Falling With Grace

The man walked backward, distancing himself from my bloody face.

“She belongs to Andrés,” Ximén said, his distinct tone like a burr under my skin.

“And you know this how?”

His hand tugged at my hair, wrenching my head back.

“Ahh.”I swatted at him as he exposed my brand at the back of my ear.

“A.O. Andrés Ortiz.”

“And what do you want me to do with her?”

“Ransom.”

“Ransom?”

“Yes.”

“You want me to ransom ourjefe’ssworn enemy…” He shook his head with sarcastic laughter. “How well do you think that will go over?”

Ximén released my hair, and my face jerked downward, inches from smashing into the floor.

“And what makes you think he wants her back? Maybe he discarded her. Are these questions you’ve asked yourself before bringing trouble to my doorstep?”

“Andrés doesn’t let his women go. He buries them… in pieces.”

A slight gasp escaped my lips, my forearm and hand flat on the cool tile, the only thing keeping me from being splayed out on the floor.

“Even worse. So he’ll be looking for her, and you brought her here.”

My stomach tilted and swirled as he ran his finger across his jawline.

“Slit her throat and toss her behind a building.”

Ximén growled his displeasure and yanked me up to my feet once again.

“I just want to go home.” Ximén tugged me out of the door. “Please, just let me go home.”

“Shut up.” Ximén jerked me to the side.

I need more time.

The rosary in my pocket burned.

I just need more time.

“Imagine what Andrés will do to you once he finds out you killed his favorite girl.”

“Stop.” The man stood from his seat, his fingertips braced against his desk. “Bring her back.”

My direction changed with a whirl. Blood dripped from my chin onto my shirt as he dragged me back to the man with black hair hanging down to his shoulders.

“And why should I believe you?”

I craned my neck to glance at him. “Because he sent Miguel to retrieve me.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Miguel is nothing but a lap dog. You’ll have to do better than that.” He grabbed my slick chin and dug his fingers into my cheeks. He jerked my head side-to-side as he examined me.