Falling with Grace - Page 185

“Innocent?” A contemptuous chuckle rang out between her chattering teeth. “She got eight people killed with her ridiculous escape plan. She’s not innocent.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.She didn’t have the means to protect them, but at least she tried. Which is more than I can say for you.”

She winced, her breaths heavy as she grunted. “He’ll never let her go.”

“He won’t have a choice.”

“She’s his favorite, you know.” She clenched her teeth, her voice strained. “But she betrayed him by sleeping with you. You’ll be lucky if she’s still breathing by the time you get there.”

My stomach lurched. “Then he’ll pay for that too.”

“Killing him won’t make your pa come back.”

“No, but it will make me feel better.”

Javier dipped his head into the office, his phone to his ear, and gave me a slight nod.

Raising my pistol, I pressed it to her forehead. “For what it’s worth, a small piece of me felt for you.”

“No. No. No. Wai—”

Bang.

42

Grace

The door screeched open on rusty hinges, the high-pitched whine grating on raw nerves.

Silver-pointed, black cowboy boots blocked the light seeping through, Miguel’s long legs breaking the beam.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it here sooner. Andrés has been especially on edge these last few days.” He kneeled beside me, the rotting corpses adding an extraordinary stench to the air. “I tried to warn you,cariño.”

I blinked one eye, the other swollen shut, and groaned, the slightest motion causing liquid fire to burst from my neural pathways—every square inch of my body buzzed with agony. Dried chipping blood covered my forehead and upper lip, my swollen cheek pulsating and stiff.

“What were you thinking?” He peeled away a rigid strand of hair from my good eye as he hovered above me. “I gave you the chance at freedom, but you squandered it.”

A huff escaped my cut lips. “I didn’t…have a…c-choice.” I pulled my arms across my belly. “His men caught me.”

“You must have talked. How else would Elias know you were so valuable?”

I lifted my heavy, battered arm and tapped the branding tattoo behind my ear.

He nodded, his hands dangling between his legs as he squatted beside me and sighed, a water bottle clenched in one hand. “I see them so often, evenIforget they’re there.”

“Must…be…nice.”

He shook his head, a frown of disgust creasing his face. “I didn’t want this for you.” He opened the water bottle, the plastic crinkling in his grip as he tipped it.

The cool liquid trickled down the seam of my lips. I parted them, allowing the water to dribble in, taking small, measured swallows that soothed my parched throat. Each drop was a welcome reprieve from Andrés’ prolonged torture.

“That’s it.” Hecupped my good cheek, supporting my head as I lifted it. “Drink up. I’ll try to bring you some food later.”

Water slipped down my airway, and I coughed, my chest an infernal nook of suffering.

“Careful.” He glanced out the opened door. “I’m not supposed to be giving you this.”

I swiped the water away. “Then just let me die.”