Edward

Preface
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This was it.

Finally.

The day had finally come for us to depart.  Destination New York.  I could hardly contain my excitement I was supposed to acting torn and forlorn.  I wasn’t.  I had waited for this opportunity for most of my life and the look on Jasper’s face only sweetened the cherry on top.  I had finally bested that monster.

Jasper Whitlock Cullen.  What a joke. I’ve hated Jasper most of my life and when we met Bella the feeling tripled. Even as children I secretly hated him. I can’t explain the need to best him at everything.  When I was younger I thought it was just sibling rivalry but as we grew into adulthood I knew it was not the case.  I detested him and everything that he stood for.

The gleam in his eye when he looked at my Bella made my stomach churn.  He wanted her and I knew it.  I would even go so far to say that I knew he was in love with her.  My only aggravation is that she seemed to return those feelings.  She was supposed to love me.  Not him.

When Bella had come bumbling into our lives my world changed.  Things seemed so much brighter than the day before.  Sure she was a little vulgar but I could live with that.  She would make the perfect wife and the perfect babies.

I started trying harder.  Going on more assignments and participating in the family lifestyle.  The business aspect I could do and do well.  I had always been a haggler and it seemed I had a knack for it.  The other parts of the operation however, I could not.  I would not be some butcher at the commands of my father.  I’d leave that to the monster of our family.

Jasper was perfect for the job and the sick bastard even seemed to enjoy it.  Eagerly serving under the pretenses that he was protecting the family.

Whatever.

I can count on a smile now each and every time I thought about him.  Call me sadistic but I rather enjoyed watching my brother fall apart right before my very eyes.  Jasper was in tears as he begged me not leave the family.  Jasper was an idiot; a brainless marauder.  He really thought I would by his pleadings as him wanting me to stay.  Jasper wouldn’t care if I jumped off a cliff as long as his precious Bella was unharmed.

I could understand part of it.  Bella was precious and I refused to have her tainted by this family any longer.  If I left her here she would be married to Jasper inside a month.

Carlisle and my two brothers were still bickering at me to reconsider and I wanted so badly to chuckle at them.  They weren’t fooling anybody.  They all wanted Bella for themselves.  Not going to happen.  She was MINE.  I had seen her first not him.

That may sound childish to some but this was my life and I wasn’t going to have it ruined by some hick-inbred murderer.

“Edward, son, please if you feel you must do this than won’t you at least take some protection with you.”   My father pleaded pacing the length of his desk.  My father looked tired and worn. He had been up to long and been drinking heavily since my omission back during the winter break.

I shook my head to the negative.  If I didn’t get Bella completely away from this family and especially Jasper she would be gone.  A guard would only report to Jasper and if I knew him as well as I think I did Jasper would come swooping in at the first argument.

“Edward, you can’t take Bella away from the protection of the family.”  Jasper half pleaded and half commanded.

His face was stricken and I could see the dark bags of flesh under his eyes.  He was finally breaking and it was my dream come true.

I smiled smugly at him as I took another sip of my gin and tonic, letting him stew for a moment before I answered.  “Where going to college, Jasper, not war.”  and without you around I can be the hero for once.  I added mentally.

For as long as Jasper and Bella had know each other he had always been her knight when she couldn’t defend herself and it angered me to no end.

Reverently I watched his face shift from the concerned good son to the red faced monster I knew him to be.  Jasper was loosing his temper.

He crossed the room swiftly and pulled me to his face by my tie.  “If your stupidity gets her hurt, blood or no blood, I will end you.”  Jasper ground out as he yanked my tie harder putting us nose to nose.

I knew he keep his promise.  Jasper would end me without an excuse but with Bella I know what he would do. He would torture me to my long agonizing death and he would do it with a smile on his face.

To bad for him that his concern was neither needed nor wanted.

I smiled at him then.  I knew his game.  “Jasper, why don’t you leave what is best for Bella to me, her lover.  She’s none of your concern.”

I knew it was a bad idea to goad him this way when he was so close to loosing his mind but I couldn’t help myself.  I wanted to hurt him like he did me everyday of my life.

And like I expected from the brute he had me out of my chair and against the wall.  He repeatedly smashed my head against the plaster.  “YOU KNOW WELL THAT SHE IS VERY MUCH MY FUCKIN’ BUSINESS!”  he screamed spraying saliva as he raged.  He made me nervous and for a moment I wondered if maybe I had pushed him too far.

Then his face softened and I knew he had his animal at bay for the mean time.  He let me off the wall slowly backing away and apologizing to me and my father for losing his temper.

“Edward,”  Jasper called in a broken tone.  “I’m in love with her.”

I was a little shocked at how devoid of himself he was.  This was not the Jasper I knew and I couldn’t help but think that maybe this is how he tricks Bella.  It was very convincing but that’s all it was, an act to make me feel pity.

I had none.

I was done with this conversation and with this family.  I had plans to make and things to set in motion if I was to accomplish my goals.

Jasper was in tears again and his face was flushed with emotion.  I smirked at the bastard he was, “I know.”  I whispered as I turned to leave the room.

I found Bella weeping in Esme’s arms and I almost couldn’t hold back my growl.  I didn’t want Bella to find comfort in the arms of others.  That was what I was for.  Why couldn’t she see that?

It mattered not I had to tell myself.  Soon it will only be my shoulder she cried on and my face she looked to for comfort.

I let her say her goodbyes to everyone, even Jasper.  It would be the last time she would ever seen the Texas reject and I wanted him to get an eyeful of what he would always want but never have.

I said not a word to the family as I picked up the rest of Bella’s luggage and headed for the car.  I had nothing to say to any of them.  They were all traitors and someday I would make them all pay.