Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Blakely had almost finished her mug of tea when she closed her eyes, breathing in deep as she tried to form the words she wanted to write down for her book. It was easy to think the thoughts, but difficult to put it all down on the page in a manner that explained exactly what she was feeling.
Something made a noise off to her left, and she popped open her eyes, searching for the source. It took her way too long to realize she needed to get moving.
Someone was in the yard with her. She jumped up and her mug crashed to the patio, shattering in the process. For a second, she thought she’d made it to the door, but then a hand landed on her shoulder, halting her progress.
She let out a scream, but a hand came around and covered her mouth. She only hoped Jump heard her.
“Shut the fuck up.”
Her stomach clenched as unease filled her. Grayson had found her. She had to fight for her life, or she would end up trapped and under his thumb. She would never be allowed any freedom if he got her.
He clamped his arm around her and started dragging her backward. She struggled, fighting to break free, but his hold was too tight, and she couldn’t get away.
Grayson grunted. “Stop struggling.”
She must be making some ground otherwise he wouldn’t have told her to stop. She just had to keep fighting and then maybe she would get away.
Jump blinked open his eyes. It was still dark out, but he could tell it was close to sunrise. He reached out, feeling only cold sheets.
He sat up, not hearing any sounds coming from Blakely. Where was she?
Jump stood and wiped his hand over his face but froze. Something was off. The hair on the back of his neck rose as he moved toward the door. He pulled on his pants, buttoning them quickly.
Before stepping from his room, he reached into the top drawer of the dresser and pulled out his gun, opening the case. He checked his ammunition, hoping he didn’t have to use the weapon.
He heard another noise and sped up, moving through Wave’s house as he tried to pinpoint where the noise was coming from.
Outside.
He ran to the door and stepped out, seeing someone drag Blakely around the side of the house. Anger pumped through Jump’s veins.
There was just enough light to make out some details, and he didn’t think he’d seen a gun in the guy’s hand. He rushed around the side of the house, seeing the gate close.
Jump raced to the gate and pulled it open. The guy hadn’t fired on him, so he gambled that the dude didn’t have a gun as he ran after him, closing the distance.
Though he was in the USA, he would take the shot if Blakely wasn’t in the way. He couldn’t risk hitting her.
Instead of shooting, Jump kept after them. When the jerk got to his vehicle, Jump had about ten feet to go. The guy must have heard him and turned.
Blakely took that moment to wrench herself free of the asshole. He was clear, but shooting a man in the USA was going down a difficult path he didn’t want to deal with.
Though his arm was injured, Jump pulled back his fist and then using all his strength, hit Grayson square in the face.
It was marvelous to see the guy crumbling in front of him. Grayson dropped to his knees, then fell to the ground. Jump stood over him, making sure he couldn’t get up.
A siren sounded close. Someone must have called the police. He glanced over, seeing Blakely leaning against the bed of the truck.
“Are you okay?” Jump asked.
She nodded. “Thank you. I’m good.”
He nodded as he took a step back from the guy on the ground and laced his fingers behind his head, though it hurt like a bitch to hold his hands up like this. He didn’t need some trigger-happy officer to figure out he had a gun on him and shoot first.
Blakely couldn’t believe Grayson was sitting in the back of a police car. She’d been listening to the police as they figured out the truck Grayson had been driving was stolen. The plates on the back of the truck were from some car that had reported their plates stolen.
Jump was shaking the officer’s hand, and it seemed like everything was fine. When the police had taken Jump’s gun off him, she’d been afraid for him. But everything had turned out okay.
He walked over, his gun back in his hand before he put it in his pocket. “They will call us if he gets out.”
“Oh, do they have your number?”
“I gave it to them. They’ll want to talk to you again, but not now.”
She shook her head. “I can’t thank you enough. You saved me.”
He pulled her close but then flinched as he sucked in air like he was in pain. She leaned back and looked at him then remembered his arm.
“Let me see your arm.”
“I’m fine.”
She rolled her eyes and moved to get a better look at his injury. “It’s bleeding.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I think you need to get it looked at. You want your arm to heal, right?”
Jump blew out a slow breath. “Yes. I want it to heal. I’ll get it looked at.”
“Thank you.”
Two cars pulled up, and she turned, seeing some of Jump’s friends. As they drew closer, she could see it was Foster and T.
“Yo, is everything okay?” Foster gave them both hugs.
“Thario called this morning, making sure you were okay. I sent a couple of texts and tried to call,” T said.
Jump patted his pockets. “My phone. I don’t have it.”
“We had a busy morning,” Blakely said.
Jump snorted a laugh. “The bastard almost got her.”
Both Foster and T looked horrified. She shrugged. “I was sitting outside in the back. I didn’t think Grayson would be bold enough to come after me here.”
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Foster said.
“Thank you. Jump saved me.”
Jump hugged her closer. “I don’t know what I would have done if he’d taken off with you.”
“Do they think he’ll get out?” T asked.
“Don’t know. But they have him on attempted kidnapping and car theft. So at least it’s two separate charges.”
Foster nodded. “Good.”
Her troubles with Grayson were possibly over. Now she just had to figure out what the rest of her life held. One thing she knew for certain. She wanted to spend her life with Jump.