Surviving The Aftermath [Book Three]

Thirteen

Kobe

I showered at the gym, changing back into jeans and a t-shirt. I grabbed out my phone to send Demi a message.

Me: I'm leaving now baby ❤️

I gave Jay a wave as I headed out, grabbing my car keys from my pocket. I backed out of the parking lot, sighing at the paparazzi that were dotted around. I'm not even famous and they still intend on getting their weekly, or sometimes daily, snap. I turned up the radio and instantly beamed as Demi's soft voice filled my car. There's nothing I love more than Demi's voice. It's so rough and sexy, but it can also be soft and sweet. Her voice is so versatile and I could listen to it for hours. The drive home took around 20 minutes, and when I parked in the driveway it was exactly 16:00.

"Told you I'd be home by 4" I lightly chuckled as I spoke to myself, pulling my key from the ignition. I climbed from the car and grabbed out my gym bag, my eyes suddenly furrowing in confusion at the unfamiliar car in the driveway. I wonder if she has a friend over. I headed up to the front door and the sight that I was greeted with had me seething with anger. Demi was pinned against the wall by none other than Max who looked as if he has kissing her neck. His hands were settled on her ass, his jeans barely fastened around his waist. For a moment, I was stumped. My breathing became heavy and I could feel a need to punch someone but my heart also hurt. It ached. It physically broke in my chest as I watched the love of my life get felt up by her ex. Does she want this?

"Max, no" my heart sunk into my stomach at Demi's broken whimper. She hadn't yet noticed me in the door. "Max, stop. I don't..." she cried out as Max just slammed her into the wall. Bastard. I saw red. My hands clenched into fists at my side as I stormed towards the pair. I grabbed the son of a bitch by the back of his shirt and yanked him away from my fiancée.

"She said no, you sick fuck" I couldn't resist, and my fist collided with his face. He dropped to the floor, his hand flying to his jaw. Dammit, not hard enough, he's still breathing.

"Kobe" I glanced back at Demi who whimpered, she was slightly slumped against the wall, tears pouring down her cheeks.

"Baby, you're okay" her hand flew to her mouth and my heart broke as she sobbed. I took her into my arms, my grip tight around her. "You're okay, Baby" I ran my fingers into her hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"He-He wouldn't..."

"Just breathe, Baby, okay?" her hands clutched at the back of my shirt. "Did he hurt you? Did he touch you at all?" her head shook. I glanced back at Max as he groaned, blood spluttering from his mouth. I tried not to smile as I just focused all of my attention on Demi.

"You fucker."

"Touch my girlfriend again, and you'll get a whole lot worse coming for ya" I hissed as I glared back at Max who just groaned out in pain. "You're lucky I only punched you" Demi whimpered as I pulled away from her and cupped her face in my hands. "Are you sure he didn't hurt you, Baby?" the fear in her eyes broke my heart. I stroked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"He-He didn't..." she stopped herself as she sniffled, releasing a breath before she carried on. "He just gripped my hips, that's all" I dropped my hands from her face.

"Can I have a look?" she nodded her permission. I lifted her dress slightly even though it was already bunched around her hips. "You look gorgeous, Baby" she lightly giggled, we both just ignored Max as he gagged. A whole new wave of anger surged through me at the slowly forming bruises on Demi's hips. "I'm going to kill him" Demi ran her hand along my cheek.

"He isn't worth it."

"He hurt you" she just shrugged.

"It isn't anything I haven't experienced before" my heart broke. I mean it literally shattered in my chest.

"Baby" I wrapped my arms back around her, my lips pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

"Fuck" I glanced back at Max, Demi detaching herself from my grip. He rolled his eyes and released a painful laugh as he stood. "Your boyfriend's fucked up" Demi held her arm out in front of me as I felt my body tense. "You deserve each other" blood dribbled from his mouth. "You think you'll get to keep my kids after this?" I watched as Demi's face flashed with panic. "I'm going to fight for them and if I win, you won't ever see them again."

"You think I'm messed up?" I could see that Demi was moments away from a breakdown. "You nearly raped me, Max" he rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"Like the police will..." he cut himself off as sirens filled the air. My eyebrows furrowed as I glanced down at Demi. "What the fuck?" Max suddenly looked panicked.

"I dialled them. When you were trying to undo your jeans" she pulled her phone from the pocket of her jacket. "Don't underestimate me. You'll never see the girls again, and if you do, it'll be supervised by somebody. You just lost everything, Max, and you only have yourself to blame" she looked so smug and in that moment, I was so proud to know her. She wasn't letting this ruin her. She's my little warrior.

"Get the door, Baby" I pressed a kiss to Demi's temple as a knock sounded on the door.

"You can't let her do this, Man" I just rolled my eyes.

"You deserve it" the police filtered into the house, instantly heading to Max who didn't object to being handcuffed. He knew that he was busted. They would have caught everything that he said and did to her.

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