An Unforgettable Lady (An Unforgettable Lady #1)(103)

"The hell she is! They've got the wrong man." Smith slammed the phone down and re-dialed the number on his cell phone while he left his room. He was pounding down the hall to the stairs when Tiny answered again. "How the hell did you end up in the hospital?"

"She maced me."

Smith looked at the phone as if it had malfunctioned. "She what?"

"And I had a reaction to the shit."

"Christ. Take care of yourself."

"I'm sorry about this, Boss."

By this time, Smith was halfway down the building. He hung up and dialed the lieutenant's cell phone.

As soon as Marks answered, Smith said, "How many boys do you have at the Foundation?"

"None. We took them off the detail at her request. She said she was going to use her own men tonight and considering we have—”

"Get some cops over there now. Whoever you have in custody isn't the guy killing those women."

Smith broke out of the hotel through a side door and began running flat out. He was only three blocks from the Hall Building, but it felt like miles.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"It's the goddamn caterer. Fredrique."

"The caterer?"

"He's already tried to get into Grace's apartment tonight. Her doorman called me. I don't have time to give details. You've got to trust me on this."

"Do you know what he looks like?"

Smith gave a description of Fredrique. "And he's in chef's whites."



Marks was already barking orders as he was hanging up.

When Smith flew into the lobby of the Hall Building, a security guy he recognized looked up from the front desk with a smile. "Hey there—"

"Where is she?"

"The countess? I think she left already. To go home."



* * *



Grace retreated until she felt the chair hit the back of her legs. "What are you doing here?" Fredrique smiled. "I couldn't miss the season's biggest event. The canapés were nice, though I wouldn't have done something so common, of course. Your guests could have been much more impressed. But then you didn't use me."

He came toward her, his squat body moving in a jerky way from anger.

"You've ruined me. All of you," he said, his voice intensifying, "have ruined me. You froze me out. I've lost everything. You think you can just take someone's life and crush it because you're rich and you're powerful. People are toys to you. Toys."

Grace was measuring the distance to the door when she caught sight of the knife in his hand. The blade reflected light with a flash and made her physically ill.

Fredrique's rantings got shrill. "When I was new and fresh, you needed me for your parties to make them good. You demanded me. You wanted me. And then someone else came to town and none of you knew my name. It was like I didn't exist!"

Grace glanced across the desk, searching for something to defend herself with as he got closer. She wished like hell she'd left her father's sturdy crystal bowl of peppermints out. It would have made a fine weapon.



* * *



Smith was almost at the revolving doors which led to the street when another security guy called out. "Hey! You looking for the countess? She just went upstairs to get her purse. I ordered a car for the two of us."

Smith cursed as he wheeled around and rushed for the elevators. "The police are on the way—get them to her office as soon as they arrive."

The ride to the top floor was an eternity. He was thinking that he'd give up anything he had to have her safe. Unharmed. Alive.

And that included Black Watch, his lifestyle, the whole thing.

She'd been right. He was protecting himself because loving her was the single most threatening thing he could think of. But the alternative was worse. He'd much rather be with her than without, even if the, price he paid was the bogus sense of security he'd had when he was by himself.

All he wanted was her. All he needed was her.

She'd told him she wouldn't wait. Well, he wasn't going to ask her to. He was going to stay by her side.

Oh, God. Please let her be safe.

When he leapt out of the elevator, and saw the light in her office glowing under the doors, he felt a painful surge of hope as he ran silently down the hall. She'd probably gone up to change clothes. She was probably stepping out of her high heels and sighing as her bare feet hit the carpet at this very moment. She was probably fine.

Please let her be fine.

He was about to push open the double doors when he heard a man's voice. The threat behind the words was obvious, even through the wood, and Smith went from anxious to deadly.

Silently, he pushed one side open a crack. He saw the man, the knife and the stark fear on Grace's face.

That was all Smith needed to know.

With a massive lunge, he burst through the door. There was blood lust and nothing else running through his veins as he tackled Fredrique, taking him down hard onto the floor. Smith was heavier and had the element of surprise working for him, but with all his rage, he didn't need the advantage.

The man began to fight but it was amateur stuff. Smith grabbed the knife and quickly took control. In a matter of moments, he had Fredrique dazed and flat on his back.