Vision in Trust (Legends of the North #2) (11 page)

Jess began to shiver and grabbed a sweater from off the floor. It didn't help, though, as her teeth started to chatter. She knew she was safe, but Rob's face as he lay there kept floating behind her eyelids when she closed them. The feeling that he was more than injured kept flashing through her mind. What if he were dead? She sobbed and bit down on her fist to stop herself from breaking down completely, knowing that wouldn't be helpful right then. She scrambled off the bed, rummaging through the pile of clothes on the floor until she found some jeans and yanked them on.
 

She didn't need to be Matt to work out the meaning of an owl. Owls were wise, and if one wanted to tell her that Rob was hurt, well, who was she to argue? Jess pulled on a pair of socks and dragged a brush through her hair. She didn't care if she was crazy; she had to see Rob. Her gaze darted to the bedside clock as she pulled the bedroom door open—six a.m. She hoped he'd be tucked up in bed, alone, but she wouldn't calm down until she knew he was okay. Until she had seen him with her own eyes.

***

Stopping the car outside Rob's house, she noticed the gate was open. Pulling her sweater up around her neck, she stepped out into the cold, the slam of the car door shutting behind her the only noise in the quiet morning.

As she rounded the car, she saw that the gate was propped open with a shoe. When she got closer, she realised the shoe was still attached to a foot, and she lurched forward. When she saw him on the ground, she wished she hadn't. Her hand rose and covered her mouth, eyes watering as she took a shaky breath.

"Rob," she whispered before she dropped to her knees. Hesitantly, she reached towards him, and a sense of déjà vu hit her. It felt like finding James in the vault all over again. Except James had been okay, so Rob was going to be okay too. He would be all right, she kept telling herself, over and over.
 

Jess glanced around, but they were alone, and his front door was closed. She patted his pockets until she found his house keys. But as she looked down, she knew there was no way she could move him on her own, even if it was only a few metres to inside his house.

With a groan, she pulled out her mobile. Should she call Matt? But how would she explain being there? Or James? But then James wouldn't be that impressed that she was alone outside Rob's house at this time of the morning. Matt would find out at some point, she thought, pressing the phone icon next to his number. As she waited for him to answer, she started to bounce up and down on her toes.
Come on, come on, answer.
When it went to voicemail, she swore and dialed again, until he answered.

"Jess? What's wrong?"

"It's Rob."

"What happened?"

"I ... I don't know. I found him outside his house, and he's unconscious. I think he's been attacked, but I can't move him by myself, and I can't leave him here."

"Why are you ...? Never mind. I'm on my way. I'll see you soon."

Jess hung up and slid her phone back into her pocket then sat next to Rob, brushing her hand over his hair.

***

"Jess?"

At the sound of Matt's voice, she looked up from beside Rob, where she had become lost in her own morbid thoughts. Matt helped her up and pulled her into a brief hug.

"You doing okay?"

She nodded, because if she said anything, it would all just pour out, and he would know she was anything but okay.

"Come on. I'll get his shoulders. You take his feet."

She helped Matt roll Rob over onto his back then lifted his feet, and between them, they carried him inside to the sofa. Hunting through his closet, she found a blanket to cover him and took a seat on the footstool next to him. Matt knelt down next to her.

"Do you want me to take you home?"

Dragging her gaze from Rob, she looked at her brother through narrowed eyes. "We can't just leave him here, alone."

"I know. If you can drive yourself home, I'll stay with him."

Grabbing the end of her ponytail, she twisted her hair around her hand. Turning from Matt, she said, "It's okay, I'll stay with him." Her gaze never left Rob as she waited for Matt to say something.
 

After what felt like an eternity, he stood and rested a hand on her shoulder. She let out the breath she'd been holding.

"Let me know if you need anything, and call me when he wakes up."

Covering his hand with her own, she nodded. "I will. And Matt, thanks."

After Matt had left, she took off Rob's shoes and tucked the blanket over his feet. Hesitantly, she pressed a hand to his cheek; it felt cool but not icy. Gently, she traced her thumb across his lip but stopped when her hand started to shake.

Standing, she made her way into his kitchen and switched on the kettle. Resting her elbows on the worktop, she dropped her head into her hands and quietly let the tears fall.

Thinking James was dead had been awful, the attacks on Matt and Emma terrifying, but this? She felt like she was losing her mind, and somehow responsible for whatever had happened to Rob. Hadn't she seen him in her vision in the exact same position she'd found him in? What if she could have done something to stop it? Instead, she'd been too busy pathetically wondering why he hadn't been in touch with her. Because she couldn't have called him, could she? Or texted him.
 

This was her fault. If Rob didn't recover, she'd never forgive herself.

Rob woke to the sound of the radio and, when he opened his eyes, found himself in his own living room, on his own sofa. Shit, he had no idea how he'd made it home. He needed to stop drinking so much, he thought, especially when his head throbbed as he sat up
. Where did the blanket come from?
The horrible thought that he might have actually brought someone home with him crossed his mind, but the last thing he could remember was leaving work.

"You're awake, then?"

Slowly, he turned his head and saw Jess standing in the kitchen doorway. Now he really was confused. Why would Jess be at his place? "Yeah," he said, and then cleared his throat as his voice cracked over the word.

"Do you remember what happened?" she asked, kneeling in front of him.

He reached out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, and she leaned her cheek into his hand. In answer, he shook his head, stroking his thumb over her cheek as it started to flush beneath his touch.

"I found you, outside on the path. Unconscious."

He remembered he had been going home, thinking about taking Jess out, then pain. Someone had hit him from behind, like a coward. "Someone hit me."

In response to his words, her eyes widened. "Who?"

He shrugged, then winced, as pain radiated down his back.
 

Jess stood and leaned over him, pulling at his sweater to peek down the back of it. "You have red marks around your neck, and down your back. I think it's going to bruise. It ..."

Leaning back, so he could see her face, he asked, "What?"

Jess let go of his sweater and looked over his head, not meeting his gaze. "It doesn't look the same as when Matt was attacked."

He took hold of her hand and tugged at it until she sat next to him. "I don't think it was the same. There was no strange darkness, or weird feeling beforehand. Someone just jumped me from behind, which—" He stopped speaking and started to check his pockets. "—come to think of it, is strange. They haven't taken anything, so they weren't after money or my phone. It doesn't make any sense."

Jess dropped her head at his words, biting down on her bottom lip as the feeling she was about to cry again hit her. Rob's finger underneath her chin forced her head gently upwards until their gazes met.

"What is it?"

One tear escaped, and she roughly brushed it away with the back of her hand. "I thought ... maybe it was my fault you were attacked."

Not responding to her admission, he leaned forward and dropped his hand to her hips. Firm fingers wrapped around her and dragged her onto his knee until her legs were straddling his. One hand ran up the length of her back and wrapped around her ponytail, tugging her head to the side, the other gripping her waist.
 

Her eyes started to close in anticipation, but he squeezed her side. He waited until she looked into his eyes and said, "It doesn't matter if it was your fault. I'd fight anyone, or anything if it meant keeping you safe."

Her tongue slipped out to wet her lips as she tried to swallow, but his words ... He didn't give her time to respond. Except the gasp that escaped her as he pressed his warm, wet lips to her bare shoulder. How had she not noticed him pull her sweater aside? The rest of her thoughts vanished as his hot tongue trailed a line of fire across her skin, licking along her neck towards her ear. When he reached her earlobe, he bit down on it, and she felt it deep in her stomach. But he didn't stop; he kissed his way down her jaw, and she was almost panting, screaming in her head for him to kiss her. He trailed a path of kisses back down her throat, sinking his teeth into the tender flesh where her neck and shoulder met.

Her head dropped back, and she moved on his lap from the feelings he was creating inside, but that just left her wanting more. As she wriggled, she felt his arousal hard against her and froze.
 

But he just carried on, lost in the moment as he worked his way back up her throat. She twisted her head so their lips finally met and fisted her hand in the short hair at the back of his neck. Soft, gentle, his lips caressed hers, but she felt like she would explode if he didn't give her more. Jess wriggled again and that time received a growl from deep in his throat in response.
 

She flicked her tongue across his lips and then, with just the tip, touched his tongue. His hand on her waist tightened as he sucked her tongue into his mouth but then released it.

"Fuck."

Dazed, she pulled back, licking her lips, tasting him. Banging on the front door brought her out of the daze.
 

"I don't think they're going to leave," Rob said, as the knocking sounded again.

Jess let go of him and dropped her head to his shoulder with a laugh.

"I don't see anything funny about this situation," he said, tugging at his jeans.

"It'll be Matt. I was supposed to let him know when you woke up." She remembered a night not so long ago when she was the one interrupting Matt and Emma.
Karma’s a bitch.
Smiling with relief that Rob seemed fine, she stood to answer the door. He dropped his head back onto the sofa cushion and dragged the blanket over his lap.
Yeah, that’s much more subtle. I’m sure Matt won’t notice.
She bit her lip to stop from laughing again.

It had been five long days since she had last seen Rob. They had spoken on the phone, texted, but she hadn't seen him. She'd left not long after Matt had arrived at Rob's, and he'd told her that evening that "they'd talked." She wasn't quite sure what that meant, and he wouldn't elaborate.
 

If she were honest, she was worried that their "talk" was the reason she hadn't seen Rob. The other half of her was worried that he knew who had attacked him and was planning something, but he had denied it when she asked him.
 

At that moment, she was loitering between Altenbury Hall and James's cottage. She wanted to see Rob before they met up with everyone else.

"You waiting for me, sweetheart?"

At the sound of Miles's voice, she cringed but turned to face him, shoulders set, refusing to be intimidated by him. Or at least, let it show to him that she was. "Why would I be waiting for you? What are you even doing here?"

Inching closer to her, he reached out as if to touch her, and she flinched back. "I hate to shatter your illusions, but I'm not here for you," he said, as his hand dropped back to his side. "Your mother invited me to lunch. Will you be joining us?"

Clenching her fists at her sides until her nails dug in, she released them then dug them in again, over and over. "Perhaps when Hell freezes over I will."

Invading her space, he stepped forward until his breath blew across her cheek. He gripped her wrists and pinned them behind her back. Memories of the last time he had held her like that hit her, and she whimpered.

"You know, someone needs to teach you how to behave. I'm sure I can find a way to make you remember that lesson. The same way I did with lover boy." He sneered the last two words into her ear, his lips brushing the shell of it as he spoke, and she shuddered at his touch. As well as the knowledge that he was the one who had attacked Rob.

"Get your hands off her before I do it for you."

At the sound of Rob's voice, Miles released her arms, and she rubbed at her wrists.

Miles turned to face him, and Jess glanced Rob's way. If she didn't know the man, he'd intimidate her. He had heavy black work boots on with faded, ripped jeans, which clung to his thighs. A black T-shirt hung loosely over his waist but clung to his chest, a grey hoodie over the top. The hood was up, throwing his face into shadow, and she had to admit he looked scary but hot as hell at the same time.
 

He glared at Miles, arms folded over his chest, and Jess wondered how Miles had managed to attack Rob. Or with what was probably the more accurate question, as he was dwarfed by Rob's presence.

"Calm down, lover boy. Me and Jess go way back, but don't worry, been there, done that,
so
not interested in getting the T-shirt." Miles checked his wrist, glanced at his watch, and then carried on as though he hadn't just insulted her. "Anyway, I'm going to be late for lunch. So nice catching up with you, Jess. We'll have to do it again soon."

She took another step back as he walked past her, towards the Hall, and she shook her head.
What is my mother doing inviting him for lunch?

Rob moved towards her but didn't touch her, just shoved his hands in his pockets and glared at Miles's back as he walked away from them.

"Thanks," she said quietly.
 

"We should get going. Everyone else will already be at your brother’s by now."