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After Jasper and I ate dinner, we went back up to his suite. He didn’t want to be alone, nor did he want to go in search of Alice. However, when he arrived at his suite, Alice and Bella were waiting for us inside. Alice looked contrite while Bella appeared calm, but was seething on the inside upon seeing the damage to the room. I gave her a sympathetic look, but she was still angry.

“Ali,” Jasper whispered. “I thought you’d gone.”

“I did go. I went for a walk,” she said. “And then I went up to talk to Bella. She’s in a similar situation to me.”

“Not really,” Bella said, walking over to me and threading our fingers together. “Yes, Edward was a pawn in Esme’s game, but I’m not in a similar situation, Alice. It’s completely different.”

Alice sighed, walking to sit down on the couch. She pulled up her legs and looked up at Jasper. “I’m sorry about losing my cool.”

“This is more than losing your cool, Alice,” Jasper said, his voice icy cold.

“This is almost criminal,” Bella added. “You will be charged for the damages, despite our friendship, Alice. It won’t be cheap.”

Alice grimaced. We all settled in seats and she continued. “I was just trying to think of your needs, Jazzy. Being up here, you’re struggling and the nightmares, they’re almost abusive.”

“Did I hurt you?” Jasper asked.

Alice raised her sweater and showed several deep bruises on her stomach. “There are more on my legs and back, but you’re not aware that you’re doing it. I tried to wake you up, but you just thrash about, pummeling me in your sleep.”

“Alice, what Jasper is experiencing is night terrors,” I said. “You can’t wake him up. He’s stuck in that awful situation with Esme and her torment.”

“Alice, I’m sorry,” Jasper whispered, tears falling down his gaunt cheeks. “I didn’t know. If I’d known I was hurting you, I would have moved to the living room or into another room.”

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After two weeks in the hospital in Port Angeles, I was transferred to a private rehabilitation hospital in Seattle. Every day I grew stronger, but it was a struggle. Every step of the way, though, Edward was with me. He supported me when I sobbed in pain from my muscles rebuilding in my legs. He was my cheerleader when I took my first unassisted steps. He caught me when I fell, which was quite often. He let me rage when I went off on my dad, who did take my advice and flew back Phuket.

He really did care more about his precious business than his own fucking daughter.

Asshole.

Uncle Peter stepped up, only after flying to Phuket to kick Charlie’s ass. He proudly said that he snapped my dad’s wrist.

To say my relationship with my father was damaged was an understatement. I never thought he’d be so cruel to me or to anyone I cared about. He was really so image-driven that me being injured and possibly paralyzed might negatively impact people coming to Swan Hotels and the bottom line. And don’t get me started on me being in love with an escort.

He was the one who pushed me toward getting an escort in the first place with his stupid reasoning that I needed a date for the opening of Swan Towers. If anything, he’s the one to blame, god damn it!

Buying Love Teaser

I watched as Edward fell apart. He was curled up in a little ball as Peter screamed at Charlie. And when he slumped onto the ground, his eyes shut and his body trembling in abject fear. Turning to them, I screamed, “Will both of you shut the fuck up! We’re going to get kicked out by security and I need some help.”

Peter smacked Charlie’s head and crouched down to where Edward was in a heap. “I hope you’re happy, Charlie. You know what happened to him. Rose told you in explicit detail what this young man went through. Yet, you still got in his face. You still hurt him. If Bella was awake, she’d tear you a new asshole,” Peter sneered.

“It was because of him that she’s here!” Charlie snapped.

“No, Charlie. It’s not. She made the decision to go after Esme on her own,” I said calmly, placing Edward’s head in my lap. I tenderly ran my fingers through his hair. “If you can’t handle him being here, then you may need to back off, Charlie. She loves him.”

“But, my little girl,” Charlie sniffled. “She’s fighting for her life. I cannot walk away.”

“Neither can he,” I said. “He would do anything for her. He would die for her, but he’s already beating himself up about what went down. However, he faced the monster that tortured him for ten years, Charlie. He went in there so he could help his mom and help Bella. Both of them would have died if he hadn’t gone in there.”

“Take a walk, Chuck,” Peter said coolly. “When you can be in the same room as Edward without screaming at him, we’ll let you back in to see your daughter. For now, we have to preserve his mental health as much as possible. Come on. Let’s go.” Peter grabbed Charlie’s arm and dragged him out of the stairwell. “I’ll get a doctor or a nurse for Edward, Rose.”

“Thank you, Peter,” I said quietly. The two of them left and I kept massaging Edward’s scalp. “I’m here, Edward. I know that I’m not Bella, but I’ll do my best to keep you safe.” Sheri and another nurse came into the stairwell. Edward was lifted onto a gurney and rolled out of the ICU. I followed him as they brought him down to the emergency department. They admitted him, giving him an IV and some medication in the IV. His distressed face smoothed out and he settled into the gurney. I told the doctor about his injuries and that he was under the care of Dr. Banner and Dr. Benson. 

Peter Swan

Charlie Swan

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I sat on the stool, praying to a God that I didn’t know if he would listen to me. Bella was sedated, but all I wanted was to see her gorgeous, espresso-colored eyes. I wanted to hear her beautiful voice, see her smile, hold her in my arms. I had to settle for holding her hand and watching her, seeing her chest rise and fall with each mechanical breath of the ventilator.

“Edward, the police are here,” said Sheri from the doorway. “They need to speak with you.”

“I don’t want to leave her,” I whispered.

“It won’t take long, Edward,” Sheri murmured, putting her hand on my shoulder. I jumped, uncomfortable with her touch. She quickly recoiled. “I’m sorry. Carlisle mentioned that you were injured.”

“It’s okay,” replied. “I just don’t like to be touched.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I am very sorry for startling you,” she said sincerely. “I’ll stay next to her, keep her company.”

“Okay,” I sighed. I got up, stumbling a little bit since I was hungry and exhausted. I gave one longing look at my Bella. I bent down, kissing her temple. “I love you, bellisima. I’ll be back soon.” I ran my fingers down her cheek and left the room. Walking out into the waiting room, I saw Carlisle speaking to Agent Dean and Emmett. Rose was still gone, presumably still sleeping in the hotel room she mentioned. “The nurse, Sheri, said you needed to speak with me? Is Esme in custody?”

“She is. She had a flesh wound and was cared for at Forks Hospital. Agent Williamson and Chief Black are holding her in the Forks Police Department,” Agent Dean explained.

“What do you need from me?” I asked.

“Esme has completely gone off the rails,” Emmett growled. “She’s muttering in Portuguese and kept repeating a word, ‘Eleazar.’ Does that mean anything to you?”

Buying Love Teaser

I journaled until my eyes felt like sand paper and my head was throbbing from exhaustion. It wasn’t until Ellie took the journal from my hand and pushed me onto the couch with a pillow, a tiny blanket and an eye mask that I stopped. I slept hard until Carlisle shook me awake. It was dim in the waiting room, the sun just peaking over the horizon.

“Bella?” I asked, my voice scratchy and sore.

“The doctors are here. They want to speak to you and Rose,” Carlisle said.

“And my mom?”

“She’s speaking with Dr. Benson and Dr. Banner. They came up here after I called them. Agent Dean sent the helicopter for them,” Carlisle explained. “Your mom is being observed under their care. But, talk to the doctors about Bella.”

“Will you come?” I asked, gripping his arm. “If she’s …”

“She’s not,” Carlisle whispered, hugging me. “But, I’ll go with you, son. Come on.”

I stiffly got up, following him into a small conference room off the waiting area. Rose was in there, looking disheveled and exhausted. I sat down next to her. She took my hand, threading our fingers together. Ellie was also in the room, speaking quietly on the phone. Turning, she said, “The doctor is on her way.”

“Thank you,” Rose said.

Ellie left the room, leaving the door open. Slipping inside, the small doctor who had spoken to me in the hallway sat down. She looked weary. “My name is Dr. Monroe and I was one of the doctors working on Isabella.”

“Bella,” I piped in. “She prefers to be called Bella.”

“Bella,” Dr. Monroe repeated. “Right. Bella is out of surgery and in recovery. She’s in a medically induced coma at this point. The bullet caused severe trauma to her lung, ribs and ended up just to the right of her spinal column.”

“You mentioned something about her heart,” I said, tightening my hand around Rose’s.

“Her heart is fine. Strong,” Dr. Monroe said, smiling. “With the x-rays and CT scans, the location was suspect, but thankfully, it didn’t cause any damage to her heart or pericardium. We will monitor that, but she’s in the clear for that.”

Buying Love Teaser

Carlisle left a few hours later, after attending to some older wounds. When Esme asked for the bill, he waved it off. Esme offered him one of her girls, but he muttered that he was gay and in a committed relationship. He took his bag and left. Esme gave me a scowl, dragging me from my room and into the kitchen. “Carlisle said that you needed food since you lost so much blood.” She put a plate in front of me. It was a steak, veggies and a baked potato. “I know that we’ve been hard on you, Edward.”

Hard, I snorted mentally. I’ve been scarred and broken beyond all recognition. “Thank you for the meal, mistress,” I whispered, picking up the utensils.

“I’m only feeding you since you have a big date tomorrow, Edward,” she said, putting a glass of water in front of me. “Mistress Marie is so excited to have someone to submit, bending to her every whim. However, you may be hers for the next three days, but you’ll always, always be mine.”

“Yes, Mistress. I’m yours,” I repeated.

“Now, eat up and then you can go to sleep. I want you to be rested for your date,” she said, gliding away and shutting herself into her office. I ate what I could, focusing on the steak. The vegetables and potato didn’t look very appetizing. Plus, my stomach was unsettled from the lidocaine Carlisle gave me to stitch up my back and the pain killers, too.

Once I finished my meal, I did my dishes and stumbled back to my room. I found a bag in my room and a suit hanging on the door. It was my outfit for the next day. I reached under my bed and grabbed my cell phone, the money from my tips and the few nick knacks I had from my old life. I tossed them into the bag that was in my room. 

I was never coming back to this hell. Finally, I would be free of Esme and be able to live my life. 

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“You’re awfully quiet, Edward,” sneered Felix from the driver’s seat in the limo. “Couldn’t get it up?”

“It wasn’t like that,” I muttered. “The woman who requested me just needed arm candy for a party at her home.”

“At Charlie Swan’s home?” Felix asked, his eyes narrowing at me in the rear view mirror. “Surely you didn’t know, did you? How stupid do you think we are? How did you get a message to her, Edward?”

“I didn’t! I swear!” I snapped. “The woman at the house was not her. Bella wasn’t home. It was another woman, presumably one of Charlie’s employees, I guess.”

“You can’t lie for shit, Edward,” Felix snorted humorlessly. “Do you think we like hurting you?”

“Strangely enough, I do,” I retorted. “I also think you like it better when I suck your dick, too. Are you a fag, Felix?”

“You’ll pay for that, Edward,” Felix snarled. “I’ve been patient with you and Esme has been adamant that I don’t do that to you. She saw what it did to Jasper. He died a little each time I fucked him. But, I’d love to see you die, Edward. You are such a waste of space!”

“You didn’t fuck him, Felix. You raped him,” I whispered, a tear falling down my cheek. I wiped it away, pushing my emotions down. I know that Felix will undoubtedly tell Esme about my insolent, snotty behavior. Sleep would not come tonight. Felix pulled us into the parking garage underneath the building, getting up out of the car. I dragged my body out, waiting for Felix to get into my face.

He didn’t waste any time. “I didn’t rape him,” Felix sneered. “Jasper liked it. Just like you will, my pet.” 

Felix

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Today's my birthday, but you guys are getting the presents: an early update for Buying Love.

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My eyes were trained on the shattered man in front of me. He was on the ground, chanting quietly numerous apologies and pleas for forgiveness. Tears were flowing down his cheeks and he seemed so lost. Rose came in when she heard the slap.

“Fuck me,” she squeaked. “What the hell happened?”

“We were fighting. I kissed him and he wiped his mouth like he was disgusted with me. I slapped him and he fell to his knees, chanting numerous apologies,” I said, feeling incredibly guilty for cause this whatever this is.

“Esme fucked him up, Bells,” Rose murmured, squeezing my hand. I looked down at him, my heart breaking into a million pieces. “You need to get through to him, sweetie.”

“How?” I choked out.

“Love him,” Rose replied, kissing my temple. “I’ll call Carlisle and see if he can help us.”

She left us, walking to the kitchen. I sat down on the floor, staring at the broken, wrecked man in front of me. “Edward, can you hear me?”

“I’m so sorry. So sorry. Please don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt my mother,” he whispered, tears flowing down his pale cheeks. “I’ll do anything. Please … please!”

I inched closer to him, placing my hand on his knee. He jumped, pushing back and pressing his body against the wall. “Edward, I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you. Please come back.”

He curled up, hugging his legs. His face was pinched in pain. It looked like he was trying to make himself invisible. “Don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything you want. I promise. Just don’t hurt my mom. She’s all I have to live for. Please!”

“No, Edward, don’t say that,” I sobbed, taking his hand. He clenched his hand into a fist, refusing to move it, but gently I pried it away from his leg, seeing angry awful welts on his wrists. His cuffs were gone and I bit back vomit seeing the damage on his pale skin. “Edward, baby, please, come back to me.”

He hit his head against the wall. “I tried to be a good son. I tried and I failed. I don’t deserve anything good,” he said, taking his hand back and burying his face into his knees.

“You are a good son, Edward,” I whispered. “You are a good man.”

“No, I’m not,” he said, looking up. His eyes were empty, dead. 

Buying Love Teaser

My eyes were trained on the shattered man in front of me. He was on the ground, chanting quietly numerous apologies and pleas for forgiveness. Tears were flowing down his cheeks and he seemed so lost. Rose came in when she heard the slap.

“Fuck me,” she squeaked. “What the hell happened?”

“We were fighting. I kissed him and he wiped his mouth like he was disgusted with me. I slapped him and he fell to his knees, chanting numerous apologies,” I said, feeling incredibly guilty for cause this whatever this is.

“Esme fucked him up, Bells,” Rose murmured, squeezing my hand. I looked down at him, my heart breaking into a million pieces. “You need to get through to him, sweetie.”

“How?” I choked out.

“Love him,” Rose replied, kissing my temple. “I’ll call Carlisle and see if he can help us.”

She left us, walking to the kitchen. I sat down on the floor, staring at the broken, wrecked man in front of me. “Edward, can you hear me?”

“I’m so sorry. So sorry. Please don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt my mother,” he whispered, tears flowing down his pale cheeks. “I’ll do anything. Please … please!”

I inched closer to him, placing my hand on his knee. He jumped, pushing back and pressing his body against the wall. “Edward, I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you. Please come back.”

He curled up, hugging his legs. His face was pinched in pain. It looked like he was trying to make himself invisible. “Don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything you want. I promise. Just don’t hurt my mom. She’s all I have to live for. Please!”

“No, Edward, don’t say that,” I sobbed, taking his hand. He clenched his hand into a fist, refusing to move it, but gently I pried it away from his leg, seeing angry awful welts on his wrists. His cuffs were gone and I bit back vomit seeing the damage on his pale skin. “Edward, baby, please, come back to me.”

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!”