Locked Hearts

Chapter Twenty Three

GRACE POV

She swerved through vehicles without a care, having just ended her call to Danny. Her features were hard and threatening as she focused solely on the road ahead of her. Her grip on the steering wheel turned her knuckles white and my eyes caught the ticking of her sharp jawline. I watched her expression change on that rooftop, from adoration to hatred. One minute she was my Rae and the next, someone I didn't recognize.

"Rae, what's going on?" I asked shaking in my seat. She didn't answer me. "Rae, you're scaring me."

"I'm sorry." For a moment, her features soften before turning stoic once more. "I thought I could have it all, but I was wrong."

"Rae, what are you talking about, please slow down." I begged, fear rapidly rising in my chest.

She made no move to do so. We were at her place in ten minutes time. She hopped out of the car, barely turning it off.

"Stay-" she looked around us quickly. "No, come with me." She pulled me out of the car and all but dragged me up to her penthouse.

When the elevators opened, chaos greeted us. Everything was ruined and broken, a deadly silence filled the air. Amidst the mayhem, there were three dead bodies laying around. A shocked gasped left my lips as I ducked my head behind Rae, whose body was stiff and shaking with rage.

"Lena?!" She shouted, stepping over the mess. "Lena, where are you?"

I kept up behind her, doing my best not to look at the dead men in her living room. My heart was racing as she made her way through the hallway leading to the rooms. I felt like throwing up when I saw another body, this one more brutally murdered than the others. I realised then, Rae might not be who I thought she was. She was lying to me, and it wasn't a simple white lie. This lie was huge, deal breaker lie.

"Rae, what's going on?" I asked again, willing my tears not to fall.

"Hush." She abruptly stopped, placing a hand to halt my movements. "Don't make a sound." She muttered, sounding deadly.

Fear gripped my being and I stilled. I watched as she quietly moved a painting on the wall to reveal a safe. She hurriedly punched in a code and took out a gun. She made not a sound as she walked closer to her room, easing the door open to see inside. I looked on in rapt attention, my body trembling in fright. She let out a breath and stuck the gun in her waist.

"Shit, are you okay?" She went into the room and I followed.

Danny was laying down, a gun in his hands. Lena knelt beside him crying, a cloth held against Danny's leg. Rae in no time took over to see the bloodied wound.

"There was four of them, I got them all but the last one was tough. He got a shot in, but it went through and through." Danny gritted out, sweat dripping from his forehead as his breaths came out heavy.

"You got here fast." Rae pointed out.

"I was just down the street when you called." He replied.

I went to a shaking Lena then. "Are you alright?" I asked softly, pushing my own fear aside.

She shook her head as more tears fell. "T-they were going to k-kill me." She broke down.

I held her to me, looking over at Rae. She hadn't once look at me since we entered the penthouse, but I could tell she was listening. My mind was on overdrive wondering just who I got tangled up with. Her hands moved expertly on Danny's leg, a first aid kit that I didn't noticed laid beside her.

"What did he say?" Danny asked.

I saw her body stiffen before she answered. "He knows who I am." Her voice devoid of any emotion.

"You mean?"

"Yes."

It was actually scary watching her like this. This wasn't the Rae I was used to. I had a different side to her, the soft, flirty side that acquiesced to my every request. The woman I was looking at wasn't anything like that. My mind wandered to whether or not I really knew her. If she'd been lying to me this whole time and if anything she ever did or said were true.

"We have to get going. He'll send more people." Danny stood, leaning his weight on his good leg.

"Is everything set up?" She asked him, while coming to us where we sat on the floor.

"Yeah, I had Clay moved there too."

"Lena, are you hurt?" She asked the scared girl in a much softer voice.

"J-just my arm b-but I'm fine." She whimpered out.

Rae's hazel eyes finally met my blue ones. The apology was clear as day in them, regret a close second. Her hand reached for me and I flinched away. I saw a flash of hurt before she pushed it away.

"We have to go, they'll come with more men." She told us both.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." I harshly spoke.

Another hurt expression surfaced on her face. "I understand but he knows who you are. I need to get you both to safety." She whispered. "I get that you're confused and angry right now, but please just come with me."

"Who the fuck, is he?" I asked.

She didn't answered, simply stared back at me.

"Vincent Milano." Danny answered. "Get up and let's go. That's enough stalling."

"I'm sorry." Rae quietly said before helping Lena up.

She held her hand out for me, but I refused it and stood on my own. I had never been in this situation before. Vincent Milano was a brutal man, he killed without a second thought, raped and violated many women. Drugs, sex trafficking and anything you could think of. To know that Rae was somehow involved with him, made me second guess everything. I didn't want to regret my time with her but I couldn't help it. We just had our first real date, I was giving her chance and then this. I wanted more with her. Gosh, I was certain I was falling for this woman.

Can I even trust her?

My mind spun with negative thoughts as we drove. I probably should've paid attention but, with Lena still crying on me and trying to keep my own tears at bay, I felt lost. Fuck, why was I complying with anything they said.

"We're here." Rae spoke getting out.

I kept my head down as she helped Lena out. She led us in the house that sat in a deserted spot. Anywhere I looked, I saw trees. Danny limped slowly behind us as we walked in.

"Finally, I was worried." Clay appeared, going to Danny's side.

He led him to one of the rooms while Rae led us to another. I didn't want to be here.

"Rae, why did they do that?" Lena looked up at her after she sat down.

"I'm sorry, kid. They were after me, I'm taking you both somewhere safer tomorrow." Rae glanced at me as she spoke.

I looked away, feeling my tears wanting to burst. It was funny really, she was the reason I felt like falling apart right now but my heart still pleaded to be embraced by her.

"Get some rest." She muttered then left.

I spent the night comforting the crying girl, and for the first time ever, fearing for my life.

-E