21. Grayson
21
GRAYSON
I t’s quiet in the cabin, the kind of silence that settles deep in your bones. The fire crackles lazily in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the worn wooden walls. I push the last bite of reheated lasagna around my plate and glance across the table at Margot. She's curled up in an oversized hoodie, her hair a little messy, the tension in her shoulders finally starting to ease. We needed this, time away, space to breathe, a buffer between us and everything Liam set in motion. For a moment, it almost feels normal, peaceful.
Margot laughs at something I say, soft and low, and damn if it doesn’t make my chest ache. I don’t remember the last time I heard her sound that unguarded. Then her cell phone chimes. A single notification. Her smile fades. The second Margot’s face drains of color, I know whatever Liam sent isn’t just a threat, it’s personal. I don’t wait for her to react. I move, coming around the counter to stand behind her, my eyes scanning the screen as tension knots in my chest. The images hit me like a gut punch. Margot, looking younger, her expression unreadable in each frame. But Liam? He’s unmistakable. The way he’s holding her wrist, the way he’s leaning in too close, his hand on her back like he owned her.
My jaw clenches so tight it aches: I never forget what’s mine. The words beneath the pictures make my blood run cold.
Margot inhales sharply, snapping the laptop shut like she can erase what we just saw. She presses the heels of her palms against her eyes, taking slow, steady breaths.
"Margot…"
"Don’t." Her voice is clipped, but not angry. Just… tired. "I don’t want to talk about it."
I exhale through my nose, forcing myself to stay still, when every muscle in my body is screaming to do something, find Liam, make him regret ever breathing her name. She moves past me, setting her mug in the sink with shaky fingers. "We need to focus on finding out who gave him my information. That’s all that matters right now."
"That’s notallthat matters." My voice is lower now, sharper.
She turns, meeting my eyes, her expression guarded. "It is. Because the alternative is letting him control me. And I refuse to let that happen."
Damn it. I know she’s right. But it doesn’t make me want to put my fist through a wall any less. I take a slow breath, clenching my fists at my sides before relaxing them. "Fine. But you’re not dealing with this alone. We track down who helped him, we shut it down, and then…"
She crosses her arms. "And then what?"
I step closer, invading her space, letting the heat between us crackle. "And then I make sure he never comes near you again."
Her breath hitches, but she doesn’t move away. "Grayson…"
"I don’t care what it takes, Margot. He doesn’t get to haunt you. Not while I’m here."
Something shifts in her eyes, something she won’t say out loud. But I see it., and I’ll be damned if I let him win. Margot exhales sharply and turns away, gripping the counter like she needs something solid to hold onto. I don’t like seeing her like this, shaken, guarded, pretending she’s fine when she’s anything but. I move to stand beside her, keeping my voice steady. "We need a plan."
She nods, still not looking at me. "Yeah, I know."
"First, we find out how he got your number and address. I’ll push harder on my contacts to see if there was a data breach or if someone handed over your information."
She finally meets my gaze, her expression hard. "And if it was someone inside Perfectly Matched?"
I hold her stare. "Then we cut them off. No hesitation."
She swallows, nodding once. "Okay."
I take a step closer, lowering my voice. "Second, we need to keep you off his radar while we figure this out. That means no unnecessary contact with anyone outside of Elliot and Olivia. No slipping back to your place. No making yourself an easy target."
She lets out a humorless laugh. "So what, I just stay hidden here forever?"
"No, Evans. Just until I make sure you’re safe."
Something flickers in her eyes, frustration, maybe or something deeper. "I don’t like being backed into a corner, Grayson."
"I know. But this isn’t about pride. It’s about survival."
Her jaw tightens, but she doesn’t argue. Before I can say anything else, her phone buzzes again on the counter. We both glance at it at the same time, my gut twisting as another message appears on the screen: Did you like my gift? I have more.
Margot inhales sharply, her hands trembling as she snatches the phone up and locks the screen.
"That’s it," I grit out, grabbing my keys. "We’re done playing defense. It’s time to go on the offense."
She stares at me, her breath shallow. "And what exactly does that mean?"
I step closer, letting my anger seep into my words. "It means I’m going to find him before he finds you." Before she can respond, her phone buzzes too. We both glance at our screens, then back at each other.
Margot sighs. "It’s Olivia. What now?" She answers with an exasperated tone. "Liv, please tell me you’re not calling about Elliot too."
"Oh, Iam," Olivia says, her voice dramatic. "Except this time, it’s from the girl’s side. Margot, she’s freaking out too! She said Elliot was 'unexpectedly charming in a neurotic way' and now she doesn’t know what to do. She keeps texting me, overanalyzing every moment."
Margot groans, rubbing her temple. "So, let me get this straight, Elliot is panicking because helikedher, and she’s panicking becauseshe liked her back?"
"Exactly," Olivia confirms. "It’s a full-scale meltdown on both sides. Honestly, it’s like watching two deer freeze in headlights. You need to fix this."
Margot mutters something under her breath before responding, "Okay, fine. I’ll talk to her. But this is officially the least of my problems right now."
I smirk, leaning against the counter. "This is your matchmaking empire at work, Evans."
She shoots me a glare before turning away, already typing out a message.
I shake my head. "And you thinkwe’recomplicated?" I glance at the screen and groan. "It’s Olivia."
Margot frowns. "Now? What does she want?"
I answer, already irritated. "This isn’t a good time, Liv."
"Yeah, well, tell that to Elliot. He’s spiraling. Something about the date you arranged? Apparently, it wasn’t the disaster he expected. He actuallylikedher. Which, for Elliot, is apparently terrifying."
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "You’re kidding me."
"Nope. He spent the entire dinner analyzing everything she said like it was some kind of job interview, but somehow, she found itcharming. Then she called him out for being too structured, made him try her cocktail, which, by the way, hehated and then forced him to dance in the middle of the restaurant. He’s in a full-blown crisis because, and I quote, 'It was the most fun he’s had in years.'"
I exhale sharply, shaking my head. "So, what’s the issue?"
"The issue is that Elliot doesn'tdofun. He’s convinced that means he’s lost control. And if there’s one thing Elliot fears more than commitment, it’snot being in control.Honestly, it’s pathetic. Fix it. Also, don’t forget, you have less than a month.""
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "You’re kidding me."
"Nope. He’s pacing his office like a man possessed, ranting about how he’s notreadyto feel something."
The line goes dead before I can argue. I clench my jaw, shoving my phone in my pocket.
Margot raises a brow. "Less than a month for what?"
I don’t answer right away. Instead, I exhale and grab my laptop. "We’ll get to that later. First, we deal with Liam. Then, we handle Elliot. And after that, Evans? You and I need to talk."
She folds her arms, watching me with suspicion. "About what?"
I meet her gaze, letting the weight of my words settle between us. "About us. Because you can’t tell me you don’t feel it too."