Hey guys, I hope you're enjoying the end of summer! This was supposed to be a monstrous 6000+ word chapter but the rotation that I'm on has been insanely busy (between spending long hours on the ward every day, working two weekends, and preparing a teaching presentation) and I didn't have time to edit the entire thing. But I didn't want to delay yet another chapter (since I've already done that quite a bit with Unlocking the Key) so I decided to split it. This chapter is much shorter than what I'd usually post (clocking in at just under 2000 words) but at least it's posted on time and hopefully the next chapter will be out sooner too. Read on for tons of cute Gralexei feels ;)

Gonna reply to reviews on the previous chapter, thanks so much for the love and to everyone who reviewed!

Tessa Jane: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed that chapter! I've loved exploring the squad dynamics, particularly throughout this fanfic, so there will be plenty more fun squad scenes to come!

Guest: I've really enjoyed exploring Megan's character since I feel like she has a lot of depth to her. I haven't really thought too much about Alexei's relationship with his mother yet but I feel like it should be an important aspect of this fanfic; thank you for giving me something to think about and incorporate into later chapters!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Embassy Row series and all the characters (except for Tanner and Jordan and Alexei's Moscow friends, who are my own creations). They belong to Ally Carter. I am merely using her characters and plotline to create this fanfiction. I have no intention of profiting off the Embassy Row series in any way. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and would not exist without Ally Carter's wonderful works.

The events that happen in this fanfiction are not meant to be representative of real life. Any similarities to any real-life events or fictional works is purely coincidental and not intentional (with the exception of the original Embassy Row books by Ally Carter since this fanfiction is literally Take the Key and Lock Her Up but from Alexei's, not Grace's, perspective). The character's actions may not always reflect my own opinions or views. Based on what is mentioned in this chapter (spoiler alert), I do not condone the use of explosives or parental abandonment.

Content warning: mild to moderate
This fanfiction is rated M, for explicit and suggestive themes (such as mental health and abuse), language, and violence. This chapter contains mentions of death, mental health, parental abandonment, incarceration, and explosives. Please read at your own discretion.

Chapter Sixteen: Into the Lion's Den

"This is a mistake," I told Grace as we stood outside the safe house, waiting for the others to finish up inside. My mind had been unable to shut up all night, spinning with the what ifs and what could have beens of everything that could go wrong with our visit to Binevale. My sleep was fitful at best as I alternated between staring at the ceiling and trying to shake those dreadful thoughts from my mind. The later it became, the more convinced I became that this whole mission was a ridiculous idea. Even if we were able to get into Binevale, there was no guarantee Grace would be able to get the information she wanted from my mother. That woman had completely lost her mind and likely wouldn't be the same person I remembered from my childhood. Then again, it was hard to tell how sane she had been in those last few years, her descent into madness starting perhaps much earlier than I realized. Or maybe she had been insane for the entirety of my life and I just hadn't known it.

"I know this whole plan seems a little crazy," Grace said, her voice light, too much so for the gravity of the situation looming over us. "But crazy is kind of normal for us these days, isn't it?"

"We should leave her in there," I replied, looking away. The less time that remained, the more my stomach churned and the more that feeling of dread washed over me.

"We are going to leave her in there. We're just going to talk to her – find out what happened."

"We should leave her in there. Alone." That woman didn't deserve to tell us her story, or anyone else's. Over the years, I had moved on and lived my life without her, effectively reclaiming it as my own. She no longer had a part in it and thus, I had nothing I wanted to say to her and nothing I wanted to hear from her. If this was entirely my choice to make, then I would have left her in my past, where she belonged. She had no place in my present, or my future, now that I had filled the hole she left behind.

"Alexei, don't you wonder how she ended up in there? I mean, do you think your dad had her committed? Because if he didn't … If my mom got killed, maybe your mom got locked up? Maybe she didn't leave you."

"My mom left long before she went away." I turned away from Grace, the painful memories reeling through my head at lightning speed. I thought back to my father's strange phone call about my mother. I didn't know how to explain it, or if he had played any role in her disappearance. Either way, she had lost her mind long before she disappeared.

"Alexei, we don't know what happened. We don't know why your mom is in there or why my mom went to see her. We don't know anything."

"Maybe it's better that way," I stated firmly, an icy chill washing over me, the frigid wind suddenly picking up, as Grace's words sunk in. I took her hands in mine, squeezing them tight, desperate for something solid to anchor me to this Earth. "Sometimes it's better not to know."

Yet, even if I did, it wasn't going to change anything, not the consequences that followed nor the way my life had changed because of it. My mother had ample time and opportunity to explain herself before she left but instead, she chose to spiral further into insanity, taking parts of me with it. Thus, she did not deserve my forgiveness or a chance at redemption.

I looked at Grace, really looked at her, practically sensing the halo of hope and light that surrounded her. Although my mother had ripped away my past and my father tormented my present, my future, or what was left of it, was something I still had control of. And I was going to do whatever I could to truly make it my own, especially since it was standing right in front of me.

"Promise me something," I said, pulling Grace closer, wrapping my arms tight around her.

She looked up at me, her eyes big and innocent. "Anything."

"If something goes wrong today, I want you to run."

A look of terror ran through her eyes. "I'm not going to leave you."

"You're too important." I reached out, pushing a strand of her long, beautiful blonde hair out of her eyes. "To the world. To me. Promise that you'll keep my girlfriend safe."

I looked at her again, taking her in as if I'd never get another chance to do so. This mission we were about to embark on could be a simple conversation or a death sentence. I didn't know if one, or both, of us would make it out alive. Whereas my future had more or less been ripped away from me, she still had a bright one ahead of her, with supportive friends and a loving family. If only one of us was going to live today, then I wanted it to be her.

Grace suddenly pulled back from me, her eyes wide open, her jaw dropping. "I'm your girlfriend?" In theory, I supposed that's what we were, even though we had never talked about our relationship status or made anything official. But was she really just a girlfriend to me when we shared so much history? When we had travelled the world for each other? When my whole being felt complete with her around? Perhaps she was my soul mate. But she felt like my twin flame, or something more than that, if such a thing even existed.

"No," I declared, shaking my head. I pulled Grace back towards me, squeezing her tight in my arms. "There's not a word in either of our languages for what you are to me." With that, I closed the distance between us, bringing our lips together. I kept it soft, sweet, and gentle, emphasizing my previous words, showing her that I really did care about her and that she meant so much to me, more than words could describe.

She gave in, relenting to the kiss, but I didn't dare push it further. This was supposed to be one last salute, one final goodbye in case one of us wasn't here at the end of the day. If things went well, then there'd be plenty more time for making out. Not today though.

Someone pointedly cleared their throat. In an instant, Grace's lips left mine. I opened my eyes, finding she had tried to push herself out of my arms, a terrified expression on her face. I looked past her, spotting Noah standing by the cars. Had he had scared her? Either way, there was no one else out here, except for our friends. Surely, they knew Grace and I were an item. Even if they didn't, I knew they would be accepting of us. Grace had absolutely nothing to fear in that regard.

Megan stepped out of the house, making her way to the cars. "We ready?" I looked down at Grace. Regardless of whether we were or not, we didn't have a choice. Today was the day and there was no turning back.

I released Grace from my arms, taking that as my signal to go pack up the cars. After breakfast, Megan had dispatched Grace and I to park the cars out front, while her, Noah, and Rosie tidied up everything in the house. I had tried my very hardest to offer more assistance but Megan essentially pushed Grace and I out the door with a promise that I would help pack up the cars after, leaving us with no other choice. It hadn't taken me long to drive both cars out front, leaving Grace and I with some time alone together. Looking back, I wondered if that had been part of Megan's plan all along. Knowing her, I wouldn't have been surprised.

I walked over to where Rosie was standing next to two massive piles of boxes. "What's the plan?"

"Important things are going with me, Megan, and Noah in the rental car from the train station," Rosie said, gesturing to the bigger pile. She then turned her attention to the smaller pile. "Less important things are going with you and Grace in the car we found here." I nodded, somewhat wary of Rosie's description of the boxes. What she considered important was perhaps a bit different from my definition. Nonetheless, we started loading the smaller pile into the car from the cabin, the one Grace and I would be taking to Binevale. The boxes mostly consisted of extra clothes and food, as well as a few choice weapons and some basic tech equipment.

"You never know if you'll need to defend yourself in there. Megan's words," Rosie said, taking in my reaction to the small box of weapons. It looked like Megan really had thought everything through. However, I doubted Grace and I would be able to walk into Binevale with weapons, concealed or not. The place didn't look like they'd take kindly to strangers, even less so armed ones. Grace and I were just going to have to be very careful in there.

Rosie and I then loaded up the rental car with all of our luggage, including the backpack of objects from Grace's mother's shop. I would hate to lose any of that, as it was the one thing Grace had left of her mother. We also packed tons of extra food and clothing, as well as a couple boxes of fancy-looking tech equipment that interested Megan. It almost felt like we were packing for a never-ending road trip which, given our situation, might well be what we'd end up doing.

"Rosie, is that what I think it is?" I asked, suspiciously eyeing a rather large box she was trying to sneak past me. One of the flaps wasn't quite pushed in all the way, revealing what looked like explosives.

"Megan said I could fill a couple extra boxes with weapons, in case we needed to be of help from afar," Rosie argued, like she wasn't the one at fault.

"But what if those blow up in the car?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"They won't. Trust me," Rosie asserted, sounding way too sure of herself. I sighed, deciding to lay that to rest. Rosie's fascination with explosives was one thing, the fact that she had actually found some and was taking them with her was another. I could only hope she wouldn't accidentally endanger herself, or us.

Between the two of us, it took less time than I thought to pack up the cars. Although Rosie was small, she was much stronger than she looked. I was surprised to see her easily lifting and carrying boxes that looked like they had to be half her weight.

I glanced at Noah and Megan, both of whom were conversing with Grace. I couldn't hear what they were saying but the conversation seemed pretty heated. Either way, there was no backing down now. We were in too deep and had come so far. To turn back now would be giving up. It was do or die and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't see this through, especially with the promise I had made to myself, but more importantly, to my Gracie.

Before long, Megan turned away from Grace, giving me a nod. It was go time.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter will be up between Aug. 28 and Sept. 6. What do you think happens next? This chapter was kinda difficult to edit, in capturing Alexei's feelings towards his mother and the emotions in the intimate Gralexei moments so I hope it was okay.