Falling with Grace - Page 167

He grabbed my upper arm and turned me around. “I can promise you they’ll die if you don’t tell me.”

Metallic blood tinged the tip of my tongue.

I’ve done my best.

What option did I have?

He’s right.

Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

His hand slipped off my arm as I rubbed my eyes and stumbled away. I grabbed the rosary from my pocket, the pad of my thumb rubbing the smooth, rounded beads as they clinked together.

My shoulders tensed, my fist clenching around the necklace.

Dammit, Andrés.

Why can’t you let me go?

I paced, arestless need shot through my system, setting my legs on fire as I moved through the patio, the scent of food hitting me like a wall.

My stomach growled, then overturned with nausea.

I can’t eat.

“Relax, Grace.”

“I can’t.” I shook my head. “There are too many options, so many variables. I-I…” My throat tightened, and I grabbed it as though the words choked me.

“Breathe.” He reached me in quick strides, his arms pulling me into him. “Just breathe.”

How could I? I didn’t have the right.

I’d spent my time in luxury while Rachel endured God knows what, knowing that the only person in the world she had left was dead.

A fire ripped through my chest, heat flaming my cheeks, my fists tight against Elias’ chest. The rosary dripped down my wrist, tapping against the thin skin.

“I need a map.”

“You’re making the right choice.”

I shrugged off his hold, a bug of disgust rippling through me. “I’m not doing this for you or your revenge. This is for Rachel and the others left behind.”

This is the right decision.

Javier walked out onto the patio with a large, rolled paper and a red marker. He handed it to Elias, who then unrolled it on the coffee table.

I snagged the marker from his hands, uncapped it, and foundPiedras Negras.

My finger trailed the Rio Grande, running along the Mexico/United States border until I stopped at the little valley I’d been found in.

“We were caught here.” I tapped on the large light blue and green map. “We traveled for a few days before that, heading north.” I ran my finger south, tracing our estimated route. “You’ll find a large white plaster compound with barbed wire on the top. There is one official entrance and exit, but a secondary exit leads out to the back alleyway.”

I circled the nondescript location on the map, capped the marker, and dropped it on the paper.

I’m going to be sick.

Sitting back in my seat, I swiped my hand across my wet cheeks, then crossed my arms over my belly, hunching over.