Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
T hey can't save you now.
I freeze as I recognize Jason’s voice, instantly feeling a wave of fury wash over me.
“We're leaving, Grace,” he hisses in my ear, his breath hot against my neck. “We’re getting out of here while they’re distracted.”
Wait, what?
Without hesitation, I whirl around to face him, my hands balled into fists; forgetting I can’t see a thing. “What in the nutcracker nonsense are you talking about, Jason?”
“They’re dangerous, Grace! You really think they care about you?” He snorts. “We need to get out of here before they turn on us,” Jason’s voice rises, desperation lacing every word.
Adjusting to the lack of light, I can just about make out Jason straightening up as he rubs at his stomach where I hit him.
I narrow my eyes, my pulse pounding in my ears. "You’re unbelievable. This is all some game to you, isn’t it? You lie, you cheat, you break up with me , and threaten to leave me stranded in this cabin with those so-called dangerous men . And now…what? You want to act like you’re some kind of hero?"
He steps closer, swaying slightly as his hand reaches out like he can somehow pull me back into his twisted web. Taking a step back out of his reach, his arm drops limply through the air.
"I know I messed up, okay?” He slurs, running a shaky hand through his hair. “But we can fix this. Tina was a mistake!” He hesitates for a second, before continuing under his breath. “One you weren’t meant to find out about.”
I shake my head, my heart racing with a mixture of disgust and clarity. Although he can’t see it, he must sense my hesitation because he stiffens and sneers at me.
“I saw you, Grace. I saw everything you did with those... bastards ,” he sneers, stepping in so close that I can feel his spit on my cheek. “I was in here the entire fucking time they were pounding every slick hole of yours. So don’t pretend like you’re some fucking saint .”
Creeping shame tries to claw its way up, my eyes burning as old habits fight to take control. But I shove it back down, smashing it with a mental image of a giant candy cane obliterating a flimsy gingerbread house. The whole thing crumples, stale crumbs and dry frosting scattering on impact.
There’s nothing wrong with what I did. Nothing at all.
So I laugh.
“Wow, Jason. I didn’t know you were into voyeurism. Kinky .” A smile creeps onto my face, but it’s not a nice one.
The atmosphere in the room thickens as something more sinister creeps into his voice.
"You think this is funny?" Jason snarls. I can just about make out his face contorting with rage. "I'm trying to save you!"
I shake my head, my earlier amusement fading into pity and disgust. "No, Jason. You're trying to control me, just like you always have. You’re jealous and finally realizing that you’re losing your hold on me. But I'm done."
He lunges forward, grabbing my wrist in a bruising grip. "You're not thinking clearly. Those men have brainwashed you!"
I wrench my arm free, stumbling as far away from him as the bathroom wall allows. "The only one who ever tried to brainwash me was you. They've shown me more respect in days than you have in years."
"So that's how it is? You're choosing them over me?"
"I'm choosing myself," I say firmly, straightening my spine. "Now get out of my way."
He moves around me to block the door, his body tense. " Enough !” I jump at the growl in his voice. “You aren’t going back to them. I’m taking you home."
Fear flickers through me, but I push it down. I won't let him see me weak. Not anymore.
A crash sounds from the other side of the bathroom door, but I’m too focused on what Jason is doing to process anything. When his shadow steps forward, I grab the nearest thing to me and launch it at his stupid face. At least…I try to. Only, I clearly miss by a mile as the mini projectile crashes into the mirror, shattering it on impact. Oops .
We stand there frozen, both as shocked as the other that I would attempt to harm him in any way. Which…makes sense. I’ve never hurt anyone, nor would I want to.
"Move, Jason," I command, my voice snapping like sleigh reins on Christmas Eve.
It takes a second for him to collect himself before he’s stepping closer to me. His footsteps ominous in the silence. "Or what?"
Before I can respond, the bathroom door slams open with a thunderous crash, splintered wood flying everywhere. Lit by the moonlight at his back, Atlas fills the doorway, his massive frame radiating fury. Teddy and Key flank him, their expressions equally murderous.
"Or that," I say, my entire body relaxing instantly, unable to keep the relief from my voice.
All three of their eyes target-lock onto Jason, but it’s Atlas who speaks. His voice promising violence. "Get. Away. From. Her."
Jason's eyes widen in panic. In a desperate move, he tries to duck behind me, grabbing my shoulders to use me as a human shield against the three furious men.
I roll my eyes. That most definitely wasn’t the smartest move to make.
"Stay back!" he shouts, his voice cracking.
But I'm done being strung along like tinsel on his twisted tree. No more playing the pawn in his reindeer games! With newfound strength and resolve, I drive my elbow back sharply, connecting solidly with his solar plexus. As Jason gasps and loosens his grip, I twist and kick out hard, my foot landing squarely between his legs.
Jason lets out a high-pitched yelp, doubling over and releasing me completely. I stumble forward, away from him, straight into Key's waiting arms.
Teddy and Atlas move swiftly past us, roughly grabbing Jason by the arms and hauling him upright. He wheezes, still bent over in pain.
"Looks like our Grace doesn't need much protecting after all," Key quips with a grin and I lean into his solid warmth, feeling safe and vindicated.
As Key hoists me over his shoulder, I can't help but let out an exasperated sigh, but I let him have it.
I twist slightly to look back at Jason, held up at Teddy and Atlas’ mercy. A small, mischievous part of me wants one last parting shot. So, as Key turns to carry me out of the room, I wiggle my fingers in a cheeky little wave.
"Toodloo!" I call out in a sing-song voice, unable to keep the grin off my face.
Key chuckles, the sound vibrating through his chest against my stomach. As we pass through the doorway, I catch a glimpse of Jason's stunned and almost terrified expression before he disappears from view.
Huh. Thinking about it, that probably looked more sinister than cutesie with the flames from the fire lighting up my face. Ah well, it’s what he deserves.
I let my body relax, draping over Key's strong shoulder. After everything that's happened, I'm more than happy to let someone else take charge for a bit. My ankle throbs dully, reminding me of the tumble I took earlier. But right now, nestled in Key's secure grip, I feel safer than I have in a long time.
"So," I muse aloud, "what's the plan now? I don't know about you guys, but I could really go for some hot chocolate and Christmas cookies after all that excitement."
Key chuckles as he carries me down the hallway and descends the stairs. "Hot chocolate and cookies sound perfect, Sugar. Let's get you patched up first though."
I hum in agreement, realizing my ankle is starting to throb more insistently now that the immediate danger has passed.
“Did you guys fix the breaker?” I ask distractedly as I take in the errant bullet holes in the walls and furniture that are highlighted by the rays of moonlight shining in through the floor to ceiling windows.
“No, it looked pretty fried when we checked it. But then again, we were looking at it in only a sliver of light from the flashlight while being shot at. We’ll check it properly in the morning when there’s more natural light. For now, we’ll light some candles and get the fires roaring. We can cook some hot chocolate the old fashioned way.”
I only half acknowledge his words. Even though I just suggested it, hot chocolate and cookies are now the furthest thing from my mind as my heart kicks up a notch and thrums in panic. It finally sinks in that while I was locked in the bathroom with Jason, they were being targeted by the hostage.
“You guys are alright though, aren’t you? You’re not injured?”
“Atlas caught a bullet to the arm but-”
Worrying, I push myself up on Key’s shoulders and begin to run my hands over his shoulders and face, checking for injuries. I’ll start with him and then check Atlas over next.
He chuckles, swatting my hands away with his free one.
“Sugar, I’m fine and so is Atlas. It was only a superficial graze, nothing a little band-aid won’t sort out. Now, stop worrying.”
Propping myself up on his shoulders, I try to look him in the eye to make sure he’s not lying. “You’d tell me if you were hurt though, right?”
He grins, knowing exactly what I’m thinking. “After the royal telling off you gave Teddy when we first met, I don’t think we’d ever consider hiding it from you again,” he says with a wink as he swats my ass. “Now settle down, I’m enjoying this caveman act. You should too.”
That gets a little chuckle out of me. One that promptly dies off when I realize I forgot to check on Teddy’s stitches.
“What about Teddy’s stitches, he hasn’t pulled them has he?” I feel Key’s shoulders tense, the movement making my heart flutter in panic. “He did, didn’t he? Is he ok-”
“He had us remove them, sugar.”
I blink rapidly, my mind trying to keep up.
“He- What?”
“They were irritating him, so he had us remove them for him.”
“Key! You can’t do that! They need to stay in until he’s fully healed. Why did you help him?”
He scoffs. “Because he’s an adult, sugar. And I’m sure you’d agree, no-one would want to get on his bad side.”
“Okay, I can agree to that,” I mumble. “But still!”
“Honestly, he’s alright. His wound had healed sufficiently that he shouldn’t need the stitches anymore. And I know,” he swats my ass, “before you interrupt, he knows it could leave an ugly scar. But he doesn’t care much for the vanity aspect of things.”
I huff, deflating to rest my elbow on Key’s shoulder and my chin on my hand. “Fine. Freaking tough cookie hitmen.” Key chuckles.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I scan the landing above as I hear Teddy and Atlas following behind us, likely escorting Jason.
"What are you going to do with him?" I ask.
"Don't you worry about that," Key says, his tone light. "We'll make sure he can't cause any more trouble."
We reach the living room and Key gently sets me down on the plush couch. The fire is still crackling merrily in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. It feels surreal to be back in this cozy space after the chaos upstairs.
"What should we do with this lump of coal?" Atlas growls, shoving Jason into the room.
I raise an eyebrow, watching as Key's eyes light up with an idea that I'm not entirely sure I want to be a witness to.
I watch, torn between amusement and disbelief, as he maneuvers Jason into a chair in the corner of the room beneath the balcony overhang. Despite his protests, Key quickly binds him to a chair using strands of colorful Christmas lights. It’s a shame they won’t make his personality any prettier when the electricity is turned back on.
"Really?" I say, shaking my head but unable to completely smother the upward twitch of my lips.
Key grins, clearly not done yet. "Oh come on, Sugar. Every Christmas display needs some decorations!"
He darts around the room, grabbing various ornaments and tinsel. With exaggerated care, he begins adorning Jason like a disgruntled Christmas tree. A star perched precariously on his head is the final touch.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to maintain some semblance of disapproval. "You know this is ridiculous, right?"
Teddy chuckles as he appears from the hallway. Placing an ice pack on the arm of the couch, he comes to sit beside me. Draping his arm over my shoulders, I snuggle into his side. "Admit it, Little One. It's a little funny."
I glance over at Jason, now wrapped up in lights and covered in glittery decorations. A snort of laughter escapes as I picture the lights, alight in their full splendor. “I guess. Maybe a little.”
Before I can take it all in, Atlas suddenly steps in front of me, blocking my view. Reaching a hand out, Teddy hands him a flashlight. Flicking it on, Atlas kneels down and gently pulls my leg out to examine my slightly swollen ankle with an intensity that makes my pulse quicken.
Propping my leg up--making sure it’s elevated--he reaches over to grab the ice-pack and gently places it on my ankle, before draping a cozy blanket over my legs.
“There we go. How does that feel?” he asks, his gruff voice softened by concern.
I exhale a sigh of relief. “Much better, thank you.” He nods, satisfied, then settles on my other side, effectively caging me between him and Teddy.
“Now, Little One, why don’t you tell us exactly what happened up there? We need all the details,” Teddy says, though his eyes remain fixed on the glitter-bombed disaster that is Jason in the corner. I can’t help but sigh.
Taking a deep breath, I start recounting everything, from the moment I heard the gunshots, to Jason’s surprise appearance and his misguided attempt to “rescue” me.
Teddy looks at me, his eyes softening. "You did good, Little One. Real good."
His praise warms me more than the fire ever could and I smile, my cheeks no doubt redder than Rudolph’s nose.
“Fantastic!” Key claps his hands, breaking the moment with his usual energy. “Now that we’ve got that all sorted, I believe someone mentioned hot chocolate and cookies?”
I giggle at his enthusiasm, but the sound dies on my lips as Teddy leans in closer, his breath skimming my neck and teeth nipping at the delicate skin, making my pulse race.
More like hot chocolate and hitmen.