Falling with Grace - Page 188

“I found you,mi amor.”

I choked out a heavy exhale and stepped towards him.

Andrés’s attention darted between us, his teeth bared. “You can’t leave me, Grace. I own you.” He lunged forward, his hands outstretched, and I stumbled backward into the stairs.

Bang.

“Ahhh. ¿Qué chingados?” Andrés fell to the ground, his hand gripping the back of his thigh. “You shot me,pinche pendejo. Ahh.”

Elias met him in three long strides, his boot grinding against André’s leg, sending him into a writhing fit on the ground. His screams swirled around me, my shoulders hunching to find shelter.

“Grace.” Elias held out his hand again. “You’re safe now.”

Safe?

I sucked in rapid breaths, my gaze darting between both men. My feet itched to run to him, reckless heart ached to wrap my arms around him, but a vice kept me still in my tracks, my stance unwavering.

Not safe.

“I won’t hurt you,amorcita. It’s over now.”

My dingy hand swiped the tears, blurring my vision.

“It’s over?”

He nodded. “Come to me,please.” Elias blinked, his eyes glossy.

He’s real.

He’s here.

For me.

I stepped forward, keeping a wide berth from the man writhing on the floor, my tormentor, my captor, and wrapped my hand in Elias’s outstretched palm.

“Jesus Christ, Grace.” He pulled me into him and wrapped his arm around my body as he kept the gun trained on Andrés, his foot slipping off of his body, moving us away from him.

Agony branched out with every touch, causing me to shirk away from needed kindness with a yelp.

His arm fell away from me as he gave me another once over. “I don’t even know where to touch you.

“You found me.” I wrapped my arms around him and dug my nose into his rough flak, his spicy scent chasing away the death and decay staining my senses.

“Of course I did.”

The emotional dam broke, and my shoulders shuddered against him, the tears curling beneath my chin.

“It’s going to be okay.” His hand skimmed my back as if he were afraid to touch me. “But I need you to do one thing for me.”

I glanced up and wiped at my tears, sniffling in the process.

“Don’t listen to him.” Andrés grunted. “He’s no better than I am. He’ll get tired of you and abandon you. I’ve never abandoned you.”

“Grace.” Elias cupped my good cheek with one hand. “Turn around and face him.”

My heart fizzled into a chaotic rhythm, his touch taming the venom coursing through me. “I can’t.” I shook my head and leaned into his touch.

“You must.”