Falling With Grace

“She won’t be there. If that’s what you’re worried about.”

I shook my head. “Who?”

“Nadia.”

Tension crackled between us as our gazes locked. Fire prickled up my spine, neck, and cheeks. I breathed through my nose, his scent engulfing me, my sore rib twinging.

So hedoesknow why I’m hiding…

“I don’t…”

“She’ll be here this afternoon. You can play hide and seek then if you wish.” His winking smile broadened. “But hiding is for those who feel guilty.” He seized my wrists, hauling me to my feet, my stomach lingering on the floor. His smile evaporated. “Do you feel guilty, Grace?”

The morning sunlight cast his features in a gentle glow, accentuating the furrow between his brows. I shook my head, our bodies pressed together, a liquid rush coursing between my legs.

“I didn’t hear you.”

“N-no.”

His grip tightened around my wrists, and I suppressed the wince threatening to escape, the air between us congealing into a frozen capsule of time.

My heart thundered in my ears, the thready pulse matching the tempo of my shallow breaths. His grip magnified the blood rushing through my veins.

Elias released my wrists in a slow, deliberate motion as though choreographed.

“Rosa is awaiting you in the conservatory. She’s got some tasks in the garden that need attention.” He stepped away, and a violent, soul-wrenching tug went with him. He spun on his heel. “Don’t slip your guard again.” Leaving my room, he left the door wide open in his wake, the guard on the right glancingin.

I expelled the warmth from my cheeks, my lungs inhaling full pockets of air as if he had throttled the supply with his mere presence.

Straightening out my wrinkle-free navy shirt, I sauntered out of my room, casting a brief glance at my new guards.

Two men lounged beside the door frame, positioned across from each other, rifle straps slung across their shoulders.

The man on my right bore a scar down his chin and crossed his throat. His eyes were dark pools of agitation. The younger man to my left rose his bushy brows, his jawline sharp, and bristles of a fresh mustache shadowed his upper lip.

My gaze dropped to the floor, my chin dipping to my chest as I descended the stairs. The muffled thud of my footsteps formed a discordant symphony with the heavy clomp of boots echoing behind me.

Rosa lounged at the elongated wooden table, the harsh sun streaming in from the conservatory’s glass walls and ceiling, casting her puzzle pieces into stark relief without a hint of shadows.

“Good morning, Rosa. You’re looking ready to go this morning.”

I sat in my seat beside her.

“And you look exhausted,mi hija.Have you slept at all?”

Carlita, the staff on duty today, stepped into the room, poured me a cup of coffee, and then walked away as if someone had summoned her without a word.

“It was a never-ending night.” I lifted my coffee and savored a warm sip, allowing the robust aroma to dance on my tongue. “Elias mentioned you had plans for the garden today?”

Rosa nodded, fitting a puzzle piece into its designated spot. “There’s weeding to be done and the final harvest to gather.”

“I can handle that right away.”

“Not just you,mi hija. I prefer things done a certain way, so I’ll guide you through it.”

I nodded. Any task that would keep me clear of Elias and Nadia today was a task worth undertaking. Even if it meant breaking my back in the process. “Then tomorrow we’re making salsa?”

“Sounds right.” She clapped her hands, then stood.