Jesse sped toward his house.The drive was short, but right now it felt too fucking long.
Dylan had gotten in. Dylan was in his housewithAspen, and Jesse wasn’t there to protect her.
He took a hard right and his gaze went to the rearview mirror. A few deputies trailed behind, but dammit, he needed someone there right fucking now.
His muscles tightened when he looked at his phone. He hadn’t disconnected the call. There’d been a gunshot and Luke’s voice. But after loud footsteps, there’d been almost nothing.
Had someone been shot? Who?
He took a sharp left onto his street and slammed his foot onto the brake outside his house. The second he was out of thecar, he was running, sprinting up the walk and into the open doorway.
Inside, he did a quick scan of the living room and kitchen, weapon raised, before racing down the hallway to Aspen’s room. He stopped at the sight of Luke sitting on the floor, head in his hands, and Aspen kneeling beside him.
Her eyes met his and the air rushed from his chest. She’d only just risen to her feet when he tugged her into his arms. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“Luke saved me.”
Luke coughed from the floor. “No. I’m the reason the asshole got in.” He pushed to his feet but immediately reached for the wall.
“Hey.” Jesse grabbed his arm. “You’re bleeding.” It was dripping from his head.
“I’d barely stepped out of my car when he hit me from behind.”
“I think he has a concussion,” Aspen said quietly. “I’ve called an ambulance.”
Footsteps sounded from the other room, and a second later, Claudia, Margot and two other deputies stepped inside.
Margot gasped and ran straight to Luke. “Oh my God, are you okay?”
While the deputies took care of Luke, Jesse steered Aspen toward the bed. She perched on the edge, and he knelt in front of her, his gaze immediately going to the red finger marks on her neck. Anger gripped him, damn near sucking the air right from his chest.
“He put his hands on you.” It wasn’t a question. Fuck, he needed to get control of himself. “Tell me what happened.”
“I thought it was Luke. His back was toward me, and I didn’t look at him properly, only saw the laptop in his hand, so I opened the door. I couldn’t shut it in time, and Dylan pushed hisway in. Then he was calling me a whore. Telling me I shouldn’t have left.” She drew in a ragged breath. “I ran in here and locked the door to call you, but he broke the lock. I fought him. Then Luke shot at the corner.”
Probably because he knew his faculties were compromised and didn’t want to risk hitting Aspen.
“Then Luke almost passed out and Dylan ran,” Aspen continued. “I’m sorry.”
Why the hell wasshesorry? Jesse tugged her back into his arms. “I’msorry. I should have brought your laptop myself. You should have been safe in my home.”
If he’d been the one to bring the laptop, that fucker would be a dead man right now. Next time he showed his face, he would be.
CHAPTER 21
Aspen watched Jesse move around the kitchen from her position on the living room couch. She’d tried to eat the Thai food he’d ordered, but she couldn’t seem to stomach anything at the moment.
Memories of Dylan’s fingers around her throat had her belly in knots.
He was here…in Amber Ridge…and today, he’d attacked her. It didn’t seem real.
He’d been angry before, but today was different. Today he’d almost looked like he could kill her.
A shudder rocked her spine.
Jesse crossed the space between them and handed her a mug. “Hot cocoa.”
“Thank you.”
