“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“Help her,” Jasper said to one of the guards.He didn’t reach for her himself.
The man immediately offered his hand. Nina took it and stood slowly, her knees trembling.
“I’m fine,” she said softly.“Just… give me a minute.”
Jasper was breathing hard, bracing his hands on his knees. Blood still ran down his chin.
“Find those bastards,” he ordered grimly.“I want to know who they are.”
“Our guys are alreadyon their trail,” someone replied into a radio.“We’ll catch at least one.We’ve got the area locked down.”
“Great,” Jasper muttered.
Nina stepped closer, still unable to believe this was actually happening.
“You need a hospital,” sheinsisted.“What if a rib’s broken?Your nose is definitely broken.”
“I’ll live,” he grunted, wiping his face with his sleeve and smearing more blood.
He straightened slowly, wincing, and nodded to one of the guards.
“Leave a couple of guys here,” he said calmly.“Keep eyes on Nina’s houseuntil we know who did this.”
“Understood.”
Nina listened, unable to sort through the chaos of feelings—gratitude, fear, anger, helplessness.
Probably all of it.
She wanted to offer something. To invite him in. She had a first-aid kit, bandages, antiseptic, ice in the freezer. But when she opened her mouth, the words dried up.
He looked at her again. The anger was gone. Only exhaustion remained.
“It’s okay,” he said quietly.“Go inside, Nina.”
She swallowed.
“Okay,” she replied softly.“Thank you.”
She turned and walked toward the house. Once in the yard, she stopped and leaned her back against a cold tree trunk. Her heart was still racing, palms damp with sweat, legs rooted to the ground.
Jasper and his men must’ve assumed she’d gone inside. Their voices carried easily now.
“We caught one,” an unfamiliar voice said.“He broke immediately. Order came from Frank Osborne.”
Nina froze.
“Looks like he didn’t know who you were,” the man continued.“They were just supposed to scare off the guy hitting on his wife.”
A dry, short laugh followed.
“Well, damn,” Jasper replied dryly.
Nina pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart dropped straight into her stomach. It was Frank. How dare he? They were getting divorced. It was over. He’d betrayed her. Walked away from their family.And now he wanted her defenseless?
