Falling With Grace

The door swung open as I shuffled towards it.

Javier’s gaze rose from the floor to my forehead and puffed out a hard, lengthy breath. “It’s not going to work, you know.”

“What?”

“He’ll see you even if you were in a clown suit.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrugged. “I wanted to be comfortable.”

He shot me a side eye and guided me through the door. “Keep telling yourself that.”

I moped down the stairs in silence, three men trailing after me as though I were the popular girl in school and turned toward the eat-in kitchen.

“I saidthe formal dining.” Javier tugged on my arm. “This way.”

We turned through the open doorway toward the long dining room table they hadn’t used since I’d been here. The vacant chairs surrounding the table lent a macabre air to the scene, as if their occupants no longer walked this earth.

“I thought you said they were waiting for me?”

He pulled out my chair as he snorted and plopped me in my seat. “No. I said he told you to come down.”

I twisted in my chair as he sat next to me. “So what was with the five-minute countdown?”

“I wasn’t going to wait for you all night.”

Rolling my eyes, I stood. “I really hate you, you know that?”

“He doesn’t care.” A large hand landed on my shoulder, his spice wafting around me. “Have a seat.”

My butt dropped into the opulent chair.

These cost more than my parent’s car—guaranteed.

Elias glided his hand across my shoulders as he approached his seat at the head of the table, taking his place beside me.

I glared at Javier, who laid his napkin across his lap.

“What are you wearing, Grace?” Elias frowned as he sat.

My skin flushed, and gooseflesh bubbled up and down my legs as his voice caressed me. “C-clothes.”

“She wanted to be comfortable.” Javier rested his arms on the table as he leaned forward.

Clicking heels moved behind me. “She certainly looks the part.” Nadia took her seat, her composure causing me to quake.

My spine straightened, and my shoulders tensed.

Rosa followed and sat beside her with Valeria’s help. “How are you feeling, mi hija?”

“Mm.” I gulped. “Could be better.”

“What’s wrong?” Elias braced his elbows on the table, his hands folded.

“Upset stomach.”

Javier shook his head. “She’s fine.”

“And you know that based on your five-minute interaction with me?”