Page 112 of Royal Deception

But then?—

“Clary?”

I hear the voice through the balaclava, the familiar sound, the tone I thought I’d never hear again.

The weight on my chest lifts.

The man pulls the mask off, and I can see the glint of his eyes. I know that face.

“Lucky?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” His voice is low, steady, as his hands move to untie me.

My breath comes out in a rush. I slump, the tension in my body giving way to relief I didn’t know I was holding onto. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to see him, to hear his voice, to know that someone is here.

But before I can say anything, another man approaches, and I freeze again, my heart pounding.

This time, I can’t help the shudder that runs down my spine.

But the man pulls off his mask, revealing the familiar, scowling face of Liam.

I exhale, the knot in my stomach unraveling as a wave of relief crashes over me.

“What the hell is going on?” I murmur, my voice shaky as the last of the fear ebbs from my system.

“We’re getting you out of here,” Lucky says, glancing around at the others. “But we’ve got to move fast.”

I nod, and just like that, I let myself trust them again. I let myself hope.

I keep my head down, letting Liam lead the way as we navigate through the maze of buildings, always keeping to the shadows. I hear the thud of boots behind me—Rory’s men, making sure no one’s following. It’s silent but for the occasional scrape of gravel and the low hum of a distant car. My mind keeps drifting back to Rory, wondering if he’s okay. Is he dealing with Aleksey right now?

I can’t stand the thought of him putting himself at risk because of me.

Finally, I break the silence. “What the hell happened back there?”

Liam glances at me, his eyes briefly meeting mine before he looks forward again. "Aleksey called. He wants Rory to hand himself over and control of the businesses. If not… he’ll kill you and the baby."

I feel the blood drain from my face, panic starting to claw at my throat. “What the hell? He’s crazy. He thinks Rory will just give up everything?”

Lucky, who’s been silent, speaks up. “Aleksey’s desperate. He wants revenge for Anatoly. He knows Rory’s a threat to his empire. This isn’t just business for him. It’s personal. But Rory's not backing down, and he sure as hell isn't letting you die.”

Liam adds, “The extraction plan was put in place because we know Aleksey’s got most of his people focused on Rory right now. He’s hoping for an excuse to eliminate him. We moved in, took you, and kept it quiet. You’re safe for now, but we need to keep moving."

I’m shaking, my pulse thudding in my neck as I process the weight of what Liam and Lucky are saying. I hate feeling so out of the loop, so helpless.

“No,” I snap, frustration and fear pushing through. “I’m not going to Rory’s apartment, not while he’s out there with Aleksey. You don’t understand. I need to be with him. I need to make sure he’s okay.”

Lucky’s expression hardens. “You’re not thinking clearly, Clary. Rory is making sure Aleksey’s occupied. He’s got everything under control. We’re keeping you safe."

My eyes search their faces, but all I see is determination. Their resolve makes me want to scream.

“You don’t understand. You don’t know what it’s like to be on the other side, to be at the mercy of someone like Aleksey. He’ll stop at nothing.”

Liam exhales sharply, his tone gentle but firm. “We know, Clary. We’re doing everything we can. But getting to Rory now isn’t going to help him. He needs you safe, out of harm’s way.”

I grind my teeth together, a sense of helplessness settling in my stomach. “You don’t know what it’s like to feel this powerless. I can't just wait around while he’s out there risking everything for us.”

“We’re not leaving him to fend for himself,” Lucky interjects. “But right now, you need to stay put. You’re not going anywhere until we know it’s safe.”