Chapter 57

*Grace Pov.*

The weight of Elio’s absence presses down on me all morning, and though I try to focus on household tasks with Eleonor, my mind keeps wandering. I see Eleonor glancing out the windows, her worry clearly matching my own. Despite the reassurance Elio tried to give me, the fact that he’s facing his father’s wrath alone gnaws at me.

“How can Sony do this to Elio?” I mutter, a sharp edge to my voice. “He willingly passed his position on to him, and now he wants to take it back because… what? Because Elio has feelings for me?”

Eleonor sighs, her tone resigned. “Sony’s always been like that—cold and controlling. Elio’s had to listen to him his whole life. Until now.”

A strange blend of guilt and doubt settles over me. “Maybe one day Elio will realize he’s better off away from me,” I whisper.

Eleonor’s face hardens, and she gives me a stern look. “Don’t say such nonsense, Grace. If he ever thinks that, he’s a fool.”

I force a laugh, grateful for her unwavering support, but the worry doesn’t fade. Just as I try to turn my thoughts back to work, the front door opens abruptly, and one of the guards strides in. He’s familiar, but we’ve rarely spoken. 

“Miss Caruso,” he addresses me with a formal nod, his face tense. “The boss sent me to bring you to the hideout. It’s urgent.”

My pulse races at his words. “Is everything alright?”

“You must come with me,” he insists, his voice low and serious.

I don’t hesitate, grabbing my coat and following him out to the car. As soon as I get in, he pulls out onto the road, rain beginning to tap softly against the car’s windows. I turn to look at him, noticing for the first time the slight unease in his eyes. Why didn’t Matteo or Thomas tell me about this? And why didn’t Elio call me directly?

After a moment, I ask, “How far is it?”

He glances at me with a practiced calm. “Not much farther. Just stay calm.”

Something about his tone makes my unease spike. His expression is too composed, too cold. He must sense my distrust because he gives me a small, humorless smile that only deepens my suspicion. The rain outside is relentless, casting a gray haze over everything. My gaze shifts to the downpour as I try to think of an escape plan.

“Why didn’t Elio call me himself?” I ask, testing him.

He shrugs. “The boss is busy.”

I nod, my mind racing. Without thinking, I reach for the steering wheel and yank it hard to the side. He curses and grabs at the wheel, trying to keep control, but it’s too late—the car veers off the road, skidding across the slick pavement before crashing into a tree. My head slams into the window, and the world blurs as darkness pulls me under.

\---

When I start to come to, everything feels muted and disjointed. Rain patters against my face, cool and sharp, waking me slowly. Blinking against the haze, I push myself upright, wincing as pain shoots through my side and head. The windshield is shattered, the car lodged against the tree. The guard slumps over the steering wheel, unconscious, a thin line of blood trailing down his forehead.

I need to get out of here. Dizzy and disoriented, I manage to unbuckle my seatbelt, pushing open the car door and stumbling into the downpour. My whole body aches, but I press on, taking one shaky step after another, my only goal to get far away from the wreck.

The road stretches empty and silent in both directions, and for a moment, panic claws at me. I take a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm, when I hear the faint rumble of an engine approaching. Headlights cut through the rain, and a car slows down as it approaches. Relief and fear war in my chest, but as the vehicle pulls closer, I recognize it. It’s Elio.

He stops the car abruptly, barely putting it into park before he jumps out and rushes toward me. The sight of him, drenched in the rain, his face etched with worry, brings a sense of comfort that I didn’t realize I needed.

“Grace!” he breathes, his voice thick with worry as he reaches for me, his hands cupping my face gently, tilting my head to examine my injury. “Are you okay? What happened?”

I nod weakly, the adrenaline ebbing and leaving me feeling strangely light. “One of Sony’s men… he said you needed me and… I thought he was telling the truth. I should have known—”

Elio pulls me into his arms, wrapping me tightly against his chest, as if he’s trying to shield me from the rain, the cold, and everything that’s just happened. “You’re safe now,” he murmurs, his voice a mix of relief and anger. “I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”

For a long moment, he just holds me there in the rain, his heartbeat steady against my cheek. I cling to him, feeling the tension slowly draining away.

When he finally releases me, he brushes a thumb over my cheek, his eyes searching my face. “Let’s get you home,” he says, his voice low and full of a quiet intensity. He helps me into his car, climbing into the driver’s seat and throwing one last, dark glance at the crashed car before pulling away.

\---

Back at the house, Elio doesn’t let me out of his sight, guiding me to the living room and helping me onto the sofa. Eleonor rushes in, her face pale with worry, dabbing at the small cut on my forehead while Elio kneels beside me, his gaze fixed on my every move.

“Grace, I’m so sorry,” he says softly, his hand hovering just over mine as if he’s afraid to touch me. “I shouldn’t have left you. I shouldn’t have trusted anyone else to keep you safe.”

“It’s not your fault, Elio,” I murmur, reaching out to take his hand. “You couldn’t have known.”

He shakes his head, his jaw tight. “I should have. Sony has his men everywhere. I should’ve seen this coming.”

The anguish in his eyes makes my heart ache. I squeeze his hand, hoping to reassure him. “You saved me. That’s what matters.”

A long silence stretches between us as he takes a deep breath, his gaze never leaving mine. “Grace,” he says, his voice barely a whisper, “I don’t want to risk losing you again. I… I can’t.”

My heart pounds as he leans closer, his hand brushing my cheek again, this time lingering as he looks at me with an intensity that makes the room feel smaller. “You mean too much to me,” he murmurs, his thumb tracing a light path along my jawline. 

Just as his hand falls away, Thomas enters the room, clearing his throat. “Elio… we should talk about Sony.”

Elio straightens but doesn’t look away from me, a determined look settling on his face. “I’ll be back,” he promises softly, giving my hand one last squeeze before standing up. 

As he and Thomas step out of the room, I sit back, feeling the warmth of his touch lingering. I don’t know what the future holds, or what Sony will do next, but for now, I feel safe. And as long as Elio is here, I know I’ll fight to stay by his side.