Stealing Grace by Shelby Fallon

least. There were two wives with them at the large table but neither looked up at them.

“Great. Better than expected. And I know you know I made it to the top of the list. Everyone knows everything in this town.”
    “True.” The man laughed loudly. “But I love to jerk your chain. So, what are you doing out with her? It hasn’t been long enough yet, has it?”
    “These are extreme circumstances. She’s incredibly receptive to my...instruction,” Alex said and ran his hands down her arms making her shiver.
    The men at the table saw and they all chuckled.
    “I see. I think she rather likes it. Good work, my man. Heidi took more work than I was prepared to deal with, but we made it, finally, didn’t we, pumpkin.” He ran his fingers down her cheek and crooned sarcastically to her.
    When she flinched back Elena saw she had a black eye she was trying to keep covered with a curtain of hair.
    Alex’s grip tightened on her arms and she knew he hated seeing it just as much as she did.
    “Well, we’re off. See you later,” Alex said and started to pull Elena from the table.
    “No! No, come on now. Join us! We need to catch up.”
    “Not tonight. I’m not in the mood for belittling from the old dogs in this town.” They all bellowed and laughed and slapped Alex on the back as they walked by. “That went better than expected,” he said low to Elena.
    She nodded and did what he said; kept quiet.
    They found a booth in the back and sat opposite each other. Alex asked her what she liked on her pizza just as the waiter came up and he looked at him with a funny look.
    She rubbed Alex’s shin under the table with her foot to let him know to just order whatever.
    “We’ll have one large pepperoni, extra cheese. One sweet tea and one diet coke with a shot of cherry.”
    After the waiter left, Elena spoke to him.
    “You eat Meat lovers or supreme or something manly like that don’t you?” He just smiled. “I’d have eaten anything, you know.”
    “I know that, but you look like a pepperoni kind of girl.”
    “I am. Thank you, and for remembering my drink.”
    “No problem. Buying you a pizza is the least I can do, after kidnapping you and all.”
    She looked up at him sharply, thinking he was being sullen again but he was smiling, making a joke. She smiled too and then hid it with her hand. It was so weird to live this way, always fearful of someone seeing you be happy.
    They ate their pizza and drank their drinks. Alex left no leftovers as he plowed through the slices once she said she was finished.
    He offered to order her desert but she declined and they paid, then headed for the truck without any further incidents.

    On the way home, Elena sat in her seat. She was cold. She wanted to ask him to turn on the heat or something, or maybe scoot over next to him but she stopped that thought. She was not near that bold yet. Then she saw flashing blue and red lights in the rear view mirror. She turned to look behind them.
    They were being pulled over.
    “What is he doing?” Alex said clearly irritated. “We’re two blocks from the house.”
    He didn’t bother to take out his license or registration. He just told her it would be ok, he knew the guy and once again to keep quiet and rolled down his window.
    “Silas,” Alex said in greeting.
    “Alex, evening.”
    “Evening. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Alex said sarcastically. “I wasn’t speeding.”
    “No, you weren’t.” The guy moved upwards some and Elena could see his face. He was young, maybe twenty two or three. “Just wanted to check out the new ball and chain.”
    “Well, it’s been a long day. Are we free to go now?”
    “Now, hold on. I hadn’t even gotten a good look at her yet.” He poked his head in through the window. “My, my,” he whistled through his teeth, “but she’s a looker.”
    Elena kept her head down and didn’t look at him. Just like at the pizza shop, don’t look at their faces.
    “Alright, enough, Silas,”