Chapter 35

35

Grace winced as the plastic ties cut deeper into her skin, her hands bound behind her back. The car had slammed to a halt once they were out of sight of Brad's veterinary clinic, and Alex had wasted no time in grabbing her, securing the ties around her wrists until they bit into her flesh like hungry teeth.

He'd thrown her back into the car with a force that knocked the wind from her lungs, and as they took off at a breakneck speed, she tumbled into the rear footwell. With no seatbelt, she slammed against the unforgiving metal with each hairpin turn, biting back cries. The tang of motor oil flooded her nose while stiff carpet scraped her cheek.

Caleb. Even though she had come willingly, Alex and his men had hurt him. The memory of his body crumpling to the ground was a relentless loop in her head. She scrunched her eyes shut against the hot sting of tears. It was almost more than she could bear.

Breathe, Grace.

Disoriented and hurting, she lost track of time, until the car halted and Alex wrenched her from the vehicle. She stumbled, her knees cracking against the doorsill, and for a moment her vision grayed from the pain that ripped through her.

Bleak understanding dawned as she took in her surroundings. The familiar sight of Aurora Cove's marina stretched out before her, the boats bobbing in their slips, oblivious spectators to her torment.

Her stomach cramped. Was one of Richard's ships docked, waiting for her? It was the most logical conclusion, and the thought made her blood run cold.

Alex's men hustled her down the weathered docks, past sails clinking in the fresh breeze. As they neared the end of the pier, her heart locked. An immense yacht dominated the berth, its polished hull gleaming with obscene opulence. Even without the name Far Horizon emblazoned on its side, she recognized Richard's flagship. Bile scorched her throat. Despite everything she had done to escape him, somehow Richard had found her, and she was being delivered right back into his clutches.

She fought to steady herself against rising panic. She'd chosen to protect Caleb and his family.But the reality of what lay ahead was terrifying.

Her captors' hold was viselike as they manhandled her aboard the sleek vessel, their bulky bodies shielding her from curious eyes in the marina.

The door to the captain's cabin opened. Richard emerged, immaculate in designer sailing gear, his appearance as flawless as it had always been. But the coldness in his eyes, the pinched line of his mouth, spoke of the monster he was.

His smile, devoid of warmth, held a predatory edge that sent a visceral fear coursing through her body. "Grace."

Alex's men stepped away, but remained close enough to grab her if she tried to do anything foolish. Grace eyed the dark water slopping against the side of the boat. She'd sink like a stone with her hands tied together. Was that preferable to the fate that awaited her?

Richard circled her, assessing her disheveled state like she was a damaged commodity. Her hair was a mess, her clothes askew. Grace lifted her chin even as panic made her chest constrict. She wouldn't let him see how scared she was. It was all she had left—her dignity and the knowledge that regardless of the outcome, she'd chosen the right path.

She had tried to do the right thing, even if it had fallen apart in her hands.

"You have led me quite the dance." Richard leaned in and kissed her on both cheeks. Grace closed her eyes and held her breath to avoid inhaling his cologne, her skin crawling where he had touched her.

"If you're going to kill me, just get it over and done with." She forced desperate bravado into her voice. If these were her last hours, she would not grant Richard the satisfaction of seeing her destroyed.

His smile never reached his emotionless eyes. "What makes you think I want you dead?" His tone was light.

She summoned the last shreds of her courage. "You have no other use for me."

He cocked his head to the side, studying her with the calculated intensity of a falcon eyeing its prey. "Perhaps." With a casual wave of his hand, he gestured to the marina. "I believe a more private location would be more conducive to our discussion, wouldn't you agree?"

A chilling realization gripped her, her blood running cold as the true meaning behind his words sank in. The marina was too public a place for him to dispose of her without drawing unwanted attention.

With an authoritative motion, he jerked his head toward his men. "Escort her below deck and inform MacKenzie that we're setting sail immediately."

Two of the men grabbed her upper arms, lifting her from her feet as they hustled her through a door and belowdecks.

They flung her inside a small cabin, and she landed hard on her still-healing wrist, pain shooting through her arm. Biting back a cry, she blinked away the tears that threatened to fall, the sound of the hatch locking into place loud in her ears.

Drawing her knees close to her chest, she gingerly maneuvered herself into a sitting position, careful of her throbbing wrist at her back. From somewhere outside, the Far Horizon's horn bellowed, its resonant sound penetrating the walls of her prison. Moments later, the vessel's engines rumbled to life, the vibrations emanating from deep within its hull.

We're leaving.

She staggered to the porthole on shaky legs. The exterior glass was hazy with salt, but it was still possible to see Aurora Cove's harbor falling away as the Far Horizon powered out to sea. The marina receded at an alarming rate until only an indifferent sea was visible. She was trapped, alone, and at Richard's mercy.

Chest heaving, she collapsed onto a narrow lower bunk. She had sacrificed everything—her career, her safety, and her life—all to bring down Richard's brutal empire. But now, alone and at his mercy, everything felt futile. Without her testimony, he could continue his illegal trafficking unimpeded.

Hopelessness threatened to overwhelm her. She wasn't na?ve about where he was taking her. Somewhere he could toss her overboard and no one could find her. Not even Caleb.

Caleb.

At the thought of him, a swell of emotion rose within her, one that threatened to crack her in half. In Caleb, she had found understanding. A man who saw through all her defenses and found something worthy in her damaged soul. He'd cared for her and shown her there was more to her than the mistakes of her past. For the first time in her life, she'd allowed herself to imagine a future filled with laughter and possibility rather than fear.

So I can find you if you get lost.

She frantically patted her hip pocket. Her pockets were flat. Empty. The personal locator beacon Caleb had given her was gone.

It must have fallen out during when they manhandled me down here.

It could be anywhere. There was no way for Caleb to locate her. If he wanted to find her.

This was the end of the line.

She let the hot tears come.

Even if it had only been for a short time, what she'd had with him, many people never found that in their lives.

Her brief time with Caleb had been worth the sacrifice.