19. Grayson
19
GRAYSON
M argot’s face is pale, her knuckles white as she grips the phone. I’ve seen her furious. I’ve seen her triumphant. I’ve even seen her completely unfazed in situations that would make most people crumble. But this is fear, and I know it’s not just because he found her. It’s because of what he’s capable of. Margot never talked much about Liam when they were together. I only saw glimpses, him showing up at events uninvited, his hand tightening on her arm when he thought no one was looking. I remember the way she laughed it off when I asked if she was okay, the way she brushed me off like I was imagining things, but I wasn’t and neither was she.
Liam isn’t just a bitter ex. He’s calculated. Controlling. The kind of guy who doesn’t take no for an answer. And if he went through all this trouble to find her now, he’s not just here to talk, and I don’t like it.
I snatch the phone from her hand, scanning the message again, my pulse hammering in my ears: You can’t hide from me forever.
My jaw clenches as I inhale sharply through my nose. "Pack your things. We’re leaving."
Margot blinks at me. "What? No. We’re not running."
I look up, meeting her wide blue eyes. "I’m not suggesting we run. I’m making sure we control the situation before it controls us. If he knows you’re here, we need to be ahead of him, not waiting for his next move."
She hesitates, her throat bobbing as she swallows. "Where would we even go?"
"Somewhere he won’t expect." I pocket her phone and grab my keys. "Get what you need. We’re leaving in ten minutes."
For once, she doesn’t argue.
Twenty minutes later, we’re on the road, heading out of the city. Margot hasn’t said much since we left, her fingers twitching on her lap as she stares out the window.
"Where are we going?" she finally asks, her voice quiet.
"A friend’s place. Secluded, private, safe."
She exhales slowly, rubbing her temple. "And then what, Grayson? I can’t just disappear from my life."
I grip the wheel tighter. "We figure out our next move. But right now, I need to make sure you’re out of reach."
She doesn’t respond right away. Instead, she turns toward me, studying me in the dim glow of the dashboard. "Why are you doing this?" she asks, her voice softer than before.
I glance at her, my pulse spiking at the way she’s looking at me, like she’s seeing something she hadn’t considered before.
"Because someone has to protect you, Evans. And I’m not going to let it be anyone else."
She holds my gaze a second longer before finally looking away, but not before I catch the slight hitch in her breath. We drive in silence, the tension thick between us, neither of us willing to acknowledge that everything between us is shifting. And that no matter where we go, there’s no turning back now.
By the time we pull up to the secluded cabin, the sun is beginning to rise, casting long golden streaks across the dense forest surrounding us. The place is nestled between towering trees, set far enough off the road that it’s nearly invisible from a distance. The only sign of life is the porch light, left on as if someone had been expecting us.
Margot shifts beside me, taking in the scene with wary eyes. "This is your friend’s place?"
"Yeah. Carter owns it. He’s out of the country right now, but he left me the keys in case I ever needed it. Figured now qualifies."
She exhales, running a hand through her hair. "Secluded, private, safe."
I nod. "Exactly."
I kill the engine and step out, stretching my stiff muscles before grabbing her bag from the backseat. Margot hesitates a second longer before following, wrapping her arms around herself as she steps onto the gravel driveway. Unlocking the door, I push it open, revealing the cozy interior, a large open living space with a stone fireplace, a fully stocked kitchen, and a hallway leading to the bedrooms. It’s quiet, peaceful, and a hell of a lot safer than the city.
Margot crosses the threshold, glancing around. "Alright. We’re here. Now what?"
I drop our bags by the door and turn to face her. "Now, we get some rest. Then, we figure out how to end this."
She exhales, crossing her arms. "And in the meantime? What about Perfectly Matched ?"
I knew this was coming. As much as we’ve been thrown into chaos, neither of us is the type to let business slip. Especially not her.