Chapter 7: Shadows in the Night

I woke with a sharp gasp, my throat burning, my limbs heavy and uncooperative. My vision blurred as I tried to blink away the darkness that clung to my surroundings. My arms felt like lead, pinned awkwardly behind me, and it took a few painful moments to realize that they were bound—tight rope biting into my wrists.

Where am I?

A low hum vibrated through the room, the sound of a machine, perhaps, and a distant drip echoed like a metronome, counting down the seconds of my captivity. My head pounded with every drop, the aftereffects of chloroform making my thoughts sluggish and disjointed. I forced myself to breathe slowly, trying to stay calm.

The last thing I remembered was the feeling of being yanked back into the shadows, that suffocating cloth pressed against my face, and the terrifying certainty that my life was about to spiral even further out of control. Now, here I was—somewhere unfamiliar, alone, and completely at someone's mercy.

Panic surged, but I bit down on it, forcing myself to focus. My father's voice from the journal echoed in my mind. *"Trust no one—not even those closest to you. The truth is darker than you know, and it will destroy you if you let it."*

What truth? And who was my captor?

The door creaked open, cutting through the oppressive quiet like a knife. I stiffened, my body instinctively tensing as footsteps approached, deliberate and slow. A figure appeared in the doorway—a shadow against the dim light spilling in from the hall. I squinted, trying to make out their features.

"Good, you're awake," the voice was cold, familiar, but it sent a chill down my spine. "I was beginning to think the dose was too strong."

The man stepped closer, and my stomach twisted as recognition settled in. Jace.

"What the hell are you doing, Jace?" I spat, my voice hoarse from disuse. Anger bubbled inside me, pushing back the fear.

He crouched down, his dark eyes locking onto mine, a twisted smile playing on his lips. "What am I doing? Trying to get back what's mine, Alice."

"Ava isn't yours," I snapped, struggling against my bindings. "You don't get to come back into our lives and play the hero. You lost that chance years ago."

His expression darkened. "You don't get it, do you? It's not just about Ava. It's about all of it. You, her... this empire that your dear daddy left behind. Everything should have been mine, Alice. You took it all from me."

My heart raced as his words sunk in. This wasn't just about fatherhood or lost love. This was about control—about power.

"Michael never wanted you involved," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "If he had, you'd be the one sitting in that lawyer's office. Not me."

Jace's jaw clenched, his fingers curling into fists. "Michael was a fool. He didn't know how to use what he had. But I do. And now, thanks to your little stunt at the will reading, you've made things... difficult."

"You don't know what you're getting into, Jace," I warned, my voice low. "There are people after me. Dangerous people. They won't stop—"

"Dangerous people?" He chuckled darkly. "You think I don't know about that? I've been playing this game far longer than you have. Michael's enemies are my enemies now, and if you don't give me what I want, I'll make sure they finish the job."

His words sent a wave of dread through me, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. "And what is it you want?"

He leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear. "I want it all, Alice. The company, the money, the power. And I want Ava too. But you... you're just a loose end. One I'm going to tie up."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Jace was unhinged, driven by some delusion that he could take over my father's empire. But worse than that, he was dangerous. Not just to me, but to my daughter.

"What are you going to do?" I asked, my voice trembling despite myself.

Jace stood up, pacing slowly around me, his eyes cold and calculating. "What am I going to do? I'm going to make sure you disappear. Permanently. But don't worry—Ava will be well taken care of. She'll grow up knowing her father is the one in charge."

Fear clutched at my heart, squeezing it like a vise. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't let Jace take Ava from me or destroy everything I'd fought so hard to protect.

But before I could respond, a loud bang echoed through the room, followed by the sound of glass shattering. Jace's head snapped toward the source of the noise, his expression turning from smug to alarmed.

"What the—?"

A shadow moved in the corner of the room, quick and precise. Before Jace could react, a figure lunged at him, tackling him to the ground with a force that sent them both sprawling.

"Get away from her!" William's voice cut through the chaos like a whip.

Jace struggled, but William was faster, stronger. He pinned Jace down, his eyes blazing with fury as he delivered a swift, punishing punch to Jace's jaw. The crack of bone echoed in the room, and Jace let out a grunt of pain, his body going limp.

William turned to me, his expression softening only slightly. "Are you alright?"

I nodded, too shocked to speak. Relief washed over me, but it was quickly followed by a wave of confusion and fear. "How did you...?"

"No time," William cut me off, quickly freeing my wrists. "We need to get out of here. Now."

I didn't argue. With trembling hands, I pushed myself to my feet, glancing at Jace's unconscious form on the floor. "What about him?"

William's jaw clenched. "He won't be a problem for long. But we need to move before his friends show up."

Friends? The implication sent a shiver down my spine. Jace wasn't working alone.

We hurried out of the room, my legs wobbling beneath me as adrenaline surged through my veins. I had so many questions—about Jace, about William, about what the hell was really going on—but there was no time to ask. Not now.

As we reached the front door, I paused, my heart racing. "William, who else is involved in this? Who's coming for me?"

He turned to me, his expression grim. "You'll find out soon enough, Alice. But for now, we need to survive the night."

And with that ominous warning hanging in the air, we fled into the night, the shadow of danger looming ever closer.