Chapter 38 — The Place She Shouldn't Be
The elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime.
Kiera stood frozen inside, her heart slamming so loudly she was sure the men outside could hear it. The penthouse disappeared above her as the elevator began its slow descent, each second stretching unbearably.
You chose wrong.
The words burned on her screen.
Her fingers trembled as she locked the phone and pressed it to her chest, trying to breathe. In. Out. In. Out.
Don't panic. Think.
She wasn't helpless. She refused to be.
By the time the elevator reached the lobby, she had wiped her tears and straightened her shoulders. Fear had lived in her bones for too long. She would not let it own this moment.
The men in suits escorted her outside, where a black SUV waited.
"I'm not getting in," she said quietly.
One of the men glanced at her. "Miss Frost, this is for your protection."
"Protection doesn't feel like being moved without answers," she replied.
He studied her for a moment, then sighed. "We're taking you to a secure location. Temporary. Mr. Nightwell has been informed."
That was a lie.
She could feel it.
Kade wouldn't have let this happen without speaking to her again. He wouldn't have let her walk out alone.
Her stomach twisted.
She got into the SUV anyway—because refusing would only make things worse.
The city lights blurred past the window as they drove. Every turn felt wrong. Every street unfamiliar.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Somewhere safe," the driver replied, voice flat.
"That's not an address," she said.
No response.
Her phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
Unknown:
You don't belong beside him.
This is mercy.
Kiera's blood ran cold.
She typed back before she could stop herself.
Kiera:
Who are you?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Her phone went dead.
"No," she whispered, pressing the power button repeatedly. Nothing.
She looked up. "My phone just shut off."
The man beside her finally turned. "That's standard protocol."
"Since when?" she demanded.
He didn't answer.
Her pulse spiked.
"Kade doesn't know where you're taking me," she said slowly.
Another silence.
That was all the confirmation she needed.
Meanwhile, back at the penthouse, Kade was already moving.
"She didn't agree to this," he said coldly into his phone. "You had no right."
"I'm telling you she's safer this way," the voice on the other end replied.
"You're telling me you lost control of the situation," Kade snapped. "And now you're covering it up."
A pause.
Then, carefully, "Mr. Nightwell, there are forces at play you don't—"
"Don't patronize me," Kade cut in. "Give me the address."
"That's classified."
"Then I'll find it myself."
He ended the call and turned to the security team already flooding his living room.
"Track the SUV," he ordered. "Now."
One of the men hesitated. "Sir, we're being blocked."
Kade's jaw clenched. "By who?"
"That's the problem," the man said. "We can't tell."
Something dark settled in Kade's chest.
Vivienne's face flashed through his mind.
You chose wrong.
No.
He grabbed his jacket. "Leo stays here. No one leaves with him. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
As the elevator doors closed on Kade this time, his hands curled into fists.
He was done being careful.
The SUV stopped in front of a quiet, gated townhouse on the edge of the city.
"This isn't a safe house," Kiera said immediately.
The man beside her opened the door. "Out."
She stepped onto the pavement slowly, scanning her surroundings. No cameras she could see. No guards. No noise.
Just silence.
"This is wrong," she said.
"You'll be staying here," the man replied. "Someone will check on you."
"And if I leave?"
His gaze hardened. "I wouldn't recommend it."
The door slammed shut behind her.
Locked.
Kiera stood there, staring at the wood, heart pounding.
She was alone.
Inside the townhouse, the place was spotless. Too spotless. No personal items. No warmth. Just furniture and white walls.
She walked slowly, testing doors. All locked. Windows barred discreetly.
Her breathing quickened.
"This isn't protection," she whispered. "This is containment."
She sat on the couch, forcing herself to think.
Who would want her isolated?
Who knew her schedule?
Her sister? No.
The staff? Unlikely.
Vivienne?
Yes.
The realization hit hard.
Vivienne hadn't needed to hurt Kiera directly.
She only needed to remove her.
Kiera's throat tightened as another memory surfaced—Vivienne's calm voice.
That's what makes you dangerous.
She hugged her knees to her chest, shaking.
"Kade," she whispered into the empty room. "Please don't stop looking for me."
Hours passed.
Or minutes.
Time lost meaning.
Then—footsteps.
Kiera stiffened.
The door unlocked.
She stood quickly, heart racing.
A woman entered. Mid-forties. Elegant. Cold eyes.
"You're calmer than I expected," the woman said.
"Who are you?" Kiera demanded.
"A friend," the woman replied smoothly. "Of Vivienne's."
Kiera's blood turned to ice. "So this is her doing."
The woman smiled faintly. "Vivienne doesn't get her hands dirty."
"You're kidnapping me," Kiera said.
"No," the woman corrected. "We're relocating you."
"For how long?"
The woman stepped closer. "Until you stop being a problem."
Kiera swallowed. "I'm not going anywhere."
The woman tilted her head. "You don't really have a choice."
Before Kiera could respond, the woman's phone rang.
She answered immediately.
"Yes?"
A pause.
Her eyes flicked to Kiera.
"…Are you sure?" the woman asked.
Another pause.
Her jaw tightened. "Understood."
She ended the call and looked at Kiera with something new in her eyes.
Concern.
"That was faster than expected," the woman muttered.
"Faster than what?" Kiera asked.
The woman didn't answer.
Instead, she walked toward the door.
"You should rest," she said. "Tomorrow will be… complicated."
The door locked again.
Kiera's hands trembled.
Because for the first time since she'd arrived—
She felt it.
Kade was close.
And whatever came next would change everything.