CHAPTER 2

Grace

Grace 24, Dean 32

I had a revulsion for sitting behind the wheel. 

Undoubtedly, I was one of the best backseat passengers, but driving this vehicle was never my thing.

The last time I drove one, it ended up in an accident where I lost the most precious thing in this life. Since then I had never sat on the front part of a vehicle or touched the steering wheel. 

However, tonight was different.

If it were any of my usual nights, I would have been in my bedroom with my current romance novel in my hands and my back brushed against my soft mattress and silk sheets. Not trapped in this steel box with fancy leather seats, which were uncomfortable as hell. 

I would rather be in a church, sitting through the entire welcome and closing segment, than here. Spoiler: Church and God topped my list, which was labeled “I prefer death to these fucking stupid things.”

Human beings had moments in their lives when they were required to do stuff not because they wanted to but because they were beholden to a certain debt. 

This debt suffocated you, bled you where no one could see, and became your sole purpose in life. Until there was a ray of hope at the end of this tunnel. In my case, there was only darkness, no light.

And hope—this one certainly forgot to pay a visit in my all-black life.

I braked hard and jumped out of the SUV before it stopped. The bouncer of the bar, Rocky, took the key from my hand as always as I made my way toward one of the most elite clubs in New York City.

Neon lights, drinks, and the smell of sweat mingled in the air and proudly created a backdrop that I found less pleasant and more irksome.

The crowd was at its best; most of them drank, swaying their bodies to the beat of the fast-paced melody. I took the stairs where the VIP compartments were. Even though this place was far from being my scene, my familiarity with it would tell a different story.

It wasn't my first time, and it wouldn't be the last time anytime soon.

I opened the last door of the hallway and found her.

As I had expected, she was there. Like always, on the floor with zero consciousness.

I sat on the couch near the door, bent a little, and veiled my face with my hands. This had become a frequent thing now, part of my daily chores. Just two days ago, I went through the same routine I was on the edge of repeating tonight. 

“When would it end?” My heart screamed since I was physically incompetent to do so.

“Never. There is no end to this, and you know that too.” My head yawned at my foolish thought.

“So this will be the rest of my life?” My heart matched the frustration I was feeling all over my body.

“Yepp. Unless you run away or kill yourself, darling.”

I shook my head and stood. Daphne was lying on the cold marble floor with little clothing on her body. Her black see-through chiffon dress barely covered her body; her black boots were killing on protecting her long, slender, tan legs, but that was it.

I found her maroon biker jacket on the couch and covered her with it. Next, I tied her messy long blond hair with the extra band I had around my wrist. 

Rocky knocked on the door and waited near the door like always. I took a deep breath; now wasn't the time to let my frustration and annoyance win. Now was the time to finish this nightmare.

I opened the door, and Rocky got inside. He went to Daphne, picked her up from her pitiful state, and we were out of the room at lightning speed. 

My mind was all over the place.

“What did she do this time?” My heart murmured.

“You know the same thing she always does.” My head poked at my heart. “Nothing new. You should take her to the hospital. To see if she was fine or not. After all, you were two hours late this time.”

“Shut up.” My heart screamed. 

My feet abruptly ceased in the hallway, and my hand tightened around the strap of Daphne’s bag. 

That wouldn't happen, right?

That was extreme. Nothing happened before. Even when I was late, she was perfectly fine. Not in her best state but fine.

Shaking this fear out of me, I commenced walking toward the stairs. Rocky was out of my sight, probably waiting for me near the car. The urgency of reaching out to them kicked in me. In the rush, my head bumped into a wall. Well, not a wall exactly, but a chest.  A rock-solid one under his Armani black button-down shirt and matching pants. 

Any other woman would have halted whatever they were doing and described how dreamy this man was. As they should. His beauty deserved to be praised. If nothing else, at least those deep chocolate hazel eyes were entitled to at least a three-page devotion.

Too bad. We met at the wrong place at the wrong time. There was no time to spare or think about his tattoo-covered hands.

I nodded my head to him and ran down the stairs. 

Rocky had already set Daphne in the passenger seat of the car. 

“She is fine. Don't worry. I keep an eye on her throughout the night.” He smiled.

I pulled out my phone and typed my words.

“Who was she with?” I turned the screen toward him to see.

“Her usual crowd. No one new.” 

“Was Levi there too?” I typed in a hurry.

“Yes.” He sighed. “That bastard forced her two more drinks when she was already passed out.”

“And he left her like that.” Rage was covering my senses.

“He always does, Grace. You and I both know he is poisonous. A toxic chemical in Daphne’s life. He won't stop until he kills her.” Rocky sighed.

“I will protect her.” Moisture gathered in my vision, making it blurry as I typed my words.

“You can't be with her all the time, Grace.” His smile was full of pity. “You have a life too.”

“I will be fine. Don't worry about me.” 

I smiled, but Rocky didn't buy it.

It was fine. As long as I was by her side, she would be fine. I would protect her and keep my vows.

By the time I parked my car in the driveway of our house, there was another car sitting there.

The black Mercedes. It was bad news.

“Shit.” I cursed in my head.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, I hopped out of the car. Vinny, one of our security guards, stood beside the passenger door, waiting for me to open it.

I arched my brows at the house, looking at him.

“Mayor Hale returned half an hour ago.” He said. “He is waiting for you and Ms. Daphne.”

I closed my eyes, and a deep groan escaped from my throat.

Tonight was a stressful night. In a short period of time, I dealt with stuff that required at least hours. I was nowhere near having a conversation with my father at this moment. 

He had questions, a lot of them. I didn't have a clear answer.

Vinny carried Daphne inside the house; I followed him closely. Jenny, the short of Jennifer, our home assistant, was waiting for us in the hallway. This woman was a loyal lapdog of my father. If he asked her to do some work, the possibility of finishing that work before the time ran out was high. Because this woman dedicated her life to Mayor Hale and made our lives a living hell.

I won't put all the blame for my misery on her, but she was responsible. 

“Myor Hale is waiting for you in the library.” Jenny said.

I ignored her words and tried to follow Vinny to the second floor, where our bedrooms were. Jenny grabbed me by my arms, putting an end to my escape plan.

“I said, Mayor Hale is waiting for you.” She gritted her teeth along with tightening her grip on my arms.

Before I could do anything, she dragged me from the hallway and took me to the west wing of the house, where the library was. She knocked three times on the door before opening the door and shoving me inside.

Fuck.

My father, Mr. Lorenzo Hale, the mayor of New York City, sat behind his oak desk with his glasses on the top of his nose and seriousness in his features.

He lifted his head and acknowledged my presence in his den before throwing a pad and pen toward me.

“Is she drunk?” He asked, going through the documents ahead of him.

“Yes.” I wrote and spun toward him.

“How much?” His next question.

“She is sleeping.” My answer.

“Was her lizard boyfriend there too?”

“Yes.”

“Did she do drugs?”

“I am not aware of that. When I reached the club, she was sleeping on the floor.”

“Hugo.” Dad screamed.

Hugo Seth, Mayor Hale’s personal assistant, entered the room. With his five-foot-five figure, this man was a tiny person physically, but with his evil mind, he could directly give tough competition to the devil himself.

Hugo was at the top of my ‘I would rather get shot in my forehead than see this person’ list. He was the one who forced me to open this list, and surprisingly, he was the only one in this list.

Words would fall short if I began to curse this man. With his black hair, midnight eyes, and the creepiest smile, this man was the definition of annoyance in my book.

“Yes, sir.” He said in his southern accent.

“Lock Daphne in the attic. Don't give her food or water until I order you.” Dad ordered in his relaxed tone.

“Yes, sir.” Hugo nodded his head and left to complete the work.

I stride toward him and slap his desk with my hand.

“What are you doing?” I somehow wrote the words on the paper. “Don't lock her up.”

“I am doing what I think is best for my daughter. I don't need any advice from you. Go to your room.”

“Dad. She needs care. Locking up will not do any good to her situation.”

“Let me worry about that.”

“I won't let this happen. You won't do this.”

“Grace, I have work to do. Don't waste my time, and save your energy from this unnecessary argument. You won't win this one.” 

“Dad. No, don't do this.”

“Go to your fucking room right now.” He took the pad from my clasp and hurled it on the other side of the room. “You are dismissed.”

Jenny entered, once again did the annoying grabbing thing, and towed me from the room. She didn’t stop her assault. This woman retained her grip on me until we reached my bedroom. Then gracefully she thrust me inside the room and closed the door like it was nothing. Like I was just another inconvenience.

I pressed my mouth on the pillow and screamed. No sound came out, but still it felt good. 

Frustration was increasing in me day by day. The more I tried to stay calm to govern the entire situation, the worse it was turning out to be.

I didn't think I could dwell in this house anymore. Yes, if I were all in to lose my sanity, then it would be a terrific idea. 

I was on the edge of losing my composure, my peace, and my fucking life.

I gave up my dreams way before any human being should have been entitled to. It was fine. I was fine. 

However, I drew the line when someone was asking for my life.

No, I am not doing that.

No matter what, I would not sacrifice my sanity for another. Even though a vow tied me to this house.