Page 101 of Holding Grace

Chapter 36

Michael

Seconds after the words were out of Seth’s mouth, the two guys who’d been sitting at the bar were standing at our table. They’d discreetly flashed badges, herded the three of us into a nearby room that housed a couple pool tables and dart boards, and closed the door behind us.

They’d asked Grace and me to wait near the door, while they drew Seth off to the side. He’d followed along with them, seeming too surprised to protest.

Grace had looked up at me, her eyes devastated. I’d pulled her close, wrapped her up in my arms, rested my cheek against her silky hair, and told her everything was going to be okay.

Detective Chase had joined us a minute or two later and informed us that the booth we’d been sitting in was wired with a listening device. The police had listened in and recorded everything that had been said, both for our safety and for potential future prosecution in the event any illegal activity was discussed.

They’d hit the jackpot on that front.

As the other officers walked Seth back over to us, Detective Chase had asked to speak to Grace alone. I didn’t love the idea, but she’d gone without protest, so I’d settled for keeping a close eye on her. I trusted Detective Chase with her, but not touching her when we’d both just been hit with something that seemed a lot more like a scene out of a crime novel than real life had been tough.

As I’d watched her, I’d registered one of the other officers leaving, then stiffened, wary, when Seth had sidled up next to me a few seconds later. The remaining officer had shifted closer, as well, his attention clearly on us although Seth hadn’t seemed to notice.

I thought back to my brief exchange with Seth.

“Must suck,” he muttered.

I kept my attention pinned to Grace, not bothering to respond. Grace was my only priority in this situation. I needed her to be okay.

“Knowing I had her first, I mean,” he went on, his voice brimming with bravado and smug satisfaction. “Knowing she spread her legs for me long before she ever did for you.”

I felt the nearby officer’s alertness ratchet up as I shifted.

He didn’t need to worry. As much as I would have liked to slam Seth against the wall, wrap one hand around his throat and slowly, painfully choke the life out of him while he panicked and fought against my hold, he’d risked himself to help us, to help Grace.

For that one act, and that act alone, I’d let him live. But I couldn’t let his comment stand.

Eyes still on Grace, not doing him the respect of turning my head even a fraction of an inch to look at him, I let him know how things stood.

“I’m going to make a recommendation that I strongly suggest you take,” I told him, keeping my voice low. “Once this is over, forget you ever knew Grace. Wipe her memory from your mind entirely. Because if you don’t – and I find out - I’ll do it for you. And I promise you that you won’t like how I do it.”

Then I did look at him, letting him read on my face all the ways I’d love to fuck him up if he so much as thought about Grace in the future.

He swallowed and wisely shifted away. The nearby officer glanced down at the ground, fighting a grin, and I realized he’d overheard.

Overheard and apparently had no problem with what I’d said.

I swung my focus back to Grace and kept it there.

I glanced over at her now as I drove us home. She’d barely said a word since Seth had dropped his bombshell, even when Detective Chase had talked to her.

I had my arm across the center console, hand resting on her thigh. She was letting me touch her, but she seemed disconnected, staring silently out the passenger window.

I debated but left her to her thoughts...for now. So much had happened in such a short time, and now this. We both needed time to process.

She didn’t say a single word as I followed her up the stairs to our floor. She let me hold her hand as we walked down the hall but didn’t give it a little squeeze like she normally did or even look at me.

I waited until we were in our apartment, Grace standing at the sink, doing nothing, looking utterly lost.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Talk to me, Grace,” I said, as gently as I could manage as worry swirled in the pit of my stomach. “Tell me what’s going on in your head.”

---