)

As Grayson sat in the taxi, headed towards the airport, he noticed that they had taken a wrong turn. Concerned, he spoke up, "Excuse me, but this isn't the right way."

The driver glanced at him through the rear-view mirror and calmly replied, "We're taking a detour."

Before Grayson could argue further, someone suddenly appeared from behind him. The stranger had hazel brown eyes and blond hair, and he wore a smile as if this were an ordinary occurrence. He crawled over to the seat next to Grayson, and instantly, Grayson recognized him.

The driver glanced back at the newcomer. "Nice of you to join us, Will," he said.

William rolled his eyes. "Let's get this over with, Hudson."

"Those names," Grayson recognized them.

"Let's keep this a secret from Alison, shall we, Grayson?" William made himself comfortable next to Grayson.

"Hudson and William are Alison's twin brothers," the answer came to him.

William's hazel eyes gleamed with a hint of danger as he spoke. "You're probably wondering: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How are we?"

Grayson leaned back in his seat, his expression unyielding as he met William's gaze head-on, his own eyes gleaming with a piercing intensity. "Who you are doesn't concern me," he retorted coolly. "What you want, however, is a different matter entirely."

The car seemed to grow colder as the tension thickened. The dangerous aura emanating from Grayson made it clear that he was not one to be toyed with. Hudson, the driver, joined in with a smirk. "Feels good to be on the road again, doesn't it, Will?" he sighed.

William glanced at his brother, then to Grayson. "Is that so?" William replied. Grayson didn't know who the response was targeted to: him or his brother.

The car sped through the streets, rain battering against the windows, intensifying the tense atmosphere. Grayson's icy demeanour seemed to intensify, as if he were harnessing the very essence of the storm raging outside.

Hudson, sensing the mounting tension, glanced between Grayson and William, a hint of caution creeping into his expression. "Music recommendations?"

Grayson's gaze shifted to Hudson, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. His voice carried a steely undertone as he replied, "My Way."

Hudson smiled at him through the mirror, happy to get a response. "Frank Sinatra, nice choice-"

"No music," William cut his brother, his voice laced with an icy calm.

Hudson's jaw tightened as he shot a sidelong glance at his brother, his voice betraying a trace of irritation. "Can't stand a little music?"

William's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes gleaming with a hint of malice. "You know exactly why, Hudson."

Hudson and William eyes locked in a silent battle. It was evident that their disagreement ran deep, and Grayson couldn't help but be drawn into their enigmatic conflict.

The tension in the car seemed to reach its peak as Hudson obediently turned off the music, leaving only the sound of rain as the backdrop to their silent confrontation.

Hudson glanced at his brother, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and frustration. "Will, we need to talk about this," he urged, his voice strained.

William's jaw clenched, his gaze fixed ahead. "Not now, Hudson," he replied curtly. "Alison's boyfriend is here, remember?"

"I am not Alison's anything," Grayson clarified, his voice unwavering, urgent, and with a cold edge to it. His gaze shifted downward, focus drawn to his cuffs, as he discreetly straightened it.

Both brothers turned to Grayson, a mischievous smile on their faces. "Sure you're not," they both said in unison.

William's gaze hardened as he locked eyes with Grayson. "We will drive you to Boston."

"I appreciate your offer, but I have my own plans. I'll find my own way to Boston." Grayson's eyes bore into William's, unyielding and cold.

"Not much of a choice, is it?" William shot back. Grayson's expression remained unchanged, his cool demeanour unshaken.

"You should get some sleep," Hudson suggested to Grayson with a wink. "It's going to be a long trip."

In that split second of recognition, Grayson's instincts kicked in, and before he could fully process the situation, William lunged towards him. Grayson leaned forward, his body propelled by a surge of adrenaline, attempting to evade William's grasp. But it was too late.

William's tackle caught Grayson off guard, their bodies colliding with force. Grayson fought with every ounce of his strength, using his wits and agility to counter William's relentless assault.

"Settle down back there, children," Hudson urged as he pressed harder on the gas pedal.

William's grip tightened, his intention clear—to subdue Grayson and render him unconscious.

In a swift move, Grayson managed to free one of his hands and landed a powerful punch on William's jaw. "Did your brother taught you that?" William wheezed.

Without a second thought, Grayson lunged for the car door, flinging it open. Rain poured into the vehicle, and they both rolled across the wet pavement.

The rain-soaked ground added an extra challenge to their struggle as they grappled with each other, their clothes drenched and mud-soaked. Grayson fought hard, but exhaustion and William's size overwhelmed him. With a skilful move, William pinned Grayson to the ground, his knee pressing on Grayson's chest, making it hard to breathe. Gasping for air, Grayson's resistance dwindled, his vision blurred by rain and fatigue.

William's hazel eyes bore into Grayson's, a mix of triumph and something else, a flicker of regret. "Hold still," he muttered.

Before Grayson could react or comprehend William's words, a sudden sharp pain radiated through his arm. He looked down to see William pressing a small syringe against his skin, injecting a powerful sedative.

As the liquid coursed through his veins, Grayson's body grew heavy and his mind foggy. The world around him began to fade into darkness, and he felt his consciousness slipping away.

William let go of Grayson as the sedative kicked in. He stood up and stepped back, whispering, "Not bad, kid," as he looked down at him. He glanced around, raindrops falling on his face, before disappearing into the night. Grayson heard faint shouts, but couldn't make out what they were saying. The rain continued to pour, washing away any signs of the struggle.

Grayson remained still on the wet pavement. His vision slowly blurred, and his consciousness faded away, as if swallowed by darkness. And then, everything went black.