Falling With Grace

Don’t look at her.

I shook my head and moved the discarded photograph to the correct pile.

Big brown eyes stared back at me out of the sea of many crowding the table. A scar ran down his cheek, carving across his dimpled chin. His bushy brows had hair flying in various directions.

“General.” Andrés walks forward with his hand on a man’s shoulder. “She will give you anything you desire. Only the best for you.”

Someone touched my shoulder, and I jumped. “Did you hear me?”

“Huh?” I glanced up at Elias standing over me, his jaw clenching.

“I’ll be right back. Keep looking.”

I swallowed the hard lump in my throat, my stomach churning. “Okay.”

The space between his brows crinkled as he bent over, Nadia waiting at the door. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I’ve got this.”

“Okay. Eduardo and Rodrigo are just outside if you need something.” He stepped away, his spicy cologne dragging along behind him.

Nadia stumbled as they exited. “You’re leaving her in the office by herself?”

“You wantedto look at stationery. So, let’s go.”

“I’m never allowed in your office alone…” Their voices trailed away as the door shut behind them.

A breath whooshed from my lungs as I glanced around the office, the walls closing in. Tears burned my eyes. I leaned against the edge of the couch and drew my knees to my chest, my chin trembling as I paced my breathing.

Glancing back at the photo of the General, I picked it up, burying half my face in my arm draped across my knees.

“Thank you, Andrés, but I prefer something with a little more…” He points to Jorge standing against the wall. “Fight in them.”

Nausea rolled in my belly, and my ears rang.

Gulping, I dropped the picture onto the left side of the table and sifted through the remaining images in silence, adding three more before my neck cramped and the pile emptied, my breaths ragged.

I raised my arms above my head and stretched—the muscles straining against the taut sinew, my eyes rimmed with unshed tears.

I can’t stay in here.

He left me to deal with my demons alone.

Why hasn’t he returned yet? It’s been over an hour.

My belly grumbled as I swiped away the jealousy and stood, walking to the doors. Two black-framed bodies darkened the stained glass.

I opened the door, keeping my eyes on the floor. I shut it behind me before walking between the brutish men, their rifles ever-present across their bodies.

Did they ever part with them?

His men followed behind like a loyal Golden Retriever.

Elias’ and Nadia’s hushed voices sputtered from the study.

“It’s too much, Elias.” Her breathless diction had heat blooming in my cheeks as I spun on the balls of my feet in the opposite direction.

My arm wretched across my stomach, nausea burning the back of my throat as I made my way towards the staircase, brushing through the security pair once again.