Chapter 10

JPOV

My mind was reeling. I tried to analyze the situation logically by questioning everything that I saw: her shoes were sitting by the door, the door was wide open, the food spread all over the floor, the lack of lights in the house. While I was waiting for my phone to connect with the 911 operators and while I was evaluating the situation further, I heard a muffled cry and a bang on a wall upstairs.

I saw red. I debated whether or not to go back to my house to grab my Ruger out of my gun safe, but I did not have time right now. Whatever I had to do, it had to be done without my 9mm. It had to be done for my woman.

My Bella.

I growled and my breathing accelerated; all of my training and military experience left me well equipped to handle whatever situations that would be dished out upstairs. I walked quickly across the room to turn the light off, adjusting my eyes to the potential darkness upstairs. I set my phone down on the counter to let it connect with the police; they would come out to check on what happened no matter what because of the inconclusive phone call and tracing the phone. There would be back up eventually; I would at least assume.

Once my eyes were adjusted adequately, I quietly ascended her stairs, my back against the wall. The silence was still all-encompassing except for shifting floorboards; I could only assume that it was the unnamed villain. As I reached the top of the stairs, I said a silent prayer asking God to provide the strength that I could potentially need. I was also thankful again that her house had the same floor plan as mine, otherwise I would have a certain disadvantage here. My mind re-focused and my line of sight was set on her bedroom door.

The light was on.

The bathroom in my house led to a closet that led to the bedroom. That door does not have a lock and I decided it as my route to retrieve my damsel in most certain distress. I sneaked into the bathroom, then into the closet as I stilled and listened. The low voice filled my head as I tried to identify it.

"You little whore. You really think that you are even worth it to that other douche bag? He doesn't want you. No one wants you. I am the only possible person that would even tolerate you, and this is how you repay me? Sleeping around?"

I bit my knuckles to hold back on my curses toward the man. I knew the voice - Jacob. How could someone who told her that he loved her at one point turn on her so hostilely? I waited a bit longer to figure out how I could get her out of her predicament.

"You think you're a big girl, Bells, but you can't do anything without me. You need me," Jake snarled. His voice was menacing, perhaps with a twinge of madness. Hot adrenaline pumped through my veins as I readied myself.

"I don't need you, Jake. My life will be fine without you, but you are the one who screwed up. You are the one who won't be able to do anything without me and I am through with you. I have someone who wants me for who I am and that someone is definitely not you," Bella's bravery with this coward was fierce and unwavering.

Loud thumps walked across the room and I heard skin slap skin, hard, followed by thump to the ground which I could only assume was Bella falling. She cried out in pain as Jacob screamed, "You will want me or nothing! I will have you and no one else will!"

I stood silently, my hood from my sweatshirt sliding over my head to cover my head. The doorknob opened easily as light filled the closet I was hiding in and I glanced around the room. Bella was on the floor near me, laying on her side holding her beautiful face that was just recently assaulted. Her sweatshirt was ripped from collar to sternum, revealing scratches and a small cut on her collarbone.

My head raised to glance at Jacob. He stood at the foot of her bed with clenched fists; expressions of fury and a slight flash of sorrow revealed his inner turmoil. He was glaring at Bella until his anger was channeled at me, staring daggers into my eyes. This man was not well.

I stepped forward toward Bella; her eyes remained closed to block out any further pain that Jacob would push onto her. I knelt down to her and called to her, willing her to look at me. "Bella, look at me," I commanded. She sunk further into her fetal position, gripping her knees with her hand.

Just then, a strong fist knocked into my cheekbone, stunning my for a short moment. My head turned to the left and I held it there, waiting for the stars to clear from my head. I stood slowly and turned toward Jacob, glaring into his dark eyes. My hand reached up and pulled the hood from my head, never breaking our staring match. His eyes were bloodshot and tired. Mine were furious and focused, knowing that his next move would be to his detriment. I challenged him with my stare.

"You need to leave," He stated. The slight quiver in his voice made his demand sound like more of a request to me.

I stepped forward toward him, my glare unwavering. Jacob started to shake with anger, fear, and something else that I was not certain of. He brought his fist back as I took another step forward and he rocketed his closed hand into my other cheekbone. I turned my head and closed my eyes again, basking in the extra shot of adrenaline that pulsed through me. My head turned back toward Jacob and I opened my eyes, re-engaging my intense stare. He trembled and broke the stare as he took two steps backwards.

My body pounced at his weakness and I jumped forward, gripping his t-shirt with my left hand. I brought my right hand over my left arm and slammed the back of my hand forward, connecting sharply with his cheekbone. His eyes closed and squeezed out tears of pent up emotion that he was trying to conceal.

"I," I breathed, pulling my right fist back and pushed forward again, punching him in the opposite cheekbone.

"Am NOT," I grunted as I continued my pummeling, knocking his head into the wall as I rammed him into it.

"Going to leave," my hand opened as it I slapped his face with as much intensity as I could muster. I know that I could have delivered a blow to his stomach, but the fact that he slapped this beautiful creature on the ground next to me left me wanting to to provide the same courtesy to him. I continued, grabbing his shirt and stood inches away from his crying face, "Without MY Bella."

He stood heartbroken, shaking and defeated. My grip around his shirt loosened and he fell to the floor, covered his face with his hands and wept. To ensure that he got the point, I spoke again, "If you come near Bella or me again, you have my word that you will regret that decision." My threat was not empty as he cowered.

Sirens blared in the distance, coming closer and closer. My attention turned from Jacob to Bella, who was still in the fetal position, covering her face with her hands. I walked quickly over to her and slid my arm underneath her legs and back, picking her up in my arms. She squirmed slightly, likely thinking that the arms holding her were the man who threatened her life previously.

"Bella, darlin', please look at me," I pleaded softly. She must have recognized my voice as she stopped her squirming and settled into me, but not removing her hands. The sirens ceased, but red and white lights filled the bedroom from the window as they circled through the dark outside. I stepped over Jacob as I opened the door, walked down the hallway to the stairs.

Police officers flooded downstairs as I set Bella down on the counter, grabbing her hands from her face and pulling them into her lap. She closed her eyes tighter and dropped her head to her chest. My hands cupped her face softly, rubbing her cheeks with my thumbs, as I tried to pull her out of her trance.

An officer pulled me abruptly away from Bella, pushing me to the ground to restrain me. I did not bother fighting him as he had no idea as to why I had called the police in the first place. All that they saw was a girl with a bruised face and scratched flesh that was obviously traumatized. I tried to talk with the officer, but he put a knee unnecessarily into my back while handcuffing me, pushing all of the air in my lungs out.

Suddenly she cried out, "Stop! He did not do anything! He saved me, my ex-boyfriend is upstairs. He..." Bella's voice clogged up with unshed tears, sobs attacking her fragile state. The police officer rose off of me and pulled me up from the arms locked behind my back. He released me as the rest of the officers climbed the stairs swiftly.

I walked quickly to Bella and my hands found their rightful place again on either side of her face. She glanced up at me, tears streaming down her beautiful, swollen cheeks. Before I claimed her mouth with mine, I asked, "Are you okay, darlin'?"

She smiled as best as she could, "Yes. Jasper, I..."

My mouth connected with hers as gently as I could, kissing her softly as though my lips were the only medicine for the pain that she was feeling. Her lip quivered as she kissed me back, her lower lip turning down as she tried to hold in her tears. I kissed her cheeks tenderly, knowing that they were likely throbbing from the beating she took from Jake.

"I am sorry that I was too late. If I were only here earlier, I could have..." My emotions almost got away with me as my voice trembled as well.

"Jasper, you saved me. I don't know what kind of situation that I would be in now if it weren't for you," she slid down off of her counter and stood in front of me, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist. My arms held her securely, rubbing her back soothingly.

The cops descended the stairs with a restrained, broken Jacob in handcuffs. He kept his head to the ground as he walked past us and Bella kept her head hidden in my chest. They brought him out of her front door and, outside of the obligatory questioning from the police, I knew that it was all over.

I exhaled and pulled Bella closer, placing a kiss in her hair. "Bella, you are safe now." She melted into my touch and gripped me tighter, breathing a sigh of relief.

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Author's note - Let me know what you think of this chapter by kindly reviewing or dropping me a note! This story is not over yet, I promise. Thank you all for taking the time to read this and I hope that you are enjoying your day.