My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 67 Heartbeats And Bruises

Evelyn

For a moment, my entire world ground to a halt. There was an odd sense of relief that coursed through my nerves as the guy's hand finally released its grip on me. Yet, the shock of seeing Jacob Adriano, right there before my eyes, was overwhelming. I just couldn't get over it.

Is he really here?

My eyes stretched wide with surprise, my mind struggling to process the sight. And then, for a fleeting second, my vision went blank, only to be filled with the crimson stain on Jacob's knuckles and the fresh trickle of blood streaming down the assailant's nose. Even in my inebriated state, it wasn't hard to piece together that Jacob had just thrown a punch, a moment I'd missed while I had zoned out. He is here....

Everything was just happening too fast or it was just me and the intoxication of the alcohol. But I doubted, it was just the alcohol.

With a single glance in my direction, his piercing green eyes carrying a storm of anger beneath them, Jacob seized the man by his collar and delivered another resounding blow to his face. Why was he here?

"She said no, you fucking bastard!" The final punch sent the man sprawling to the ground, his body skidding a few metres away.

I watched the scene unfold in hysteria, my body still trembling from the realization of how close I had come to a possible horrific occasion just seconds ago—I almost got raped today. Almost.

Jacob didn't halt at just two punches, leaving the guy barely conscious on the ground. As the assaulter struggled to regain his senses, perhaps contemplating a desperate escape just as I had moments ago when he chased me down like a hunter, Jacob seized him again and, with ruthless outrage, slammed him against a nearby pillar. Blow after brutal blow rained down upon the man-his face, his gut, his neck- no part of his body went untouched.

My heart sank, a deep sense of dread settling in. At this rate, Jacob would end up killing the guy.

Summoning the last reserves of strength I had, I rushed forward, desperation in my voice. "Jacob, please, stop..."

There was no response, only the image of a man unhinged, a frenzied beast driven by blind rage. He continued to pummel the assailant as if his sole purpose was to snuff out his life, and nothing in the world could deter him.

No! I

contact. His breathing was laboured, his chest rising and falling with the force of his fury. Beneath the curtain of chestnut hair that framed his face, I could glimpse the simmering anger in

he wouldn't stop this way. I had

futile attempt to pull him away. But he

barked, pausing briefly to speak, his grip still vice-like on the battered man's collar. The victim now appeared barely conscious, his face a grotesque canvas of blood

warning, Jacob struck the man's face again, blood splattering across the pillar, the nearby wall, and

and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. If Jacob ended up killing this man, he could land in jail. Panic coursed through my mind like a speeding train, and I teetered on the precipice of uncertainty, unable to grasp what I

to stop him. I just had to no matter

from behind with all the strength I could muster, wrapping my arms tightly around him, grasping onto the t-shirt beneath his leather jacket and burying my face against his back,

body went rigid, as did

and laden with vulnerability that I didn't really

agonising seconds passed.

sense his hesitation,

struggle, but I also felt

breaths eased ever so slightly. To me, who was utterly attuned to every nuance of this man, nothing went unnoticed-not even a single heartbeat. My apprehension peaked, my fear of whether he would heed my plea and abandon this violence shook me to my

ground, nearly motionless. He blinked and gasped for breath, sprawled on the floor

focus on anything else, Jacob slowly turned to

me feel even more vulnerable than before. It wasn't surprising that I reacted this way-I had

sighing as he cupped my face

end up in the arms of the very person who had caused it. But not a single cell, hair strand, or

tear my gaze away from him. His

put yourself in? If I was even a second late then-" He didn't finish what he had to say,