Chapter 52

JASPER

M y hands were still raised as I watched him look around the room in victory. He smirked as if he had already won the battle. Little did he know this was the plan all along. I looked over to Harper, but what I saw across her face was gut-wrenching.

Terror and fear filled her eyes as she tried to keep her head held high. Hiding her true feelings from everyone, but me. She was bruised and deflated. I wanted so badly to hold her, to get close enough that I could remove all the chains and cuffs from her beautiful porcelain skin.

Whoever bound her was fearful of her escape, this was evident in the excessive use of bindings. I smirked at the idea of her giving them hell when they were trying to get her up on display like that. If I knew her at all, I knew it knew she didn't make it easy for them.

Her eyes glossed over as I set my gun to the ground. My heart sank when the unshed tears filled her eyes, her chin rose higher. I knew it was a big risk. I had to let her know we would get out of this basement alive. I needed to relieve her worries, even if it was almost over.

Being so close to my beautiful goddess while she was in distress, unable to comfort her, was tearing me apart and fueling my rage.

I looked directly into her sorrowful green eyes. Despite, being red and swollen, they were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen.

Look at me, baby. Look at me. I need your eyes. I willed her silently, to look in my direction, and when she finally did. She was blank. Lost. If the sight of her so broken didn't pierce my heart, then the emptiness glaring at me from my sweet, beautiful girl certainly did.

I glanced at Malice, who had just lowered his gun and smirked, seeking approval from the handful of men surrounding us. I surveyed the room, counting his men, and watched the shadows flit across the small window, as my backup prepared to take these assholes down. That's when something caught my eye.

Harper's face paled and her eyes rolled. She sunk lifeless. My heart stopped and my vision blurred, I lunged for her. Startling Malice, who was completely unaware of what was happening to her. He pulled his gun and placed it on my head, but I didn't care. I proceeded to free Harper from her restraints, checking her pulse to find it faint.

I need to take her away from this place now!

"Hold on baby, it's almost over," I whispered into her ear, slowly releasing her arms. They were stiff and I was thankful she wasn't conscious to feel the ache I knew she would be feeling.

"Now!" I screamed.

The door burst open, wood splinters, and debris scattered. The deadbolt, once attached to the door frame, flew off and smacked the poor shmuck guarding it in the face, distracting Malice, and his gun, which was still pointed at me.

I threw my arm up and knocked it out of his hand. It made a clattering noise against the concrete as I dropped down, tucking my head and cradling Harper's limp body, shielding her from what was about to happen.

Hector, accompanied by two other men I didn't recognize, came out from their hiding spot and positioned themselves in front of me and Harper. The sound of guns firing, and bullets ricocheting followed shortly after.

Harper mumbled something incoherent. I held her tighter against my body, my lips against her temple trying my hardest to keep the flying bullets away from her unconscious frame.

"I've got you, baby, it won't be long now. You are going to be okay, Doll, please be okay." I murmured into her ear. My words carried the weight of a plea, a prayer, whatever it took to get her back to me. I didn't know if she could hear me, but if she could I wanted her to know I was right fucking here.

* * *

The gunfire slowed, but I hesitated before lifting my head. Only to find that most of the men surrounding me had collapsed into heaps on the floor. My stomach churned as I spotted a pair of overpriced penny loafers on someone in a leather jacket with dark hair, facing the wall across the room. Releasing Harper would be the only way to reach him, so instead, I yelled toward what I could only assume, was Max sprawled on the floor.

"Max. Damn you, get up!" Praying he would look at me, I watched closely for any sign of life left in him. I watched for the rise and fall motion of breathing, but he was still.

"Damn, I knew you had a man boner for me," A familiar voice boomed from behind me. Startled, I tilted my head upward, where I was still sitting on the ground. I met my best friend's gaze, as he stood smirking at the tangled mess, that was my body intertwined with Harper's.

He was unharmed, and talking shit as usual. I let out a big sigh and chuckled, as I glanced back at the heap, relieved it wasn't him.

"Don't flatter yourself asshole." I snapped, rolling my eyes.

"You ready to go?" Max asked, his eyes fixed on his nails, feigning boredom. I realized it was an act when, for a brief moment, I caught him glancing in Harper's direction, his eyes filled with concern.

I stood up taking Harper with me. With one hand supporting her head and the other wrapped around her thighs. She turned her head into my chest, breathing deeply before she stilled again.

"Yes, Let's get her out of here."

We reached the SUV where Hector was waiting, door open and blanket in hand. I let him wrap her in the blanket since my hands cradled her delicate, broken form.

I settled into the seat, keeping Harper in my arms, and gently peppered her head and neck with kisses.

"Did we take care of the mess?" I asked Max who was settling into the front passenger seat.

"It's being taken care of, right now." he turned to look at me knowingly.

"She's gonna be okay," he said in a small voice, "She's a fighter," he finished, quickly turning away from me, trying to conceal his emotions.

Max became attached to Harper after learning about her past; he had a soft spot for women who suffered from abuse. It was related to how his father treated his mother, but that's his story to tell.

We pulled away from the abandoned warehouse slowly. I looked ahead to see the sun rising across the desolate fields, radiating hues of grays and deep blues while the sun peeked. Harper would love this view. I saw her watching the sunrise many times during her time with me. Standing at my floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, wrapped in that damn couch blanket she adopted, coffee in hand.

A small smile teased my lips as I recalled the image.

A few moments later we were back on the dirt road. The sound of gravel pelting the bumper was drowned out by a massive explosion. In an instant, the warehouse, Harper's second prison, was reduced to, a wisp of smoke. I held Harper even tighter.

"I will never let anyone hurt you, ever again," I promised in her ear, as we raced toward the best hospital in the city.

A promise I would fucking keep.