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Timothy Rutherford answered his cell phone less than half an hour after his daughter left the club, listened to his chauffeur's frantic report, and his gaze met Chase's, terror streaking through his mind.
"Timothy, what's wrong?" Cecilia, always attuned to him, gripped his arm as he continued to listen.
"Stay with her," he ordered. "We're on our way. "
"Kia?" Celia's tone was frightened as Chase rose quickly to his feet.
"She was attacked outside her apartment building. Ambulance is on its way. She's unconscious, bleeding from a head wound. "
"My limo is just outside. " Ian was on his feet, as were the others.
Chase didn't wait for them. He tore out of the club, racing out the door and rushing past the valet area to where he'd parked his car.
He was streaking out of the parking lot, tires screaming, gears grinding as he glimpsed the Sinclair limo pulling away from the club.
Km. He knew he should have followed her. Something had told him to follow her, to stay as close to her as possible. This wouldn't have happened if he had been there. If he had taken her home himself. No one would have had a chance to touch her, to hurt her.
She wouldn't be lying on a sidewalk, unconscious, bleeding, if he had been there.
He maneuvered through the congested traffic, cursing, horn blowing. It was a damned wonder he didn't have a cop on his ass when he swung into a parking slot in front of her apartment and jumped from the car.
The ambulance was there, lights flashing. Chase saw blood on the sidewalk and glimpsed the paramedics inside the lobby.
He pushed inside, slamming the doors open, rage and violence coursing through him until he heard her voice.
"I said I'm okay," she snapped. "I swear to God, Drew, if you don't get your hands off me, I'm going to break them. "
Drew!
Chase snarled as he pushed past the small crowd that had gathered and saw her pushing Drew away. An animal force of sheer raw fury overcame him.
"Get the hell away from her!" He grabbed the other man's arm, swung him back, and stared at Kia.
"Let me go, bastard. " Drew jerked his arm back. "You don't have the right be here. "
Chase swung back to Drew furiously. "Don't make me kill you. " Then he turned to look at Kia and felt the blood drain from his face.
A paramedic knelt in front of her, a small light trained on her eyes as she batted at him. Behind her, another was trying to check the gash in her head. She had blood on her forehead, her cheek. It stained her blouse. Chase's knees began to cave.
"Don't tell me to get away from her, Falladay!" Drew exclaimed. "You weren't here. You didn't see her lying on that damned sidewalk. "
Chase gripped the lapels of Drew's jacket, nearly jerking him off his feet. He felt like ramming his fist into his jaw. "Out of my face, out of her life, or I'll make damned sure you regret it. "
He thrust Drew back. ,
"Get away from me," Kia ordered, fear in her voice, as the paramedic probed at her head.
"Ms. Rutherford, you need to let us transport you to the hospital," the female tech kneeling in front of her ordered in a firm voice. "You could have a concussion. That's nothing to play with and that head wound is going to need stitches. "
"I'm fine. " Her voice trembled as Chase rushed to her.
"Kia. Baby. "
Her head turned and a little cry passed her pale lips as she seemed to sway where she had forced the paramedics to allow her to sit instead of lie down.
"Chase. " Her eyes looked dilated, dazed. "Make them leave me alone. "
He knelt beside her, wondering that he had the strength in his legs to keep from falling at her feet in complete terror.
