Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [74]
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Aren’t you glad to see your husband?”
Ashton knew something was wrong the moment he heard the telephone ring. A quick glance at the clock on the nightstand next to the bed indicated it was two in the morning.
“Colonel Sinclair,” he answered as calmly as he could, pushing himself up in bed.
The phone had also awakened Netherland. She pulled up beside him in bed and looked intently at Ashton. He wasn’t saying anything to the caller but was listening attentively. However, she could tell from the look on his face whatever the caller was saying wasn’t good.
“I’ll be there in a couple of hours,” Ashton said before ending the call and hanging up the phone.
“Military business, Ashton?”
He turned to her. His features displayed no inner conflict whatsoever, but the woman in her, the one who had spent the last five days in his arms, sharing almost everything with him, could feel the internal warfare he was trying like hell to hide. “No, that was Trevor.”
“The baby?” she asked anxiously as her heart skipped a beat.
“Corinthians and the baby are fine. It’s Clayton.”
Netherland’s heart missed another beat. “What about Clayton?”
He reached out and took her hand in his. “He was hit by a car tonight, a car that was aiming straight for Syneda. He pushed her out of the way and took the blow.”
“How is he?” The words rushed from Netherland’s lips and when Ashton didn’t answer quick enough she said frantically, “Tell me! How is he?”
Ashton heard the agitation in her voice and understood. She and Clayton Madaris had been friends for a long time. “He’s been taken to surgery.”
Netherland inhaled deeply, knowing Syneda was probably going out of her mind. She then remembered something else Ashton had said. “Someone actually tried to run over Syneda?”
“Yes.”
“Do they have any idea who?”
“Yes.”
Netherland studied Ashton’s features and knew there was more. There was something he hadn’t told her yet, and she had a feeling it wasn’t good. “Who?”
“Anthony Roberts. He broke out of prison earlier today.”
“Anthony Roberts? Jada’s ex-husband?”
“Yes.”
Netherland took another deep breath when she remembered something Jada had told her about—the threats her ex-husband had made against her and Syneda at his trial. Netherland was out of bed and on her feet in a flash. “Someone has to warn Jada that he’s out there on the loose! She needs police protection! She—”
“Netherland,” Ashton interrupted in a soft voice as he tried to calm her down. “You need to contact Rome.”
She sucked in a huge gulp of air, almost too afraid to ask but she did so anyway. “Why?”
Ashton had her complete attention. He took a deep breath before saying. “Because Jada is missing, and there is a strong possibility that Roberts has grabbed her.”
Chapter 21
The crowd of people inside the hospital’s waiting room got eerily silent when they looked and saw Dr. Marvin Goldstein standing in the doorway. Dr. Goldstein had been a friend of the Madaris family for years.
The crowd parted, and Syneda rushed forward, flanked on both sides by Clayton’s brothers, Justin and Dex. Clayton’s parents and three sisters stood directly behind Syneda and his numerous friends brought up the rear. All were there to give Syneda their support.
One look at Syneda, and Dr. Goldstein knew that due to her delicate condition it would not be such a bad idea to check her into the hospital, as well. It was obvious what had happened to Clayton had taken a toll on her. The last thing he needed was for her to become overly distraught. He knew she’d been checked out when