Page 23 of Sebastian

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Seeing her in the alley, her already pale skin ghostly white, had pierced his heart. When he realized she was injured, it felt as though a bomb had exploded within him. He wanted to hunt down the fucker who hid in her apartment, waiting for her to get back so he could hurt her. That asshole from earlier in the night was top of his list. His mind was going a million miles a minute when several deputies and paramedics arrived to check her out.

He wanted to kick his own ass for not walking her to her door. If he’d just insisted on seeing her to her actual apartment, he could have stopped whoever was in there.

“She’ll need to head in to the hospital to get her leg stitched,” one of the paramedics said when Sebastian pulled him aside.

“I’ve already called a home-visit physician. I’ve been assured they will be here momentarily and can suture her leg.”

“Yeah, okay. Make sure you let them know about her head. It doesn’t seem to be a concussion, but they should still do an evaluation on her, just to be sure. We’ll finish bandaging her leg, so she should be stable until the doctor gets here. Just don’t let her put any pressure on it.”

Sebastian crossed the living room back towards Emma.

“And you didn’t see his face?” John Boone asked. Sebastian had met him a few times through Jackson, who was John’s younger brother.

“No, he was wearing a mask. The only thing I remember is him saying his boss wanted him to take me, but that he could have a little fun with me before then. That’s when he tried to…” she swallowed and her eyes went to the ground. “That’s when he tried to rape me.”

Sebastian’s muscles locked up. He’d seen the state of her dress, but he hadn’t allowed his mind to go there before he’d heard the words come out of her mouth. She was still laying on the floor, the EMT working to wrap up her leg. Sebastian sat down next to her, calmly placing her hand in his.

“I’m so sorry that happened, Emma. How did you get away?”

“I punched him right in his disgusting junk. I was surprise when I actually made contact, I had just assumed it was so tiny I wouldn’t be able to find it.” The EMT laughed. “That’s when he pulled out a knife and cut my leg. I knew I needed to get him off of me, so I grabbed out for anything I could use as a weapon. I had a really heavy ceramic lamp next to my bed, and when I launched it into the side of his head, he didn’t stand a chance.”

Sebastian squeezed her fingers.

“You are amazing, Sprinkles.”

She smiled. After everything she’d been through, she smiled at him. And it completely tore his heart to shreds.

“Is there anything else that you think I should know?”

“No, John, honestly, that’s everything,” she yawned and he watched as her eyes fluttered closed. “He wasn’t still there, in my apartment?”

“No, I’m sorry, Em. The crime scene techs will go through and try to pull any evidence they think could have his DNA on it. Hopefully we’ll get lucky.”

“Crime scene techs,” she mumbled.

“You okay?” Seb asked.

“Yeah. I mean, as okay as I can be. I think it’s just the adrenaline finally leaving my system.”

“Em, I’ve got everything I need for now, but you think of anything, or you need anything, I’m just a phone call away.”

“Thanks, John. I appreciate that.” She closed her eyes as the EMT finished bandaging her leg, and Sebastian stepped away, stopping John from leaving.

“I want you to check into Alan Freemont. He was harassing Emma at the charity auction last night. Put his hand on her arm and wouldn’t take no for an answer until I stepped in. It felt like he didn’t like the idea of Emma having someone defend her like I did.”

“Okay, good.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

“Not good that it happened,” John said quickly. “Just good that we have a place to start. If Emma wants, I’ll work up a restraining order against Alan.”

“I’ll let her know. Thanks, John.”

“I’m happy to help, anytime, but try and keep our girl safe, okay?”

“Yeah, I’m not letting her out of my sight from here on out.”

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