Falling for a Dark Soul Update

 FFADS Chapter 33 on FFn

FFADS Chapter 33 on AO3

FFADS Chapter 33 on fanfiction.online

FFADS Chapter 33 on Stars

FFADS Chapter 33 on Wattpad

Sitting in the waiting room of my psychiatrist, I was growing more frustrated. I liked the doctor who I was seeing, but he was never on time. I’d usually wait, at least, a half hour to see him. I learned that the hard way when I tried to schedule an appointment during my lunch. I ended up missing the entire afternoon, along with a meeting with Jane and Eric of York Towne Clothing.

Suffice it to say, I moved my appointments to the end of the day or on the weekend. Today, it was the former. I’d bugged out of the office a half hour early to make it to my appointment on time, only to wait. I only dealt with this because I’d felt a connection with the doctor, Dr. Daniel Spencer.

He reminded me a lot of Phil.

The door opened and my doctor poked his head out. “Come on in, Bella,” he said, giving me a slight grimace. “I’m sorry about the delay.”

“If I didn’t like you so much, it would be a problem, Dr. Spencer,” I chided, following him to his office. “I also understand why you are behind schedule. You actually care about your patients.”

“I do care about my patients, very much. Please, have a seat. Do you want some water? Coffee?” he asked.

“Water would be nice. It’s too late for coffee. If I drink coffee now, I’ll never be able to sleep tonight,” I snickered, sitting down and crossing my legs.

“I’ve got another four hours. I desperately need the coffee,” he quipped, ducking out of the office. A few moments later, he came back into the office, handing me a bottle of water and putting his coffee on the side table next to his chair. “How are you doing today, Bella?”

“I’m alright, I guess,” I shrugged, sipping my water. “Focusing on work and rebuilding my relationship with Edward.”

“How did the belated birthday celebration go?” Dr. Spencer asked.

“He was completely surprised and we both enjoyed our time together,” I smiled. “I’m still feeling like it’s my fault that he was in that car accident and I know he blames himself for what happened on the night of his birthday. We’re both trying to come to grips with what happened, but we’re dealing with our guilt.”

“Bella, we’ve talked about this. It was not your fault that he was in that accident. Nor was it his fault for his upbringing that caused his inherent distrust,” Dr. Spencer chided.

“My mind gets it, but my heart is taking its sweet time to play catch up,” I snorted humorlessly. “I just wish I could move past this guilt, and fear.”

“Have you tried driving?” Dr. Spencer asked.

“Every time I try, I end up having to take an anxiety pill,” I choked out. “I can’t stop seeing those gouges in the mud and the damage to the trees. I see Edward in that hospital room, a sickly shade of gray and with tubes coming out of him, every which way. He’s got some serious injuries to his ribcage because of those animals who beat the shit out of him as a kid. It was exacerbated by the car accident. He wouldn’t have been in that car accident if I’d only spoken with him that afternoon. I was the one who told him to come back later. I forced him back, driving in a deluge …”

“Bella, sweetheart,” Dr. Spencer murmured, crouching in front of me. “Focus on me. Focus on the here and now.” I closed my eyes, feeling tears coming down my cheeks as Dr. Spencer, squeezed my hands. “Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. That’s a good girl.”

I listened to Dr. Spencer as he talked me through my panic attack. His deep, resonant voice kept me rooted in the office, but my mind was spiraling around Edward, my parents, Katie and my irrational fears. I blinked a few times, finally seeing Dr. Spencer’s dark brown eyes swirling with concern. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“Never apologize, Bella. What happens in this room, stays in this room,” Dr. Spencer said quietly, handing me my water. He sat down on the cocktail table as I continued to calm down. “Better?”

“Slightly,” I sighed. “Tiny victories. I didn’t have to take a pill.”

“That is good,” he smiled. “Now, all we need to do is get you able to get behind the wheel again.”

Falling for a Dark Soul Teaser

 By four in the afternoon, Katie’s party was over. The goodie bags had been distributed and the party planner was kind enough to give us a cart for her mountain of presents. My father and I were loading up the gifts into the back of my car. “I’m impressed that Bella pulled this off so quickly,” Dad said.

“She had some help,” I replied, trying to balance the gifts in the trunk. “One of her neighbors, Senna, gave her this suggestion.” I wrinkled my nose at my mention of Senna. She saw me and she scowled in my direction.

“You don’t like Senna?”

“She doesn’t like me, but it’s justified. I was an asshole to her,” I frowned. “She talked smack about me to Bella and …”

“Edward, you’ve changed. Anyone, even a blind man, can see how much you’ve changed,” Dad breathed.

“Regardless, I don’t care much about Senna,” I shrugged. “As long as she doesn’t continue to give me shit and all. Keeping me at arm’s length is probably best.”

“What did you do that she sees you as an asshole?”

“It had something to do with Sam. Her daughter went to pet Sam, but without asking. Sam is a good dog, but if he wasn’t trained … he could have snapped. So, I snapped at Senna and at her daughter,” I huffed. “Anyone with a brain knows this. Senna went off on me and I yelled right back. You and I both know that if Sam had tried to bite the little girl? She’d demand that he be put down.”

“She sounds like an entitled bitch,” Dad snorted humorlessly. “Did you ever see a video of some woman going off on another woman who wouldn’t let her pet her service animal? The one lady said she was going to call her lawyer because it was against her civil rights. The woman with service animal just rolled her eyes and walked away. The first lady smacked the other one and suffice it to say, the woman with the dog kicked ass.”

“I would never hit a woman, but we exchanged words,” I deadpanned.

“Edward, you would never intentionally hurt anyone. Despite your past, you are an inherently good man,” Dad breathed. “And, from what you described, Senna was wrong. Should you have approached it differently? Probably, but it doesn’t negate the fact that you were right.”

I closed the back of the SUV and saw the woman in question. She was walking with her daughter and husband. Her husband, Nahuel, was a cool guy. We’d ended up talking for some time about sports, football at Katie’s party. Jasper even invited him to come join us on our usual Sunday date to watch the Bears suck. He agreed. She glowered at me. She spoke with her husband and sashayed toward me.

“Do you want me to stay, Edward?” Dad asked.

I nodded, leaning against the cart.

“You have some balls coming to this party, Cullen,” she snapped. “I don’t know what you did to Bella, but you’re not a good guy. I’ve told her, numerous times, that you’re an opportunistic prick.”

“She probably also told you that you’re full of it, hmmmm?” I asked. “Look, you may never like me. That’s your choice, your prerogative.”

“You yelled at my kid!” she growled. “If you don’t want people talking to you, then you shouldn’t have your mangy dog with you!”

“If my mangy dog bit your kid, what would you have done then?” I hissed. She sneered at me. “Senna, you don’t have to like me but one interaction where I was trying to protect your daughter? That does not entitle you to talk to my girlfriend and say that I’m an asshole.”

“You are an asshole,” Senna argued.

“I beg to differ,” Dad snorted. “You’re the one throwing a hissy fit while he’s calmly talking to you. If anyone looks like an asshole, it’s you.”

“Sen, come on,” said Nahuel as walked over to us. Tia was in the car, watching from the backseat.

“No! I want an apology. Tia deserves an apology,” Senna yelled.

“I’m not going to let you continue to act like this,” Nahuel said, taking her hand. “You think that Edward was an asshole, but he isn’t. I happen to like him. So, let it go and you need to fucking apologize to him for all the bullshit you shared with Bella. She’s over it. The only reason why she continues to interact with us because Tia and Katie are close.”

“You’re on his side? You’re supposed to be on mine!” Senna screeched.

“Apologize, Sen,” Nahuel said calmly but angrily. His wife glared at him and stomped away. He pinched his nose before looking at me. “I’m so sorry, Edward. My wife can hold a grudge like no other.”

“Thank you for sticking up for me,” I shrugged. “You may want to go since Senna looks like she’s going to drive off without you.” Nahuel sighed, shaking my hand before running back to his car.

 

Falling for a Dark Soul Update

FFADS Chapter 19 on FFn

FFADS Chapter 19 on AO3

FFADS Chapter 19 on Fanfiction.Online

FFADS Chapter 19 on Stars

FFADS Chapter 19 on Wattpad

“Esme?” I called, walking into the kitchen. She hastily wiped her eyes, turning around and giving me a watery smile. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart,” she answered. I arched a brow, like how I did with Edward. “I can see why he loves you.”

“He hasn’t said it, but I understand why he’s hesitant,” I shrugged.

“My son had such a difficult life and he always kept everyone at arm’s length,” Esme muttered. “Even his father and me. Edward doesn’t trust easily, but he let you in.”

“He’s easy to love,” I murmured. “And those people who hurt him deserve to rot in hell.”

“Trust me, many of them are,” Esme replied darkly. “Edward lived in about twelve homes before he came into our custody. Out of the twelve foster families, nine of the parents were arrested for child solicitation, molestation and wrongful death.”

“Somebody died in their care?” I hissed.

“A little girl,” Esme growled, “In a home in Dwight. Anyway, they were put away for life. The district attorney wanted Edward’s testimony because he’d told his case workers, but they didn’t listen. He stopped telling them and took the abuse until …” She walked over to a cabinet and poured herself a glass of bourbon. “Want some?”

I nodded and sipped the drink. “You wouldn’t let Edward testify.”

“He was finally accepting that he was a part of our family. Carlisle asked him if he wanted to testify but my son told him that no one cared what he said years ago. Why would they care now?” Esme frowned. “I never, in my wildest dreams, imagine seeing Edward as comfortable as he is with you and your sister. He never smiled. When he did, it was forced.” She took a sip, leaning against the counter. “He’s brilliant, ambitious, funny but he never let down his walls. To see him today? It’s like he’s a whole new person. I’m crying because I’m happy that he has someone that loves him unconditionally.”

“When we first met, Edward and I did not get along,” I snorted. “Oil and water, really.”

“He told us about how he treated you and the guilt he felt afterward. If anything, you’d figure he’d be understanding since Katie is in a similar situation with losing her parents,” Esme shrugged. “But, she has you.”

“Unlike Edward,” I frowned. “I also think that’s why Katie and Edward are so close. They’re kindred spirits, really. They both lost their parents at a young age without the ability to understand why it happened or cope with that sense of loss.”

“You also lost your family,” Esme argued.

“But, I’m twenty-eight. I have the coping skills to work through it. Yes, I struggle with their absence. I have days where getting out of bed is a struggle,” I shrugged. “Therapy has helped. Katie and I go to a grief counselor. I got the name from the preschool I enrolled Katie in. I didn’t know anyone when I moved here from the Pacific Northwest. I toyed with the idea of seeing a psychiatrist, but I didn’t want to take medications unless absolutely necessary. I miss my mom. There are moments when I wanted to call her to tell her all about Edward …”

The oven dinged and Esme checked whatever was inside. “I hope you like lasagna,” she said.

“I love it,” I smiled.

 

Married to the Mob Update

MOTM Chapter 29 on FicPad

MOTM Chapter 29 on Stars

MOTM Chapter 29 on AO3

MOTM Chapter 29 on FFn

MOTM Chapter 29 on Wattpad

The room was dark, save for a fire lit in the fireplace and a dim light over an overstuffed chair. Bella was curled up, writing in her journal. It was Halloween, two and half months since my abduction and what should have been our wedding. Almost everyone, except for Bella and me, were at my parents’ home for a Halloween party. Bella didn’t feel like going and honestly, neither did I. I wanted to use this time to talk to Bella, to help her confront her demons. I pushed up my glasses, making my way into the living room. Bella stared into the fire, her brow furrowed, the pen tapping gently on her lips.

“Penny for your thoughts, dolce?” I asked, walking toward her. She jumped, looking back at me with a slight scowl. She resented her nickname, not at all feeling like the sweet girl I’d met over a year ago. “I see you writing, love.”

“Don’t call me dolce,” she said, closing her journal and her voice taking on a cold edge.

“Why not?” I asked. “You are mia dolce.” She sighed, leaning her head against the chair and curling into a tighter ball. “Bella, come with me.”

“I’m comfortable here. I just want to be alone,” she answered.

“Too bad, so sad,” I said, taking her hand and pulling her up. I took her spot on the chair, curling her on my lap. “Every day, dolce, I see you. I hate that you’re sad, empty. That’s my fault.” It will always be my fault.

“No, Edward, it’s not,” she answered, looking at me, but her eyes were dead. “It’s Royce and Stephan’s fault. Not yours. Never yours, baby.” She wrinkled her nose. “I just hate feeling like this. You’re alive. You’re healing, but I can’t shake …” Her eyes were welling with tears. “Why can’t I stop seeing Royce? What I did to him?” She shuddered and tears spilled onto her pale cheeks.

“Would you change the outcome? Would you not kill him and have this war between the Bratva and the Consortium continue? My death?” I asked. She blushed, shaking her head and she let out a strangled sound. I held her closely, kissing her neck and inhaling deeply, allowing her scent to calm me. “Bella, you are still sweet, good, and perfect.”

“I’m not,” she scoffed, hastily wiping her cheeks.

“You are,” I said, taking her chin and forcing her eyes to mine. “Bella, you are strong, beautiful and it was that strength that saved me. I would have died out there, without you.” I kissed her and stood up. “Come with me, love.”

“Where are we going?” she asked, confused.

“You’ll see,” I said, taking out a set of car keys. I threaded my fingers with hers, putting on a coat and we went out to my car, my Volvo. I helped her into the passenger seat, walking to the driver’s side. Backing out of the garage, I made my way to the city, driving to what was once the center of the Bratva in Chicago. It was once a shining jewel, filled with powerful men, enslaved women and a deadly fighting ring. Now? It was a crumbling building, abandoned by the cowards left behind after word of Royce’s death had reached the building.

“Why are we here?” she asked. “Wasn’t this Royce’s stronghold?”

“Yes, and we’re here because I want you to see what you helped do,” I said, taking out a gun from the glove compartment. Bella stiffened. “The Bratva have been demolished with no discernable leader, but there’s still a threat. This is not a safe neighborhood.” Her eyes were still on the gun, the gun that she’d given me for my birthday. I slid the gun into a holster on my belt and got out of the car. Opening the passenger side door, I held out my hand. Bella took it, her eyes wide. I threaded my fingers with hers and made my way toward the building.

Bella's Dress

Heirloom Wedding Comb

Edward's present to Bella

Wedding decor inspiration

Bridesmaid dresses (Leah)

Bridesmaid Dresses

Crystal Garden, Navy Pier

W Chicago Lakeshore