Chapter 17
Into the Fray
Julia’s POV
A sharp chill snakes down my spine before my eyes even open. Something’s wrong.
The safe house is too quiet. Too still. The hum of the security system, a sound I’ve grown used to, is gone. Vanished. My stomach twists as my hand instinctively reaches across the mattress for Lily.
The sheets are still warm, but the space beside me is empty. Making my heart jump then I see the bathroom light is on and I hear the water running in the sink.
Lily opens the door and walks out rubbing her eyes. “Mommy, I heard something.”
My breath catches.
Then—
The front door slams open.
My breath catches.
Heavy footsteps thunder through the house. A man’s voice barks orders.
I’m on my feet in a second. Heart pounding. Adrenaline screaming through my veins. I bolt for Lily, but before I can reach her, the bedroom door explodes inward.
Armed men pour in.
A pair of thick arms clamps around my waist, wrenching me backward.“Get your hands off me!” I swing blindly.
“Mommy!” Lily screams as one of them yanks her away.
No.
I thrash against the brute holding me, nails raking, fists pounding, I'm even biting but he’s stronger. Bigger.
“Get off me, you son of a—”
A rag presses against my mouth. A sickly sweet scent floods my senses. My vision blurs. My limbs turn to lead.
The last thing I see before darkness swallows me whole is Lily’s terrified face, reaching for me.
I wake up bound to a chair.
My head pounds like it’s been cracked open. My wrists burn, the rope biting into my skin. I blink through the haze.
Where are we? I can’t tell because everything is so dark. I can hear and smell the ocean, but there is a mildew smell that overpowers the scent of the sea.
A single light swings overhead, casting eerie shadows against the damp concrete walls. Is it a warehouse?
Across from me—
Lily.
A shiver of rage rolls through me. I have to get us out of here. She’s huddled on the cold floor, clutching her stuffed bunny, her eyes wide and wet.
Terror written all over her face.
My voice is hoarse. “Lily…” Her head jerks up. “Mommy!” “Don’t be scared, baby. I’m right here.” She starts to crawl toward me, but a thick-set man steps into her path and growls, “Stay put.”
I want to tear him apart.
My body coils with rage.
A slow, deliberate set of footsteps echoes through
the room.
The bastard steps out of the shadows and into the light “Well, well,” Mac drawls. “You’re finally awake. Didn’t think we’d see each other again, did you?”
I swallow the bile rising in my throat. He looks exactly the same as the last time I saw him —his smirk smug, his eyes dead inside.
I glare daggers at him, my breath shallow but steady. I force strength into my voice. “Where is Logan?”
Mac smirks. “That’s your first question? Not ‘Why am I here?’ Not ‘What do you want?’”
He tilts his head, amused. “You think he’s gonna save you?” He shakes his head. “Nah. He’s already falling into our little trap.”
The certainty in his voice makes my stomach churn.
Admit it, sweetheart—you know exactly why you’re here.”
I do.
I just never wanted to believe it.
His eyes darken. “You were supposed to die that night.”
Ice seeps into my bones.
That night. The night I ran. When I saw him torturing— maybe killing—someone.
I thought —hoped—that maybe he never knew I was there.
Mac chuckles, low and cruel. “Surprised? You think I didn’t see you?” He leans in, his voice dripping with menace. “I always knew.”
A sickening weight settles in my chest. He’s known for years.The warehouse spins slightly as nausea churns in my gut again.
“You—” I swallow. “You let me leave.
He crouches down in front of me, resting his elbows on his knees. “I figured you'd disappear. Go start some new little life. Far away from Seaside Bluff. But then you came back.”
“I didn’t tell anyone what I saw.”
“You didn’t have to. You existed. That was enough.” He stands, pacing in front of me. “But the real problem isn’t what you saw, Julia. It’s who you’re screwing now.” I go ice-cold.
My fists clench against the ropes. “He’s onto you, isn’t
he?” I spit. “Logan’s closing in.” “He’s making things messy.
That’s all.”
“You should’ve stayed gone,” Mac murmurs, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face.
I snap my teeth at him. “Touch me again, and I’ll rip your damn throat out.”
He laughs, but there’s something dead in his eyes. “You always had fire. Too bad you don’t have a way out.”
Then another voice fills the room.
“Enough, Mac.”
My heart stops.
The air shifts as Councilman Jameson steps out of the shadows. He looks calm, collected. Like he’s at a damn cocktail party instead of standing in a warehouse with a zip-tied woman and a six-year-old hostage.
The real mastermind.
“You?” I breathe, my stomach dropping. “You’ve been working with him?”
Jameson smiles like a snake. “Please, Julia. Don’t look so shocked.”
I am not shocked Logan has already found out. I am Sickened. The town’s most powerful man. A man Logan had trusted—is just as dirty as Mac.
Mac is one thing —he’s a monster, but Jameson, I really
didn’t want to believe it.
“You’re supposed to be the one who protects this town.”
“I do protect it,” he replies evenly. “Just not the way your boyfriend does.”
Mac leans against a stack of crates, arms crossed,
smirking. “Worked out real nice—until your boyfriend started
sticking his nose where it didn’t belong.”
My chest tightens. Logan.
Revulsion twists in my chest. Logan trusted him. Hell, most of the town did. “I always knew Logan Carter would become a problem,” Jameson continues. “He plays sheriff like he’s still in the Marines.”
Clean hands, straight path. No compromise. “He’s getting too close. Digging into things that should stay buried. Offshore accounts, fake construction deals, campaign funds that don’t exist. If he keeps pulling at those threads, he’s going to ruin everything I’ve built.”
“He’s doing his job.”
Jameson shakes his head. “He doesn’t know how to
play the game.”
I spit blood onto the warehouse floor. “So what? You
lure him here with me and Lily, then what? You kill all of us?”
Jameson smiles. “I run this town. And Logan? He’s in my way.
“You son of a—”
I lurch forward, straining against the ropes. “You won’t get away with this. People will know.”
“They’ll know what I tell them to know,” Jameson replies coolly.
“Logan will die in a ‘rescue attempt gone wrong.” You’ll be a tragic casualty. The child will be… taken care of.” The blood drains from my face. “No. No, you don’t touch her. She’s just a little girl—”
She’s leverage,” Mac says. “And if she grows up with a different last name and a lot of therapy, maybe she’ll forget all this ever happened.”, I see red.
“I’ll kill you.” Snapping against the restraints so hard the chair groans.
“I swear to God, Mac—if you touch her—” He backhands me, hard. Pain explodes through my face. My jaw throbs instantly, but I don’t cry out. “Mommy!” Lily cries, scrambling forward again I need to stay conscious. I need to protect her. Jameson checks his phone and sighs.
She reaches me this time—just for a second—before a goon yanks her back. Her fingers slip from mine. I breathe through the searing pain. If I don’t act now, Lily will grow up without a mother. Without Logan. Alone.
I won’t let that happen.
“Let’s move this along. Carter will be here soon. Get rid of her.”
“No!” I shout, twisting violently. Mac grins and lifts the
gun. “Nighty-night, sweetheart.” My eyes lock with Lily’s. My baby. My heart.
My pulse roars in my ears. My body is screaming for me to fight, but my vision swims. Blood fills my mouth.
Mac grips my chin, yanking my face toward his. “No more talking.”
Jameson checks his watch. “Logan will be here soon. Get rid of her.”
Mac’s smirk widens. He pulls his gun. Aiming straight at my head.
I force myself to stay calm. Think, Julia.
Then I meet Lily’s wide, terrified gaze.
I have to give her a chance to escape.
Now or never.
I feel the give in the rope on my left wrist that I’ve been trying to loosen. Just a little more... I think.
“It’s okay, baby. I love you.” Lily sniffles, eyes wide, terrified.
Jameson turns,as if he doesn’t want to see the actual murder.
Mac raises the gun— I move. I shove my body sideways with all my weight.
The chair topples. I crash to the ground, landing hard, but it knocks Mac off balance.
The gun flies from his hand, clattering to the floor. I lock eyes with Lily.
“Run, baby! NOW!” I scream. Lily bolts. “Stop her!” Mac roars. A gunshot shatters the air. I feel it tear through me. A scream rips from my throat as white-hot agony slices across my side. A gasp rips from my throat.
Lily screams —high and broken. My vision blurs. I see her tiny feet skidding on concrete as she runs. Then— the world goes black.