Kayla pushed Juliette again, then turned away from her, coming towards me. Thank fuck.
“No!” Juliette screamed. She threw herself into Kayla’s side and they both went flying. It felt like I was watching in slow motion, but they were falling too fast for me to catch Juliette. They landed with a loud crack, then the floor was wet. Fuck. Kayla had gotten ahold of a beer bottle.
“Get off me, bitch!” Kayla shrieked.
I wanted nothing more than to scoop Juliette up and carry her to safety, but my training was too ingrained. I couldn’t attend to her before securing the danger. Against every instinct, I left Juliette there and pulled Kayla up. I dragged her to the end of the aisle and, finally, now that it was mostly under control, the store owner came over. I handed her over to him with her arms held behind her back and ran to Juliette who was trying to stand up.
“Stop, baby. Let me help you. It’s wet and there’s broken glass everywhere.” I quickly scanned her body. No visible injuries. I crouched next to her and brushed her hair away to see her face. “Are you okay? Where do you hurt?”
“I’m okay. Just help me up,” Juliette said, her voice trembling.
I slid my arms around her and pulled her up, supporting her weight against my body. I held her close, furious that her usual coconut scent was replaced by the odor of beer.
“I’m okay,” Juliette said gently. When her eyes met mine, they were soft and clear. No sign of pain or fear. I’m glad one of us was okay, because every muscle in my body was still tense with the fear and anger coursing through me. “I’m okay, honey,” she reassured me again.
“I’m glad. But I’m not. I need to hold you.” I continued to hold her tightly against me for another moment, before I shifted my hands to her shoulders and gently stepped back so I could see her more clearly. When I was sure she was steady on her feet, I released her to run my hands up and down her body. “Does anything hurt?”
“No, I’m okay. Promise.” I pulled Juliette back into my arms.
I heard sirens approaching. There was nothing else I needed to do but wait. I looked back at the shelf where Kayla had pushed Juliette and saw the six-pack with the missing bottle right behind where they’d been standing. Thank God Kayla came after me with it and not Juliette.
“You’ll pay for this! You won’t get away with assaulting me and Leo!” Kayla was straining against the cashier and spewing threats at us.
I twisted my body so I could keep an eye on Kayla, but keep her out of sight for Juliette. “Shh,” I whispered against Juliette’s cheek. “I’ve got you now. They can’t do anything to us.”
Kayla had been a thorn in my side since before the divorce, but I’d never, in all our time together, seen her this unhinged. She had to be on something. Meth probably. Leo looked like trouble. He looked better unconscious on the floor.
A minute later three SAPD officers rushed in. I recognized two of them. “Officer Axton. Officer Roberts,” I greeted with chin lifts.
“Larke. What’s going on here?” Quint Axton asked, while his partners went to Kayla and Leo.
I quickly filled him in, grateful that it was an officer I’ve known professionally and personally for years.
After I said everything I needed to, he turned to Juliette and extended a hand to shake. “I’m Quint Axton, with the SAPD. It’s nice to meet you, Juliette.” I hated how Juliette’s hand trembled as she reached towards him. She wasn’t nearly as okay as she wanted me to think.
Quint’s radio crackled and announced the arrival of the paramedics.
After a brief argument with Juliette, she was loaded in the ambulance, and we were on our way to the hospital. I knew I only won the argument because Quint said it would help build a case against Kayla and Leo. An assault charge against Leo wouldn’t hold him for long, and there was nothing that would stick against Kayla, but I was going to throw everything I could at this.
Kayla and Leo were a threat to my woman.
When I’d first spotted Kayla tonight, I was worried she’d hurt Juliette with her words, but I never thought she’d be physically violent. But now… If there was anything I knew about my ex, it was that when she got an idea in her head, she latched on like a pit bull. The threats and hatred Kayla had spewed towards Juliette could not be taken lightly.
I quickly shotmy arm out to grab my phone and turn off the alarm before it woke Juliette. I hated that I had to leave her today.
We were only at the hospital for a short time last night. Thankfully, Juliette hadn’t hit her head, and she was lucky to walk away with just a few bruises. The police took our full statement at the hospital, so when we were released, we were able to come straight home.
Juliette was incredible. She was clearly proud of herself for stopping Kayla from hitting me with that bottle. I was livid that she risked her safety for mine, but after seeing her fight back a smile as she told that part to the cops, my anger melted away, leaving only pride in its wake.
When we arrived back at my apartment, we showered together, and I washed the stench of beer and fear off of Juliette. I wanted to kiss and caress every inch of her body to reassure myself she really was okay, but she could barely keep her eyes open.
I dried us off and led her to bed. Juls fell asleep within seconds, her head nuzzled against my chest and our arms wrapped around each other, but I lay awake for hours, watching her and replaying the night over and over. Except in my head, Kayla hit Juliette with the bottle. Or slammed her head into the shelf. Or broke the bottle and cut her with it. As the hours wore on, the scenarios grew worse. Juliette’s warm body against mine and her steady breaths wafting on my chest were the only things that kept me sane. I wanted to fucking kill Leo and Kayla. Juliette was so precious. So fragile in some ways and so strong in other ways. She’d overcome so many obstacles already and I fucking hated that my baggage was threatening her safety.
I sighed as I looked at the time. I hated to wake Juliette, but unless I could convince her otherwise, she had to get up for work. She looked so beautiful in the glow of the morning sun, so peaceful sleeping with her head on my chest, her hand on my waist, and her leg wrapped around mine. I loved how she held onto me in her sleep. I kissed her gently all over her beautiful face, everywhere I could reach, while gliding my hand up and down her back.
Juliette blinked her eyes open, slowly coming awake, then tilted her head up and gifted me the most gorgeous smile. I had to blink back tears and swallow the ball of emotion in mythroat before I could talk. “Good morning, beautiful.” My voice sounded hoarse and strained, even to my own ears.
She slid her hand up my chest and rested it against my face as her eyes searched mine. “Are you okay?” she asked in the softest whisper.