Falling With Grace

I rolled my lips, controlling my smile.

“Do you know where they’re going?”

Rosa shot a glance in my direction and pointed at the bucket. “Can I have that, please?”

Handing her the bucket, I stole a swift look toward the vacant French doors.

Elias, walk through those doors and handle this.

The doors stood empty, and I released my breath, returning to my task.

“Come help us, Nadia.”

I raised my brows as Rosa invited her into my space.

No.

Please say no.

“I’d love to help, but I just got a fresh manicure and can’t let all that money go to waste. Plus, I have a girls’ night planned, and I can’t show up dirty.” She examined her nails after flipping her hand. “Make sure to let him know his behavior is unacceptable when he returns, okay?”

Rosa nodded, dismissing her with a casual wave of her hand. “Sure. Sure.”

Nadia stormed off, her ankles just as unsteady as before.

Wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my wrist, I tossed the last of the weeds into the bucket.

“Did you know these seeds belonged tomi abuelita?”

“Is that right?” I offered Rosa a sympathetic smile. “I’d love to hear more about her.”

24

Grace

“They knew we were coming, Javier.” The door slammed behind a cacophony of boots and items tossed to the side as I closed Rosa’s gardening picture book and slid off the couch.

“Does that matter now?”

Eduardo and Ramirez glanced at each other as they leaned against the far wall.

The men they’d replaced followed me all day long like two toddlers holding weapons.

“Rafael, give me some gauze, would you? And grab some towels, too.”

I walked around the corner. My jaw fell, and a queasiness stirred my belly as I rushed toward him. “What’s going on…what happened?”

Elias leaned against the wall, one hand at his side, coated in a crimson liquid that dripped onto the floor. A gash sliced through his brow, the blood streaming down his cheek and throat.

“Elias?” I gasped, my hands flying over my mouth as our gazes connected.

He was hurt.

“I’m fine.” He slapped Javier’s arm off him as he stumbled towards me. “I just need to get some sleep.”

“You are not fine.” I dropped my hands and followed him with my eyes as he stalked past me and down the hall, leaving a scarlet trail splattering across the marble.

“Jefe.”Javier’s glare seared into me as he rushed after him.