Falling With Grace

Watching her fight for life when she could easily sink to the bottom and end it all is mesmerizing.

I kicked the barrel, causing the frigid water to slosh around her flared nostrils, her lips puckering tighter against her salvation.

Overflow spilled out through the hole on the side of the barrel, splashing my shined shoes as it kept the water level just below the grate, allowing her to breathe.

Javier stepped up beside me and crossed his arms over his chest. “How long do you think she can last?”

I shrugged my shoulders and tipped my head to the side. “I give her ten more minutes. The water gets colder the longer it runs.”

“Not today. The freezer went out yesterday. She’s getting lukewarm now, at best, water.”

I ground my teeth, then pushed a breath through my nose. “Then make it an hour. She’ll tire of keeping her lips tipped to the sky. You?” My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I reached for it. “How long do you think she’ll last?”

“She’s Andrés’ girl.”

I scowled.

“She has to be resilient to survive that. I’ll give her a few more hours.”

I cocked my head to the side, and glared at my phone, then pocketed it again, silencing the ringer.

“Nadia?”

I nodded, then kicked thebarrel again. “Mhmm.”

The girl hit the inside of the barrel as she startled, her features in a perpetual state of panic.

Javier leaned over her and gave a small wave and smile. “I might have to lower my prediction.”

A chuckle bubbled up from my chest, then died when my phone chimed again.

Nadia.

“She’s persistent these days.”

I raised my brow and cast him a dirty look. “Whenhasn’tshe been?”

From the moment she attached herself to my hip, it was as though I’d entered into a high school love affair.

“It’s been three years of her acting like a lapdog. Are you sure you want to marry her?”

I shrugged and scrunched my nose as I inhaled stale dust.

Javier crossed his arms and chuckled. “Is that why you haven’t attended charity events since?”

I toed the barrel again just before one of my men took a bat to it.

The solid thunk rang out through the rafters, and her whimpered cries escaped her confinement, sending a niggling in the back of my mind.

“I’m afraid someone else will come around and try to be the next Mrs. Elias Hernández.”

“El Jefe… afraid? Never,” he said, sarcasm dripping with his tone.

He laughed again, and I tucked my hands in my pocket.

“You may be my best friend, but I won’t hesitate to sic her on you.”

My phone rang again, and I answered it in a huff.”¿Qué tal?”