Warning" This chapter contains violence.



After everyone leaves, I go down stairs and see Grace cleaning up the kitchen. I desperately want to go over there and beg her not to leave, but I know it won't do any good. Whoever she's protecting, is the one reason she refuses to leave whoever is hurting her. I have no idea how to help her if she refuses to allow me to help her. When she bends over, my eyes travel down her thigh and I see yet another bruise. I gasp seeing the dark bruise on her inner thigh. She hears me and snaps her head back.

"Prince?"

"Grace, dear god, who did that to you?" I ask pointing at her thigh.

"I'm begging you, Prince, please, leave this alone."

"Like I hell I will. Look at yourself, Grace, oh god, baby. Your entire body is covered in bruises. Your face, your arms, and now your legs. Oh my god, did someone rape you?"

"What, no. Nobody raped me, Prince," she tries to convince me, but I know better. I lift her up on the island and open her legs. I place my hand on the bruise and it's the perfect shape of a hand and finger prints.

"You're lying to me again, Grace. Someone had a death grip on your thighs as if they were trying to pry them open. Some one forced you to have sex with them. You need to tell me who did this to you.

"I want to tell you, but I can't If he finds out I told anyone, he won't only kill me, he will kill Bianca."

"Bianca? Who is she? A friend, your sister?"

"No, Prince, she's my daughter," she says and I step back in disbelief."

"Your daughter, Grace?   I had no idea you have a daughter,"

"I never wanted you to know. I never wanted you to know even this much. You have no idea how dangerous he is. He's already killed before, and he will kill again if he ever finds out what I told you. You also will be in great danger, so please, Prince, I'm begging you, no more questions. I have to keep my daughter and now you protected," her voice trembles and that rage creeps back in me.

"You're staying here. There is no way in hell I'm about to let you go back to him. I'll call the cops," I insist as I pick up my cell phone. She looks down at it and knocks it out of my hand.

"Prince, you can't call the cops.  You don't seem to be grasping just how dangerous he is. If you involve the cops, my daughter will die. This isn't a game, he isn't playing around. He is dead serious when he says if I tell anyone about  him, he will make me watch him kill my daughter, and he will make me watch him kill you. God, I am so sorry I got you involved in this. I should never have taken this job, but it was my chance to hopefully figure out a way to get myself and Bianca the hell away from him. I needed to save up enough money to allow us to leave the state and hide from him, and pray he never finds us. But, I now know that's never going to happen.  This truly is our nightmare for the rest of our lives. I have to go."

"Grace, damn it. Oh my god, he's eventually going to kill you, and your daughter. And you expect me to do nothing to help you?"

"As long as I keep obeying him, and he never finds out I told you, me and Bianca should be safe. Please, leave this alone, Prince. I'll see you in the morning," she says as she walks out the door.

"I'm sorry, Grace, but I won't just stand here hoping for the best. I'm getting you and your daughter the hell away from him."

Twenty minutes later*

Grace's POV* As I place my hand on the door knob, I pray he's asleep and Bianca is safe in her bed. I do this every night, praying when I walk in this door, I won't find my daughter dead and he is in a decent mood. I slowly open the door and only see the light from the clock on the end table. I make my way over to the sofa and kick of my shoes and place my purse on the coffee table. When I start to make my way towards the kitchen, I feel someone behind me. I turn around to see him standing in front of me.

"Jase, umm, is Bianca sleeping?" I asked him. He steps closer to me and grabs my neck, he gently kisses me and  everything inside of me is screaming run.

"Bianca is fast asleep in her bed, Grace. And you're about to be dead in your grave," he whispers in my ear. I push him back and run up the stairs.  As I place my hand on Bianca's door, he grabs the back of my hair and drags me to our bedroom. His foot kicks the door shut and he locks it.

"Seems my sweet Grace has been a very bad girl. Do you remember what I told you I would do if you decided to get stupid?

"Jase, please. I didn't.-"

"I suggest you do not lie to me. I saw and heard everything. You going into heat for your boss. How did you like him having you up against that wall and his hands all over my body? You were so ready to let another man fuck what belongs to me, weren't you?"

"Oh my god, were you there, in his house, Jase?"

"Did you really think I was joking when I told you I see, hear, and know everything you do, Grace? I warned you over and over what I will do to you if you ever fucked another man, or if you ever told anyone about me. I guess you decided to ignore all of my warnings, now, I must show you how serious I was," he shouts as he backhands me.

"Shit, please, Jase. Don't do this," I beg

"Oh I'm going to do a lot more than just beat your betraying ass, you worthless bitch. You want to let another man touch what belongs to me, you want to ignore my orders? Fine, if I can't have you, I'll be damned if I let him have you. You know he will be dying next, right?"

"Jase, dear god, please, oh my god, is Bianca really asleep in her bed?" I ask and he grins.

"Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. I know you will never see her ever again. And your boss will never see you again. Say good-bye, Grace. Just remember, you only have yourself to thank for this."

"Like hell she does.  I'll be damned if I let you kill the love of my life. Bet you never saw me coming, huh, Jase?"

"Oh my god, Prince? Shit, go get Bianca and get her the hell out of here."

"Don't worry, baby, your daughter is now safe. I love you, Grace."