Falling with Grace - Page 174

I nudged him as I leaned over, my lips against his cheek, his soft black hair flat over his forehead, the stress of responsibilities and air of danger nonexistent as he slept. “Wake up.”

“Hmm.”

“The sun is coming up.” I brushed the small bit of hair off his forehead, his arm snaking around me. “And I need to pee.” I pushed against him with a hushed chuckle, his arm falling away.

“Hurry back.”

His eyes remained closed, his voice groggy as he draped his other arm over his face, blocking the light. I dressed in my wrinkled shirt and then shuffled inside.

I dipped into the hall bathroom, my bladder nearly exploding by the time I relieved myself. Cleaning the cum from between my legs, I washed my hands and fixed my wild hair in the mirror before turning off the light and stepping out.

A profound silence permeated the sleeping home, casting an eerie spell over the vacant space.

Birds began their morning song, the crickets quieting in the distance.

An unmistakable thump echoed through the stillness, snapping me out of my admiration for the feathered creatures.

My gaze darted to the right, a gnawing sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach as a bone-chilling shiver slithered down my bare legs.

Someone gave a pained grunt, followed by another thump and a whimpered exhale.

What is that?

Chills settled over my skin as I walked back through the open French doors on the patio.

“Did you—”

My stomach lurched.

My feet froze in place.

The words on my tongue were heavy and sticky.

Two men dressed in black t-shirts and blue jeans stood on the patio, one above Elias with a baton raised, the other walking down the side of the pool with a silver-tipped gun in his hands.

My heart leaped into my throat, my breath ripped from my lungs. “Eli—”

A gloved hand clamped down on my mouth, an arm snaked around my waist, lifting me off the ground, my feet kicking into the air, my muffled scream dampened as the baton came down, striking Elias in the chest.

He jolted with a pained grunt, his hand clutching his chest as he rolled off the lounge chair.

I kicked and screamed, my limbs as useless as Jell-o as the man at my back slid his hand from my waist and into my hair.

The world whooshed to the side in a blur.

Bang.

Stars shot across my vision as my head collided with the wall. Shards of agony spread like a wild virus over my temple and face. Blackness dotted the edges of my vision, the hall blurring.

Bang.

A new wave cracked my skull, my knees buckling beneath me. The cool marble split my cheek, my teeth jarred together, and the sun hid behind the shroud of darkness coating my vision.

39

Elias

“Eli—”