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"Settle down?" Grace's voice came out shaky, but there was an unmistakable hint of defiance in her tone. "What do you mean by that?"
Tommy could imagine the look of determination in Grace's eyes as she faced off against her captor, and it only fueled his resolve to protect her.
Ethan's tone grew darker as he went on. "I was the one who sent you the email saying your reservation in the next town had been canceled. I did that so you'd have more time here with me. I picked this town because it's a magical place to settle down and have a family, and that was what I planned for us to do."
Tommy could practically feel his blood boiling with every word Ethan spoke. His hands clenched into fists, knuckles turning white from the strain.
"Is that how you knew so much about Snow Hill?" Grace asked, her voice trembling but strong. "That's why you emailed me so many times, convincing me to come here?"
Ethan laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down Tommy's spine. "Well, that should be obvious. But then you messed everything up by coming here and meeting Tommy first."
Tommy's anger reached new heights as he listened to Ethan's words about how Ethan and Grace were meant to be together, expressing frustration and anger towardshim, seeing him as an unworthy competitor for Grace's affection.
Enough was enough.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Tommy stepped quietly down the stairs. Ethan's back was to him, but Grace was bound to a chair, her expression a mix of fear and relief as they locked eyes. His heart lurched at the sight of her, vulnerable yet strong. He took a moment to assess the situation, his mind racing with plans to subdue Ethan without endangering Grace.
"Enough," Tommy growled, his voice low and menacing as he confronted Ethan.
The other man whirled around, his face contorted in surprise and rage. Gone was the meek facade he'd used every other time Tommy had interacted with him, replaced now by a more sinister side that made Tommy's skin crawl.
"Tommy!" Grace exclaimed. "Be careful, he's—"
"Insane? Dangerous? Pathetic?" Tommy interrupted, his gaze never leaving Ethan's.
He needed to keep the man's focus on him, not on Grace, and Ethan's anger was palpable as he stared back at him.
"Grace is a grown woman who can make her own decisions," Tommy continued, taking a slow step forward. "And she doesn't need someone like you trying to control her life."
"You don't deserve her!" Ethan shouted. "You're just some small-town cop who happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. She's supposed to be with me!"
"Give it up, Ethan," Tommy demanded, his voice firm and unwavering. He knew there was no reasoning with the man, but he had to try for Grace's sake. "This isn't how you win someone's heart."
Ethan's face twisted into an expression of pure hatred, his eyes locked onto Tommy's. "I won't let you take her away from me," he hissed.
Tommy straightened, steeling himself for the confrontation that was about to unfold. His only thought was to protect Grace and bring an end to the nightmare that had begun the moment they'd set foot in Snow Hill.
"Stop talking as if I'm some kind of prize to be won," Grace interjected, her voice shaking but firm. "I'm not a possession, Ethan. I never belonged to you."
"Shut up!" Ethan snarled, taking a threatening step toward her.
In that instant, Tommy lunged forward, his police training kicking in. The dim light of the basement made it difficult to see, but he relied on instinct and muscle memory. As he grappled with Ethan, he realized that the man's unpredictability was a dangerous factor; Ethan seemed to have no fear or inhibitions, making him a formidable opponent.
Tommy's mind raced—his fragmented thoughts intense and chaotic as he struggled with Ethan in a desperate war for control. He threw a punch, followed by another, dodging Ethan's wild swings and countering with calculated precision.
Ethan fought back with vicious determination, fueled by his twisted obsession. But Tommy's skill and raw willpower gave him the advantage, and with a final, decisive blow, Tommy subdued Ethan, knocking him off balance and onto the floor.
Breathing heavily, Tommy quickly secured one of Ethan's hands with his handcuffs, ensuring that he couldn't cause any more harm by looping the cuffs around a nearby pipe before enclosing Ethan's other wrist, rendering him immobile.
"Are you okay?" Tommy asked urgently, rushing to Grace's side.
"Y-yes," she stammered, clearly shaken. "Thank you, Tommy."
As Tommy untied her from the chair, he saw the relief in her eyes, just as powerful as the gratitude that coursed through him.
"Let's get out of here," Tommy whispered as he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs before helping her to her feet. And then as they climbed the stairs, leaving Ethan behind, he kept his hand on her back to steady her. "It's okay, you're safe now."
"Thank you," she whispered again, her voice filled with gratitude and newfound trust.
