"Jasper, no!" I cried out, fearing for his life because he was fighting with an injured arm whereas the man was still stronger and more dangerous. "Stop! Please!"
Picking up the abandoned stool, I decided to hit the man's head hard enough to render him unconscious since he could not see me from his position.
I just hoped I wouldn't miss.
Before I could move though, the door was pushed open wider and Cole barged inside, probably having heard the noise from the driveway.
"Christ. Jasper, get off him!" His eyes quickly took in the scene while he moved to push Jasper off before landing a hard punch on the man's face and then doing the same to his stomach.
My attacker must have realised he was outnumbered now because he shoved at Cole before getting to his feet and sprinting out the doorway. It was only then that I had the presence of mind to call an ambulance for Jasper who lay there gasping with a bleeding arm as Cole bent over to check on him.
***
"They'll get him, baby," Cole reassured me in his warm voice as he smoothed back the hair from my forehead. "Please don't be scared, okay. The alarm system is installed and I'll be awake the entire night checking on you."
I shook my head. "You don't have to do that," I said with a small frown.
It was late that evening and I was still shaken up from my encounter. I had lived alone for so long and nothing like this had ever happened to me. Nobody had ever attacked me, robbed me or tried to rape me. I shuddered at the thought and Cole pulled me in for a hug. His clean scent was comforting but he had stayed with me for far too long. I needed to be stronger than this.
The hospital had sent Jasper home hours ago after stitching him up and he was told to rest because of the injury. We had given our statements to the police, described the man as thoroughly as possible and remained in a state of heightened nervousness because he had not been caught yet and I was scared he might try this sort of thing again. I was scared of leaving the house. Period.
Cole had been with me since we got home while Jasper lay in bed, sleeping. They had given him a sedative for the pain.
"You need to go check on him," I reminded Cole and he sighed.
"Yeah. I'll come back later, okay. Will you be alright?"
I nodded and kissed him, my lips clinging to him desperately because I did not want him to leave. I didn't want to be alone tonight but Jasper needed him. He was winded after the fight and hurt. Someone had to be there with him tonight.
"I love you," I told Cole softly and he tightened his arms around me.
"You're safe," he whispered to me, kissing my hair. "You're safe now. I won't let anything like this happen again."
I let go of him because I knew he would not do it himself and gave him a gentle push. "Go be with Jasper."
Smiling a little, he squeezed my hand and backed away.
When he left, I sat up against the headboard, wrapped my arms around my knees and waited, trying not to remember the horrid details of this morning's attack. Shit. If Jasper had not been at home...
I started to cry again. It had been bad enough experiencing something like that and then having to relive it for the police. I did not want to keep thinking about it but nothing I did helped distract me. Every sound made me jump a little and look around the place to make sure the doors were locked and the windows closed properly.
Cole had even called a security systems company that same afternoon and had a house alarm installed just for me. So I could sleep better at night. But even if he did come back to sleep with me, I would be too worried about Jasper lying in the dark, injured and alone.
I squeezed my eyes shut because the pain and fear were too much for me to handle. And the guilt. He had gotten hurt because he had been trying to save me.
~~~
Cole
"Jasper? Here, drink this." I held the glass of water up to his lips and he groaned a little before lifting his head and taking some sips.
"Mother. Fucker," he growled as he scowled at me. "What did they give me? I can barely move."
His words slurred together due to the effects of the painkillers.
"It's fine. The cut was deep. You know that. The painkillers will help. Do you need anything else?" I asked, massaging his bicep. The one that was not injured, of course.
"Skye," he whispered sleepily.
I frowned at him. "What?"
He blinked at me and tried to sit up, wincing. "Is she okay?"
Clearing my throat, I put away the glass of water and nodded. "She's...she'll be fine." I could not bring myself to lie. She wasn't okay. Physically, yes but listening to her recount the incident to the police had sent a chill through my bones that still had not left me. A simmering rage. I wanted to kill that man for laying his hands on her. On my beautiful angel.
"Have they found him yet?" Jasper slurred, narrowing his eyes at me, echoing my thoughts.
I shook my head.
He cursed again. "Don't let her go anywhere alone," he told me.
I tucked my tongue in my cheek, wanting to make some comment about how I knew how to take care of my girlfriend but I kept quiet. He was the reason she was safe tonight.
And he...seemed to care for her now. He thought I wasn't aware. They both thought that. But the way Skye's curiosity peaked every day about
