11. Grace
11
GRACE
T heo’s hand is warm in mine as we walk toward the car. The night air is cool and crisp, carrying the scent of rain on the horizon. After his words, my heart is pounding from the rush of adrenaline. Being this close to him feels right. He has an easy way of calming my nerves.
“Today has been amazing. I feel like Pretty Woman without the prostitute part,” I giggle.
He laughs. “You deserve to be pampered like that.”
“But I can do that for myself.”
“Why would you need to if I can do it for you?”
I’m quiet as I mull that one over. I let out a sigh as I smile up at him.
“Thank you for today. You really know how to make a girl feel safe and special.”
He squeezes my hand a little tighter, and I glance up at him, catching his eyes just as he turns to look at me. That look—dark, intense, full of unspoken things—sends a shiver throughout me and a shot of heat directly to my core.
I bite my lip, trying to hide the smile threatening to take over my face, but he sees it.
He always sees it. He stops walking, pulling me toward him with a suddenness that leaves me breathless, and before I can even process what’s happening, his lips are on mine.
The kiss is scorching, deep, and consuming. His hands are on my waist, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us. I melt into him, my fingers curling into his jacket as I lose myself in the heat of it.
It’s like every nerve in my body is on fire, and all I can think about is how he’s kissing me like he can’t get enough. Like I’m the only thing in the world that matters to him right now.
I’m about to jump into his lap the second we get into this car. Is that ho-ish of me?
Never mind, I don’t care. I just need to be as close to him as possible.
When we finally pull apart, I’m gasping for air, my head spinning in the best way possible. His forehead rests against mine for a moment, his breath ragged as he grins down at me.
“We should probably get in the car before I completely lose control,” he murmurs, his voice low and full of promise.
I laugh softly, still trying to catch my breath. “I’m not sure you had any control to begin with.”
He gives me that mischievous smile, the one that makes my knees weak, and then he opens the car door for me. “Get in, before I change my mind and take you right here.”
“Yes, please,” I giggle.
A thrill runs through me at how he says it, but I slide into the backseat, grinning like a fool. He climbs in after me and pulls me as close to him as possible.
For a few minutes, neither of us says anything, the tension between us still thick in the air. He stares deep into my eyes.
My heart is still racing from that kiss, and I can feel the heat from his body even though he’s not touching me. I break eye contact; it’s all a bit overwhelming.
I glance over at him a few seconds later, his fingers drum on his knee, his jaw clenched in that way that tells me he’s thinking about something—something dangerous.
Eating me, I hope.
“So,” I say, my voice teasing, “are you always this smooth, or am I just special?”
He chuckles, his eyes flicking over to me briefly. “You’re definitely special. But I won’t lie; I’ve always had a bit of a reputation.”
“Oh, really? A reputation for what exactly?” I raise an eyebrow, leaning a little closer to him.
“For being completely irresistible, obviously.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Is that what they call it now?”
He smirks. “What can I say? I have that effect on people.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “Well, I hate to break it to you, but I’m not so easily swayed.”
“Is that right?” His voice drops a little, becoming more serious, more dangerous. “Because if I remember correctly, you didn’t exactly resist that kiss back there.”
I feel the blush creeping up my neck, but I don’t let him see me falter. “I’m just being nice. You know, boosting your ego a little. Can’t have you thinking you’re losing your touch.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Oh, Grace, you have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
Before I can come up with a witty comeback, the car jerks violently to the side.
The sound of metal screeching against metal fills the air as my body slams against the door. For a split second, I’m frozen, trying to understand what just happened.
Then another impact—this one harder, more vicious—throws the car off the road. My scream dies in my throat as the world turns into a blur of spinning lights and deafening noise.
I can’t breathe. I can’t think. The car flips—once, twice—and everything is upside down. My head slams against the window, and pain explodes behind my eyes.
Glass shatters around me, the sound sharp and terrifying, like the world is collapsing in on itself.
Then, silence.
My vision swims as I try to focus, blinking against the haze of pain clouding my mind. I’m not in the car anymore. I’m on the ground, cold and trembling.
The air is thick with the smell of burning rubber and gasoline. I try to move, but my body won’t respond.
Everything hurts.
A shadow falls over me.
I blink again, my eyes struggling to focus, and when they do, I wish they hadn’t.
He’s standing above me, his grin wide and full of malice, those piercing yellow eyes glowing in the darkness—the man with the yellow eyes.
“No,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, but the terror in my chest feels like it’s suffocating me.
He chuckles a low, sickening sound, that sends chills down my spine. “You’ll never be safe, Grace. Not from me. Not from anyone.”
I try to move, try to get up, but I can’t. I’m frozen in place, my body refusing to obey my commands. The fear is paralyzing, clawing at my throat, making it impossible to breathe.
He kneels beside me, his hand outstretched, and everything slows for a moment. His smile widens, and his voice is soft, almost soothing, as he says, “Come with me, Grace. It’ll be easier that way.”
I find my phone, grab it somehow and dial 9-1-1. I shake my head, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in every inch of my body. “No.”
His face changes instantly, the smile disappearing, replaced by something dark, something furious. His eyes burn brighter, and I can see the rage boiling beneath the surface.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he growls, his voice now full of venom.
Suddenly, there’s shouting. It’s distant but enough to snap me out of my terror. He looks up, his expression twisting into one of annoyance, and then without warning, he’s gone.
He moves so fast I barely see him disappear into the shadows, leaving me alone, shaking and gasping for air.
I try to sit up, my head pounding, my limbs heavy. My vision blurs again, and I think I’m going to pass out. But then I see Theo.
He’s lying several feet away from the wreckage, motionless, his body twisted in a way that makes my stomach turn.
“No,” I whisper again, this time louder, the panic rising in my chest. “Theo!”
I try to crawl toward him, but my body won’t cooperate. I’m too weak, too dazed. I can’t reach him. My fingers dig into the dirt as I pull myself forward inch by inch, the world spinning around me.
He doesn’t move.
I scream his name again, but it’s useless. He doesn’t hear me. He doesn’t even flinch.
I collapse onto the ground, my vision darkening at the edges, the pain in my head becoming too much to bear. All I can think about is Theo—how still he is, how lifeless he looks. I can’t lose him, not like this.
But as the darkness closes in around me, I can’t help but think that maybe I already have.