Falling With Grace

“Yes, and don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

Why would I be?

Is there something to worry about?

I backed away, flashing a smile. He sighed as I darted up the steps, my clothing tight in my arms, and disappeared into the bathroom.

How is he the best mistake I’ve ever made?

I dropped the clothing and robe, stepped into the shower, and cranked the heat on full blast. Washing my hair and body, the shower water swiped away the fiery rush that swirled in my belly, begging for his touch to ease the ache.

Mint and strawberries filled the bathroom as I turned the water off, my hair dripping down my back. Before stepping out, I snagged the towel and dried my hair and body.

I pulled my rosary from my jeans and dropped my clothes and Elias’ robe down the laundry shoot. Putting my robe over my shoulders, I rushed to my room and dressed in the same thing I did every day—jeans and a t-shirt—tucking my rosary into my pocket, then braided my hair before leaving my room.

My guards, more attentive than they used to be, stood at the door.

Eduardo sneered as he glanced at me. I dipped my head, casting my sight to the floor as I walked down the steps. My stomach burned as acid climbed its way up my throat, my belly gurgling for sustenance.

The guards followed behind, their boots clomping—their rifles clicking against metal.

I rounded the corner, followed the hall, and knocked on the closed mosaic doors.

“Come in.”

Turning the doorknob, I glanced at Eduardo plus the new man I didn’t recognize and entered the office, shutting the door behind me.

“Do they have to follow me everywhere?”

He glanced up from his desk. “It’s for your safety.”

“You don’t think I’m safe in this fortress you call a home?”

He gave me ashort laugh. “It doesn’t matter if you are in the Vatican sitting next to the pope or locked in a bomb shelter with one entrance. I’ll have someone by your side, Grace.”

My skin flushed, my knees weak and a sinking warmth flowed through my veins. “That answers that.” The air in my lungs tightened.

Javier sat in the corner of the room, his feet propped up on a coffee table with a picture in his hands. “Have you ever heard of Sofia Torres?”

“Um.” I chew my inner lip. “It doesn’t ring a bell. Why?”

“I need a drink.” Javier grunted and tossed a photo onto the table before standing. He shuffled out of the room as I moved towards the coffee table.

Uniformed men in military hats stared back at me, their pictures strewn about the glossy surface.

“Have a seat.” Elias patted the seat beside him on the couch. “You said you could identify them if you saw them again? Correct?”

I nodded and sat beside him.

“Good.” He turned his body towards me and picked up a random photo. “I want you to search through these and find the men you saw with Andrés.”

I frowned, my belly cramping. “But…” I glanced at the tabletop. “There must be hundreds of pictures here.”

He raised a brow. “There’s a simpler way to go about this, so until then…” He handed me a photograph of a young man. “You better get started.”

My shoulders sagged as I sighed, his gaze heating my flesh. “But I was going to make salsa with Rosa.”