The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,43

it so—”

“There she is!” Hayden exclaimed. He pointed to the screen on the right. “Coming out of the stairs on the third floor.”

The phone kept ringing in Antony’s ear. Ella was on the screen. As he watched, she leaned back against the wall. Her pose was weak, uncertain. Not Ella-like at all. She touched her cheek and winced.

Something is wrong.

“Ella’s here?” Carson’s voice was suddenly stilted. “Is she…did you give Ella her old job back?” He cleared his throat. “I understand. I was just in charge of security temporarily, I get it—”

Antony ran for the door, shoving Carson out of his way.

“Uh, Mr. Kyle?” Hayden called. “Is everything all right?”

“What’s going on?” Carson wanted to know. “What am I missing?”

Antony didn’t stop to answer. He rushed out of that security room and raced toward Ella’s location. Fear squeezed tightly around him. He’d seen Ella. Knew she was alive and safe but…

Something is wrong. The refrain slipped through his head again.

Her posture had been off. She’d winced. She’d been hurt. Who the hell had hurt her? He was in a full run when he rounded the corner and caught sight of her. She was still leaning against the wall near the stairwell, her position seemingly unchanged.

“Ella!” Antony shoved his phone into his pocket.

Her head whipped up. He saw…

“There’s blood on your cheek!” A roar. He rushed toward her. Locked his hands around her shoulders—careful, be careful, she’s hurt—and pulled her close to him. “Baby, what in the hell happened?”

“I fell down the stairs.” She frowned, scrunching up her face. “No, actually…I think I was pushed. It happened really fast but, yes, yes, someone pushed me.”

His hold tightened on her. “You’re bleeding.”

“Just a scratch. A few scratches. Some bruises.”

Someone pushed Ella. His gaze swept over her body. “You’re missing a shoe.”

She looked down, too. Seemed to just realize she only had on one heel. “I think…” Her head lifted. “My phone is missing, too.” A pause. “I dropped it when I hit the stairs.”

He wanted to destroy someone.

“I was on the fourth floor,” she whispered. “I think…he was above me.”

He eased her to the side. Wrenched open the stairwell door. It was like stepping into a cave. Darkness. “Why the hell aren’t the lights on?”

“Excellent question,” Ella said. Her voice sounded stronger.

“Ella!”

At the rough call, Antony turned his head to see Carson barreling toward them.

“Is everything all right?” Concern filled Carson’s expression.

“No, everything is most definitely not all right.” His voice vibrated with fury. “She’s hurt.” Ella is hurt. Once more, he dragged out his phone. Dialed fast. “Stairwell lights are out,” he barked to the head of maintenance when the man answered his call. “Get them on, now!” Then his fingers slid over the screen.

“What are you doing?” Ella asked. “Who are you calling now?”

“I’m calling an ambulance for you.”

She grabbed his hand. “I don’t need one. I’m bumped, I’m bruised, but I’m okay. I caught the stair railing so I didn’t fall that far. It’s all so…” She let him go. Frowned. “I don’t think the person was aiming for me. More like I was in the way as he tried to run past. So he shoved me.”

The lights came on. A bright flash.

“Are you saying someone attacked you?” Carson crept closer.

Antony looked up the stairway. Down. On the stairs below him, smashed, he could see a phone. The screen was broken. Shattered. Her other shoe rested near the phone. So did the glasses she’d worn earlier and a clipboard.

“I don’t need an ambulance,” Ella repeated. “But we need to search the building. Whoever hit me could still be here.”

“I fucking hope he is.” Because Antony wanted to get his hands on the bastard.

No one hurts her.

“I’ll get a search going,” Carson promised. “Right now.”

***

“OhmyGod. Stop coddling me.” Ella glowered at a hovering Antony. “For the third time, I am fine. I cleaned my scrapes. I got my new shoes on my feet…” She motioned to her tennis shoes. “I am fine.”

They were back at his place. They’d conducted a thorough search of the office building but hadn’t turned up much. Antony had accessed security footage, but he hadn’t been able to find anyone else entering or leaving the stairwell near the time of her attack.

She’d discovered there hadn’t been a security camera installed on the outside of the stairwell on the fourth floor. And the camera in the parking garage? Conveniently having a shortage.

“Is Carson your new head of security?” Ella asked as her eyes cut to Antony. Carson