Chapter 74 The Plan
Lucas's POV
I didn’t waste another second. I bent down and lifted Anna’s unconscious body into my arms, cradling her carefully against my chest.
Her head lolled limply against my shoulder, her breathing slow and deep from the drug. She felt so light, so vulnerable like this.
For a brief moment, guilt stabbed at me, but I shoved it down. This was necessary. She would understand later.
Eve trailed silently behind me as we moved through the mansion’s back corridors.
My heart pounded violently against my ribs with every step. I knew this place like the back of my hand — every security camera blind spot, every guard rotation schedule, every quiet route. Still, one mistake could end everything.
We slipped downstairs like shadows, avoiding the main hallways where night staff might still be moving.
The journey to the garage felt endless. Every distant sound made my muscles tense. When we finally reached the underground garage, I let out a shaky breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
Eve moved quickly, opening the back door of a plain black sedan. I gently laid Anna across the backseat, positioning her comfortably and brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
She looked peaceful, almost angelic under the dim garage lights.
“Be very careful,” I whispered urgently to Eve. “Drive safely, don’t speed, don’t draw any attention to yourself. Call me the second you reach the safe house.”
Eve nodded, her expression serious and determined. “I will. You can trust me. But are you sure you want to do this? Once I drive past that gate, there's no turning back."
I nodded my head. "There's no backing out, it's either now or never. I'm tired of waiting, hoping. Atleast this time around, It plays out my way."
She didn't say a word, she just slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
The low rumble echoed through the garage. I walked ahead to the main gate, signaling the night security team with a casual wave.
They opened the heavy gates without question. No one suspected a thing, they had no idea the Don’s new wife was unconscious in the back of the departing car.
I stood there motionless, watching as the sedan pulled out and disappeared into the dark night.
My heart was beating so fast I felt lightheaded. There was no turning back now. I had just betrayed Xavier, my stepbrother, my boss, the most dangerous man I knew, all for Anna.
The weight of what I’d done settled heavily on my shoulders, but the obsession in my chest burned hotter than the fear.
I returned to my room in a daze. Sleep was impossible. I paced the floor for hours, checking my phone every few minutes.
Why hadn’t Eve called yet? I dialed her number repeatedly, but it went straight to “unreachable.” Each failed call made my anxiety spike higher.
I imagined car accidents, Xavier’s men intercepting them, or worse, Eve deciding to betray me.
I tossed and turned restlessly in bed, rolling from one end to the other, unable to shut my racing mind off.
The guilt, the excitement, and the terror twisted together into a suffocating knot.
It was nearly midnight when my phone finally rang. I snatched it up instantly. “Eve? What took you so long?”
“I’ve gotten to the location,” she said, sounding calm. “Everything went smoothly. She’s still asleep.”
A massive wave of relief washed over me. “Thank God. Keep her safe. Don’t let her out of your sight. I’ll come tomorrow morning and we’ll figure out the next steps together.”
“Alright,” she replied before hanging up.
Only then could I manage a few hours of broken, restless sleep.
I woke up early the next morning, my body heavy from lack of proper rest. I showered quickly, got dressed in dark, inconspicuous clothes, and prepared to leave.
When a maid brought breakfast to my room, I waved it away immediately. “Not hungry.”
I was about to step out when I froze in the doorway.
Xavier was standing right there, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed, staring at me with a cold, serious expression that sent ice down my spine.
“Where are you headed in such a hurry?” he asked, his voice deceptively calm and controlled.
I forced myself to stay composed. “Just a few blocks away. I want to check on some new workers we brought in recently.”
Xavier nodded slowly, but his piercing eyes never left my face. “I see.”
“I thought you wouldn’t be back until evening,” I added, trying to sound casual.
“I changed my mind.” He paused. “Where is my wife? Is she awake yet?”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as sandpaper. “I have no idea.”
“Hmm,” Xavier murmured, studying me for what felt like an eternity.
I didn’t wait for more questions. I walked past him briskly, my pulse thundering in my ears, and headed straight to my car.
My hands trembled slightly as I gripped the steering wheel and drove out of the compound.
As I sped toward the remote safe house, my mind raced desperately for a plan.
How was I going to explain Anna’s sudden disappearance? How long could I realistically keep her hidden from Xavier?
Every scenario I thought of ended in blood and disaster.
When I finally arrived at the isolated building, my stomach dropped like a stone.
There was no car parked outside.
I rushed inside the house, heart hammering wildly.
The place was completely empty. No sign of Eve. No sign of Anna. The rooms were silent, untouched, and eerily still.
“Eve!” I shouted, but only my own voice echoed back mockingly. I tried her phone again. Still unreachable.
Panic began to claw its way up my throat as I stood alone in the middle of the empty safe house.