Buying Love Teaser

Staring out the window of the private jet, I watched as we approached the airport just outside of Seattle. Bella was sleeping next to me, her head cradled in my lap. She woke up sick the morning we left. It was a cold or a sinus infection, but she was miserable. Her loud snores filled the cabin, almost waking up but whimpering in her deep, husky voice, raspy from the sore throat.

“Mr. Masen, I’m sorry,” said the flight attendant. “We’re getting ready to land. If you could wake up Ms. Swan and have her put on her seat belt.”

“Thank you,” I replied, giving her a friendly smile. She moved back to the front of the cabin I shook Bella awake and she grumbled. Begrudgingly, she sat up and put on her seatbelt. However, she did put her cheek on my shoulder and continued to snore in my ear. No human should make those noises. Even a gorgeous human such as my bellissima. Ignoring her obnoxious snarling, I gazed back out the window. My mind was racing about how much my life has changed in almost a year.

I had found love.

I was free of Esme’s almost daily torture.

Esme was found guilty of her crimes and will be sentenced according to the law.

My mom, while my relationship with her was still strained, was getting stronger every day. She was almost back the woman I remembered from my childhood. But, I was still bitter about her retreating into her mind. I probably always will be.

I lived through hell to provide medical care for her and it was all in her head.

Well, and Esme’s deal with the doctors keeping my mom medicated.

On top of all that, Bella’s dad, who had been my dad’s best friend, dropped this bombshell that I’m a multi-gazillionaire. I owned half of Swan Hotels, LLC. Bella and I were business partners.

Once I sign the paperwork that Charlie gave to us prior to our departure to Kauai. If I want to sign the paperwork.

Who are you kidding? You’re signing the paperwork. 

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After a family photo in front of the tree, Christmas Eve dinner was a rousing success. Everyone enjoyed the meal that I had catered up to my penthouse suite. We sang Christmas songs, drank egg nog, had a white-elephant gift exchange and bonded as a strangely disjointed family. It was a total Norman Rockwell moment, complete with two ex-escorts, a cop, a retired cop, a US attorney, a couple of gay men, a reformed nun and Rose.

She wasn’t the reformed nun. Uncle Peter’s date, Sophia, she joined a convent when she was eighteen but decided to leave at twenty-two because of the whole celibacy thing. I wasn’t surprised. She was gorgeous with long black hair and violet eyes. Too pretty to be a nun, if you ask me. But, that was a long time ago and she was obviously smitten with my uncle.

After Christmas Eve, everyone went to their hotel rooms. There was a little too much nog in everyone’s systems, except for Edward, Jasper and me. I didn’t want anyone to drive. Edward and I were on the couch, curled up underneath a warm blanket, staring at the gorgeous Christmas tree. “Today was a lot of fun,” he said, idly playing with my hair. “I think the best thing was when Carlisle had to imitate having a baby for that movie in charades.”

“Oh, Knocked Up,” I giggled. “I thought he was going to pop a vein with all of the pushing and grunting he was doing.”

“And it didn’t help that he farted, stinking up the whole place,” Edward laughed. “But, it was a memorable moment and probably the best time I’ve had on Christmas since my dad passed.”

“I feel the same way, except it since my mom died,” I sighed, kissing Edward’s palm. “It’s nice to feel like I belong to a family again. The holidays were always so dark and depressing for me. Dad always worked and the only other person I hung out with was Rose. She usually was fucking some random guy to get her holiday cheer.”

“Esme would occasionally have a Christmas party,” Edward murmured. “It was probably the most normal I’d ever seen her. She loved the holidays, but most of us usually had to work because with the holidays came holiday parties. Last Christmas, I was on the arm of an older woman, a socialite at some charity banquet. The Christmas before, I was in Esme’s torture chamber, making sure that Esme got her holiday cheer while all I wanted to do was shove a lump of coal up her ass.”

“Ouch,” I snorted. 

Edward's Present to Carlisle spelling out 'Cullen'

Edward's Present to Elizabeth

Edward's Present to Rose

Edward's present to Uncle Peter

Edward's Present to Bella, to match her birthday necklace

Soft slippers from Edward to Bella

Inscription for Edward's cuffs from Bella
Keeper of my Soul

&

Holder of my Heart

Edward's cuffs

Edward's new journal from Bella

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It was close to nine by the time Carlisle and I finished wrapping our presents. We both were pretty awful. After going through a full roll of wrapping paper, all of it crap, Carlisle drove to a nearby Walgreens and cleaned them out of gift bags and tissue paper.

That was significantly easier, thank you very much.

Placing our bags underneath the tree, Bella, Rose, Carmen, and my mom were all at Bella’s dining room table, laughing and gabbing away. “I think that security is going to be called,” Carlisle deadpanned. “Your cackling can be heard in the lobby.”

“Stop it,” Bella giggled, holding her side. “I think your cursing the wrapping paper could be heard throughout the hotel. How long did you wait before you crumbled?”

“I know where you live, Isabella Marie,” Carlisle warned. “Are we ready for tomorrow?”

“Almost,” Rose replied. “There’s one more thing that I need to get and I’m picking it up tomorrow morning. Bella ordered a delicious feast.”

“But, I’m making my famous spice cookies and homemade egg nog,” Mom smiled. “I wanted to do more, but Bella said that we needed to enjoy Christmas and not work during Christmas.”

“It’s true. The past few months have sucked. Not gonna lie,” Bella said, sweeping her mess of curls into a ponytail. “I want us to bond as a family, because that’s what we are. A family. No cooking, no stressing, just talking, having fun and exchanging gifts.”

“But, part of the Christmas experience is the cooking and the stressing,” Mom laughed.

“You can do that next year, Elizabeth,” Bella replied, hugging her. “This year, let me spoil you all. Okay?”

Mom kissed Bella’s cheek and got up stiffly. Rose helped her to her feet and guided to where Carlisle and I were standing. Mom looked up at me, wary and unsure. I pushed my anger behind me and I hugged her. “I’m looking forward to your cookies, Mom. They were my favorite.”

“I’m making them just for you, my swe …” she said, cutting abruptly. “My Edward.” She hugged me as tightly as she could, which wasn’t very tight. I kissed her forehead, feeling her shudder against me. “I love you, baby. So much.”

“Love you too, Mom,” I replied. Rose took her hand and they left with Carlisle and Carmen. Bella was bustling around, cleaning up the snacks on the dining room table, along with the mess surrounding it. “It looks like a Christmas ornament exploded in here!”

“We had a little too much fun with the wrapping paper,” Bella giggled. “Your mom told us some stories of you when you were a kid.”

“Not the chimney story,” I groaned, grabbing the garbage can. 

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“Kid, I love you and all, but my old legs are fucking killing me,” Carlisle said, rubbing my back. “You may be young and spry, but I’ve got a fake hip that needs to move.”

I pulled back, sitting on my ass and wiping my eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ll go …” I got up and Carlisle dragged me by the arm to the couch in his suite.

“You put your ass on that couch and talk to me about why you’re so upset,” Carlisle said, sitting down next to me. “I mean, I could figure it out that it has to do with Jared, but there’s more.”

“You’re right,” I snorted humorlessly. “I went to my mom first and I just couldn’t get past her abandoning me. I know that I’m working on that, but I’m still struggling. I still have a ton of resentment toward her. Carmen asked me how grieved for my father and I said that I didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you?” Carlisle asked.

“Because I had to take over where my dad left off,” I said, sitting forward and thrusting my hands into my hair. “Mom was useless and we had to make sure that …”

“You became the man of the house,” Carlisle murmured. I nodded, looking at him and trying not to cry again. You’re such a pussy, Edward. It’s no wonder why Charlie hates you. “Your wounds, both physical and emotional, are still so raw right now. It’s going to take a lot of time before you can truly forgive your mom, grieve for your dad, heal from your ordeal and move past all of this. If that’s even possible. There is no magical cure-all for that, Edward. I just know that your mom is probably beating herself up over what she did.”

“She is treating me like I’m still her little boy. Her sweet boy. I’m not that anymore. I’m not sweet,” I spat.

“Bella would disagree. She loved that Christmas picnic you planned for you two,” Carlisle said, his lips curving into a crooked smirk. “That was definitely very sweet.”

“I’m sweet to her because I adore her,” I shrugged. “But, I can’t be the same to my mom. Not after knowing that it was her coping mechanism to shut down and abandon me. I love her, yes, but I can’t go back to the way things were before my dad died. When he died, so did I, when I had to become the person who made decisions for both of us.” I took off my glasses, pinching my nose. “On top of all these feelings with my mom, I’m struggling with the death of Jared and the contents of that envelope.”

“What was it?” Carlisle asked. “Emmett was pretty secretive about the details. I knew that it was a revised will, but that was it …”

“He left me everything, Carlisle,” I breathed. “His house, his car, money in two bank accounts and a life insurance policy. It was all transferred to my name and signed by Marcus Volturi and another witness. He also left me instructions for his death, what he wanted to be done.”

“And what’s that?” Carlisle questioned, his face open and his eyes filled with concern.

 “He wanted to be cremated with a memorial,” I said. “I just don’t think that’s enough!”

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When I woke up, I felt refreshed, but stiff. I looked over at the digital clock and saw that it was nine. However, I was confused. The sun was shining in my room. I sat up, rubbing my face and stumbling to the window. I had slept all day, missing dinner and the opportunity to go back to Bella. I turned on my heel, going to shower and clean up.

After my shower, I dressed in a pair of jeans that were in the closet and a heavy sweater. Stuffing my feet into some hiking boots, I went downstairs, holding the FBI jacket that Emmett gave me yesterday. Rose was in the dining room, nibbling on some eggs. My mom sitting next to her and Carlisle was in the living room reading a newspaper. Rose blinked up, smiling. “He lives!”

“Stop,” I said, running my hand through my damp hair. “I guess I was more tired than I expected.”

“You slept for nearly two days, Edward. You were exhausted,” Mom said, giving me a shy smile.

“Two days? I slept for two days?” I barked. “How’s Bella? I need to see her!”

“She’s still sedated,” Carlisle said, pushing me into a chair. “Calm down, Edward. You’re going to give yourself a panic attack.”

“Too late,” I said, my heart stammering.

Rose moved to me, giving me some water. She pulled out my prescription, showing it to me. “Here are your anti-anxiety pills, Edward. Do you want one?”

“They make me tired. I have to …” I panted. I closed my eyes, reaching for the bottle and shaking out one pill. I quickly downed it, trying to calm my breathing. A few moments later, I could feel the effects of the meds. Blowing out another breath, I sat back in the chair and closed my eyes. “Sorry.”

Buying Love Teaser

When I woke up, I felt refreshed, but stiff. I looked over at the digital clock and saw that it was nine. However, I was confused. The sun was shining in my room. I sat up, rubbing my face and stumbling to the window. I had slept all day, missing dinner and the opportunity to go back to Bella. I turned on my heel, going to shower and clean up.

After my shower, I dressed in a pair of jeans that were in the closet and a heavy sweater. Stuffing my feet into some hiking boots, I went downstairs, holding the FBI jacket that Emmett gave me yesterday. Rose was in the dining room, nibbling on some eggs. My mom sitting next to her and Carlisle was in the living room reading a newspaper. Rose blinked up, smiling. “He lives!”

“Stop,” I said, running my hand through my damp hair. “I guess I was more tired than I expected.”

“You slept for nearly two days, Edward. You were exhausted,” Mom said, giving me a shy smile.

“Two days? I slept for two days?” I barked. “How’s Bella? I need to see her!”

“She’s still sedated,” Carlisle said, pushing me into a chair. “Calm down, Edward. You’re going to give yourself a panic attack.”

“Too late,” I said, my heart stammering.

Rose moved to me, giving me some water. She pulled out my prescription, showing it to me. “Here are your anti-anxiety pills, Edward. Do you want one?”

“They make me tired. I have to …” I panted. I closed my eyes, reaching for the bottle and shaking out one pill. I quickly downed it, trying to calm my breathing. A few moments later, I could feel the effects of the meds. Blowing out another breath, I sat back in the chair and closed my eyes. “Sorry.”

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We sat in the chilly waiting room. I was fidgety. Carlisle was uncomfortable. Rose was on the phone with someone from Swan Towers or something and my mom was just staring at me. Thankfully, Ellie was successful in finding me a hoodie. However, despite the hoodie I was shivering. My teeth were clattering and my stomach was churning. There was no word about Bella’s status. I was getting more and more anxious with each passing moment not knowing any news about Bella.

“Edward, come with me,” Mom said softly, standing in front of me. She was still wobbly, but standing on her own. “Let’s get some hot chocolate.”

“I need to be here if something changes,” I whispered, settling back onto one of the stiff chairs.

“Edward, take my cell phone,” Rose said, handing me her slick iPhone after ending her phone call. “We’ll call you if the doctors come out, okay? Take a few moments. Eat something. You haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday. Bella would kick my ass if something happens to you.”

“Okay,” I said, eyeing her dubiously. Reluctantly, I took the phone and offered my mom an arm. She latched on and we walked toward the cafeteria.

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“Bella, please!” I sobbed, pressing my hands harder on her chest, trying to stop the bleeding. Chief Black ran in with Emmett, holding a med kit. “She just passed out. We have to save her!” Her pale skin was turning a sickly grey. She was losing too much blood.

“Son, you need to step back,” Chief Black said softly. “We’ll take care of your girl.” He slid his hand under my hand and kept the pressure on it while Emmett cut open Bella’s shirt. I fell back, leaning against the cot my mom was resting on, tears running down my cheeks as my reason for living lay bleeding out on the floor of this God-forsaken cabin.

“My sweet boy, don’t cry,” Mom whispered, her fingers running through my hair. “She is an angel and will be alright.”

“How do you know?” I asked, turning to look at her. “Mom, she saved me. Saved us.”

“That’s why she’ll be okay,” Mom said, cupping my cheek. Her eyes were bright and clear; just like I’d remembered as a child before my father’s death. “It’s always darkest before dawn, my sweet child. I’m sorry that I was gone for so long.”

“Mom?” I questioned, blinking at her. She looked like the woman that I remembered growing up. She smiled crookedly, reaching for me and enveloping me into an awkward hug. I clung to her, apologizing for my stupidity. She didn’t say anything, just held me as I lost it all.

“Edward, we’ve got to go,” Carlisle said. I turned and looked up at him. Behind him, Sam and Agent Dean were standing with a gurney chair for my mom. “Bella needs immediate surgery. We’re driving back to the station and then taking the helicopter to Port Angeles.”

Buying Love Teaser

“Bella, please!” I sobbed, pressing my hands harder on her chest, trying to stop the bleeding. Chief Black ran in with Emmett, holding a med kit. “She just passed out. We have to save her!” Her pale skin was turning a sickly grey. She was losing too much blood.

“Son, you need to step back,” Chief Black said softly. “We’ll take care of your girl.” He slid his hand under my hand and kept the pressure on it while Emmett cut open Bella’s shirt. I fell back, leaning against the cot my mom was resting on, tears running down my cheeks as my reason for living lay bleeding out on the floor of this God-forsaken cabin.

“My sweet boy, don’t cry,” Mom whispered, her fingers running through my hair. “She is an angel and will be alright.”

“How do you know?” I asked, turning to look at her. “Mom, she saved me. Saved us.”

“That’s why she’ll be okay,” Mom said, cupping my cheek. Her eyes were bright and clear; just like I’d remembered as a child before my father’s death. “It’s always darkest before dawn, my sweet child. I’m sorry that I was gone for so long.”

“Mom?” I questioned, blinking at her. She looked like the woman that I remembered growing up. She smiled crookedly, reaching for me and enveloping me into an awkward hug. I clung to her, apologizing for my stupidity. She didn’t say anything, just held me as I lost it all.

“Edward, we’ve got to go,” Carlisle said. I turned and looked up at him. Behind him, Sam and Agent Dean were standing with a gurney chair for my mom. “Bella needs immediate surgery. We’re driving back to the station and then taking the helicopter to Port Angeles.”

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The drive up to Forks was rainy and downright miserable. There was so much green. I was definitely a city girl. Give me the urban jungle and none of this nature shit. Halfway through my drive, I got a text from Bitchme, asking for provisions. I rolled my eyes at her list, which included hair dye, new clothes and a burner phone. This woman is not going to get away. However, not wanting to piss her off, I picked up her shit and finished my drive up to Forks, specifically the La Push Reservation.

My little Audi did not like the drive and ended up getting stuck in some mud near a creek. I got out of the car, only to be stopped by the barrel of a gun. “Took you fucking long enough,” Esme spat. “Did you take the scenic route?”

“I had to pick up your crap,” I said, tossing her the plastic bag from Walmart. “Plus, this place wasn’t very easy to find.”

Esme growled at me, cocking the hammer and pressing the gun between my eyes. “You shut the fuck up,” she snapped. “Where’s my money?”

“In the trunk,” I whispered.

Esme reached into my pocket and grabbed my keys, pushing me onto the ground. She popped the trunk, picking up the briefcase and slinging it onto the ground. “Pick that up and follow me, bitch,” Esme grumbled, stomping away. I got up, picking up the briefcase and followed her to a dingy, red cabin. Esme dug into the plastic bag and pulled out the hair dye. “Blonde? You got me blonde?”

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” I shrugged, putting the briefcase on the table. Esme stormed over to me, back handing me with the butt of her gun. I stumbled against the stove, falling onto the ground. She kicked my side and hit me again on my face, causing my skin to open by my eyebrow.

“You need to watch your mouth,” Esme said, her face dangerously close to mine. “Next time, I won’t be so … kind.” She got up, smoothing out her clothing. “Now, go take care of your mother-in-law. She stinks.” Esme stalked to the bathroom, slamming the door shut. 

Bella's Audi

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Rose and I listened to the quiet whispers over the radio. It was hard to understand what they were saying, but we got the gist that the cabin and campground were abandoned and had been for some time. From Chief Black, it had been repossessed by the bank. The bank didn’t do anything with it except lock up all of the cabins and slap a ‘For Sale’ sign at the entrance. It had been left to rot for five years.

“We see Ms. Swan’s car,” Agent Dean hissed. “It’s about thirty feet from a small creek. It appears that there was a struggle. Guns out.”

“A struggle?” Rose growled. “If that bitch … oooh, I so want to kick her ass!”

“You’re not the only one,” I sneered. “If she hurt either one of them, I will not hold back. My mom taught me to never hit a woman, but I’d gladly break that rule for Bitchme.”

“She’s not a woman, Edward. She’s a fucking monster,” Rose said, her eyes blazing with anger. “I’ll hold her down while you give her a taste of her own medicine.” She smirked evilly while she cracked her knuckles. I returned her smirk, ready and willing to take her up on it.

Buying Love Teaser

Rose and I listened to the quiet whispers over the radio. It was hard to understand what they were saying, but we got the gist that the cabin and campground were abandoned and had been for some time. From Chief Black, it had been repossessed by the bank. The bank didn’t do anything with it except lock up all of the cabins and slap a ‘For Sale’ sign at the entrance. It had been left to rot for five years.

“We see Ms. Swan’s car,” Agent Dean hissed. “It’s about thirty feet from a small creek. It appears that there was a struggle. Guns out.”

“A struggle?” Rose growled. “If that bitch … oooh, I so want to kick her ass!”

“You’re not the only one,” I sneered. “If she hurt either one of them, I will not hold back. My mom taught me to never hit a woman, but I’d gladly break that rule for Bitchme.”

“She’s not a woman, Edward. She’s a fucking monster,” Rose said, her eyes blazing with anger. “I’ll hold her down while you give her a taste of her own medicine.” She smirked evilly while she cracked her knuckles. I returned her smirk, ready and willing to take her up on it.

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I don’t remember the ride back to the hotel. Carlisle had given me one of my anti-anxiety pills and a pain pill. I was numb, for which I was eternally grateful. I needed numb. The constant pain from my injuries and now my broken heart from Esme taking my mom, it was too much. I also felt badly for yelling at Bella. The pain in her eyes was almost too much to bear as I blamed her for everything.

She didn’t deserve my anger. If anything, I was the one to blame. It was my fault that the two women I loved were in this position. Bella was in danger because of Esme and was a walking target. My mom was an innocent bystander and would probably be killed because of Esme’s maliciousness. If that happened, I don’t know what I’d do.

Death sounds like a good option.

I shook off Esme’s evil voice from my mind, encouraging me to end it all. I couldn’t. I had to stay strong, though I didn’t have any strength left. I was so done.

“Edward, do you want anything to eat?” Bella asked, her voice quiet and her actions hesitant.

“I’m not hungry,” I whispered. “Just tired.”

“I can imagine,” she said, reaching for my hand. I let her take it, but I felt guilty accepting any sort of comfort from her. My mom was suffering because of me. I didn’t deserve anything that Bella was giving me. Her generosity, her kindness, her love … I truly was worthless. “Edward, I can see the hamster working in your head. Don’t go there.”

“Why not?” I asked, taking my hand back. “My mom is in this position because of me. It’s my fault! Everything is my fault!”

“It’s not, Edward,” she said, her tiny hands taking my face. 

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I don’t remember the ride back to the hotel. Carlisle had given me one of my anti-anxiety pills and a pain pill. I was numb, for which I was eternally grateful. I needed numb. The constant pain from my injuries and now my broken heart from Esme taking my mom, it was too much. I also felt badly for yelling at Bella. The pain in her eyes was almost too much to bear as I blamed her for everything.

She didn’t deserve my anger. If anything, I was the one to blame. It was my fault that the two women I loved were in this position. Bella was in danger because of Esme and was a walking target. My mom was an innocent bystander and would probably be killed because of Esme’s maliciousness. If that happened, I don’t know what I’d do.

Death sounds like a good option.

I shook off Esme’s evil voice from my mind, encouraging me to end it all. I couldn’t. I had to stay strong, though I didn’t have any strength left. I was so done.

“Edward, do you want anything to eat?” Bella asked, her voice quiet and her actions hesitant.

“I’m not hungry,” I whispered. “Just tired.”

“I can imagine,” she said, reaching for my hand. I let her take it, but I felt guilty accepting any sort of comfort from her. My mom was suffering because of me. I didn’t deserve anything that Bella was giving me. Her generosity, her kindness, her love … I truly was worthless. “Edward, I can see the hamster working in your head. Don’t go there.”

“Why not?” I asked, taking my hand back. “My mom is in this position because of me. It’s my fault! Everything is my fault!”

“It’s not, Edward,” she said, her tiny hands taking my face. She forced me to look at her. “Esme fucked your mind up so much that you don’t understand that she’s the one at fault. Not you! She’s the monster.”

*Sorry about my slacking with my teasers. My mind has been on other things, like where I was going to be working next year because a complete reworking of the schedule at the middle school level. I found out yesterday my placement. I'm excited to say that I'm now a choir director, but in a new building. I'm grateful for knowing and happy for the new opportunity, but bittersweet because I'm leaving my current school.*

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Edward was so cute as we drove to the county nursing facility. He held a large bouquet of flowers for his mom and he was practically vibrating in his skin, anxious to see her. I smiled, navigating the streets of Seattle until we reached the nursing home. Edward was out of the car as soon as it stopped, opening the driver’s side before I could have the car turned off. I giggled as he practically dragged me into the nursing home and waited to be buzzed in.

Once inside, Edward walked to the reception desk. There was a woman there that didn’t recognize. Carmen wasn’t working and the scowling Ruth was nowhere to be found. “Hello,” Edward said quietly. “I’m here to see my mom, Elizabeth Masen.”

“Do you have ID?” the woman asked, her tone bored as she clacked her fingers on the keyboard. 

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“Jenks, can’t you work some magic and get us on some judge’s docket?” I whined, pacing in my suite. He was on the phone with the third judge today, trying to get Elizabeth’s care placed with me and not with Esme. We’d provided a doctored marriage certificate, claiming me to be Edward’s wife and proof of abuse with the clerk, but no one was biting. Not yet, at least.

“Thank you,” Jenks sighed, ending his call. “Judge Donnelly has a full docket but suggested Judge Trask. He’s not taking any new cases since he’s this close to retirement.”

“And that helps us how?” I asked, arching a brow. “He’s not taking new cases.”

“This isn’t a case. It’s a removal. All he has to do is sign the order, removing Elizabeth from Esme’s legal guardianship and putting you in her place,” Jenks explained. He searched his phone, grinning when he found the number. “Now, you’re killing my mojo. Go call Rose. See how things are going with Edward.”

I grumbled, walking back to my bedroom and pulling out my cell phone. I dialed Rose, impatiently waiting for her to pick up. “We’re on our way back, Bells,” she said.

“Are you with Edward?” I asked.

“He’s with Carlisle. They’re taking a longer route,” Rose said, her voice unsure. “I think Edward is afraid that we are going to be followed, if you know what I mean.”

“There’s more, Rose,” I said, my stomach churning. “What did she do to him?”

“He looks even worse than before, Bells. He’s even thinner and Carlisle mentioned something about stitches on his back. He wants you to have a doctor on hand. He can’t go to the hospital. Edward’s too skittish,” Rose explained. “I would suggest a man since Esme did a number on him.”

“Dr. Banner, my father’s physician, is the best. I’ll call him,” I sniffled. “And I know he’ll be discreet.”

“We should be back in a half hour. Edward will probably want to sleep. He was a little woozy when I came back into the hotel room. Carlisle said it was due to the pain meds he gave him.”

“Thank you, Rose,” I sighed. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

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I stayed with Mrs. Masen until she drifted off. Despite the medication she received, her face was not relaxed and her posture was rigid. I kissed her temple, leaving her room and trying to calm down. Esme Platt was one truly vindictive bitch. I understood why Edward couldn’t walk away from her. Esme could do anything to his mother since she was her legal guardian if Edward was unavailable.

And don’t even get me started on how she convinced him. Why would he agree to that? He knows what Esme is capable of.

Fuck. My. Life.

I waved at Carmen, going out to my car and driving away from the nursing home. I picked up my cell phone, dialing Edward’s burn cell, but per usual, it went straight to the non-existent voicemail. With a sigh, I tossed my phone into the passenger seat and drove back to the hotel. Using the valet to park my car, I checked on Jessica and Lauren before going up to my suite so I could make some dinner.

I was just sitting down with my Lean Cuisine and a glass of wine when there was a brusque knock at my door. Grumbling, I got up and opened it up. Rose and Emmett were standing on the other side. They were holding hands, looking freshly fucked.

“Your blouse is buttoned wrong,” I pointed out bitterly to Rose. 

Carmen

Detective Emmett McCarty

Rose 

Buying Love Teaser

“I don’t know everything, but I know enough, Edward,” I snapped back. “I know your secret.”

EPOV

Rose had backed out of the room and it was just me and Bella. Seeing her, it made my dead heart sputter back to life, but I was never going to see her again after today. Esme threatened my mother that if I saw Bella, regardless of the cost to her company, my mom would pay the ultimate price. I couldn’t let that happen.

That didn’t even come close to the physical, bodily harm she threatened to me. Even worse than what I’m feeling now.

My body was aching and sore. I was swimming in my clothes. My stomach was snarling from the lack of food. I hadn’t had a proper meal since my time in Napa. Esme was withholding food from me if called out in pain during my nightly round of torture. I was a broken man and I couldn’t let Bella see me like this. I had to break her heart and ultimately shatter mine so I could save my mother. She stared at me, her eyes swirling with anger, determination and something else. With great difficulty, I stood as tall as I could, feeling every bit of pain that Esme and Felix inflicted on me and glared at her. “You know nothing,” I snarled. “You couldn’t even fathom what I have to fucking deal with, Ms. Swan. I let my heart get involved and I was weak.”

“Like you are now?” she sneered. “I see what she’s done to you! What she’s doing to your mother!”

Buying Love Teaser

Carlisle arrived an hour or so later with a thick file folder. His face was grim. “What’s the news, Carlisle?” I asked, offering him a seat. “Is Edward an axe murderer?”

“He’s not an axe murderer, but he is in trouble,” Carlisle explained. “First, I have information about Edward and then information from Alice and Jasper Whitlock. What do you want to hear first?”

“Edward,” I nodded. “Tell me about him.”

“Okay. He was born in a small town about three hours from here, Forks. His mother was a homemaker and his father worked at the local bank as the vice president. He handled high-end mortgages, loans and investment opportunities until Edward was about nine or ten. He moved from that bank to a smaller investment company in Port Angeles, working there until he was killed in a drunk driving accident when Edward was fourteen,” Carlisle described.

“I know about the accident,” I said, furrowing my brow.

“It was bad, Little One. Edward Masen Senior was decapitated and there was very little left of him. The other driver was completely hammered, drifting over into the other lane, hitting Edward’s car head on. What was worse was the fact that Edward Masen had used his savings to back up the investment company when they got into hot water. Little Edward and Elizabeth, Edward’s wife, were left with a huge pile of debt and nothing to fall back on. The investment company tried to help them out, but by the time Edward was seventeen, their house was foreclosed on and they were homeless. To make matters worse, Elizabeth has early onset Alzheimer’s due to the stress of losing her husband. Once the house was foreclosed on, Edward took his mother, hopping on a bus to Seattle and renting a tiny one-bedroom apartment in his mother’s name. After that, I can’t find anything else,” Carlisle said, handing me the file with Edward’s information. His eyes told me that he was skeptical about the info.

“What’s with this face?” I asked.

“It’s like Edward was erased after he moved into that apartment, Bella,” Carlisle said. “As if he didn’t exist.”

Carlisle Cullen

Buying Love Teaser

“Bells, you’ve got to get out of bed,” Rose said, leaning on her side. She was running her fingers through my stringy, greasy hair. After Edward lost his temper with me, I did a little sleuthing and found out that the person staying in the nursing home was his mother. However, since I wasn’t a blood relative, I was not allowed admittance to that shit box of a nursing facility. My heart broke into a million pieces seeing the nursing home where he was storing his mother and hearing Edward’s cold, chilling voice when he went off on me.

That was a week ago.

I tried calling Esme to get ahold of Edward to apologize for following him, but then I’d get really pissed off because he was an asshole, yelling at me like I was a piece of shit. I’d hang up before the call ever connected. I was pissed off at Edward’s behavior and hurt that we had finally crossed that bridge of making love, only to have him push me away. I thought I had finally got him to open up.

Apparently, that wasn’t the case.

I’d been sulking ever since.