Page 192 of The First Taste
He clenches his fists, looking over his shoulder again. “Can we get her a blanket or something?”
As I stand there, shivering, I look at the man in front of me. And I realize how much more it would mean if only he could hold me when he assures me it’s going to be okay…
“Kaia!” Ella shouts, jostling through the suddenly crowded hallway.
I turn my head. She opens her arms to me and I am drawn to hug her like a magnet finding its mate. I bury my head in her shoulder, my tears falling.
She rocks me back and forth, making soothing noises. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay…”
When I glance to find Calum again, he has vanished, leaving me aching in a way I cannot explain.
Calum
It takes the police two hours to arrive and take statements from everyone. I make sure to tell the officers that arrive on the scene what I know — that Kaia said the attacker was her father. Then I feel restless enough to have my assistant call the chief of police.
There is no way that I’m going to let this drop. I’m still shaking with rage, even when the police officers offer Kaia a ride home. She looks at me, as if seeking permission.
I shake my head subtly.
Like hell I’m about to let strange men give her a ride anywhere.
I make my exit fairly quickly and have my limousine waiting around the corner when Kaia finally manages to shake off all her well wishers. Her friend Ella stays with her until the last minute, only leaving when Kaia seems to insist.
By the time she slides into the back seat with me, my nerves are completely blown. I turn to look at her. I’m not even sure what to say.
I suck in a deep breath. “It’s going to be okay, Kaia.”
She looks at me, seeming shellshocked. “Is it?” she asks faintly.
I lift an arm, encouraging her to hug me. Her brown-green eyes fill with tears again and she scoots over, wrapping her arms around my torso and burying her head against my chest. She sobs silently for a minute as the limo pulls away from the curb.
I look down at her small shoulders, shaking as her tears soak my shirt. I barely recognize this person, this broken spirit that’s clinging to me just now. If I had been able to see into the future at Club X, would I have chosen this girl?
Hell no.
But now I feel sort of protective of her in a way I can’t explain. After all, no one else is looking after her best interests.
No one but me, as fucked up as that might be.
“I’m going to take you to my penthouse, beauty,” I tell her gently.
She doesn’t really acknowledge that I’ve even spoken, but her tears do lessen as we drive. By the time we get out of the limo and I bundle her into the private elevator, she’s not holding onto me anymore.
Kaia does hold my hand though, looking blankly at the mirror reflecting a distorted version of herself back at her. I finding myself wondering what it is that she sees.
I doubt it’s anything beautiful.
The elevator dings and the doors open into the perfect white waiting room. I guide her through the door at the far end, into the darkly furnished living area. I drop her hand and grab her shoulders, steering her toward the hallway at the very back. It’s only another minute before we are in one of the guest bedrooms; my own bedroom, at the other end of the apartment, seemed a little too intimate for this moment in time.
“Sit down,” I say, pointing to the bed.
She blinks, casting her gaze around the well appointed yet rather dull looking room. Everything is gray, from the lamps to the bedspread, the bedside table to the armoire. Kaia moves to the bed and perches on one side, her movements lacking in her usual grace.
She looks pale, as if she’s been bled dry.
I stand above her for several long seconds, trying to decide what I’m supposed to do with her. I’m out of my depth here, traveling in a strange and emotion-laden place.
“I’m going to run you a bath,” I announce after a second.
