Chapter 36 Grace
GRACE
We flew halfway across the world.
Even though we’re in a tropical paradise with stunning beaches and perfect weather, a permanent crease has settled between Dante's eyebrows.
He’s been lost in thought since Enzo broke the news.
We’re now at a bike rental place in Uluwatu, Bali. Dante picks out a cherry-red bike that reminds me of his Vespa. He brings the helmet to me and places it on my head, strapping it into place.
He’s right in front of me, but it still feels like he's a thousand miles away.
I know that now isn't the right time to be having this conversation, but I just can't take it anymore.
"Is everything okay with us?" I whisper.
He blinks, like he's just waking up from a dream. He looks at me for what feels like the first time in hours.
He runs a hand through his hair and exhales.
"I apologize if I've been acting strange," he says. "I just have a lot on my mind."
I give in to my instincts. I reach for his face and rub my thumb between his eyebrows, smoothing the crease there.
"You're doing a good job, Dante," I say.
"I haven't done anything yet," he says.
"You will, though," I say. “You care so much. Not just for your sister, but for all the other women whose voices were stolen. It’s one of the things I admire most about you.”
He tugs on my helmet strap, pulling me closer to him. His stubble brushes against my skin as he presses his lips against mine. It's a hard, desperate kiss.
I let myself melt into it even though a small voice in my head tells me not to.
Somewhere along the way, I pledged my devotion to this man.
I am his, and he is mine.
Both of us are breathless when we pull away.
I tear my eyes from Dante and see that we have an audience.
Both of my sisters are here along with their husbands. Nico Monte, the Italian American man, has joined us on the trip, too.
"Aren't you guys adorable?" Nico says, smirking as he leans against a black bike. "I wish my wife could have come along. This trip would have been so romantic with Luna.”
"Right, because that's what we're here for. The romance," Dimitri, Briar's husband, grumbles.
"I know it's a work trip, but I still like to bring my woman with me if I'm going somewhere nice,” Nico says.
“Do you ever take anything seriously?” Max, Chloe’s husband, sighs.
"I like to enjoy the simple things in life," Nico says. "As should you."
"We're literally here to raid a sex trafficking organization," he says.
"Just another Tuesday for me," Nico says. "I don't know about you, but I do noble shit all the time."
"Okay, this was fun. Let's go check out the club now," Dante says.
"Wait, we can’t go yet,” Nico says. "It's almost sunset."
"And?" Dante asks. The vein in the center of his forehead is pulsing now.
“We haven’t even been to the beach yet,” Nico says.
"With all due respect, I think you can go home now," Max says to Nico.
"Before you get all dramatic on me, hear me out," Nico says. "If all of us show up at a club at five in the evening, don't you think it's going to look a little sus? And we've already done all of our research on the flight over, so there's literally nothing else for us to do."
Everyone turns quiet.
"He has a point," I say.
"Thank you," he says, gesturing his arm in my direction. "Now let's go to my fire dance show before it starts."
"Hold on, a dance show?" Dimitri asks. "I didn't sign up for this."
"It's a traditional dance that's performed on a cliff," Nico says. "We came all the way here, and we have a few hours to kill. Why is it so hard for you to live a little?"
Dimitri clenches his teeth and steps closer, about to give Nico a piece of his mind.
Before he can say something, Briar wraps her arm around her Russian husband's bicep. She gently turns him until he looks at her.
"I want to see the fire dance," she says to him.
And just like that, all his features soften.
"Then we'll go," he says.
"Unbelievable." Nico shakes his head.
I glance at Dante. He still hasn't told everyone that this is personal for him. They don’t know that his twin sister is one of the girls inside the club. As far as they’re concerned, this is a rescue mission for trafficked women.
I gently squeeze Dante’s hand.
"It's going to be okay," I tell him. "We'll find her."
He stares at me for a moment before nodding.
I'm about to pull away, but he doesn't let go of my hand.
"What's the matter?” I whisper.
His eyes have never been sadder. There's so much turmoil churning in their depths, and it tugs on my heartstrings. I just want him to be okay.
"Talk to me," I say.
He glances at the group. Nico is now talking about what he wants to eat for dinner.
I place my hands over Dante's chest, drawing his attention back to me. His chest swells under my fingertips as he takes a deep breath. I find myself wishing I could take his pain away.
He was there for me when I was at my lowest. He always found a way to make me feel better. I just want to do the same.
"I prepared for this moment a thousand times," he says. "And now that I'm so close, I'm..."
He takes another deep, shuddering breath. I patiently wait for him to finish.
"I'm consumed by this fear, Grace," he confesses. "It feels paralyzing. We're so close, and I'm scared something will go wrong."
"You have anxiety," I say. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
"I can't afford to feel this way," he says. "It's so pathetic."
"Not only do you have anxiety, you also have anxiety about having anxiety," I say, tracing the line of his eyebrow with my thumb. I feel a tug deep inside my core. I want to kiss him and soothe him.
I don't know if he realizes it, but he's leaning into my hand. It's the sweetest thing.
I stroke his eyebrow again. His eyes flutter closed as his body relaxes under my touch.
"Someone clever once introduced me to this breathing technique called box breathing," I whisper.
His eyes open. The intensity of his liquid gold gaze melts my insides.
"Breathe with me, Dante," I say.
He complies, breathing in sync with me until he gradually relaxes. I become aware once again of people watching us, but Dante doesn't seem to notice. He's completely fixated on me.
Someone clears their throat.
Dante threads his fingers into my hair and pulls me close, placing a kiss on my forehead.
I’m blushing by the time he turns to face the group.
"Where are we headed?" he asks.
"Everyone follow me," Nico says, getting on his black bike.
Getting on a bike with Dante takes me right back to Italy, when he took me through the winding streets of Praiano for the first time. It feels like a lifetime ago. For whatever reason, it feels like I've known this man my whole life.
The four bikes pull onto the narrow road. Nico cheers and grins back at us.
"What is his problem?" Dante grumbles.
"He's just happy." I giggle.
"Such an American," Dante replies.
"This reminds me so much of Praiano," I say.
"Because of the bike ride?” Dante asks, squeezing my thigh with his left hand.
"The ocean in the distance. The hilly roads. The air," I say. "All of it."
I can see the ocean near the horizon. Like Praiano, this town was also built on hills. The roads stretch before us in waves. I cling to Dante's strong body as he speeds up.
My hands rest over his chest.
When we stop at a traffic light, he places one of his hands over mine. And in moments like these, nothing else matters. The rest of the world disappears, and we're the only two people in the world.
We park near the temple where the show will be taking place.
Nico had apparently already purchased the tickets beforehand. We pass through the security checkpoints and enter the main grounds.
"Oh, and be careful with your phones and personal belongings," Nico says.
"Why?" Max asks.
Nico turns around to answer, but a monkey leaps from a tree onto the stair landing. Quick as lightning, it swipes the phone from Max’s hand. Max tries to get his phone back, but he’s too slow.
I clap my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.
Max looks annoyed, but when he sees his wife grinning, the annoyance melts from his face. He rubs the back of his neck and looks at Nico.
"How do I get it back?" Max asks.
"Oh, now you want my guidance?” Nico replies.
"Forget it," Max says, marching forward to get closer to the monkey. The monkey watches him approach with bored eyes. And when Max is close enough, it snatches the sunglasses off his face too.
"Well done," Nico says.
"I'm going to throw you off this cliff," Max says, glaring at Nico.
The monkey neatly places the sunglasses over his eyes and looks down at us. I can’t hold my laughter back anymore.
"It's so cute," Chloe says, taking a quick photo of the monkey before putting her phone away.
Max looks at my sister. "Really, babe?"
She bites down on her bottom lip. "I'm sorry, but it's a little funny."
Briar snorts, making us all dissolve in laughter again.
"This is a learning opportunity for you," Nico says. "Nature works in mysterious ways, and right now, it's teaching you a lesson in patience."
Max's nostrils flare.
“Speak to the monkey nicely," Nico says. "With love and tenderness."
Max looks like he wants to strangle Nico. But Chloe tugs on his hand.
"It might work, Max,” she says. "Be nice to the monkey."
Max approaches the monkey again and holds out his hand. "Can I have my phone back?"
"Say please," Nico suggests.
"Please, you little rascal," Max says.
The monkey swings its long tail.
Nico tsks his disapproval. "They're smarter than you think. They can feel that you're being disingenuous."
The monkey watches all of this unfold with Max's sunglasses perched on his nose. I can't say for sure, but it looks like he's smirking down at us.
"Please, sweet monkey," Max says. "I have a very important business call to attend to later. I need my phone back.”
"Monkeys don't care about business calls, Max," Nico says.
"Please refrain from speaking if you don't have anything helpful to say," Max replies.
"Try saying more nice things to the monkey," Nico suggests.