Page 70 of Saving Grace

Before I could respond Tank appeared out of nowhere. I hadn’t seen him all night and suddenly here he was to clean up his boss’ mess. Roman grabbed my arm and damn near dragged me into the large one stall bathroom, shoving me inside. After, he went back to the door and opened it.

I leaned over the bathroom sink with my head down, avoiding the mirror. I’d probably cry if I got a glimpse of myself right now. Tipsy at the love of my life’s wedding anniversary.

“Make sure he’s not fucking here when I come out or I might kill him. Fuck who his uncle is.” He barked at Tank.

Soon as those words left his mouth he was on me. He tangled his fingers into my hair and snatched my head back roughly. My long locs fell out of the bun I’d taken too much time to pin them in, giving him better leverage. My scalp burned. My roots were on fire.

I gripped the sink to keep from falling backwards into him.

“Were you coming in here to fuck him?”

“No” I shook my head frantically.

“So you just like trying my patience. That was a cute performance out there. “

“Let my hair go. “I reached back and tried to pry his fingers away, when that didn’t work tried to swing to hit him, but he had me in such an awkward position I couldn’t do anything. My anger and frustration made me want to fight.

“I told you I didn’t want to be here, let me go.” He did and as soon as I spun around I slapped him.

“I’ve told you time and time again not to fucking hit me.”

“You should keep your hands to yourself then.” Gathering as much saliva in my mouth as I could, I spit in his face.

His eyes went wide. He looked as surprised by my action as I felt.

He went deathly still for a few seconds before he wiped his face with the back of his jacket

His eyes dimmed as he shook his head “You really hate me that much?”

I immediately wanted to apologize.

“I do,” I lied. I didn’t hate him. I was just so angry. Even with all he’d done, I couldn’t hate him and that pissed me off because I should.

A look of despair crossed his face.

He backed away. Rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“What do you want from me, Grace? I’ve tried. I’ve been trying to get back to where we were in the past-” His voice cut away for a moment.

“ No.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m not groveling to you. Hate me, that’s fine, but know you're stuck with me, until death do us part, you’re mine, body mind and soul. There’s no expiration date on us.” He said glaring at me.

I pursed my lips together remaining silent.

He turned to leave the bathroom just as someone knocked on the door.

“What!” He barked

“Your Grandfather wants to thank everybody for coming. He needs you out here.”

He opened the door and walked out without looking back.

I went over to the sink, washed my face, and stared into the mirror. My life was too complicated to think about without getting a headache. So, I didn’t think. I fixed my hair and dress as best as I could and left the bathroom. Just as I turned the corner back into the ballroom. Gunshots rang out. I dropped to the floor.

Atticus

Bullets were flying everywhere. People were screaming, glass shattering. Keeping low to the ground I grabbed my grandfather and pulled him to down into a crouch. I couldn’t tell where the suppressed gunshots were coming from and the bodyguards returning fire didn’t make it easier for me to figure out. Not to mention the mayhem from the people who’d remained, everybody was drunk or almost, causing even more chaos as they tried to find places to hide.

Using the panic to my advantage, I led my grandfather and Sophia who had somehow found her way to my side to the exit. I pushed them out of the door where I knew a car would be waiting for them, we’d prepared for this kind of thing.

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