Falling With Grace

“Nothing that concerns you.”

She withdrew her legs and pulled them beneath her. Kneeling beside me, she pulled my face in her hands, forcing me to break eye contact with the anomaly outside.

“When are you going to let me in?” Her finger tapped my temple.

I swiped at her hand and dipped my head to the side. “It’s better if it stays in there.”

She sighed and ran her hand down my jaw. “So, do you want to go to the dinner with me?”

My brow rose, her change of topic giving me whiplash. “I’ll consider it.”

“It’s for a good cause.” She shrugged one shoulder, her voice raising on a slight lilt.

I withdrew her hand from my cheek and stood. “I have a lot going on. I said I’ll consider it.”

“Okay. I’ll let Pasha know I’ll need a plus one.” She stood beside me and sighed. “I’m going to go home and shower unless…you want me to stay?” Her voice lowered into a soft lull, which she used too often when she asked a question for which she wanted a ‘yes’.

“Not today. I have meetings the rest of the day.”

Javier jerked his head up and checked his watch, then glanced at me with a scrunched expression.

Nadia wasn’t one to pout, but the disappointment in her big brown eyes did it for her.

“Sorry. Maybe tomorrow.” Ipulled her against me and kissed her. My lips closed tight as she moaned.

“What was that for?”

“It’s your goodbye kiss.” I walked away as Javier snickered, my shoes clicking on the marble, then sluffing in the grass as I marched their way.

“Mamá, what are you doing?”

“Elias.” Her smile broadened across her lips. “I was just showing Grace my garden and picking vegetables for the salsa and Pozole.”

Manuel turned and faced me with wide eyes as I leaned into him. “You’re a dead man, Manuel. A dead man. I’ll give you a headstart, though.” I gave a small nod.

His hand shook as he lifted the weapon strap over his head, laid it at my feet, and took off running towards the gate.

“Cover your ears, Mamá.”

I pulled my pistol from my waistband, took aim, and fired.

Manuel fell to the ground like Grace’s smile. Her face blanched, her hands fumbling at her waist as she caressed her pocket.

I narrowed my gaze at her.

Did she get a weapon while Mamá cleaned her up?

“Why did you have to do that?” Mamá removed her hands from her ears, a frown creasing her forehead.

I stared at Grace’s long braided hair—a chocolate color now that it was clean, compared to the greasy, dull ends in the dim light.

She had a faint scar on her left cheek, and her eyes were a vibrant green that would rival blades of grass on a rainy day.

The bruises across her face settled into a yellow-green, and the cuts from her fall were nearly healed up.

“He put us at risk.”

“Ack.” She waved me off with a brush of her hand. “You won’t have any soldiers left if you keep up at this rate.”