Page 16 of Saving Grace

“Fuck!” Matt cursed under his breath. “Goddammit, woman!”

“Go!” Colt yelled, pointing his gun at Grace’s abductors. “Somebody call 911.”

Matt tore down the aisle and shouldered through the door where Grace exited. It opened to an alley behind the convenience store. He spotted her picking herself off the ground beside a dumpster. She must have fallen.

“Grace!”

“Stay the hell away from me,” she screamed.

“Grace! What is wrong with you?”

She limped forward to put distance between them. It was a pathetic attempt as she stumbled again. Rolling on her ass, she scuttled away from him. Matt was confused at the expression on her face.

Fear.

He approached cautiously.

“Grace, I’m here to help you,” he intoned in a steady voice. “You can’t still be mad at me. Nothing matters anymore except your safety.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mister.” Her voice was hoarse. “Just stay away from me.”

Mister?

The light in the alley was poor at best but the dark patch on her jeans that had soaked through a bandage alarmed him. Maybe she was delirious from blood loss?

“Look, you’re injured and clearly not yourself.”

“What do you guys want from me?” she screamed.

“Babe …”

“I know nothing!” she sobbed. “I don’t remember a thing, do you understand? I know nothing!”

Fuck.What does she mean?

He studied her. Her hair was matted against her face. Streaks of dried blood and grime lined her face. Her right eye and cheekbone were swollen and yet she was unmistakably Grace. He would know those bow-shaped lips anywhere.

She got up shakily once again, swaying

Matt reached out to steady her, but she jerked away from his touch.

She laughed, almost on the verge of hysteria. “I know my name because I saw my face on my driver’s license. Other than that, there isn’t a thing you can get from me.” She looked at him pleadingly. “So please, just let me go,” she whispered.

“I can’t let you go, babe,” Matt replied softly.

Her eyes closed, her face scrunching in defeat and shoulders slumping. “I’m so tired. So … so freaking tired.”

And with those words, she crumbled at his feet.

*****

Matt closed the door to the condo’s guest bedroom and leaned against it. He was feeling a mixture of overwhelming relief and sudden weariness. It was as if he’d been jacked on adrenalin for so long and was just now experiencing a definitive crash. He slid to the floor and buried his head in his hands.

Christ. What a day and the questions were only beginning.

“Scotch?” Colt asked.

Matt glanced up and accepted the proffered drink.