A tall woman in flats, dark pants, and a blazer rushed out, smoothing her dark hair back.“Have you been waiting long?”
Grace stood, her stomach tying into knots.
Callum approached.“We have an appointment.”
“We’re expecting you.Follow me.”The receptionist walked briskly and gestured them into a conference room with more gusto than manners.
Grace took in the space with its plain walls and oversized windows.A generic table with a platter of catered sandwiches was surrounded by chairs.Folders and paperwork were piled at the head of the table.“The sandwiches are fresh.Mr.Bastamonti will be with you shortly.He and the others had to take a quick conference call in his office.Is there anything you need?”
“I’m fine—” She wanted to splash water on her face and clear the apprehension from her mind.She couldn’t be worked up before the attorneys walked in.“Actually, could you tell me where the restroom is?”
Just as briskly as the receptionist had walked them into the meeting room, she stepped into the hallway, towering over Grace, and pointed the opposite way they had come, directing her to the far side of the office suite.
Grace walked away but turned, lifting her eyebrows as Callum trailed her.“You’re not seriously going to follow me into this bathroom, too.”
“Yeah—”
Several voices reached them as though a gaggle were approaching.The lawyers were coming.Her palms became sweaty.Nerves prickled down her spine.She needed to pull herself together.Callum’s phone rang.She rushed to take advantage of the distraction.“I’ll be back in a second.”
Grace didn’t give Callum time to respond and left.
She pressed her clammy hands on her shorts and wished she had more appropriate clothes.Did she even brush her hair?Yes, before she’d slept in the car.Quickly, she finger-combed it as her heart rate climbed.Calm down.This is okay.Nothing bad will happen here.
She followed the meandering directions.There had to be a more direct route to the restroom.This place was nothing like the posh office space she remembered from meeting her attorney during Dominic’s trial.That law firm had required a retainer that could have paid her lawyer’s child’s first year of tuition in college.The hourly fee was just as exorbitant.She wondered how much she would pay for that office to send her former attorney here.
What if the attorney general’s office brought any of the agents she’d met with about the witness protection program?That would be uncomfortable.But they had to admit there had been huge missteps in protecting the witnesses who testified against Dominic.
Grace entered the bathroom and faced the mirror.With her palms on the counter, she braced herself for whatever conversation would come.She glanced at her reflection.“You can do this.You’ve survived worse.”
Today’s meeting would finally extricate Dominic from her life.
Then she would havethe afterwith Callum.
She splashed water on her face as the bathroom door opened.The receptionist entered as Grace reached for a paper towel.“Are they ready for me?”
The receptionist turned the lock on the door.
“What are you—”
In a fluid motion, she slapped her hand over Grace’s mouth, stifling her scream.The woman yanked her with far more strength than Grace expected.
She struggled to get free.She kicked and screamed.With every ounce of her panic and fury, her legs thrashed.Her teeth snapped.Grace bucked and bit.She jabbed her elbows and stomped until she caught sight of their reflection.
The other woman had complete control.Stronger and certain of the way she held Grace, she was waiting for that moment of clarity when Grace realized she couldn’t escape.It happened in a flash.
Grace couldn’t get free.Her limbs gave up the fight, and the receptionist dragged her across the bathroom like she was a rag doll.
What are you doing?Fight.
She’d survived too much to go down this easily.Grace fought all over again.Her kicks and swings were still as fruitless as before.Her smothered cries for help went nowhere.It didn’t take the woman much effort to cross the bathroom, releasing Grace long enough to open the frosted bathroom window.
Grace screamed, hurtling toward the door.
The receptionist clamped a hand over Grace again, dragging her the two measly feet she’d run.Far stronger than her, the woman lifted and shoved her out the window.
The free fall of freedom was short-lived.Grace smacked onto the mulch bed on the backside of the building.Air was crushed from her lungs.
She blinked.
