Falling With Grace

“I-I…” The words broke on my tongue.

Maybe it would be better to have them slit my throat and be done with it. I wouldn’t have to hide or fight for food to survive. It would all just be over.

But then Jorge would have died for nothing.

“I don’t know how to prove it.”

He released my face and wiped my blood on a clean patch of my shirt. “Then you’ll die.”

“Grimaldo,qué está pasando aqui?”

A large man covered in religious tattoos walked behind us and stopped beside the desk.

“Javier…” Grimaldo walked around the desk and held his arms out in a big hug. “Nothing’s happening. What brings you here?”

“Business. But I see you’re busy.”

“Not too busy for you,cabrón.”

“Bien.”Javier pointed at me. “Who is she?”

“A nobody.” He walked up to me and tugged on my hair, moving my head around in a circle as he moved closer to my face. “Someone who thinks she’s more important than she is.”

I gritted my teeth and cried out, my hand swatting at his rough touch. “Eat shit.”

“Oh, Ximén. She’s got a filthy mouth.” He gripped my cheeks again, pressing the soft flesh of my cheek into my molars. “On second thought, how about I keep her for myself, and when you hear from Ortiz, tell him I said thanks.”

“Ortiz?” Javier stood beside me, his brows furrowing.

Grimaldo released me, his hand sliding between my breasts, and stopped at my brace around my chest.

“She’s one of Andrés’ whores,” Jesús said. “We found her at the church where Victor was said to be hiding out.”

“So you searched for Victor and found Andrés’ whore instead?” Javier moved closer, his intense gaze scrutinizing my frame. “What are the chances of that?”

“I ran away from him.”

“You expect me to believe you were able to escape him?”

“No.” I shook my head. “But it’s true.”

“Prove it.”

“I’ve asked…” Grimaldo shook his head as he placed a hand on Javier’s shoulder. “She can’t.”

“No one gets away from Andrés.”

“Exceptme. And I’m the only one that survived.” I turned towards Javier, moving far enough away from Grimaldo so he couldn’t grab me again—tears pooled in my eyes. “It was me and a group of nine.”

Javier tucked his hand in his pocket. “And what happened to them?”

I swallowed a lump blooming in my throat. “They died. Miguel and his men killed them.” I turned toward Grimaldo and raised my voice. “While trying to captureme.”

Javier wagged his finger up and down. “Wait right here.”

Grimaldo’s mouth gaped open as Javier stepped out of the room, the phone to his ear.

“Eres una perra estúpida.You should have prayed for death.”