When I got to the building, I made my way to her office. I had been there one other time with her when she had forgotten something, so I knew where to go. As I stepped from the elevator, her father was storming down the hall, his expression furious. When he spied me, pure unadulterated hatred crossed his face, and before I could move, he lunged, punching me with a strong left hook. I staggered backward, hitting the wall. He crowded my personal space, almost spitting in his rage, seemingly oblivious to the wide-eyed curiosity directed our way.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
I held my aching jaw in my hand. The older man had a solid punch—I was impressed. “That’s her decision.”
“I’m making it mine. I will make your life a shambles. All the things you think are in your reach right now? Kiss them goodbye.”
“As long as I have her, take them.”
He looked so startled, I shoved past him, headed to her office, not caring he was yelling after me that he was getting security. I looked over my shoulder, expecting him to be following me, but another man was standing in his way, talking. Whatever he was saying that stopped her father, I was grateful. I planned on being out of there before they followed me or security arrived.
Nothing prepared me for what I found. A shaking, barely-able-to-speak Lottie. Her face was so pale, it was the color of the freshly fallen snow she loved so much, and her feeble grip on my hand was as cold as the flakes that fell outside the window.
I recognized the panic she was falling under. The anxiety. I grabbed her coat, sliding it over her shoulders and, without a thought, swept her into my arms and rushed for the elevator, stopping at the sight of her father walking toward us, his face like thunder. Behind him was a young girl hurrying in his wake, looking upset.
“Don’t,” I warned. “She needs help.”
He narrowed his eyes, his hands curling into fists. I walked toward the elevator, on edge and worried.
“Hate me if you want,” I told him. “Have me arrested later. I don’t care. Don’t risk losing another child because of your personal dislike of me.”
I knew that was a low blow, but it stopped him. The girl hurried forward and pushed the button on the elevator. The doors slid open, and it was empty. I stepped inside, and she pressed the button for the main floor.
“Take care of her,” she whispered.
I nodded. Outside, I grabbed a cab and instructed the driver to go as fast as possible to the closest hospital.
And since arriving, I had been pacing, waiting. Anxious and tense. She had been almost catatonic in the cab, her gaze unfocused and her body shaking. It had been hard to release her into their care, even though I knew it was for the best. Luckily, I had remembered to grab her purse and was able to give them her medical number and insurance. When questioned about my relationship to her, the word fiancé fell from my lips without a thought. I knew it was the only way to get any information out of them, and I needed to understand what was wrong with Lottie.
Briefly, I wondered what occurred once we left the office. What her father was thinking as he saw me carry her away from him and out of the building. Others witnessed our fast exit but didn’t try to stop us. I didn’t care what they thought. My only focus was getting Lottie some help. I shut my eyes, knowing I would have to worry and deal with that situation later. I touched my jaw, the right side of my face aching from the vicious punch her father had landed. I was grateful I had been more concerned about getting to Lottie than retaliating. Part of me wished I had hauled off and punched him back, but I knew that would only have made matters worse.
My cell phone rang, and I lifted it to my ear. “Logan.”
“It’s Brianna. Logan, what the hell is going on? Lottie’s dad called me, wanting to know where she is—he says you took her out of the building,” she exclaimed.
I groaned. “I didn’t kidnap her, for fuck’s sake. She collapsed. I brought her to the hospital.”
Brianna gasped. “What? Which one?”
“Victoria.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Tell him to stay away. He did this,” I snarled.
I hung up, grateful Lottie’s friend would be here soon. My phone chimed again, reminding me of a meeting, and I quickly texted Bobby, telling him I had an emergency and couldn’t make it. Then I resumed pacing.
A nurse entered and called my name. I hurried forward, and she asked if I had Lottie’s purse. I handed it to her when she stated Lottie had requested it.