The usual tension etched into his features was gone. His brows were relaxed, his jaw unclenched, his expression almost… peaceful. Vulnerable, in a way she rarely ever saw.
Without thinking, her fingers lifted. She brushed them lightly over his cheek, tracing the line of his skin in slow, absent strokes. Her touch lingered longer than she meant it to.
With a quiet sigh, she leaned back against the seat, her shoulders easing as her head tilted to the side. The soft hum of the moving car wrapped around her, steady and soothing.
Within moments, sleep claimed her.
Sometime later, Alexander shifted. Carefully, his arm slid around her waist, pulling her closer to him inch by inch. He buried his face against her stomach, inhaling deeply.
Mia stirred faintly, her fingers twitching against his hair, but she didn’t wake.
Alexander opened his eyes and realized she was asleep.
A small smile curved his lips. Slowly, he lifted his head from her lap and adjusted his position. One arm slipped behind her neck, drawing her closer to his chest, while his other hand wrapped securely around her waist, holding her.
A few minutes later, the car finally slowed to a stop.
There was a soft knock before the limo door opened. Allen stood outside.
Alexander lifted a finger in a silent warning. Allen nodded at once.
Without waking her, Alexander leaned down, scooped Mia gently into his arms, and carried her inside, his hold careful and protective as he brought her back into the house.
***
Alexander paced his room, long strides carrying him from one end to the other. His fingers curled around his phone, his thumb tapping the screen as he dialed Mia’s number again.
No answer.
His jaw locked. He exhaled sharply through his nose and immediately called Allen.
“Where is Mia?” he demanded. His free hand dragged through his hair. “Did you check on her? Has she left the office yet?”
“Yes, Mr. Graves,” Allen replied quickly. “I went to pick up Mrs. Graves, but she said she came to the office in another car this morning. She planned to drive back in the same car. I followedher vehicle, but traffic thickened. She sped up, and I lost sight of it. I’m trying to locate her car now.”
A tight, suffocating pressure closed around Alexander’s chest. A deep sense of unease settled over him.
“Send me the location,” he said curtly.
He didn’t wait for a reply.
Alexander grabbed his keys and strode out of the house, his steps sharp and hurried. The front door slammed behind him as he slid into his car and started the engine. Tires screeched as he pulled out, speeding down the driveway without a second glance.
Moments later, Allen sent the coordinates—the last known location where Mia’s car had been spotted.
Alexander’s eyes flicked to the screen, then back to the road. He pressed harder on the accelerator, the engine roaring in response. He dialed Mia again. And again.
The phone rang endlessly.
His grip tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles whitening as his eyes swept the road ahead, searching every lane, every passing vehicle.
Then something clicked.
She wouldn’t be heading home.
Without slowing, he twisted the steering wheel and veered onto a quieter highway—the route matching the last traffic sighting. It stretched ahead, dark and nearly empty.
And then he saw it.
