Chapter 21 Grace
GRACE
“Good morning, my gorgeous daughter.” My mother comes into my room with a plate of breakfast and a glass of juice for me.
“Mum, what time is it?” I groggily rub my eyes.
I can’t begrudge her, she’s been through hell and back with her daughters and the fact that I’m back must be a huge relief for her.
“Thanks, Mum,” I say, digging into Vegemite on toast. Oh, how I’ve missed you.
“The girls asked me not to say anything, but I need to know, sweetheart. You’re okay, aren’t you? They didn’t hurt you this time?” she asks cautiously.
Reaching out, I grab her hand in mine and give it a small squeeze. “No, Mum, they didn’t hurt me. They looked after me this time.”
Her shoulders roll back, and a heavy sigh falls from her lips. “I’m sorry I asked, but I needed to know,” she confesses, giving my hand a squeeze.
“I’m a lot stronger this time,” I reassure her.
“I can see that, sweetheart, you’ve changed.”
“I promise this time things are going to be different,” I reassure her.
“You did nothing wrong last time. Whatever you needed to do to come back to us I’m glad you did it,” she says, giving my hand another squeeze. “Enrique has arrived to have a chat. Whenever you are ready, there is no hurry, he’s waiting for you.”
“Thanks, Mum,” I say, waving the toast in the air as she closes the door behind her. I’m not looking forward to Enrique’s questions.
After a long ass shower, I spend even longer putting on makeup. There’s a knock at my door, and I head over and open it; it’s Sophie. I knew she wouldn’t let it go, it’s not in her nature. This will be good practice before Enrique’s interrogation.
“Thought we could walk together,” she says brightly.
“It’s just down a corridor, Soph. I think I can manage.”
Sophie is a little taken aback by my attitude but recovers quickly. “Fine, can we talk then?”
“Fine,” I say, rolling my eyes as I let her into my room.
“You look good, well rested.”
“Were you expecting me to be a mess?” I ask, taking a seat back on my bed.
“Honestly, yeah. You were when you came back the first time. Now your eyes are clear, your skin has regained its color, and you seem stronger and happier. It’s strange.”
“It’s strange that I’m stronger?”
Sophie shakes her head. “It’s strange that you were kidnapped and now come back like you’ve been away in rehab for the past couple of months.”
“Maybe because I have,” I bite back.
“Where the hell were you? This is strange, Grace, you have to give me that.”
“Fine, you’re right. They helped me get off the drugs that I had become addicted to. They fed me good food, they didn’t beat me, they didn’t touch me, but I was still a prisoner even if the cell was a hell of a lot nicer,” I explain to her.
“I’m worried because I love you,” Sophie says.
“I know. You all do. It’s just a lot after being away for so long and coming back into a world I don’t feel like I know anymore.”
“You feel like you don’t know us anymore?” my sister questions me.
I shake my head. “It’s not like that. I can feel I’ve changed, and I think everyone expects me to be the old Grace I was before I left. But I shed that skin months ago,” I try to explain to her.
“If I’m honest, this new Grace seems a little kickass.” Sophie chuckles as she nudges my shoulder.
This makes me smile. “I feel confident. Not as scared as I once was. They taught me how to shoot, so I could protect myself.”
Sophie’s brows raise as I give her a small tidbit of my time away.
“Who the hell took you?”
I shake my head again. “I can’t tell you, I’m sorry.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Sophie’s eyes narrow on me.
“Won’t.”
“Grace, come on. The people who kidnapped you are bad fucking people. You don’t have to protect them. You can’t be that na?ve,” she says, jumping off the bed.
I knew they wouldn’t understand. “I’m na?ve now when seconds ago you told me I was strong. So what is it, Soph?” I question my sister as I fold my arms in front of me.
“This isn’t normal. What did they do to you? Did they brainwash you?”
“What the hell is all this yelling?” Zoe asks, stepping into the room.
“Have you spoken to her? She’s lost her mind,” Sophie says to Zoe.
Zoe looks between the two of us with a frown on her face. “I don’t think you should be judging her on how she handled herself while being kidnapped.”
“Are you saying because I haven’t been kidnapped, I don’t understand?” Sophie asks Zoe, raising her voice.
“Well, have you?” Zoe asks, crossing her arms in front of her.
“I’ve seen shit. Don’t forget I’ve worked in war zones most of my career. Things have happened to me that I haven’t shared with the family because I never wanted you all to worry,” Sophie yells at the two of us.
“Then maybe you should understand better,” Zoe bites back.
“You don’t think this is strange, Zo? Grace has been kidnapped and comes back looking like she’s been on a health retreat. Sign me up to those kidnappers,” Sophie jokes angrily.
“Fuck you, Soph. You have no idea the shit I went through. I’m so thankful that the people who stole me this time were compassionate human beings who didn’t see me as a piece of property that could be used and abused.
I’m so thankful that these dark angels saved and protected me from the devil. They are not the enemy, Sophie.”
My sister’s eyes widen. “You have Stockholm Syndrome, don’t you. You have fallen for your kidnappers, that’s why you’re protecting them.”
My chest tightens as my heart quickens at how close Sophie is getting to the story. “This isn’t a movie, Sophie. This is real life,” I say, trying to shrug off her line of questions.
“Then tell us. Tell Enrique who they are so they can go to jail,” She spits.
I shake my head. “They are on our side. As soon as Dmitri made a move to come get me, they sent me home.”
Sophie frowns. “None of this makes sense.”
“It does to me.”
“That’s because you have all the information, and we have the breadcrumbs you’re willing to share with us,” Sophie grumbles.
“Leave it now, Soph. Grace is back, unharmed, that is what we should be talking about,” Zoe adds.
“Maybe you can talk some sense into her.” Sophie huffs as she throws her hands up in the air and storms out of the room.
“That was intense,” Zoe says, turning and looking at me. “Are you okay?”
Reaching out, I pull her into a hug. “Thank you for sticking up for me.”
“Sophie has no right to come in here and question you like she was. I get that she doesn’t understand how you’ve come back better than you were when you left.
It is out of the blue, but I trust you know what you’re doing.
That whatever happened while you were away wasn’t as bad as we all think it was.
That whoever held you treated you well.”
“They did. They could have given me to Dmitri, but they didn’t They hid me away from him. And as soon as Dmitri came calling for me, they sent me home. They saved me, Zoe. They aren’t the enemy here.”
Zoe lets out a heavy sigh. “You know we came to Pisa to grab you when you called, and you weren’t there.”
I nod in understanding.
“Did they hurt you when you ran?”
I shake my head. “They were upset, but no. They taught me how to shoot instead.”
Zoe frowns at my words. “You formed a close bond with these people.”
Biting my lip, I contemplate if I should tell her or not. “Yes. I did.”
“Was it more than friendship?”
I still at her question and the color begins to drain from my face.
“I’m not going to judge you, Grace. Look at what happened to me. Mateo and Tomas rescued me, and I fell in love with them. So, I get it.”
Tears begin to well in my eyes, and Zoe pulls me into her side.
“You fell in love, didn’t you? Oh, Gracie, I’m sorry,” she says, hugging me tightly.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen.” I sob on her shoulder.
“I get it. I truly do,” she says, hugging me tightly. “We will sort it out. Whoever the people are we will sort it out.”
“It was one person.” I sniffle, pulling away from her. “Please don’t tell the others, they wouldn’t understand.”
“I promise, Grace, this is between you and me. But you’re going to need to have your game face on when you go outside. Everyone is waiting for you to give them information to catch your kidnappers,” Zoe explains.
“And you don’t hate me because of this?”
“Never. I trust you, Grace. The proof is standing right before me. You are drug-free. You’re looking healthy and happy, and you have a glow on.
If your kidnapper brought back the old Grace to me, the one before all this shit happened, I want to thank them.
Because I never thought I would get my sister back,” she says, getting a little teary-eyed.
“Thank you,” I say, hugging her again.
“Oh my god, we are both emotional wrecks,” Zoe says with a chuckle.
“I can’t thank you enough for being on my side at this time.”
“Don’t be upset with Sophie. She sees the situation through different eyes. And to them it’s different. They think you should be acting another way. If you’re happy in your truth that’s all that matters.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve got your back. And so does the rest of the family. They just might take a little longer to come around.”
I nod. “You’re not going to say anything?”
Zoe pretends to zip her mouth and throw away the key which makes us both laugh. “Come on. Put your game face on and face the Spanish inquisition that is about to happen in the living room.”
Thank goodness Zoe is beside me when I walk into the living room where our entire family is sitting. They’re all chatting away but stop when they see me walk in.
“Morning, gorgeous. How are you feeling?” Mateo greets me first, pulling me into his side and kissing the top of my head.
“Rested.”
“You look good,” he states, giving me a once over.
“Hey, Grace,” Enrique says, giving me an awkward wave from the sofa.
My stomach rolls and I give him a tight smile. “Guess you have questions for me, then?”
I notice Sophie is in the corner with Brooks by her side and is shooting daggers my way.
Zoe places a reassuring hand on my shoulder as she moves me toward the sofas.
“It’s good to have you back,” Enrique says, patting my knee but the look I give him has him removing his hand quickly.
“Do you mind if I talk to Enrique without everyone here, except Zoe?” I ask the room.
“Of course, my dear,” my father says, scooping up my mother who doesn’t look happy. “Let’s go for a stroll through the gardens, sweetheart.”
“I’ll be in my studio,” Mateo says, giving Zoe a kiss as does Tomas as he leaves with him.
I look over where Sophie is standing with her arms folded angrily across her chest, and her eyes narrowed on me.
“Come on, Soph, we have work to do.” Brooks grunts, pulling a pissed-off Sophie with him.
Zoe links her hand with mine and gives it a squeeze.
“Right, do you want to start from the beginning?” Enrique asks.
And so, I do. I explain to him how I was kidnapped.
How I was taken to a boat and sailed to an island.
I explain that the first two weeks of being kidnapped were fuzzy because I was detoxing from the drugs.
I’m selective in what I say to him, giving him some information but not much.
There’s a high probability that Interpol know exactly who Maxim is and I won’t give them anything that will put him back on their radar.
He knew they were Russian because of Gabriel’s testimony.
They already knew I was in Italy thanks to my phone call from Pisa, there wasn’t much else I could give them.
“If you think of anything else, Grace, please let me know,” Enrique tells me. He stands up and shakes my hand before leaving.
“That went well,” Zoe says.
“You think?”
“You answered all his questions. You gave him enough without giving anything away.”
“Can I ask a favor?”
“Anything,” Zoe says.
“I need a new phone. I realized when I got home that I’d lost mine when I was kidnapped. I have no one to call, but I’d like to see what’s been going on in the world since I left.”
“Of course. I’ll get Tomas to order one for you today.”
She really is the best sister.