Falling With Grace

It swung open on cue, allowing me to pass through.

Grace nestled her pained face into my arm as though hiding from anyone who could witness her embarrassment. Moving down the hall and into the bathroom, I slammed the door behind me and placed her into the tub.

Blood smeared my shirt sleeve and abdomen, the sharp contrast blaring in the artificial light.

“Oh my God.”

I suppressed a laugh, a small smile tugging at my lips. “It’s fine. I have hundreds of these.”

Stripping, I dropped my shirt onto the floor, then pulled my suit jacket from her legs and started the water, her tear-logged eyes boring a hole into my chest.

Why did she look more broken and vulnerable than when I nearly drowned her in a barrel of water?

“Come on.” I motioned towards her. “Take off your pants.”

Grace shook her head, her chest heaving, her lips pressed tight as I fiddled with her button. “I don’t want you… to see me—”

A prolonged moan resonated over the pouring water as she curled into a ball, my fingers trapped between her soft skin and waistband. Her breaths turned labored and rapid.

“You’re not going to pass out again, are you?”

“I hope not.” She shook her head with a deep inhale. “I’ve never done that before.”

“Are your periods normally this bad?”

The water beneath her tinged in pink and swirled down the drain as I maneuvered around her button, undoing the metal clasp.

“I haven’t had a period since he implanted the birth control.” Her chin trembled as her eyes glazed over. “We were supposed to have our birth control replaced the day before we escaped.” She pointed to a small cut on her arm. “But something came up.”

“So it’s worn off?”

She shrugged. “It’s the only thing I can think of.”

“You’re not pregnant?”

A wave of sickness hit my solar plexus.

“He tested us often. There’s no chance.”

I stood with a weight off my chest and cracked the door. “Antonio. Make yourself useful and bring me painkillers…” I paused as Nadia’s face peered between my men. “And get Valeria to clean up.”

“What’s going on in here?” Nadia stepped between Edwardo and Antonio.

“Leave, Nadia.”

“Is she okay? Why is your shirt off?”

I flicked my gaze to Eduardo and tipped my head. He sprang into action, positioning his arm in front of Nadia and guiding her away from the door. “Seriously, Elias?” I closed the door in her face.

“Can you stand?”

“I… I think so.”

I steadied myself against the edge of the tub, then stooped down and assisted her to her feet.

Grace moaned, chewingon her bottom lip as she leaned against the shower wall. “I’m sorry.”

“Hold on to the bar while I take these off.” She wrapped her small hand around the soap shelf’s edge as I tugged her soaked jeans and underwear down her slender thighs. “And what for?”