Hello again!

This chapter is dedicated to Defender31415 for posting both my 50th and 60th reviews, and a huge thanks to the rest of you who made it possible to post a 50th and 60th review.

Enjoy ...

Chapter 20

The door to the cellar jerked open, causing her to loose her balance. She would have fallen face first into the darkness if a rough hand hadn't caught her arm. Of course, any gratitude she might have felt for the save vanished when her arm nearly twisted out of its socket.

"Careful!" a new voice shouted. "You heard the boss; don't hurt her."

Though the knowledge that she wasn't going to be harmed was comforting, it supported the idea that Vince was behind this kidnapping. Grace was not looking forward to spending her life with a guy like that, but she would do whatever it took to keep the man she loved safe.

Please stay safe, Harold.

The goons led her back to the car, but this time she was allowed in the back seat instead of the trunk. Not that there was much to see beyond darkness and trees. Even the stars were obscured by the thick canopy above them.

"Get in," one of the men ordered, opening the back door.

The car itself was a lot more comfortable that the trunk, but the company kept the ride from being enjoyable. As it was, Grace just stared into the night and tried to imagine where Harold was at that very moment. She pictured him in his soft bed, propped up by pillows, with his computer on his lap. No doubt he would be looking for her, but she hoped he would move on soon. He didn't need the added stress in his life and she felt horrible for putting it there.

Suddenly, the car stopped, a pair of headlights shining in the distance. Grace was pulled from the car and dragged toward the lights. Whoever owned the other car must have had their brights on, because she couldn't see a thing beyond a few silhouettes. One of the shadows began moving toward her and a shove from behind let Grace know that she was supposed to be doing the same thing.

Here goes nothing …

*P*O*I*

John kept one eye on Thorn as he passed Grace. She looked confused, and more than a little nervous, but was walking on her own. That was one point in their favor. Once she was close enough, John stepped forward and her eyes went wide. She froze mid-step and for a moment it looked like she might run.

"Grace?"

"John? No, it can't … you can't … he'll hurt Harold."

While he had an idea that was how Vince had lured her out of the house, hearing it from her made him wish he had hit the guy harder. At least Root was able to add a few more bruises before they left. Still, a flight to Rome was way more than he deserved. But right now, his one and only concern was getting Grace to safety.

"Hey," he soothed, placing his hands on her arms. "Harold is fine. He's in the car."

"But, Vince—"

"Is on a plane out of the country. It's okay."

"Reese, get out of there," Shaw's voice snapped in his ear.

While she started to calm down, John hurried her back to the car … where Finch was standing by the open back door. Apparently, his personal safety mean nothing when Grace was involved. However, in this case, it was almost acceptable as it drew her more quickly out of the line of fire.

"Harold," she sobbed, running into his arms.

"Grace," he whispered back. "Did they hurt you? God, your freezing."

He shrugged out of his coat and wrapped it around his fiancée. Unfortunately, that caring act kept the two of them in the open and Shaw was reminding him once again, in no uncertain terms, to get moving.

"You think you can finish this in the car?" he suggested.

"Is that a bruise?"

"The car, Finch."

"He's right, we should go."

At least Grace could think past their reunion, though maybe she was trying to keep the topic off the bruises on her arm. They were different shades, so not made at the same time. If John was to guess, he would say the earlier marks came from her abduction and the later ones just before the exchange. It appeared he was going to have to have a second talk with Thorn after all.

"Shaw, we're on our way to pick you up."

"About time."

While he backed up down the dark road, John glanced back at the couple. She was leaning against his side, his arms wrapped around her, both apologizing to the other for what happened. He shook his head at the sight and hit the speed dial on his cell.

"Fusco, we got her."

"Good, but next time, you go with ride with the super-powered nutball."

"So I take it you had a few bumps?"

"Bumps? I got whiplash just from riding with her, and that was before another one of those rentals tried to run us off the road!"

"You make the plane?"

"I'm fine, thanks for asking. And yeah, Mario lifted off half hour ago."

"Good, see you back at the house."

John headed toward the highway, already thinking ahead to his midnight rendez vous with Mason Thorn. He was going to have to make it really clear that Vince was out of his reach as well as drive home that Grace was off limits to both of them. He was also going to have to spell out what would happen if he or any of his men came near John's friends again. Of course, it could get messy. After their last encounter, Thorn would probably have beefed up his personal security. Not that it would be a huge hindrance, but it had been a long week and John was hoping to get a few hours of sleep tonight. Maybe he should bring Shaw to help speed things up …

So Grace is safe, Harold is safe, Vince is gone, Thorn is ... well, he's okay at the moment.

Let me know what you think while I prepare the final chapter of THIS story. ;)