She stared at him through a film of tears, her stomach twisting.
“But I turned back when I heard a noise. Or rather, pretended to. I took a step away.”
Nausea pushed up her throat.
“When I looked back, it was too late.”
The loss hit her with a fresh wave of pain and finality. Matt.Gonebecause this man had let it happen—or organized it.
She pressed a hand to her chest, lungs searing and tears rushing hot down her cheeks.
The day the man in uniform came to her house to tell her that her husband died felt like it happened only minutes ago. Grief tore through her, but it was more muted than it had been that day.
She was on the other side of it. She missed Matt. God, she missed him. But now she had opened another chapter of her book of life…and she was happy again.
She had Church. It was a different kind of love—Matt had been blue skies and carefree happiness.
What she had with Grant ran deeper, steadier, roots sunk so far beneath the surface it could weather anything.
Lucian’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Where is it?”
Fear snapped her back into sharp focus.
“I’ve looked everywhere.” Frustration threaded through his tone now. “Your apartments. Your hotel rooms. Your vehicle.”
Her stomach dropped out.
“I even checked that locker in the yoga studio.” He took a step toward her.
She stood her ground, battling to keep her breath even.
“I tore apart every place you stayed looking for that damn card, Zee. I know you have it.” His voice dipped into a menacing growl.
If she was going to survive this, she had to stay calm.
She met his stare. “I hid it.”
He stilled. “Where?”
Her mind raced. “The movie set. I left it in my bag. I thought…with all the security…it would be the safest place.”
He narrowed his eyes again as if trying to decide if it was a lie.
If he took her to the set, she could get away. Church was there.
She held his gaze. “We can go now.”
A long heartbeat crept by, then he nodded. “Let’s go.”
Before she could react, he moved, latching on to her arm and angling it behind her as he forced her across the grass to the SUV she hadn’t even heard pull up behind Church’s truck. The wind had been too loud in her ears…she’d been too absorbed in what she was about to do to hear the danger coming.
He forced her forward, and she cried out at the way he twisted her arm higher. Struggling was pointless. He’doverpowered her too easily as he dragged her to his vehicle and shoved her in the passenger seat.
She let out a shrill scream, and he whipped out a hand. His steely fingers crashed over her face, silencing her.
He popped open the glove compartment and pulled out a roll of duct tape. She barely caught a glimpse of the extra clips for his weapon there before he leaned in, his face only inches from hers. “Don’t fight or you’ll regret it.”
He ripped off a length of tape and smacked it across her mouth.
