Chapter 4 The Chase and the Collapse

Before I could steady the car, I caught sight of two more black SUVs in the rearview mirror. They sped up and moved in on us from both sides, boxing us in on the quiet road toward the city hospital. We were trapped.

"Who are they?" Mother cried out, her voice trembling with fear.

Father clenched his fists, his gaze hardening on the SUV that kept drifting closer until it was only inches away from the Mustang.

"This is the Millers," he said through gritted teeth. "David Miller will never let our family walk away tonight after you humiliated his son in that ring. They are trying to block us so Ethan does not get the help he needs in time."

"They will play dirty until the very end, the cowards," I muttered, my jaw tightening.

The fear that had gripped me began to fade, replaced by a sharp, burning rush of adrenaline. Years of navigating London’s chaotic traffic and the instincts I had sharpened inside that ring took over completely.

"Everyone, fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight," I said, my voice calm and steady.

"Elena, what are you planning to do?" Father asked, his concern clear.

"Clear a path," I replied simply.

The SUV on the right began to drift sideways, scraping against our car in an attempt to force us off the road and onto the curb. The screech of metal against metal cut through the night, sending sparks skittering across the pavement.

I did not flinch. Instead I slammed on the brakes for one full second.

SCREECH.

The SUV on our right lost its momentum and slid forward past us. I did not waste a heartbeat. I floored the accelerator, turned sharply to the right, and rammed our front bumper straight into the rear corner of that vehicle.

BAM.

The raw power of the V8 engine hit its mark. The SUV spun one hundred and eighty degrees across the road, crashed hard against the guardrail, and came to a stop smoking.

"One down," I said quietly.

But the second SUV on our left reacted instantly. Its rear window rolled down just enough for a broad-shouldered man in a mask to lean out. He gripped a heavy steel baton and raised it high, ready to smash through our windshield.

"Elena. On your left," Mother screamed.

"I see him, Mother," I said calmly.

I watched the vehicle beside me closely. Just as the man swung the baton, I pulled the emergency brake and jerked the wheel hard to the left. The side of my car slammed into the SUV with full force, pinning the man’s arm and the baton tight between the two vehicles.

He cried out in pain and dropped the baton. It clattered onto the road behind us. Before the driver could recover, I shifted down a gear and used the Mustang’s full torque to push hard against the other car. It slid up onto the concrete barrier and became stuck there, one side hanging off the edge.

The road ahead lay wide and clear. Las Vegas City Hospital appeared at the end of the street, its red and blue emergency lights glowing bright in the dark.

I pressed the gas pedal all the way down and drove straight through the entrance to the emergency department.

I killed the engine, grabbed my bag, and stepped out before the tires had even stopped spinning completely.

"Help. We need a stretcher now. It is a cardiac emergency," I called out, my voice echoing through the hospital doors.

Nurses and a doctor on duty rushed out with a gurney. Together with Father, they carefully lifted Ethan from the back seat. I held his cold hand as they wheeled him quickly toward the treatment area.

"You are safe now, Ethan. You are safe," I whispered, brushing the sweat from his forehead.

Ethan opened his eyes just enough to look at me, his gaze filled with quiet gratitude, before the double doors swung shut and separated us from him.

I leaned against the cold, sterile wall of the hospital corridor. My breath came in short, ragged gasps. The exhaustion of a twelve hour flight from London, followed by a fight in the ring and a high speed chase, finally hit me all at once.

I looked down at my hands. They were still wrapped in the worn tape from the ring, my knuckles bruised and swollen.

"Please keep him safe," I whispered, sinking onto a bench and resting my head in my hands.

Then I heard footsteps approaching from behind. Slow, deliberate footsteps. I noticed Mother and Father stand up quickly from where they sat.

I lifted my head slowly, forcing my heavy eyelids to stay open. The world began to spin, as if the full weight of everything I had carried tonight had suddenly settled right behind my eyes.

Standing there in the dim hospital light was that tall, broad figure. His black suit remained perfectly pressed, carrying that same commanding presence that seemed to fill every space he entered.

"Adrian," I breathed out, barely audible.

He took one step closer. His sharp gray eyes held a glint of genuine worry, a side of him so rarely seen by anyone else.

But before I could process that he was really there, a wave of dizziness crashed over me like a heavy blow. My vision blurred and swam. My strength simply drained away.

My knees buckled and I slumped toward the cold tiled floor.

"Elena," Adrian’s voice cut through the quiet corridor, sharp and urgent.

He moved faster than I could register. Before I could fall, his strong arms caught me around my waist and back, holding my full weight effortlessly.

I did not lose consciousness completely. My eyes remained half open, though everything looked hazy and distant. Every muscle in my body felt heavy, drained beyond measure. My head throbbed painfully and I squeezed my eyes shut against the ache.

"Easy now. I have you," Adrian said softly. His voice was right beside my ear, steady but trembling faintly with a fear he tried hard to hide.

That familiar scent washed over me, bringing back memories I had locked away. It felt both comforting and painfully out of place all at once.

"Adrian, what are you doing..." Father stepped forward, his face pale with worry, but Adrian spoke first, his tone calm, respectful, and impossible to argue with.

"Mr. Rose, please stay with Mrs. Rose and keep watch over Ethan," Adrian said firmly. "I will look after Elena."

Without waiting for anyone’s reply, Adrian slid one arm beneath my knees and the other around my back, lifting me easily into his arms. My head fell weakly against his broad chest. I could feel his own heartbeat beating fast beneath the fine fabric of his suit jacket.

"Adrian... put me down... I can walk," I murmured, my voice barely more than a whisper, as I weakly tried to push against his chest.