I collapse into his embrace, sobbing.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Jasper
“It’s okay,babygirl. We’re all okay.”
Charity wraps herself around me and clings as she sobs into my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Jasper. Oh God, I’m sorry,” she says through her sobs.
“Shh…” I run my hands over her back and shoulders, then slowly push her away so I can look her over. “Are you okay?”
She sniffles and nods. “They didn’t really hurt me. Maybe a bruise or two from being dragged around.”
I cup her cheek and lightly brush my lips against hers. Saying a quiet thanks to God for keeping my girl safe for me. The last three hours have been torture as I waited for the police to get their shit together. They not only took down Dima here at the church but also raided all of his businesses and homes.
It was a full-on assault that took way more patience than I had to give, but I managed somehow to keep from going in guns blazing.
Ransom clears his throat. “You need to get her checked over, or the cops are going to want to grill her for hours.” He tips his head toward Jenkins and his crew standing around practically salivating to find out what my girl knows.
I stand with Charity in my arms, wincing a little at the bruise that’ll hurt like a bitch for a while after being shot. Kevlar can only do so much. I carry her past Jenkins who opens his mouth to speak, but I shake my head, letting him know now isn’t the time. Charity is still crying into my shoulder and holding me tight.
She’s in no shape to talk to anyone right now. I head straight for the ambulance.
She shakes her head. “I’m fine, really. Can we just go home?” she asks quietly. “I just want to go home.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Okay, babygirl. Let’s go home.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
Charity
Jasper carriesme straight through the house to my bedroom. He sets me on my feet and turns me around so my back is to him. I hear the snick of a knife opening, then he’s cutting the ribbons binding me in this damn wedding dress. As the corset loosens, I feel my lungs finally filling with air again. Now that I’m with Jasper, I can finally breathe.
Dima Sokolov is dead, and nothing is going to happen to my friends or me. We are all safe.
Wordlessly, Jasper strips me to my panties then starts working on the pins in my hair. He tosses aside the tiara, and my hair falls in a heavy wave down my back. He gently massages my scalp, and I moan.
He kisses my shoulder, then turns me so I’m facing him once more. His strong hands gently cup my face. My eyes well with tears at the intense way he’s looking at me. At the love I see in his eyes.
“I love you, Charity,” he murmurs. My heart leaps at his confession. His lips lightly brush along mine. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I nod, my throat too thick to respond. God, do I love this man.
He turns on the shower and while the water heats, he strips off his own clothes. I let my panties drop to the floor, not feeling a bit of shame as he takes in my naked body. He gently leads me into the shower and under the steamy-hot water.
It feels fantastic.
The first thing I do is wash the makeup from my face. While I do that, Jasper soaps up his hands and washes my back. He runs his hands over my skin, washing me gently as if I’m fine china and might crack under any kind of pressure.
His hands run over my arms, and I hiss in pain. He lets out a low growl when he notices the bruises blooming on my pale skin.
“They hurt you.”
I shake my head. “It’s just a bruise. I’m fine. Really.”
“Even a bruise is too much,” he growls. He leans down and lightly kisses each bruise. I thread my fingers through his hair, calming the beast that’s chomping at the bit to come out and let his wrath flow over any and everyone who gets in his path.