Chapter 8 - GRACE RUNSGrace knew something was wrong the moment the power failed.
Again.
But this time, she didn’t panic.
She grabbed Leo.
She remembered Adrian’s words.
She remembered the police.
She remembered the warehouse.
Someone wanted her afraid.
Grace looked through the nursery window.
A car waited near the trees.
She picked up Leo.
Then she moved toward the hidden staircase used by staff.
Her heart pounded.
She didn’t know where she was going.
Only away.
Downstairs, glass shattered.
A man entered.
Grace covered Leo’s mouth gently as he began to cry.
“Shh.”
She moved through the dark hallway.
Then her phone vibrated.
Adrian.
She answered silently.
“Grace!”
She whispered, “Someone’s here.”
“Leave the house.”
“I’m trying.”
“Take Leo and go through the kitchen.”
She moved.
Then heard footsteps.
Grace stopped.
A shadow appeared.
“Grace.”
Her blood froze.
The man knew her name.
She ran.
Leo began crying.
Grace reached the kitchen.
The back door was locked.
She searched for keys.
Nothing.
Footsteps came closer.
“Grace.”
She looked at the knife block.
Then at Leo.
No.
She couldn’t fight with him in her arms.
A window.
Grace pushed it open.
Too small.
Then a hand grabbed her shoulder.
Grace screamed.
She turned.
The man covered her mouth.
Leo fell from her arms—
Grace caught him against her body.
The man whispered, “Richard wants you alive.”
Grace bit his hand.
He shouted.
She ran.
Through the kitchen.
Down the hall.
Outside.
Rain poured from the sky.
She reached the garden.
Then headlights appeared.
Adrian’s car.
“Grace!”
She ran toward him.
A shot exploded.
Adrian pushed Grace behind the car.
Marcus jumped from the passenger side.
Grace stared.
“Marcus?”
“Not now!”
Another shot.
Marcus returned fire.
Adrian grabbed Grace.
“Where’s Leo?”
Grace held him up.
“Here!”
They ran toward the car.
But a second vehicle blocked the driveway.
Richard Vale stepped out.
He was older.
Elegant.
Calm.
He looked directly at Grace.
“Hello, little girl.”
Grace stopped.
Everything returned.
Smoke.
Fire.
Her mother.
The red door.
Richard.
Grace screamed.
Adrian held her.
Richard smiled.
“Your father should have kept quiet.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Stay away from her.”
Richard laughed.
“You really are your father’s son.”
Marcus aimed his gun.
Richard looked at him.
“And you.”
Marcus’s face changed.
“I thought you were dead.”
Richard smiled.
“Everyone did.”
Police sirens sounded.
Richard’s expression hardened.
He moved backward.
“This isn’t over.”
Then he disappeared into the darkness.
Police arrived.
Grace was safe.
Leo was safe.
But Grace stood in the rain, shaking.
Marcus approached her.
She looked at him.
“You left me.”
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was afraid.”
Grace stared at him.
“I was five.”
“I know.”
“You left me.”
Marcus lowered his head.
“I know.”
Grace stepped closer.
Then slapped him.
Hard.
Marcus accepted it.
Adrian watched.
Grace whispered, “You don’t get forgiveness because you came back.”
Marcus nodded.
“I don’t expect it.”
She walked away.
But later that night, Adrian found Grace sitting beside Leo’s crib.
He sat beside her.
She whispered, “I don’t know who I am anymore.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You’re Grace.”
She laughed through tears.
“That’s not enough.”
“It is to me.”
Grace looked at him.
For a moment, something changed.
Adrian slowly reached for her hand.
She didn’t pull away.
But neither of them knew that Vivian had escaped police custody.
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And she was already on her way to Richard Vale.
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