Chapter 4


The Lexus swerved along a gravel drive down by the docks, and Donna moved her hand so she came into contact with Harvey's, the edge of her fingers lightly brushing his skin as she exhaled slowly.

Throughout the journey, he hadn't said a single word, which may have been disconcerting to some, but she understood his quiet demeanor meant he was internalizing his strategic approach to do battle. He was preparing himself, and she was calmed by his silence. Until the car rolled to a stop at its destination.

Harvey felt Donna flinch, the involuntary twitch tempting his focus. He couldn't risk showing a flicker of weakness, and he kept his eyes trained on their driver, but seeing it was safe, he covered her hand with a small squeeze. Then he withdrew the contact as if it hadn't happened, his glare locked on the sharp turn of their kidnapper as he twisted, flashing the revolver that Harvey had seen riding in the man's lap.

"Try anything and you both get a bullet."

Donna's core seized as the driver's side flung open, the threat to her and Harvey's safety hanging heavily in the small space as the burly man clambered out, slamming the vehicle closed. She was closest to the brute's reach, suffocating fear gripping her as his shadow loomed by her window.

"Breathe," Harvey whispered. "I'll do all the talking."

She nodded, breathing in sharply through her nose. Her armor wasn't forged from fire like Harvey's, but she had her own arsenal — years' worth of experience embodying strong characters in front of hundreds of people on stage. She had yet to play a damsel in distress, and she had no plans to audition for one.

Bracing herself, she exhaled as the door was pulled open, her elbow bruised by a pinching grip as she was yanked out into the cool air, the brisk wind sweeping in from the water nearby. Her heels tripped over the gritty stones, but she managed to keep her footing as she was shoved around to the other side of the Lexus, her hair whipping around her face.

"Open the door!"

She did as instructed, hooking her fingers under the handle to let Harvey out. As soon as the lock clicked, she was forcefully pulled back, the revolver jamming into her spine as Harvey climbed out with the steady class of someone stepping onto a red carpet. The only sign he wanted to tear the man holding her apart limb from limb were the white knuckles clenched around his briefcase. And seeing his strong outward projection strengthened her own determination to play a hero, not a victim.

Harvey closed the door behind him, his blood boiling with fury, but the hatred that leached into his bones was bitterly cold, until he dared meet Donna's gaze. When he saw the color had returned to her cheeks, his anger ebbed slightly. Her expression was as hard as his own — she was pissed, and after a decade going through hell and back with her, he instantly recognized she was spoiling for a fight. Jesus, he almost wanted to smirk at the asshole towering over her. What was it she always bragged about — finalist in some junior pistol championship? Top of her self-defense class?

He was goddamn proud of her, but reality quickly overshadowed his pride. There were too many unforeseen variables. People could already have eyes on them, and he curtly angled his head, signaling they should stick to a safer plan.

"What are you waiting for? Go!"

Donna's heart sank as the missed opportunity to escape slipped away. She wanted to help, not just let Harvey do all the talking, but she had faith in his instincts. If he thought they were better off playing the long game, then she would follow his lead, and his footsteps, her heels crunching the gravel until they were ushered into one of the several derelict buildings on the lot.

They were directed to a large open space that resembled an air hanger. The freezing temperature was bound by four cement walls, no furniture or windows, just a roller door and two men waiting for them.

Harvey immediately sized them both up. One man was a mirror image of their kidnapper, muscular and imposing, with nothing but a mercenary discipline behind his cold eyes. The other occupant of the space clearly held the authority, his leaner frame dressed in an expensive Tom Ford suit. His slick, jet-back hair reminded Harvey of his early days at Pearson Hardman — arrogantly geared for success but without the billables he cashes now.

He knew first-hand how to approach an enlarged ego, and he treated the cocky little shit the same way he would have approached himself ten years ago. "Harvey Specter. I'd ask who you are, but you seem like the middle rung type of guy. So how about you give this to your boss and send them my regards?" He dropped his briefcase and kicked the evidence across the ground, the scrape of leather stopped by Mr. Tom Ford's polished shoe. Just as he'd anticipated, the man's right-hand muscle went to leap forward at the insulting act but was held back by a flat palm against his chest.

"Easy, Chewie. Mr. Specter is actually right. At least about all this being a dog and pony show."

Harvey squared his shoulders as the man in charge stepped over the evidence, proving neither of them gave a shit what was in the case. The prick's job was to do a shake shown, make him dance a little, throw in a couple of punches, then send him home with his tail between his legs. Fine. He was ready to play.

"Vance Jefferson." Vance stopped in front of him. "You were wrong about my name. That's something you're going to want to remember."

"Why?" Harvey snorted. "Is VJ your show girl name? Because I'm busy this Friday."

Vince laughed, impressed by the lawyer's gusto, and matching the man's ballsy banter. "Hey, it beats stripping for a living."

"I'd offer you a twenty, but there wasn't an ATM stop on the way." Harvey rolled his shoulders back deciding it was time to stop flourishing his feathers. He wanted to move things along and hopefully skip the theatrics. So, even though cowering didn't come naturally to him, he tried to mellow his instincts for Donna's sake. "Do us both a favor. I only kept the evidence because I figured one of your bosses would come looking for it. Go back and tell them I cooperated. They win."

"Yeah, see, here's the problem. It's not your cooperation they're worried about." As much as Vance was eager to toy with the great Harvey Specter, he reached into his inner jacket pocket, pulling out his phone, and scrolling through until he found the voicemail of the conversation that had taken place between Harvey and his COO earlier today.

"We need to talk."

"You're damn right we do. Jessica knew about Godheart. She knew about everything. So, you need to drop this. Nobody can find out about this, Harvey, and I mean no one."

"Bullshit Jessica knew."

"Then why do I have this? And before you ask where it came from, think about if you really want to know, because you're in enough shit as it is."

"Impressive act." Vance slid the device back into his pocket, straightening the lapels of his suit. "But let's be honest. You couldn't pass for a stripper or a show girl. So, I doubt you came up with that little script." He nodded at the man behind him, his eyes curiously following his hired hand's approach to Harvey, wondering how the lawyer would react. From all accounts, the man didn't like being backed into a corner, but Harvey's glare remained unflinching, right up until the strangled yelp of his COO broke the strained silence.

Harvey's head whipped around to the sound of Donna's pained cry, his arms yanked back with the same brutal punishment, plastic binds snapping around his wrists.

"What is it they say?" Vance taunted Harvey's attempt to escape the vice-like grip around his upper arms. "Behind every great man is a greater and more accomplished woman." He smirked at the attractive redhead he was eager to meet. "Isn't that right, Miss Paulsen?"

Donna's rising panic collided with nauseating guilt as Harvey squirmed to get free. He was losing his edge, and she knew she was to blame. Vance and his bosses had seen through their smoke screen. Somehow, they'd known she pressured Harvey into going to the SEC. So, all she could do now was protect Harvey by showing she wasn't afraid to face the consequences of her actions. "It's Donna. And I don't appreciate you limiting my ability to anyone's shadow. Least of all Harvey's."

Vance clapped his hands together with a surprised laugh. "Now you I actually like!" He beamed his appreciation for the women's sass compared to Harvey's dry sarcasm. "My apologies, Donna. I meant no offense." His gaze traveled up and down her appealing figure, fascinated she'd been the one to alert his boss's attention. Despite what Harvey thought about him being a middle rung player, he took his job and research seriously. He'd expected to wind up face to face with Mike Ross, but his wrong assumption seemed to be turning in his favor. "Believe me, I'd gladly be wrapped around that little finger of yours." He skimmed his fingers behind her knee, sliding them up to cup her ass. "Among other places."

Bile lurched in Donna's throat, revolted by Vance's touch, but it was Harvey's shout that threatened to break her.

"Get your fucking hands off her!"

Vance deliberately ignored Harvey's furious demand, finding the man's anger an accelerant to his desire, and he lifted his knuckles, grazing the redhead's cheek with a taunting smirk. "Perhaps we can come to an agreement somewhere more private. Save the old man from having a heart attack."

She swallowed the bitter taste of reflux, putting on the performance of a lifetime as she forced her body to relax. There was no other choice but to agree. Her lashes caught moisture as she nodded, hitching a breath as he opened his palm. But just like she'd been hoping, Vance swung his gaze around to see Harvey's reaction, and she pushed all of her weight back, using the momentum to ram her knee right between his crotch.

Like hell she'd go anywhere with him without a fight.

Vance dropped to the ground, clutching his groin with a painful growl, but her triumphant performance was cut short by the genuine cry that erupted when her hair was yanked down.

"Donna!"

Harvey's adrenaline drove the desperate need to reach her, but the tight hold around his arms didn't budge as Vance staggered up to his feet.

"You bitch!" His orders were to create a rift between the pair, keep the redhead from becoming a worse influence on Harvey, and maybe even have a little fun in the process. But he hadn't signed up to be made a fool of. "I don't give a shit what Clarke said!" He swung his arm back and slapped her with the full impact of his rage.

The sound echoed around the open space as she slumped forward, and Harvey saw red. He twisted with such force that a popping sensation tore through his shoulder as he broke free, his knees crashing against the hard cement, while his wrists remained bound uselessly behind him.

Then a sudden explosion wreaked havoc on his eardrums, debris and dust raining down as he ducked his head, wheezing through more noise accompanying the thick plume of smoke.

"FBI. Drop your weapons! Down on the ground! Now!"

Harvey's eyes watered at the light streaming in from the destroyed roller door, his senses foggy except for the high-pitched whine ringing between his ears as heavy steps vibrated around him. Through the haze of chaos, he registered his wrists being sprung free, and his first instinct was to find Donna, folding his throbbing arm below his ribs with monstrous effort as he tried and failed to get up.

Before he could attempt to move again, her scent absorbed his panic, her arms flinging tightly around his neck, and he used all of his strength to grip her back.

Thank God she was okay.

He panted his relief into the fabric of her dress, the assurance he needed muddling between words he might have said or imagined. He was too exhausted to tell. He'd take care of her, but there was a swarm of people surrounding him who could handle the job for a few minutes.

Just long enough for him to close his eyes and pass out for a second or two.

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AN: Thank you to the wonderful Southsidesister (darvey_love) for being an amazing beta. Anyone new to the fandom should definitely go check out her fics! And a huge thanks to everyone reading, commenting and following. Sending you all giant hugs!

Time for a Donna and Harvey happy ending! Or is it? ;) xx