“Let’s go,” I say, rising to my feet and pulling Grace gently to hers.
She’s still shaky, still pale, and I can see the lingering fear in her eyes. My chest tightens at the sight. I couldn’t protect her like I promised. I couldn’t keep her safe.
The ride back to the estate is tense and quiet. I keep checking on her, making sure she’s not in pain, but she doesn’t say much.
Her hand grips mine tightly like she’s holding on for dear life, and I squeeze back, trying to comfort her.
But I can feel the weight of everything that just happened pressing down on us both.
When we finally pull into the driveway, the doctor is already waiting, a small team in tow. They rush to check Grace first, and I can see the tension in her shoulders and the way she winces when they touch her.
It takes everything in me not to push them away and tell them I’ll take care of her. But I don’t. I stand back, my fists clenched, as they examine her, asking if she’s in pain and checking for any signs of injury.
“She’s fine,” the doctor says after a while, looking at me. “A few bumps and bruises, maybe a mild concussion, but nothing too serious. Just keep an eye on her for the next few days.”
I nod, but I’m not convinced.
She’s not fine. None of this is fine.
When it’s my turn to be checked over, I barely listen to the doctor’s questions. I don’t care about the cuts on my arms or the pounding in my head.
I care about the fact that this man—this monster—keeps slipping through our fingers. I care about the fear in Grace’s eyes.
“You’re lucky,” the doctor says as he finishes up. “No broken bones, no major injuries. Just some soreness and a nasty headache. Rest is all you need.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, barely paying attention. My mind is somewhere else entirely.
Grace is sitting on the edge of the couch, her hands folded in her lap, staring at the floor. She’s so still, so quiet, and it tears me apart to see her like this. I sit down beside her, reaching out to take her hand again.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask softly.
She nods, but I can see the doubt in her eyes. “Yeah… I just… I didn’t expect him to come after me like that. Not now.”
“I know.” My voice is low, filled with the frustration and guilt that’s been building since the moment I realized we were under attack. “I promised you I’d keep you safe and failed.”
Her eyes snap to mine, wide and full of emotion. “You didn’t fail, Theo. You were right there. You?—”
“I should have done more,” I interrupt, my jaw tight. “I shouldn’t have let him get so close.”
“You couldn’t have known. Neither of us could have,” she says, her voice shaky but firm.
“He’s playing games, and he wants me scared.
I can’t let him win.
He could have... he could have killed both of us today.”
I stare at her, amazed by how strong she is despite everything. But I still can’t shake the feeling that I’ve failed her.
This was supposed to be a night of normalcy, where she could relax and not have to worry about her stalker. And now… this.
“I knew we should have stayed here.”
She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close. The warmth of her body against mine is the only thing keeping me grounded right now.
I kiss her hair, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to calm the storm raging inside me.
“We’re going to stop him,” I murmur. “I swear to you, Grace, I’m not going to let him take anything else from you.”