Chapter Eight

NATALIA

Jace’s mention of the guard doesn’t fully sink in as he leaves. In fact, as soon as I’m alone in the room again, I slip back into sleep. But when I finally wake up, his words start to echo in my mind.

This isn't the first time I've been kept under watch like this. My dad never let me stay in a house alone. There was always someone at the front and back door, ensuring I didn’t wander off. When I was younger, I barely noticed, but now, as an adult, it feels like too much. Overkill, really.

I guess it makes sense for Jace to want someone on guard duty, but that doesn’t mean I’m thrilled about it. If he had given me the choice, I probably would’ve accepted it willingly. But no—he just told me there would be someone here, and that’s that.

With a resigned sigh, I get out of bed, my toes sinking into the soft rug. I stand up and take in my surroundings, now bathed in daylight. The room lacks a certain warmth, a personal touch that makes a place feel like home. I’m left wondering if Jace spends much time here, or if this is just another one of his many properties. My dad, after all, owns several homes across the territory.

Stretching my arms above my head, I walk into the kitchen. There’s hardly anything in the fridge, but I manage to throw together a passable breakfast. After cleaning up, I move into the living room. The oversized TV seems to mock me—I’m in no mood to watch anything right now. Instead, I find myself walking over to the front door, curiosity gnawing at me.

I peek through the peephole, standing on tiptoe and holding my breath, hoping not to make any noise. It takes me a moment to focus. At first, I think I must be missing something. The hallway is empty, nothing but the bare wall opposite me.

“Strange,” I murmur under my breath, stepping back slightly.

I try to make sense of it. Jace could’ve lied to me about leaving a guard just to keep me from trying to sneak out. But I don’t believe that. Despite how little I’ve known him, I’ve picked up enough to know Jace doesn’t bluff about things like this.

So, what does that mean? Maybe the guard is just out of sight, tucked somewhere where I can’t see him. That’s probably it. I refuse to entertain the alternative thought—the one where Jace’s guard isn’t here anymore. Because if that’s true, then something bad could be happening, and I’m completely unprepared for it.

I know I should just lock myself in and wait for Jace to get back, but curiosity gnaws at me, pulling me toward the door. Slowly, I unlock it, careful not to make any noise. I crack it open just enough to peer outside, trying to take in my surroundings.

There’s no one in sight. At least not in the direction I can see. No voices, no footsteps, no sign of anyone questioning why I’m not staying inside. It’s strange, but maybe the guard is positioned downstairs. Perhaps he was just told to keep me from leaving the building.

I’m about to close the door and retreat when I hear someone clear their throat. Thinking it’s my assigned protector, I turn to face him, ready to offer some kind of explanation. But the words die in my throat when I see who’s standing there.

Jen. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and her lips curl into a smirk. My stomach plummets, and I freeze, unable to move. I want to run, slam the door shut, lock myself away. But I’m paralyzed. Seeing her here—someone I once considered my best friend—renders me motionless.

“What?” she drawls, her voice dripping with the same coldness my father uses when he’s about to put someone in their place. She tilts her head, that wicked smirk twisting into something sinister. “Not even going to say hi? Or show me around your new place?”

“I–” I stammer, but the words won’t come. My gaze flickers behind her, and I catch movement. One of my father’s men stands behind her. He’s the usual guard assigned to watch over me. At his feet lies another man, tied up and gagged. The guard Jace left for me, no doubt. Somehow, I didn’t hear any of the struggle that must’ve taken him down.

“Natalia,” Jen sings, taking a slow step closer. My heart races, and my breath comes in shallow gasps. “Cat got your tongue? Come on. We’ve always told each other everything. Tell me about your new boyfriend. If you do, I promise we won’t go too hard on you—or him.”

“What do you want?” The words come out in a weak squeak. I hate how small I sound, but I’m caught off guard. If I’d had time to prepare for her arrival, I would have been ready. But now, I’m completely exposed.

“I just wanted to talk to my best friend,” she says, putting on a false pout. “You left without saying goodbye, Natalia. That really hurt my feelings.”

“You know I couldn’t stay,” I say, tightening my grip on the doorknob, fighting the urge to slam it shut and retreat into the penthouse. “You knew that.”

“You’re right,” she sighs, taking a few deliberate steps closer. “Which is exactly why I know you’re the one who called in that tip.”

I blink at her, my mind trying to catch up. I knew this moment would come, but I thought I’d have more time to prepare, maybe even avoid it altogether. I realize now how foolish I was to think I could.

“Aw, did you think we wouldn’t find out?” Jen purrs, her voice dripping with sweetness so fake it makes my skin crawl. “Who else could have done it? Everyone knows you’re too soft for us. You care so much about being righteous. It’s exhausting. You do realize the luxury life you’ve lived was paid for by everything you think you’re above, right?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” I snap, my jaw clenched. “I wasn’t allowed to leave. If I could’ve, I would’ve. Why do you think I bolted when Jace and his guys showed up?”

Jen rolls her eyes, her disgust clear. “You idiot. You’re just jumping from one set of criminals to another. You honestly think they’re going to be better than your family?”

I step forward, closing the distance between us, standing chest to chest. “Yeah. I know Jace is better than any of you.”

Her smirk twists, becoming something darker, more malicious. “Please. You’ve known him for a day. He’ll show his true colors eventually. They all do.”

“At least they weren’t trafficking women!” The words burn as they leave my mouth. Anger surges in my chest. “What would have happened to those girls if Jace and his crew hadn’t stopped it?”

“I don’t care about them!” Jen snaps, her face twisted in rage. “I’m more concerned with the money we lost because of you.”

Before I can react, Jen lunges, grabbing my wrists and yanking me down. The sudden force takes me completely by surprise, and I hit the ground hard. My breath leaves me in a gasp as she wrestles me to the floor. I struggle, trying to push her off, but she’s too fast, too strong.

She drags my arm behind my back, and her knee presses into my spine with a sharp, painful pressure. I gasp, my body screaming in protest, but I can’t break free. Her grip tightens on my other arm, and before I know it, I’m completely restrained, unable to move.

“Natalia,” she chides, her voice mocking and cruel. “You’re supposed to be better than this. You had all those opportunities, all those gifts handed to you on a silver platter. The least you could’ve done was make something of it. I know your dad didn’t skimp on those self-defense classes. But I guess you weren’t paying attention, were you?”

“Get off of me!” I scream, my body thrashing beneath her, desperate to break free. I refuse to be helpless. “Jen, let me go! Now!”

“Or what?” Jen sneers, leaning down until her mouth is nearly at my ear. “You’ll call… oh, what was his name again? Jace? You’ll call Jace.”

I refuse to give her the satisfaction of a response, and with everything I’ve got, I buck up, throwing my body against hers, nearly sending her flying off of me. She grunts in frustration, her grip tightening, her stiletto nails sinking into my skin. Her knee digs harder into my back, and I cry out in pain.

“Would you come help me?” she breathes, almost out of breath herself from our struggle. “She’s wiggly, and you’re stronger than me.”

That’s when I see my regular guard’s boots. He crouches down in front of me, ripping off a strip of duct tape and slapping it across my mouth before moving swiftly to my feet.

My legs are tied together quickly, the cords biting into my skin. I fight against it, but the pain just sharpens. Then, he moves to my hands, binding them tightly behind my back. I clench my teeth, my ankles rubbing painfully together under the rough bindings.

With no way to escape, the fight drains from me. The weight of reality settles heavily. I’m going back to my father, and I know what that means. Jen’s right—I’ve cost them too much. I’ve ruined everything. My father will never forgive me for betraying him. No one will.

The man hoists me up in his arms, and as I hang limply, I cast one last, hopeless glance at the door of Jace’s penthouse. I curse myself for not staying inside, for not listening to that instinct telling me to hide. This is my fault. All of it. Every bit of pain and fear I’m about to face, I brought it on myself.

I entertain a flicker of hope, a faint thought that Jace might come looking for me, but I quickly squash it. I know better. There’s no knight in shining armor. There’s just this.

And as they carry me away, I wonder if it’ll be over soon. But deep down, I know better. This will not be quick. I’ll endure whatever they have in store until my body can’t take it anymore.