“Oh, yes, we’ll be there.Absolutely!”Aya hung up the phone and steeled herself with a long inhalation.
“What’s wrong?What happened?”Nash asked, urgency clipping his words.
“Mama Grace…” Aya shared a look with Nash.He expression crumpled and she bit her trembling lower lip.
I stiffened but kept my hold on Levi easy as I bounced him up and down.His lower lip stuck out as he decided whether to cry or laugh.
I met Aya’s gaze over Levi’s little head.“She had a date tonight, you said.”
Aya’s eyes were dilated, her breath harsh.“She did.”
“What happened, Aya?”I asked, worry pulsing through me.“Is she okay?Were they in a crash?”
I had to work to keep my clasp on Levi gentle and soothing.My head pounded as images bombarded me.I’d seen death, seen suffering.I couldn’t imagine Jasmine in those scenarios.Didn’t want to.
“N-no.She never left the house.He…heassaultedher.”
No.Not Jasmine.My throat closed and my ears rang.IknewFrank was an asshole.He’d proven just how much of one.He’d put his hands on Jasmine.He’d hurt her.
I began to shake.What if…what if he forced her…
My stomach heaved and I swallowed thickly.
“Jenna said she’s okay,” Aya said from closer to me, her voice softer.
I sank into the wooden chair, still clutching Levi, who’d quit fussing and instead started smacking his tiny hands against my cheeks.
“But he hurt her arm,” Aya continued.“Kate and Jenna are with her, on the way to get an X-ray.Cam’s dealing with Frank.”
“Just her arm?”Nash asked.I needed to know that, too.My rage might remain contained if he’d just…what?Broken her arm?That was still wrong on so many levels, and it didn’t make sense.If he hurt her arm, wouldn’t he have…did he…was she…
No, Jasmine was resourceful, strong.If Jenna said it was just her arm, then I’d believe that.
Still, I couldn’t abide by that logic.No one got to hurt Jasmine.I inhaled slowly, struggling to maintain my composure.
Levi laughed as he smacked my cheek again.I offered him a small smile as I grabbed his hand and placed a wet raspberry on his palm.Levi belly laughed deeply, throwing himself back onto my forearm.
“J-just her wrist,” Aya said.“It’s swollen and hurts her to move it.”
“What happened to the date?”I gritted out.“I hope Cam castrates him.”
“He deserves it,” Nash muttered.
Jasmine had been more of a mother to him than his own, and Nash loved Jasmine as much as her own kids did.
“You’re right.I don’t know what Cam will do.But he’s currently out cold.Kate said Mama whacked him with her lamp—you know the big one on the table by the door?
I sure did.It was a large brass one.Heavy.Sturdy.
“Yeah, that thing’s a beast,” Nash said.“Hefty, too, I bet.”
“Well, she managed to get in a few licks with it before he could do anything else to her,” Aya said.“Jenna said Mama Grace was standing over him, yelling about not touching her girls when she and Kate walked in.”
I gave a short, sharp nod.Jasmine would have been worried about her family; that was the way she was wired.Still, the man shouldn’t have been close enough, or stupid enough to touch her.“So, he didn’t…” I couldn’t get more words out.
“She’sokay,” Aya said.Her cool fingers were on my forearm.I raised my head and met her gaze.In it was understanding.
Levi patted me again, no doubt wanting me to blow another raspberry for him.I winced when his finger grazed my eye.Aya lifted him from my arms.I felt naked, empty.Bereft.
