She was so lost in thought she didn’t feel or hear the steps behind her.
“Give me your purse, lady.”
Jasmine jumped in fright and turned behind her. A man dressed in all black with a hood over his face stood there. A large steel knife glinted with the sunlight. She could see he looked very young, possibly early twenties, but she couldn’t see his features.
Jasmine quickly handed her purse over. She had less than ten dollars in there. She took a few steps back after he grabbed it. Hopefully he would leave now.
He grabbed her arm and shook her. “I didn’t say you could move.”
Jasmine glanced around but the few people driving by paid them no attention. Where were the cops when you needed them, she thought hysterically. She was trying hard not to panic.
“I gave you my purse. Now let me go,” she cried, tears falling down her face.
He looked at her pink dress that had short sleeves. It showed off her tattoo. His eyes landed on her piercing last and long loose hair.
“You look like a wild chick. I wasn’t told about that.” He grinned but it only frightened her more. “Maybe I’ll take you with me. We can have some fun.”
Jasmine screamed loudly. No way was she going to make it easy for him to rape and possibly kill her. She thought of her aunt’s newfound love for life and Drake and all her new friends in Red Hook.
He put his hand over her mouth and placed the knife against her ribs. “Shut up, bitch. Where is your car?”
Jasmine struggled hard hoping someone would notice. She kicked out at him and bit his hand as hard as she could.
“Oww.” He slapped her and grabbed her by her long hair. They fell to the ground together and she felt a pain in her side. His eyes widened with shock. “Oh shit. I didn’t mean to stab you. You fell on the knife.”
He started running across the street and down an alleyway. Jasmine looked at her hand and saw bright red blood. She laid her head back on the ground, feeling dizzy. Please God, let someone call the police.
* * * *
Drake and Noah were going over some ideas for the autumn festival. “I can’t believe summer is almost over. I feel like Carlos was just born yesterday.” Noah smiled, thinking of his six-week-old son.
“I know. He is old now.” Drake laughed. “And getting chubby.”
“What can I say? He loves his mama’s milk,” Noah said proudly. “He’s a smart boy.”
“Too much info, bro. Alana is like my sister. I don’t need that image in my head.” Drake teased. He had babysat Carlos just two days ago with Jasmine. It made him think of marriage and babies with his own woman. Things between him and Jasmine were running smoothly. His family adored her sweetness and kind heart. He hated spending any time away from her. He always thought his job was number one in life. He still enjoyed his career but it didn’t consume him. A black-haired beauty with big blue eyes did. Maybe he should ask her to move in with him. She would be closer to work, he thought, and that sounded like a good selling point.
“There was a stabbing.” Helen came in the office with tears running down her cheeks. “Harvey from the hardware store called it in.”
Noah stood up right away his expression turning hard. It must have reminded him of Alana’s stabbing. “Who?”
“Jasmine,” Helen whispered, looking at Drake with sorrow. “He ran off with her purse.”
Drake felt his vision get blurry and his knees get week. He couldn’t have heard her right. “Jasmine?”
Helen nodded. “I called the EMTs already.”
Drake ran for his car but Noah beat him there insisting on driving.
“She’ll be at the hospital already, Drake,” Noah said calmly. Drake couldn’t feel calm. He felt nauseated and his heart was thumping hard. Noah called over the radio for Sam to interview Harvey and get as much information as possible.
They arrived at the hospital with sirens and lights blaring. Drake jumped out of the car before Noah could even stop completely.
He ran into the sliding doors at full speed. “Jasmine Garrett?”
A nurse frowned but pointed down a long hallway. Drake ran and almost knocked Liam over.
Liam prevented him from toppling over. “Whoa there, buddy.”