Chapter 19

"Fuck." His voice was 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 nearly 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.

Suddenly the pressure of his body was gone. Voices surrounded her and she tried to focus on what was happening. 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 it 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 he lifted her off the bed with incredible gentleness and carried her over to a chair. When he settled her into it he made sure the blanket covered every bit of her. 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 practically shouted thre word. "I'll have to go file a complaint against him, the papers will get it, and it will be a big mess."

"Jasmine." She could hear the patience in 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 was back. "Cobra's down the hall in Tony's room with Tony 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 alright again.

She took a look at herself in the bathroom mirror, noting the bruise marks on her breasts, the imprint of fingers on her face where he'd grabbed her. 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 felt chilled from deep inside her body, as if she'd never get warm again.

"The tea is here." Hondo's voice. "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. "Is-Is he still here?"

"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. Let me take care of all that but Hondo will be right here with you."

Gary stood up and Hondo sat on the 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 was more in control of herself. A major feat, since she felt violated in both body and spirit.

When the mug was empty she sat back in the chair and allowed herself to look around the room. She was so glad Gary had reserved a mini-suite for her. The chair she sat in was in the living room area while all the activity centered around the bed 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."

"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 that 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 pulled the blanket more tightly around herself. "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.

Jasmine saw that 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 I decided it would be better to just 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." She wondered if she'd 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 dropped the blanket and rose from the chair.

"Then let's get out of here. Leaving can't be soon enough for me."