Chapter 2 The Abduction

The limo trip seemed like a gradual dive into unrest. Grace's pulse raised as the streets of Washington dimmed and familiar landmarks became cloudy in her surroundings. She couldn't shake the sense that she was being monitored even while the city outside continued to bustle, unconscious of the approaching storm.

She sat opposite to Henry, her fists clasped in her lap, but her thoughts were a thousand miles away-on one person, and only one: Lucas. His words rang in her head, a cool, silent promise that he would come for her. I will get you, Grace.

She felt her heart race at the prospect, and for the first time in five years, she felt an instinctive pull of panic. But it wasn't dread of him anymore. It was the fear of what he might do now that the past was no longer just a shadow-it was back, alive and demanding answers.

"Grace," Henry's voice cut through her thoughts, low and coaxing. "What's going on with you?

You're... off."

Grace forced herself to look at him, masking the storm behind her eyes. "It's nothing," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, but even she could hear the hesitation in it. "Just... a lot going on."

Henry lifted his eyebrow, evidently doubtful. "You understand we could just leave everything behind, Grace. We could go anywhere, start fresh. Forget about Lucas. Forget about everything."

Grace blinked at him, momentarily stunned by the suggestion. A life with Henry had never been her dream. Sure, he was charming, a means to an end. But love? That wasn't why they were

together. Not really. He was a pawn in her game. But she had to admit, there was something almost... tempting in his offer.

But she knew better.

"No," she replied as she shook her head. "We're doing this, Henry. We're finishing what we started."

Henry stopped pressing her any further, and for a few seconds, they sat in remaining silent as the limo wind its way through the downtown streets. Their tension was apparent, but Grace couldn't focus on it right now. The text had changed everything. She had no clue how Lucas would handle this, but she believed it would not be pretty.

The limousine drew to a halt before an elegant hotel in the center of the city. Henry moved in to give Grace a short peck on the cheek, his grin lovely but hollow. "I'll meet you inside. You should get some rest before tomorrow."

Grace nodded unconsciously as she stepped out of the limo into the cool night air. She examined the silent neighborhood, with her instincts super active. She had nearly convinced herself that she was secure when she heard the familiar sound of footsteps behind her.

Her heart skipped. She swung around, but before she could respond, muscular hands seized her arms and pulled her back into the darkness.

"Let me go!" Grace yelled, fighting against the hold, but it was ineffective. The man holding her was too strong.

"Grace," a voice growled into her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

Her breath halted in her throat. It was Lucas.

Before she could speak again, his palm clamped over her lips, silencing her. Her gaze met his, and for a brief time, she saw something in them-a combination of rage, sorrow, and something more. Something she couldn't quite name.

He didn't say anything; he simply dragged her into the basement, his hold hard and unwavering. She strained, kicking her heels off as her pulse raced. But his hold only tightened, his strength overpowering hers.

"Lucas, stop!" Grace finally managed to shout, though her voice was muffled by his hand.

He ignored her, pushing her through a building's back door and into a black SUV parked by the curb. When the door slammed shut, he turned to face her with a dead glare.

Grace's heart was racing in her ears, but she forced herself to meet his look. "What do you think you're doing?" You can't just take me-"

"I can do whatever I want," Lucas cut in, his voice low and lethal. "You don't get to play tricks with me anymore, Grace."

Her breath seized, and her throat stiffened. "What is this?" "What do you seek from me?"

"What do you need from me?"

He didn't say anything straight immediately, instead gazing at her with the same concentration, as if he was measuring her every word and movement. Then he said, his voice full of hate.

"You think you can just march back into my life after five years, trying to bring down everything I've established, and I'll simply allow it happen?" He drew closer, his face just slightly away from hers. "You think you can escape with this, with what you've put through?"

Grace recoiled slightly, her heart pounding. She had known he would be angry, but this? This was different. His stare was raw, filled with agony that she had never seen before.

"I didn't do anything to you, Lucas," she replied, her voice shaking, something she loathed.

"You were lied to. You've spent all this time pursuing ghosts."

"Don't act like you didn't have a hand in it," he growled, his jaw clenched. "You ruined everything, Grace. You ruined me."

Grace's throat stiffened with the allegation. She wanted to yell at him, recollecting him of all he had her through, how he had dismissed her without a second thought. But now was not the time for it. She had to stay calm.

"Let me go," she said instead, her voice cold and steely. "I'm not your prisoner."

He didn't let go. Instead, he took a step closer, his breath hot against her skin. "You're not going anywhere, Grace. Not until we finish this."

Before she was able to reply, the SUV surged, its engine hollering into life. The sound of tires screeching across the pavement filled her ears as the truck sped down the street, dragging her more distant from all she knew.

The dark city lights flashed past as the SUV sped farther into the unknown.

Grace's mind raced, the walls of the vehicle closing in on her. Where was he taking her? What was his plan?

Lucas didn't look at her again, his focus ahead, eyes locked on the road.

But when the car turned a steep bend, Grace's heart skipped a beat. She noticed a familiar face in the rearview mirror-one she had never anticipated to see.

It was Henry.

And he was following them.