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"It's okay, baby. " He touched her face with fingers that shook from his utter terror even as they smeared through her blood. "It's okay. I promise. "
"They won't leave me alone. " Tears welled in her eyes. "Tell them I'm fine. Please. I don't want to go to the hospital. "
He saw the concern on the paramedics' faces. From Kia's dilated eyes and paper-white face, he knew she wasn't going anywhere but the hospital. Her eyes looked like bruises in white flesh.
"Baby, I'll go with you," he promised. "I'll ride with you, right beside you. We'll get you fixed right up, and I'll take care of everything. "
"I don't want to go," she whispered. "They don't let you leave. "
Her voice was now edged with panic. He didn't understand it, and he didn't give a damn what he had to promise her.
"It's okay. Trust me, Kia. I won't leave you. " He nodded to the techs as they moved back for the stretcher. "Let's get you taken of Everything else is going to be okay. I promise. "
"You have to make them let me come home. " He saw the first tear slide down her cheek as the techs helped her onto the stretcher. "Promise me. "
"On my life, Kia. I swear. " He followed the paramedics, ignoring Drew as he passed him. "Come on. Just a quick trip. Okay?"
"You won't leave me?"
He stepped into the back of the ambulance with her as the tech strapped her in.
Her eyes were so large, so filled with fear, he swore he was going to become violent.
"They don't let you go once they get you there. " Her voice sounded dazed as she stared at him, those fucking tears dampening her cheeks, sliding through the stain of blood.
"I won't let you go. " He leaned forward as the tech moved behind her and called the information in to the hospital. "I'll be right beside you. I promise. "
He would keep that promise.
"Your father's right behind us. No one's going to hurt you again, Kia. I swear. "
"My purse is gone. " Her lips trembled. "It was one of my favorites. "
"She's dazed," the tech murmured to him. "Chauffeur reported a mugging, said the guy took her purse as he hit her. She's possibly concussed, definitely dazed. "
"We'll find your purse," he promised. "I want you to rest, Kia. Do that for me, baby?"
He ignored the tech and leaned closer. He cupped her face and held her cheek against his. She was so cool. Her skin was like ice, and her gaze burned into his.
"I'm scared," she whispered. "My head hurts, Chase. Like it did when I was a child. Mom and Dad would make me stay in the hospital, and I hated it. "
"I won't let them," he promised. He would promise her anything, do anything, to take that fear out of her eyes. "Do you hear me, baby? They're going to patch your head up and I'm calling Ian's doctor. We'll take you out of there and take you home. There's a spare bedroom. The doctor can sleep there. "
She frowned at him. "I don't have a spare room. "
"You do now. " He pressed his lips to hers. "Trust me, Kia. Let me take care of you. "
She stared up at him. "I'm not a doll. "
"Never. " He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "Never again. Just this one time, please, baby. I won't let them make you stay. "
If he didn't get that fear out of her eyes, he was going to commit murder. She stared back at him, and it eased, slowly. Pain still filled her eyes, though, and the grip of her hand on his was fierce, determined.
"I want a call put in to Dr. Sanjer. Radio the hospital now. Tell him Ian Sinclair requests his immediate presence at the hospital. "
Ian Sinclair's name opened doors. The tech made the call as the ambulance maneuvered through the city streets. Chase looked behind the ambulance and saw Ian's limo behind them. Her parents would be there, and they would try to take her from him, take her home.
The hell they would. He had backed off earlier because of Timothy Rutherford; he wouldn't make that mistake again. As the ambulance pulled into the hospital emergency entrance, he took her hand and lifted it to his lips.
