodded. "I don't want a divorce, but I can't forgive my husband. I don't know what to do."
Her cheeks were flushed as she looked back down at the bed. I felt terrible for her, stuck right in the middle between her husband and her son. Then the door opened, and Edward stepped in.

"Hey, sweetie, you're just in time," I greeted him. Esme's eyes shot to mine. "Your mom was kind enough to do my hair, and I feel almost like a real human again."

"That was really nice of you, Mom. I bought you a coffee while I was downstairs." I watched in true
jealousy as he handed her the paper cup, wishing I could have one right then, too.

Edward stepped over to me, leaning over and kissing me tenderly on the forehead. The scent of decent coffee wafted up my nose, and my mouth actually watered. "Here, love. This one's for you," he offered in his deep, smooth voice.

I could have wept with my gratitude; I nearly did just that. "Oh, God, thank you. They never give me coffee with breakfast, not that I think it would taste good if they did." I took a tentative sip, not wanting to burn my tongue.

He held up a greasy brown paper bag and rattled it in his hand. I barely resisted snatching it from him. "And this is for you, too."

"I knew there was a reason I love you." I pulled out the chocolate glazed donut, licking the icing from where it came off onto my finger.

Edward laughed, and Esme stood. "I should probably get going," she said, sounding reluctant.

"Don't leave on my account, Mom. There's enough room for us both." Edward settled in the chair next to me, where he practically lived.

"That's alright, your father's waiting to take me home." She bent and kissed my cheek before moving to her son. I busied myself with my donut as they said their goodbyes.

It wasn't long after she left that Mrs. Denali stopped by with her husband and young son. Oscar was an adorable little guy, who climbed right up on my feet and asked if my boo-boos would heal like his mother's had. She had tears in her eyes as she watched us interact. Everyone met Edward, and I had the chance to meet Carmen's husband Eleazar. They were a lovely family, and I noticed that Edward passed on his therapist's information to them.

I was exhausted by the time they left. "I think I need another nap," I admitted.

"If you'll be okay for a little while, I'm going to go home and change."

I watched Edward stretch, his shirt revealing a strip of bare stomach as it rose. I bit my lip, then boldly asked for what I wanted. "I need to touch you, for just a minute."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

I gestured, and he came closer. My fingers trailed along that warm, smooth plane that was barely above where his pants rested at his hips. He gasped at my touch, vibrating muscles tensing to hold still. His hands grabbed mine.

"I…"

I smiled at him sheepishly. "Go have your shower. I'll see you when you get back."

He nodded, watching me as he backed out the door.

I dozed for a little while, opening my eyes to see Emmett and Dad were sitting with me. I raised my brows at Emmett.

"Rose said she'd been by. I thought I'd be nice and come, too."

I couldn't help notice he barely fit in the small visitor chair. He was drawn into himself, anger and guilt written all over his features; the tightness around his eyes and the deep lines across his forehead as he frowned made it clear how he was feeling.

"So, you see I'm in one piece," I said dryly.

Dad lifted his eyebrow, and I copied the gesture. "Has the doctor given any indication of when you'll be discharged?" he questioned.

"As long as I can keep my O2 levels up, within three days. My cough is productive, and the infection is moving out of my system."

"And the rest?" Emmett practically growled.

"If by 'the rest' you mean the cuts and bruises, those will take weeks to heal. If you mean the scars that will be left behind, those will possibly never go away. If you mean the emotional damage, who the fuck knows?" My lungs protested so much dialogue, and I spent a good ten minutes coughing hard as my dad and brother hovered.

"Are you okay?" Emmett asked nervously.

"Just peachy." I gulped down the ice water left on my rolling table, then shifted in a vain attempt to get comfortable.

"Bella-" Emmett started, but I interrupted.

"No, you know what? I'm pissed at you, and that's not likely to change any time soon."

"What the hell, Bella, you barely know the guy and you're picking him?" he exploded.

"You don't get to say that to me! I'm not choosing sides, Emmett, you are. You're too stubborn to realize that he did nothing wrong. I left the office alone, I chose to represent him and countless others through the Innocence Project. I chose to keep working on this when Dad told me to drop it."

"But fuck, Bella, you've never brought a con home with you!" Emmett shouted.

"Emmett Charles!" our father barked.

Emmett plowed on. "What the fuck are you thinking? You could've gotten yourself killed, and all because you let the little lost prisoner follow you home!"

"You liked him just fine when you were defending him from that bigot!" I shouted back.

"Yeah, I like him as a person, B. Just not your person."

That's how Edward found me, gasping for breath, tears and snot running down my face. He glared first at Emmett, then my father. "What the hell is going on here?"

His voice was so quiet and calm, belying his fury. He hurried to my side, handing me a tissue and smoothing my hair back. The water appeared before me, and I gave him a watery smile. The shuffling noise behind him caught my attention. Edward turned, standing in front of me.

"I'm sorry, Isabella. I didn't come up upset you," I heard my father say.

"You did nothing to prevent it from happening, either," Edward returned.

I heard my father's breath, and I figured he was keeping his temper in check for my benefit. "I'll be back tomorrow," he muttered. I peered around Edward as my father and brother left the room.

"How much did you hear?" I mumbled as he turned back to me.

"The end. Despite everything, I'm your person, Bella. Always."


Before you grab your torches and pitchforks (lol), he will redeem himself eventually. But, yeah, he was awful.

Ex Delicto Chapter 24

Bella is going to be explicit with her injuries, which several people asked about.


When I woke a few mornings later, I heard angry voices exchanging beyond my door, with Edward's voice being immediately familiar. I thought the other belonged to his father. Shifting, I pushed myself up in the bed, adjusting the cannula that had replaced the hated mask. I coughed, and my chest ached it's rebuttal.

"Bella?" Edward stuck his head in the door, and I waved him in, still studiously trying to dislodge a lung.
He came in, tentatively creeping toward the bed, as though a threat lurked below it. His father hesitated in the doorway, and I thought I could understand the reluctance from Edward.

When the coughing subsided, I swallowed most of the water left on my small rolling table. "Hey," I croaked.

Edward fussed, patting my pillows and smoothing my hair. If it wasn't such a normal gesture for him I'd have assumed he was stalling.

"Dad wants to visit," he said quietly. He met my gaze, a crease marring his brow. "He's not your physician, you can say no," he said on a breath.

I shook my head. "It's fine. Really," I assured him when his frown deepened.

Carlisle cleared his throat, stepping with a colt's unsure gait toward my bedside. "I want to say thank you."

He stopped several feet away to make his declaration. I studied the lined face, the weariness obvious in the bags under his eyes, at the tight set of his lips.

"Why are you thanking me now?" I panted a bit at the end of my sentence.

"Because I should have before. I should have thanked you, and apologized to him." It didn't go unnoticed that he didn't meet my gaze.

Edward snorted. "It's too late for any of that, like I told you."

"It's never too late for gratitude, though I think the forgiveness might be harder won." I watched them, two people standing oceans apart. Not looking at each other, tucked into themselves. I took Edward's hand, tugged him to sit and relax.

"Well, I'm trying to make amends, but I know I'm too late for that. Still, I have to try." Carlisle licked his lips, gesturing uselessly with his hands. "I'll leave you be. I hope you get better quickly."

He backed out of the room, never looking directly at me. I knew that only the nurses truly looked at me, saw me. My parents and brothers stared at a spot over my shoulder, and Edward… he looked me right in the eyes.

"Sweetheart, you should work on forgiving him for your sake. It's a heavy burden to carry that around." My breathing wheezed in and out.

"What if I don't want to?" He shifted in his seat to better face me. "What if he doesn't deserve it, and it helps fuel my determination to be better? To be something other than him, what about that?"

"I think- I think your therapist would tell you that's unhealthy." My lungs labored with the effort to hold a conversation.

"Being in prison is like a slow death- fading away little by little each day until your basic humanity is lost. If you're lucky, you have a family member that visits you often enough to remind you of who you are. So, no, I don't feel any particular need to forgive him for not being that person. You want to know what I thought about, all those long and lonely days in prison?" he asked with a sudden burning intensity.

I frowned. We'd discussed it enough times that I thought I knew where he was going. I was wrong.

"You." I opened my mouth, but Edward stopped me. "Not you, because that would be freaky. But I dreamed that someone would come find me, someone that believed in me. I waited so long for you, Bella, and I almost lost you."

I lay there speechless as he folded over, dropping his head to my chest. I stroked his hair while the tears flowed down my cheeks. I knew he loved me; I could see it in his eyes every time he looked at me. My chest throbbed, and not from the pneumonia.

"Edward," I whispered. "I need you to look at me. To- to actually see me."

He sat up. I read uncertainty and reluctance on his handsome face, but there was no fear or doubt as he gently cupped my jaw and looked me over. My forehead had a healing gash from the car window, closed up with seven stitches. My left cheekbone had a long, jagged cut from the screwdriver he'd used to torture me. There was one by my right eye, and another down my throat near my jugular. The bruises that bloomed behind the force he'd used to cut my flesh with a dull tool had deepened to shades of amethyst and onyx. Which just made me feel better to say than black and purple. That inspection only included from the neck up; there were more on my arms, and they all had ugly bruises and stitches to go with them, with colors I didn't have the heart to name yet.

"I see you, and you're beautiful. It's your strength, and compassion, and intelligence that shine out of your very pores. Don't think I don't see what that fucker did, but it doesn't define you. What I see when I look in your eyes is your soul. Your soul is what defines you, Bella, and it's goddamn gorgeous."

A sob escaped my throat. "I love you, Edward. I love you so fucking much." All of my emotions rushed out of me and spilled onto him as I grabbed his face. I could only kiss his cheek, I was still contagious, but I did so gently. "I want out of this stupid bed so I can kiss and hold you properly."

"Here," he murmured, shifting so his hip lined up next to mine. I moved over, giving him room to sit next to me. He snaked his arm around my shoulders, and I snuggled into his side.

We sat quietly for a few minutes, until my door burst open. Our fathers stood there together, mine striding in purposefully.

"Bella, Edward."

Charlie came to a stop at the foot of my bed. Carlisle stayed near the door, looking only at his son.

"Aro DeLuca has been arrested. He was found on your property, Edward, attempting entry to the back of the house. Esme called the police, but I had a detail out on the road that had already called it in and moved in on him. He's facing a long list of charges, adding to what Varner was already laying on him for prisoner abuse."

"How is Mom?" Edward asked of his dad.

"She's coming. Her police detail is bringing her here," Carlisle replied stiffly.

There was a knock, and Rose stuck her head in. It seemed the party was in my room today. "Can I come in?" she asked in her soft voice.

Charlie looked back at her and held his hand out. She came fully into the room and accepted his hand, and his one armed hug. Dad glanced back at me.

"Mrs. Denali's being released today. Her husband and son are picking her up in a few hours. I thought you'd like to know."

I beamed at him. "Thanks, Daddy." I was thrilled to hear that Carmen was better, and I knew she was safe now.

"Well, I'll come back later, since you're full-up here." Dad gave me a kiss on my unmarked cheek, briefly touched Edward's shoulder, and headed out. Carlisle followed silently.

Rose took the unoccupied chair, her heeled boot bouncing as she crossed her knees.

"I'm glad you came," I told her sincerely.

She smiled. "I wanted to check on you, instead of taking Emmett's word."

I watched her push her long blonde hair behind her ear, saw the uneasiness on her face. Watched her eyes flick to Edward and back over my shoulder. I sighed.

"You don't have to tell me what he's saying. I've heard his opinion, and he's gotten an earful in return."
For the first time in our lives, my brother and I were at a true impasse.

"I don't agree with him, and I told him that." Rose's gentle admission gave me some hope, and I loved her even more for it.

I tried to shift my thighs, it felt like I'd been in the same position for years, but I couldn't quite manage. Edward took over, getting up and taking me by the hips, helping me reposition. He moved my pillows around, placing them under all of my pressure points like we'd been taught by the nurses.

"Thank you," I murmured, and he kissed my temple in response before sitting back on the edge of the bed.

"He loves you, anyone can see that," Rose spoke up.

"That's not enough for Emmett. I guess Edward should suffer for my choices." My voice was bitter; I couldn't see Emmett without fighting with him, and he wouldn't even come if Edward was here.

"I suppose he's trying to deal, in his own way. He's been working more, and picking fights with me." She shook her head. "I told him I see through him, and I refuse to play his game. You can imagine how much he liked that."

I snorted. "Not at all."

Edward sighed. "I understand. He's feeling like he's got to blame somebody, and Mike's dead. It's easier to punish me than a corpse."

"I'm still working on him, because I disagree." Rose stood, offering me a small wave. "I'll come visit again soon."

I watched her leave before turning to Edward. "You better not be blaming yourself still." My ire was less impressive due to the coughing fit that followed.

After I'd settled and Edward had put down my water glass for me, he framed my face with his long fingers as gently as he could. "I did. I do, but I try not to. I know it's always been him, but he's a ghost, a shadow that's still following us. It's easier to blame myself, and I'm working on not falling into that trap. Because he can't touch us anymore, and that's what I want to focus on."

My eyes were drifting closed as I answered. "Good, cause I'd hate to kick your gorgeous ass."


I'm so proud of Edward.