Taken By The Tycoon

Chapter 7: Fire and Shadows

The automobile accelerated down the small lane, the burning mansion fading in the rearview mirror. Grace glanced out the window, her breath short, her chest squeezing as the weight of Henry's deeds fell on her. Lucas tightened his lips in quiet wrath and held the steering wheel so firmly that his knuckles became white.

"We cannot abandon it like this," Grace muttered, barely audible over the engine's hum.

Lucas glanced at her; his expression dark. “We won’t. However, we need to continue with caution. Acting rashly now will not benefit anyone—not you, your family's reputation, or us."

Grace swallowed hard; her throat dry. “He’s escalated. This wasn’t just a warning, Lucas. He’s trying to destroy me.”

"He won't make it," Lucas stated firmly. His gaze flickered to the rearview mirror, examining the vacant road behind them. "But you have to tell me everything immediately. No more holding back. If we’re going to stop him, I need the full story.”

Grace hesitated, her fingers twisting in her lap. “I already told you—”

“No,” Lucas interrupted, his tone sharp but not unkind. “Not bits and pieces. Not half-truths. I need everything, Grace. Every bit of details he has about you, what he's searching for, and why he believes he is capable of pulling this off with no repercussions."

"Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. 'He’s been holding this over me for years.'"

It began with my father's debts. Henry approached me, said he could help clean up the mess. I was desperate, Lucas. I didn’t see any other way.”

“And the ledger?” Lucas pressed. “What did you sign?”

“It was supposed to be a simple agreement,” Grace said, her voice trembling. “But it wasn’t. I didn’t know he’d use it to tie me to him. He adjusted the data to make it appear that I was engaged in the theft. If anyone sees that ledger, it’ll ruin me.”

Lucas’s hands tightened on the wheel. "So he’s been using that against you. Threatening to reveal everything unless you follow his orders."

Grace nodded. “It’s not just about the money, Lucas. He knows... other things. Personal things. Things about my family I never wanted to come to light.”

Lucas remained quiet for a minute; his gaze fixated on the road. "Why wait this long to let me know?"

"I didn't want you to notice me like that," Grace said, her voice shaking. "Weak. Shattered. I felt hiding it was the only way to keep you safe."

“Grace,” Lucas said, his voice low and steady. “You’re not weak. You don't need to save me. “Like it or not, but we’re stuck in this together.”

She looked at him, her eyes glistening with unfallen tears.

“Even now? After everything?”

“Especially now,” Lucas said firmly. “But we need a plan. Running from him isn’t going to work.”

Grace nodded, her mind racing. “There might be something in my father’s old files. Records Henry doesn’t know I have. If I can find proof of what he’s done—”

“We’ll need to act fast,” Lucas said, cutting her off. “Henry’s not going to sit back and wait. He’s already made his move.”

As the car turned onto a secluded dirt road, Lucas slowed to a stop near an abandoned cabin. The wooden cabin was tiny and unpretentious, concealed behind overgrown trees.

"This is where we regroup," Lucas stated, getting out of the automobile. “No one knows about this place. We’ll figure out our next move here.”

Grace stepped in behind him, the creaky floorboards reverberating across the empty space. The cabin was simple but efficient, with only one table, a few seats, and an old sofa. Lucas took out his phone, his brow wrinkled as he searched for signals.

“Still clear,” he said, setting the phone on the table. “For now.”

Grace sank into one of the chairs, her hands trembling. “What if he knows about this place? What if—”

“He doesn’t,” Lucas said, his voice firm. “I’ve used this spot before. It’s safe. But we can’t stay here forever.”

Grace nodded, though her unease remained. "I can't believe he completely destroyed my home. Everything... everything I had left of my family is gone.”

Lucas bent in front of her, laying his hands on her knees. "Listen to me, Grace. He thinks he’s won. That’s his mistake. We’re going to turn this around. But I need you to stay strong. Can you do that?”

She met his gaze, and the resolve in his eyes comforted her. "Yes," she murmured.

Lucas stood and began pacing, his mind clearly working through their options. “We need to know his next move. He’s not going to stop with the fire.”

Grace's phone rang on the table, its sound piercing through the calm cabin. She froze, her pulse racing as she grabbed for it. The message was brief but chilling:

“Nice place. Shame if something happened to it.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. "He knows we're here."

Lucas picked up the phone, his expression deepening as he read the message. "How the hell—"

Before he could continue, he noticed a faint sound outside. The crunch of steps on gravel.

Lucas signaled for Grace to remain silent, placing his hand to the hidden holster at his side.

"Stay here," he said softly, his voice barely audible. He rushed quickly and silently to the door.

Grace's heart pounded as she grasped the table's edge. She strained to hear, her nerves on edge. The footsteps became louder and suddenly stopped. The stillness was terrible.

Then the door flew open.

Grace shrieked as Lucas dragged the invader to the floor. A scuffle erupted, with the two guys vying for control. In the dim light, she took a glimpse of the attacker's face—a person she didn't recognize, his looks sharp and dark.

“Run, Grace!” Lucas shouted, his voice raw. “Go now!”

But she couldn’t move. Her legs felt like lead as she watched Lucas overpower the man, pinning him to the floor. “Who sent you?” Lucas demanded, his voice a low growl. “Was it Henry?”

The man didn't reply, instead directing his eyes onto Grace. He smiled, a harsh, mocking look that sent shivers down her spine. "You’re out of time," he remarked, his tone tinged with venom.

Lucas slammed him against the floor. "What the hell does that mean?"

The man didn’t respond. Instead, he twisted beneath Lucas, pulling something from his jacket—a small black device with a blinking red light.

“Lucas!” Grace screamed, her voice rising in dread.

Lucas' eyes broadened as he recognized what it was. He cried, "Get out!" and threw the gadget across the room. He grabbed Grace's arm and pulled her toward the door just as the bomb burst.

The explosion hurled them both to the ground outside. Grace's ears ringing as she crouched to her knees, choking from the smoke and dust. The cabin was enveloped in flames, the heat burning her flesh.

"Lucas!" she said, glancing around anxiously.

"I'm here," he replied, his voice scratchy as he pulled her up. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, her legs trembling. “That man—who was he?”

Lucas’s expression was grim. “One of Henry’s. No doubt about it.”

Grace stared at the burning cabin, her heart sinking. “He’s not just trying to scare us anymore. He’s trying to kill us.”

Lucas wrapped an arm around her shoulders, guiding her away from the flames. “Then we will fight back. Harder than ever.”

Her phone buzzed again. She hesitated before looking at the screen. The message sent a chill through her veins:

“Checkmate.”

Grace turned to Lucas, her voice shaking. “He’s not stopping, Lucas. He’s going to destroy everything.”

Lucas’s jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with determination. “Not if we destroy him first.”

As they stumbled into the darkness, a second phone buzzed—this time in Lucas’s pocket. He froze, pulling it out with a frown. Grace observed as his countenance changed from perplexity to astonishment.

"What is it?" she questioned, her voice scarcely audible.

He passed her the phone without saying anything. A photograph appeared on the screen, hazy but recognizable.

It was the two of them outside the burning cabin. Below it was a single line of text:

“You should have looked behind you.”

Grace turned, her heart leaping into her throat, just as headlights pierced through the trees, speeding toward them like a predator closing in.