Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Seventeen - Death Wish

Friday, June 8th

I held the edge of the car seat as Edward's Volvo glided through the wet streets. Every muscle in him was coiled, hands gripping the wheel, shoulders tight, and I could feel it through the seat. His focus was absolute, but it didn't mask the worry radiating off him. I shifted slightly, bracing myself, every sense on alert. Bella was coming, and I knew this wasn't going to be simple.

The phone buzzed. Edward's hand moved for it almost instinctively.

"Bella?" His voice was taut, flat, a warning wrapped in control.

"I punched Jacob," Bella admitted. Her voice was sharp, defiant, but under it, I could hear the adrenaline, the anger, the frustration.

Edward exhaled sharply. "Good," he said bleakly. My stomach clenched. Good? She'd been hurt. That should never feel like good.

"I wish I'd hurt him," Bella added. I ground my teeth. That was more like it.

"What did he do?" Edward asked, wary now.

I felt a surge of protective rage. Every word Bella said set off alarms in my chest. My hands curled into fists on my knees, nails biting into my palms. I wanted to leap out of the car, storm in, and make sure Jacob understood just how far he'd crossed the line.

The engine hummed beneath us as Bella muttered curses on the phone. I glanced at Edward—he was calm on the surface, but I could feel his tension, the same instinctive warning I felt in my own chest.

The Volvo slid into the Swan driveway, and I practically shot from the car, Edward right behind me. Rain-soaked pavement splashed under my boots as I moved toward the house. From inside, voices carried—Charlie's voice, too cheerful, and Jacob's smug tone.

I didn't hold back. "What the hell, Charlie?!" I yelled, cutting through the room, my fury raw and unrestrained.

Heads turned. Edward's eyes narrowed, but he didn't speak. I didn't care. My gaze landed on Charlie first.

"What's the problem?" he asked, startled.

I took a step closer, hands shaking with anger. "The problem? You're congratulating him! Do you even realize what he just did? He kissed Bella without her consent—assault! Do you think that's something to pat him on the back for?"

Jacob's grin faltered, just slightly. Edward's jaw was tight beside me, his body rigid. I could feel him ready to spring if needed.

Charlie opened his mouth, but I cut him off, voice sharp and tremulous. "And don't even start with the 'she's your daughter, she can handle it' nonsense. That doesn't change the fact that Jacob crossed a serious line. Assault. Don't you dare excuse it."

The room went still, tension coiling tight. Bella's voice came faintly from the back of the house, but this wasn't her fight right now—I had to make sure no one undermined her.

Charlie sputtered, words stumbling out. "I... I didn't mean—"

"Doesn't matter what you meant!" I snapped, taking another step closer. "Intent doesn't erase the action! You should be worrying about her safety, not congratulating him!"

I heard Bella's voice, sharper now, joining mine. "Dad! If he doesn't leave, I swear I'll find a baseball bat and make him regret it!"

The air thickened. Jacob's grin faltered more, eyes darting between us, and I felt a little surge of satisfaction. Finally, someone was making it clear that there were consequences.

Edward's jaw tightened, eyes flicking between Bella, me, and Jacob. He didn't touch me, didn't need to. I was right here, fully involved, and I could see that he appreciated that. Bella was handling her end, and I was handling mine. Together, we were a wall he wouldn't breach