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There could be a million reasons she wasn’t home. She could’ve needed to run an errand. Maybe she decided to go to dance class. She’d been skipping them since the shooting.

“That’s weird.” He cut through my thoughts.

“She’s probably just out with the girls.” Then why did my heart feel like it was beating my ribs?

“No, not that. I thought I saw one of our cars drive by again. You got anyone dropping someone here?”

He was talking about bringing an enemy to his barn like we had with Aaron’s man. But it had been unusually quiet. And I was letting Angelo have the time I promised with his wife and son.

“No.” I pressed the phone between my ear and shoulder as I typed on the keyboard, pulling up our trackers. “The only car near you is…Mike’s.” My gut tightened. “Can you see inside? Is Grace with him?”

Maybe she needed to return for something.

“Backseat is empty.” I heard it in his voice. The same suspicion I felt.

Where was Grace? Why wasn’t Mike with her? He was supposed to stay be her side. If something happened, then why hadn’t he called? A lot of questions with no good answers.

“Grab him. Hold him until I get there.” His footsteps echoed through the line, but I was already looking at the other trackers. Grace’s cell phone was moving with the car. As was my mother’s. Then I saw it.

My contingency plan. The backup I never wanted to use. Traveling in the wrong direction. Away from the city. Away from me.

“Get everyone!” Angelo didn’t question my command or the fear in it. “I’m sending the details.”

Someone had Grace. They were trying to take her from me.

No! I wouldn’t let it happen. Not again.

I was halfway to the door before the theory crossed my mind. Mike was in on it. Whatever this was, whoever had taken Grace, Mike knew. It explained why he hadn’t called. Who else was betraying me?

“Just you and Cole.”

“What?” I heard his confusion.

“I don’t know who I can trust. Just you and Cole. Meet me there now!”

I thought I knew what fear was. I’d been raised in it. My uncle ruled with it. Threatening our lives daily. Using his victims to show us what he could do.

Then I’d watched Grace almost die. I’d waited in that room for twelve hours, hoping she was okay. Promising my soul to the devil if it would keep her here.

That fear had stolen the breath from my lungs. It had twisted my insides until all I saw was a red haze. Until I couldn’t swallow without tasting her death.

But none of that was even a fraction of what I felt now. It was like the world around me didn’t exist. I didn’t see the elevator doors. Didn’t hear Angelo’s shout in the phone still clutched to my hand.

Instead, I saw Grace. The first moment I’d seen her in that ballroom. Our first kiss. Our wedding. Telling her I loved her.

They were like flashes of a film, clicking and playing on a reel in my head until I had to tell my body to breathe. Had to force my heart to beat.

Because I had to.

For her, I had to keep it together.

I’ve got you, Sunflower.

46

Grace

Agasp tore through my lungs. My heart pounded on my ribs. Sweat coated my skin. I drew a deep, steadying breath, feeling the familiar effects of a nightmare.

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