Hey, everyone! It's been awhile! As promised, here's the next chapter! I'm sorry it's not very long. I intended for it to be longer, but I decided to hold off for the more in depth details until the next chapter. Thank you to everyone for being so patient and continuing to support this story. I hope you all enjoy xoxo

10 years ago

The morning sun just started to peek through our bedroom's drawn curtains, and I had already formed a headache in anticipation of today's planned events. I lay with my back facing away from the bedroom door, Rafe, and the usual sounds of hustle and bustle from the maids outside. Rafe sat at the foot of the bed, buttoning up his white undershirt, contemplating something to himself. Another vibration erupted from under the pillow I was lying on. My cousin had been texting me nonstop all morning, so I had shoved my phone under the pillow to muffle out the sound of incoming messages. I couldn't risk Rafe asking or reading the messages, if any of the Adler's found out then the plan would be ruined. I held my breath every time my phone buzzed in the silent room, afraid Rafe would hear it and catch on.

This was supposed to be day I was going to run away and escape.

I bit my lip, trying to calm myself so I wouldn't act too out of the ordinary, and trying to ignore of aching feeling within my pelvis from having yet another round of rough morning sex with Rafe. I'm not sure if Rafe's sudden sensual appetite was from Regina's request to have more grandchildren or a way for him to temporarily escape the pain. He was distant with me, just as I had been the past two months since Holden's death. We barely spoke or even saw each other. The only time we were ever truly together was when Rafe was in the mood. Our shell-of-a-marriage which was fragile to begin with had finally broke for good. We both knew this, but neither of us said a word. When Rafe entered the room, I knew what he had come for and I didn't have the energy to refuse or accept. I would spread my legs and that would be the initiation of our silent conversations. To be honest the sex temporarily numbed the pain for me, too. Anything to keep my mind off of Holden was welcoming in my book.

"I am leaving for Scotland again today. Expect me back on Thursday," Rafe said curtly, standing up from the bed. He went over to the closet and put on the rest of his attire.

I felt the bed give slightly as the weight shifted. I finally turned to look at him, uncaring if the bed comforter draped around me fell loose from my naked body. Rafe ran a hand through his tousled bedhead, giving me a strange look I couldn't place. It was as if he knew I was leaving for good. We stared at each other for a long while until he finally made his way around the bed to me. Rafe kissed me on the mouth, taking me off guard. It felt forced like he was fulfilling an obligation for someone else. He pulled away, that strange look still on his face.

"Call me if you need me," Rafe said before turning to leave.

I sat on the bed in silence, watching my husband leave out the door for probably the last time. After about five minutes I took my phone out from under my pillow and peered out the window to make sure he had left. I didn't see his Audi parked in the driveway so I assume he had already left for the airport. I had ten missed messages from Sophie, who was starting to become panicked.

Me: Sorry Rafe just left

Sophie: u scared me! is every1 in the house gone?

Me: The Adler's are on a business trip but some of the housekeepers are here. I paid them to keep them quiet.

Sophie: R u sure u can trust them?

Me: We don't have a choice

I hopped out of bed once I knew the coast was clear, and went right for the closet. I rummaged through and pulled out one of our large suitcases. I went through our drawers only packed a few clothes. I had to keep it limited to the necessities because I wanted to bring the least amount of luggage possible. As I went through my drawers I came across the photograph of Holden. His little face was upturned toward the camera lens, smiling blissfully, revealing his baby teeth. His grey eyes looked so much like his fathers; he had faint freckles on his face; his brown hair started to grow in. I held onto the picture, stifling a sob as I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I gently tucked the photograph of Holden into the suitcase, being careful not to bend it. It was the only photo I had of him, it was precious.

I finished packing and changed into some clothes. I texted Sophie that it was safe to pull up with her car now. She'd been waiting incognito for almost an hour now. I headed out the door, keeping my head down. I didn't make eye contact with any of the house-keepers, praying they would keep my secret. I hastily loaded my suitcase into the trunk then sat in the passenger's seat.

"Anything you want to do before we head for the airport? I promised your parents I'd get you to Colorado a while ago, we're running late" Sophie asked.

"Just make sure it's not the same airport Rafe is going to," I replied.

"Well ahead of ya. Anything else?"

I took off my gaudy wedding ring and held it stiffly in my hands.

"Can we stop at a pawnshop?"

Sophie and my parents, since the day Sophie overheard Regina telling me to move on and have more children, planned on getting me out of the Adler household. My father, who worked for Cecil Adler, had stolen money from their construction company for months to save up enough to go into hiding. My parents were sick of the attitudes of the Adlers, and how they were treating me after the death of Holden. They sold our house in New York in secret and bought a house in Colorado where we'd all have to go into hiding. You don't screw over a rich and powerful family like the Adlers and expect to be safe out in the open.

The plan was risky, but I was ready to run away and start a new life.

I remained quiet as Rafe forced Sam to find a way into the hidden entrance Avery was hiding in his mansion. I wasn't even sure this entrance existed, but the men's sources told them otherwise. I sat on the steps of one of Avery's grand rooms, complete with a library, heirlooms, tall windows, and a globe sitting toward the upper part. I would usually be in awe of such a grand and undiscovered wonder, but my grogginess from blood loss, no food, and the inevitable of Simmons left me detached. I hadn't spoken a word since Rafe went off on me for mentioning Holden. He had put his foot down like an anchor and I dared not test him again. I was so shaken up that Nadine had to practically drag me to my feet to get me moving again.

I listened to Nadine and Rafe fight whether she should Shoreline to barricade the mansion to make sure they weren't being followed.

"Why won't you listen to me?" Nadine snapped, her temper clearly flaring. "It wouldn't hurt to leave a few of my men behind to barricade the entrance in case we're being followed!"

"Who's going to be following us out here?" Rafe yelled back, "there's no one out here!"

"What about Nate? And the pestering old man?"

Rafe scoffed, "Nate probably isn't alive, or even conscious for that matter."

I glanced sorrowfully at Sam, who paused from his search to glower at Rafe. I watched the blood continue to drain from Sam's arm, and from the bridge of his nose. I felt guilty leaving him like that, wishing there was something I could do. Rafe wouldn't let me anywhere near Sam, so all I could do was watch him suffer from afar. As much as I wanted to patch up Sam's wounds sustained from Rafe, I was still furious with him for lying and dragging all of us into this mess. My mute fury was well received, Sam gave me sheepish, pitiful glances every once and a while. I know he desperately wanted to confide in me, but there was nothing either of us could do while we were being held captive by Rafe and Shoreline.

I rested my elbows on my knees and buried my face in my hands, letting my entire body sag in lethargy. Simmons, that was another huge problem looming in the distance. It wasn't a matter of if he'd show up, it was when. I knew he was on the island somewhere, lurking in the shadows like a predator, just waiting until we least expected to make his deadly move. Rafe didn't believe he was on the island, tracking down my scent and Avery's treasure. It was ignorant of him to think that way, considering he personally knew Simmons and had first-hand experience of what that madman was capable of. What he didn't seem to realize is that Simmons bloodthirsty appetite wouldn't be sated by me alone, he wouldn't stop until everyone who he thought "aided" me was dealt with.

Sam appeared to have an epiphany. He touched the globe with a bloody finger, rotating the earth slightly on its axis. Rumbling immediately followed, shaking the entire room like a mini tremor. A staircase appeared by the globe, leading straight down under Avery's mansion.

Rafe laughed, "good work Sam, let's get going."

I stood up reluctantly, and followed behind as the team made their way down the staircase. I noticed Sam hesitantly waiting for mostly everyone to pass, his hands shoved nervously in his pockets. He glanced down the staircase to make sure no one was paying attention then took out his lighter and threw it on the ground. He went down the stairs then, getting a lecture from Nadine to "hurry up." I followed them behind, not saying a word.

As we headed down the staircase and the light from the sun began to fade, the colder the atmosphere became. I started to regret wearing shorts and a tank top as I hugged myself for warmth. Our descent into the underground was dank and cramped as we all were forced to huddle single-file. I didn't pay attention to the carved-out walls around us, I kept my eyes on Knot's back who was directly in front of me. As I blindly followed the person in front of me we all came into a clearing, our only light being flashlights from some of the soldiers. There was what appeared to be tiles with symbols on them, suspended from a steep drop that even looked unforgiving in the dark.

"This must be the first of Avery's trials that you mentioned, Sam," Rafe exclaimed, "well?" He added expectedly.

Sam didn't move. Rafe groaned in impatient agitation and marched over to Sam. He gave him a shove by the shoulder, toward the tiles. I nearly reached out after him, afraid he'd lose his footing.

"You first, show us the way."

"If I make one wrong step, then it'll trigger Avery's trap," Sam informed him angrily.

"You best not make any mistakes then," Rafe replied, smiling cynically. Rafe handed his phone to him, showing a saved picture of a sketched-out path.

Sam sighed, looking out onto the tiles. He glanced over his shoulder toward me. My heart was already hammering in my chest in paranoia. I was afraid until I saw the mood shift in Sam's eyes. His expression stared at me intently, as if he was silently telling me what he was about to do. I gulped, having a sinking feeling that I knew exactly what Sam was up to.

"Stay close to me," Sam informed the group, turning his attention back toward Avery's tiles.

He was going to lead Shoreline into a trap.