Page 3 of Isabelle & Jason
Jason surged toward the latter and burst from the building.
Her soft whimpers and slurred speech had his heart racing. The alleyway behind the structure was lit by only one light. Two bodies were pressed against each other a few yards away.
“Come on, Bella. You know you want this.”
She made an attempt to push him away. “NO!” she said, followed by more slurred speech.
That “No,” along with her muffled words, was all it took for Jason to see red. He stormed toward them. “Hey!”
Her date’s head whipped up and he sneered. “This is none of your business. Get lost.”
Jason didn’t bother talking. Words wouldn’t express how he felt at that moment. But his fists would do the trick. He yanked Bella from the monster’s arms with one hand and swung with the other. His fist collided hard enough to send the guy stumbling. “If I take her to the hospital right now, what do you think they’ll test in her system?”
The guy rubbed his jaw. “She’s a lightweight. What do you expect? She can’t hold her liquor.”
Fury burned in Jason’s chest to the point that he wasn’t sure he was breathing anymore. “Let’s see what the cops have to say about it.” He reached for his phone, but the guy scuttled away, nearly tripping over himself.
Jason adjusted his hold on Bella, glancing down at her with worry. Her skin was stained pink from the jerk’s handling of her. In the light overhead, he could see the faint bruises starting to appear on her arms. He wouldn’t be surprised if there were some on her waist and hips. The top two buttons of her blouse had been ripped out.
His fury intensified. He pulled out his phone and dialed the only person he could think of who would be able to help him.
Bella moaned, but she was still out of it. Her forehead rested against his shoulder as he once again adjusted her so she was held against his side.
The phone rang through to his voicemail, so Jason tried again. He attempted the call twice more before his brother finally answered.
“Jason? This better be good. I have a shift?—”
“I need your help.”
His brother went silent for a moment, and then the sound of chatter in the background faded. “Please tell me you haven’t been shot by some mob boss or something.”
Jason smiled despite himself. “I have a feeling that stitching me up is on your bucket list.”
“Meh, could be. Get on a mobster’s bad side and we’ll find out.” He was quiet for a beat, then he murmured. “What’s up?”
Swallowing hard, Jason glanced down at the girl of his dreams. “You at work?”
“That’s what I said?—”
“Meet me out front in twenty minutes. And bring a wheelchair.”
“What did you do?” Mathew snapped. “I can’t simply?—”
“Just do it.” Jason ended the call and awkwardly returned his phone to his pocket. “Come on, Bella, let’s get you to the hospital.”
2
Isabelle Palmer
Pain.
That was the first thing Isabelle experienced. Not the bright lights. Not the annoying beeping sound. Not the hum of voices that sounded both far away and too close for comfort.
The excruciating pounding in her head was quickly followed by the distinct sense of terror. A fear she’d never in her life felt had her thrashing, her eyes flying open, and her heart thundering at an uneven rhythm.
That incessant beeping sound picked up in speed. Bright, unforgiving lights speared into her skull and she groaned as she shut her eyes against it. A foul taste coated her tongue, and her stomach ached.
“Good morning, how are you feeling?” A deep, low voice filled the empty space. It was a rumble of sound, one that had the hairs on her arms standing to attention.
