Stepping out of the elevator, I glance at Devon’s desk, only to frown at the sight of Kiara’s handbag.
I can swear I remember her taking it.
Moving closer, I pick the black handbag up, glancing over it while I bring up the memory of her clearly walking out of here with it.
Lifting my head, I glance up and down the hallways.
Did she forget something?
A terrified woman’s cry has my head snapping to the right, and dropping the bag, I break out into a run. I shove Finn’s door open, and the sight greeting me sends shockwaves pulsing through my body.
Finn on top of Kiara.
The blood.
Her naked.
It’s only a second, and as Finn’s head snaps up toward me, I lunge forward, kicking him so fucking hard he flies off of her.
Rage fills my vision with a hazy red as I step over Kiara while pulling my gun from behind my back where the vest was covering it.
Finn shakes his head, climbs to his feet, and as I train the barrel on him, he dives for me. The shot vibrates in the air, his shoulder hits my chest, his hand grabbing hold of my right wrist.
I keep my footing, the fucker not able to take me down because I’m bigger than him.
Straining against his hold, I turn the barrel on him again. Pulling the trigger, the bullet clips the fucker’s leg, earning me a painful groan.
Finn lets go, and darting around me, the bastard almost trips over Kiara before running out the door. My arms fly up, and I take the shot, this time hitting his right shoulder before he flees down the emergency stairs.
I’m just about to go after the fucker when a broken sound from Kiara has my eyes snapping down to where she’s lying on the floor.
Right by my feet.
Jesus Christ.
Crouching down by her, I tuck the weapon away and pull my phone from my pocket to dial Will’s number.
“You coming or what?”
“Finn fucking attacked Kiara. Get the doctor. Bring him to my office.”
“Jesus. On my way.”
I end the call, and after shoving the device back in my pocket, I carefully push my arms beneath Kiara’s body and lift her to my chest.
She groans, her head slumping against my shoulder, then her eyes flutter open. “Liam?” Her voice sounds fragile, and it grates against my heart.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur softly. Carrying Kiara to my office, I lay her down on the couch, then quickly grab my jacket to cover her. Leaning over her, my eyes lock with hers. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?”
She shakes her head, a tear rolling down her temple. “No. D-Dad can’t k-know.”
She starts to sit up. “Don’t move,” I say, not even thinking when I press my hand to her shoulder. “I have a doctor coming.” When she relaxes back on the couch, I straighten up. “I’m just going to get a first aid kit.”
Rushing out of the office, I jog to Devon’s desk and pull the first aid kid from beneath it. When I get back to my office, Kiara’s sitting up, busy pushing her arm through the jacket’s sleeve.
Noticing the bitemarks the fucker left on her delivers another gut punch before she covers herself.
When I set the first aid kit down on the floor by her feet, Kiara covers her face, her shoulders shuddering beneath the trauma she just suffered at the hands of that fucker.
I should’ve killed him before this happened.
Fuck.
I should’ve killed him.
Suddenly Kiara’s head snaps up, and she looks at me with so much fucking fear it hits me square in the chest. “My mom!” She begins to get up, but my hand darts out to her shoulder, stopping her. “He’s going to kill my mother,” she cries.
Years of living on the edge of a knife keep me calm as I say, “Give me her address.” I pull my phone out and dial Will’s number again.
“We’re five minutes away,” he answers.
“Address,” I repeat to Kiara, and once she’s stammered through it, I ask Will, “Did you get that?”
“Yes.”
“Have men guard that apartment. It’s Kiara’s mother’s place.”
“Done.”
I end the call, and moving my hand up to the side of her neck, I lock eyes with her. “Nothing will happen to your mother. Are you okay with me cleaning you up?”
Kiara stares at me for a moment, then her face crumbles. An overwhelming emotion of protectiveness surges through me. Without thinking, I move to sit on the couch and pull her to my chest.
Her hand comes up between us, and she grabs a fistful of my vest, smothering her cries against me.
My arms lock around her, and it feels like it will be an impossible task to pry them away from her.
Lowering my head, I press a kiss to her hair. “I’ve got you. Okay?”
She nods, her sobs breaking my fucking heart.
“I won’t let you get hurt again,” I promise.
Kiara wraps her free arm around my lower back, pressing closer to me. Knowing she’s looking for safety in my arms makes possessiveness pour through my veins.
“I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t see what was happening.”
“I-I… w-was so s-scared,” she stammers through her tears.
My heart.
Will comes rushing into the office with Dr. O’Sullivan right on his heels.
Lowering my mouth close to her ear, I ask, “Are you okay with my doctor looking at you?”
Kiara nods but doesn’t pull away from me. Glancing at Dr. Sullivan, I say, “You’re going to have to check her in my arms.”
I’m not letting go of her unless it’s what she wants.
“Ah…” Dr. Sullivan sets his bag down next to the couch. “Can you move so I can actually see her?”
This time Kiara pulls slightly back. She keeps her head down, reluctantly letting go of my shirt but keeping her other arm wrapped around my lower back.
I quickly make sure the jacket is still covering her, then look at Will. “Find a blanket.”
“Yes, boss.”
Dr. Sullivan reaches for Kiara’s chin, and when she flinches, I almost grind my molars to dust from clenching my teeth.
He starts asking her questions, and listening to her stammer her way through the answers is pure torture.
When he’s done checking her, he says, “She’ll definitely have a concussion. Someone has to keep an eye on her for a couple of days.” The corner of his mouth lifts. “She’s tough, though. No broken bones.” He runs through the list of her bruises which he says will fade within two to three weeks.
Taking an injection out of his bag, he explains, “This will help with the shock.”
I glare at the needle as it pricks her skin. Will comes in with a blanket, and I take it from him. When Dr. O’Sullivan is done treating Kiara, I wrap the blanket around her.
A silent tear trails over her swelling cheek. I rise to my feet and nod to the door. “Thanks, Doc. Will will take care of the payment.”
When the two men leave the office, I don’t waste time bending down and lifting Kiara back into my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck, hiding her face against my shoulder as I carry her out of the office.
On the elevator ride down, we remain silent, stopping on the lobby floor, where Will joins us before we head down to the basement.
“Heading home?” he asks.
I nod. “Get every available man to hunt Finn. I want that fucker found.” My eyes lock with Will. “Alive. He’s mine.”
“On it.”
The elevator opens to the basement, and as we step out, I add, “He took a bullet to the shoulder, and another grazed his leg, so start looking at hospitals.”
Will opens the passenger door to my SUV, and I carefully place Kiara on the seat. Leaning over her, I pull the seat belt on and clip it in. When I straighten up, I say to Will, “Check on Kiara’s mother. I want an update every hour.”
“I’ll drive by her mother’s place,” my friend assures me.
I walk around the back of the SUV and slide in behind the steering wheel. When I start the engine, Kiara gives me an address which I assume is for her own apartment.
Reversing out of the parking space, I tip my chin at Will, then glance at Kiara. “You’re not going home.”
Her eyes shimmer in the light coming into the car from the basement. “I d-don’t want to go to t-the hospital.”
“You’re not.” I steer the vehicle out onto the road. “I’m taking you to my place.”
