by Desiree Holt
“No, Cobra,” she managed to gasp. “Get off me. Get out of here.”
“Not tonight, Miss High and Mighty. You’ve played games with me long enough. I know you want me the way I want you. Well, no one’s here to stop us now, so let’s get it on.”
He grabbed the edge of her tank top and yanked it down, ripping it, then squeezed her breast so hard the pain made her gasp. He laughed and did it again. When he reached down between them and thrust his hand between her thighs, she found an unexpected spurt of strength.
“Get off me,” she said again, shoving at his shoulders. “Now, Cobra. Damn it.”
But he laughed. The harder she fought, the more his hands roamed over her. His mouth was on hers again, his tongue thrusting inside. Jasmine bit down hard on it, forcing him to lift his head.
“Fuck.” His voice still slurred but now it was edged with anger. “You bitch. Okay, I wanted to make it nice for you, but that’s out the window. I’m gonna take what I want and fuck you blind.”
Jasmine could hardly breathe with his weight on top of her, and fear had paralyzed her vocal chords. His fingers closed around her wrists in a painful grasp, and he held her in place while he kneed her legs apart. When he grabbed the top of her sleep pants and yanked, tearing the fabric, she found her voice and screamed and kept on screaming.
Then, without warning, the pressure of his body was gone. Voices surrounded her, and she tried to focus. There were people in the room, a lot of people. Gary and Hondo and some others she didn’t even recognize. She curled onto her side, trying to hide herself.
Oh god, oh god, oh god.
Her breasts still hurt where Cobra had squeezed so hard, and she felt sick to her stomach. Then Gary was there.
“Ssh, ssh,” he soothed. “It’s okay. We’ve got you. I’m here, Jasmine. It’s okay.”
She wanted to tell him it was far from okay, but she couldn’t seem to voice the words.
He grabbed the edge of the blanket and wrapped it around her. Then, with incredible gentleness, he lifted her off the bed and carried her to a chair. When he settled her into it, he made sure the blanket covered every bit of her. Eyes closed, she sensed people still milling around the room. She heard Cobra swearing then, suddenly, he was silent.
“Should I call the cops?” Hondo wanted to know.
“Already done.”
“No!” Jasmine shouted the word. “I’ll have to go file a complaint against him, the papers will get it, and it will be a big mess.”
“Jasmine.” Patience tempered Gary’s voice. “You can’t let him get away with this. At least let me have the cops hold him for forty-eight hours until I can get all of us out of town.”
“D-did you call Carson?”
“I will in a few, just as soon as I get everything under control.” He turned back to Hondo. “Get the others to take him to one of their rooms and sit on him until the cops get here.”
“Will do. We’re all pretty upset he did this. I hope Carson cuts off his balls.”
Jasmine gave a hysterical laugh. “If he doesn’t, I might.”
Gary grinned. “Duly noted. Let me take care of things here.”
More people, more voices. Confusion surrounded Jasmine, as everyone seemed to be talking over each other. She heard the other band members and some strangers, probably hotel guests, upset at the disturbance. Not that she could blame them.
Moments later, Hondo returned. “Cobra’s down the hall in Tony’s room with him and Jack. I called room service to get her some hot tea.”
“Good idea.”
Jasmine looked up at Gary. “I need to put on some clothes.” She opened the blanket just enough so he could see her torn clothing. “Please. I can’t let people see me like this.”
He nodded. “Okay, honey. Okay.”
He was right beside her while she fumbled in one of the drawers for underwear then grabbed her jeans and a T-shirt.
“Let me go into the bathroom and change. I’ll be okay in there. Honest.”
Except she wasn’t sure she’d ever be all right again.
She took a look at herself in the bathroom mirror, noting the bruises on her breasts, the imprint of fingers where he’d grabbed her face. It took all her self-control not to lean over the toilet and vomit. She ran cold water over her wrists and splashed some on her face. Then she opened the door and walked back into the bedroom.
Gary was right there, waiting for her, holding one of her sweatshirts.
“Here, Jas. Put this on. You’re shivering like a leaf in the wind.”
She dragged the garment over her head, avoiding the sight of the bed.
“I can’t stay in the room,” she told Hondo. She looked at the people milling around, avoiding the site of the bed.
“Of course not.” Gary took her hand. “Come on. Let’s go into the living room.”
She hurried to the other side of the room, as far from the bedroom as she could get before curling up in the big chair tucked into a corner. She felt chilled from deep inside her body, as if she’d never get warm again.
“The tea is here.” Hondo walked over to her, carrying a mug with steam rising from it. “I fixed it for her. I’ll sit here with her, Gary. You need to go talk to hotel management, and the cops will be here any minute.”
She looked up into Gary’s face. “He’s not still here, is he?” She gave a frantic look around her room in case she’d missed something.
“No. The guys are sitting on him for the moment in Tony’s room.” He squeezed her hands. “Drink your tea. The hotel sent someone up here, and we’ve got some guests curious about what happened but management is handling that. I have to go see where that is, but Hondo will be right here with you.”
Gary moved away, and Hondo sat on the living floor cross-legged in front of her. He pressed her fingers around the hot mug of tea.
“Drink some, Jasmine. You’re in shock. Come on, honey.”
She lifted the mug to her lips and took a sip. The hot liquid coursed through her system, easing the chill and clearing her brain. By the time she finished the entire mug, with Hondo’s encouragement, she’d regained control of herself. A major feat, since she felt violated in both body and spirit.
She sat back in the chair and allowed herself to look around the room, glad Gary had reserved a mini-suite for her. She didn’t have to be anywhere neat the bed where all the activity was centered. The place where Cobra had attacked her.
Attacked her!
She shuddered as the memory of his body on hers slammed into her.
Hondo took one of her hands. “How about some more tea, Jas?”
She shook her head. “Maybe later. Hondo, I never thought he’d go this far. I thought he was just being his macho asshole self.”
He snorted a laugh. “I think asshole says it all. And don’t take it all on yourself. None of us took it as seriously as we should have.”
“I just figured he’d get tired of being a pest.” She shook her head. “Thought he’d just turn his attention to the groupies who are always all over him.”
“We all did, sad to say. By the time Carson gets through with him, he’ll never get a gig anywhere again except at the bottom of the barrel.” He rose to his feet. “Here comes Gary with one of the cops.”
“Miss Grey?” The uniformed officer held out his hand. “Officer Marsh Drummond. I am so sorry for what happened.”
“Thank you.” Jasmine wet her lips. “Gary told you I’m not filing a formal complaint? I’m sorry, but the papers would get hold of it and….”
Drummond nodded. “I understand.”
“I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around herself, wondering f she’d ever be warm again. “Can you still arrest him?”
The cop nodded. “We plan to. It’s Saturday night, so he’ll be a guest at our jail until Monday when he’ll go before a judge.”
“Then what?”
“He’ll be charged, and the judge will set bail. If he has the bucks, he can be released until trial
date. If not, he’ll continue to enjoy our hospitality.”
“You’ll let us know what happens?” Gary asked.
“I will.” He shook hands with both Gary and Hondo and left.
Everyone else had left, too, thank the lord.
“Gary? I can’t sleep in this room tonight. I’m not sure I can sleep anywhere.”
“I know.” He took her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. “I thought about getting you another room but then decided it would be better to get the hell out of here.”
“Can we do that?”
He nodded. “I spoke to Carson. He’s very concerned about you.”
She chuffed a laugh tinged with hysteria. “I’m concerned about me, too.” Would she ever feel safe again?
“He’s chartered a plane to get us back to Austin. It’s waiting at the airport. Are you okay to pack?”
“Yes, but what about the band and the equipment?”
“Hondo will oversee everything, and the two roadies will pack it all up and get it out of here.”
She pushed herself out of the chair.
“Then let’s get out of here. Leaving can’t be soon enough for me.”
Chapter Two
“Libby, I’m fine, really.”
Jasmine leaned back in her chair and lifted her glass of sweet tea. She took a long drink, pleased to see her hands weren’t shaking. Her cousin Liberty McCoy sat across from her, giving her the fish-eye.
“You sure don’t look fine to me.”
“But I am. Look.” She held out her hand, forcing it to remain steady. “Not even a tremor.”
“You can’t fool me, Jasmine Grey. I’ve known you too long. You always put up a good front.”
Jasmine leaned forward. “I’m doing as well as I can, Libby, and that’s the truth. I get better every day.”
The women were sitting out on Jasmine’s back patio, one of the few places in her new home with any furniture. A soft breeze blew, tickling the leaves in the big oak tree whose branches hung over the patio. Two jackrabbits raced through the tall grass, and, in a grove of trees, white-tailed deer munched on the wild shrubs. The scene was so peaceful, she wondered if she’d ever want to leave it again, especially considering everything that had happened.
But she wasn’t lying to Libby. Three weeks after that terrible night, her nerves had settled and she could sleep through the night. Mostly.
“Carson must have been a raving maniac.”
Jasmine nodded. “And then some. After all, he checked Cobra’s references himself. He says he’s nailing every one of their hides to the wall.”
“Maybe you should take some more time off, Jas. Give yourself some room.”
“I’ve got all the room I need. Anyway, I’m anxious to get onto writing the new material. I’ve got songs buzzing around in my head.”
Libby sighed. “You always were stubborn. So, what’s on the agenda? You gonna spend a bunch of time settling into your new house?”
“Uh-huh.” She took another sip of tea. “If not for the tour, I’d never have been able to buy it.” She grinned. “But I guess I do need more than a bed and a dining room table.”
“I feel a shopping trip coming on.” Libby winked. “I love spending other people’s money.” Then her face turned serious. “Truth to tell, though, Jas, I’m excited to have you living so close to Aron and me, even one county over.”
“Boerne’s a lot closer than Austin,” Jasmine pointed out.
“True that. So about that shopping trip.”
Jasmine was about to answer her when her cell rang. She checked the readout.
“Hey, Carson. What’s up?”
“Well,” the man drawled, “I’ve got good news and bad.”
Jasmine’s hand tightened on the phone. “Let’s have the good first.”
“You knocked it out of the park on the tour, darlin’. I’ve got a file folder full of requests for you.”
“Really?” She almost squealed the word.
“Yes, ma’am. You’re a hot commodity. So hot, the record label wants you back in the studio ASAP.”
“Ohmigod!” She could hardly believe it. “B-but I don’t have all the material I need yet.”
He laughed. “Then you’d best get to writing. I plan to come by and see you one day next week so we can talk over all this stuff.”
Could she do this again? She’d worked so hard for this very thing.
“That’ll be nice, Carson.”
“I don’t suppose I could talk you into coming to Austin.”
She sighed. “Not yet, okay? But soon.”
Since her return from the road trip, except for closing the deal on the house and getting the few pieces of furniture, she’d hardly ventured out. She knew it was silly. Cobra was nowhere around here, but she kept expecting him to jump out at her any minute. Carson’s next words exacerbated the feeling.
“Ready for the bad news?” he asked, his tone even.
“Oh, god, I don’t know. It’s about Cobra, right?” The iced tea threatened to bubble back up in her throat.
“I’m afraid so.”
She swallowed hard. “I thought he appeared before the judge that following Monday. Three weeks ago. What happened?”
“It’s a bailable offense and the judge, in my opinion, set the damn bail too low.” His voice held anger.
“He made bail?” She sat up straight. “But how? He blows all his money.”
“Apparently, he had enough for the 10 percent. The hearing was set for today. I sent someone to court so I’d have a report.”
“And?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear.
“It appears he jumped bail.”
Each one of his words felt like a hammer against her heart.
No, no, no, no!
She wanted to throw the phone across the patio or jump up and scream, or something. Then the fear began to creep through her.
“So wait. You’re saying he’s out there somewhere and no one knows where he is?”
“Take a breath, Jasmine.” Carson’s voice remained low and even. “I’ve got a private investigator on it. We’ll find him.”
“Before he finds me?” Hysteria was about to take over.
“He has no idea where you are. If he looks anywhere, it will be Austin, but you don’t even live there any more. And only the people closest to you know where your new house is.”
Jasmine sat there clutching the phone, trying to figure out what to do next.
Carson cleared his throat. “Listen. Why don’t I come down tomorrow? We can talk about what I’ve got going for you, look at possible replacements for Cobra so we can start rehearsals, and you can get to work on some new material. It will keep your mind occupied and not dwelling on that asshole.”
“Carson, I don’t know if I can concentrate enough to work. Or if I even want to get back to it.”
“We’ll talk tomorrow. Are you okay for tonight?”
Was she? Would she be okay by herself tonight? Yes, damn it, she would.
“Yes,” she said at last. “What time tomorrow?”
After confirming the details for the next day she hung up and glanced over at Liberty who stared hard at her.
“What’s up?” she asked. “And don’t give me any shit about nothing’s up.”
“Carson’s coming to see me tomorrow.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I heard all that, but I want the bad news. It’s about Cobra, right?”
“Yes.” Jasmine tightened her grip around her glass.
“Well? Give.”
Jasmine swallowed. “Okay. It seems he jumped bail and no one knows where he is.”
“Well, damn, Jasmine. That’s not good. And here you are, all alone in the middle of nowhere.”
“I am, but he also doesn’t know where to find me,” she reminded her.
“At the moment.” Libby frowned. “But you need to discuss some kind of security with your manager tomorrow.”
“I’ll be fine,” she insisted. “Hardly anyone
can find this house as it is, anyway.” The last thing she wanted was people getting in a tizzy over this. They had their own lives. She’d talk to Carson about it. Yes, it made her uneasy, but she wasn’t any scared little girl afraid of her own shadow. She’d be damned if she let Cobra turn her into one.”
“I’ve got an idea.” Libby snapped her fingers. “Come home with me for tonight.”
“What?” Jasmine stared at her. “I can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?” Her cousin leaned across the table. “I’ve got a guest room and plenty of food.”
“And a family to take care of.”
“Oh, for goodness sake.” Libby slapped her hand on the table. “Aron will chew my ass out if I leave you here alone.”
Jasmine knew she’d be a lot better off—at least feel a lot better off—if she spent the night at the McCoys’ place. But what about tomorrow and the day after and the day after that?
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be fine.” She giggled. “And tell Aron no ass chewing except in private.”
“Jasmine!” Libby fanned herself with her hand. Then she sighed. “Okay, but you need to think about getting some kind of protection. At least an alarm system.”
“It would only protect the house,” she pointed out. “With all the deer and other animals out there on my six acres, some four-footed critter would be tripping the sensors almost on an hourly basis.”
“At least it would be better than nothing.”
“Libby.” Jasmine put as much patience into her voice as she could. “I live out here in the middle of noplace on six acres. I only have a cell phone, no landline, so I’m not easy to find. And if someone did break in, it would take forever before security got someone out here, so how would it help?”
“At least discuss it with Carson tomorrow, okay?”
She nodded. “I promise I’ll do that.”
“What are you going to do about going back on tour again?”
Jasmine sighed. “The first thing I have to do is get a new bass player. Hiring one is Carson’s job, and I don’t know how long it will take. I’ll know more details after I meet with him.”
“You call me as soon as he leaves, you hear?”
