Page 75 of Grace of Spades

"Well, I'm done with the school aspect of university for this year and I'm doing a job shadowing thing now," Christian explains. "I'm training to be a paralegal right now."

"I'm training in business to take over for my dad." Jai offers.

"Same."

"Same."

We settle back in to watch the movie and I find myself drifting to sleep. Bullshit funerals and kidnappings really take it out of you.

Keir

"Dude, she's asleep." Jai chuckles quietly.

"Really?" I ask looking down at her and sure enough, my Grace is sleeping against my chest. She looks different like this. Sleep softens her face and her lips are gently parted in a pout.

"I need some help with my date idea. Would you guys help me out?" Liam asks.

"Sure. What do you have planned?" I ask.

"I want to ask my cousin if we can borrow his restaurant for the night. Let her cook in a big kitchen." He smiles.

"That's a great idea. I think she'll love it." Jai comments and I agree. She will adore it.

"I honestly can't believe how much she liked this." Liam laughs.

"I know. I was so nervous!" I admit with a chuckle.

"Why exactly did you cheap out?" Jai asks.

"I didn't... okay, I did cheap out. But it's because she's always so uncomfortable when someone talks about money like it's nothing or spends money on her. I mean, she practically growled at the phone when her uncle said she had an allowance for just going to school." I shrug. "That, and she's always on high alert. She watches and notices everything. I just wanted her to be able to relax. And it worked." I grin gesturing to her curled up against me.

"Good call." Christian nods. "She has a hard time sleeping. This isn't normal for her. She sleeps on the floor with a knife usually."

"What?" Jai asks his eyes snapping to our girl. I don't think I'm going to like the reason behind this.

"Yep. She said she never had a bed before. The first time she slept in one waswith me the other night." Christian reveals.

"Fuck." I mutter gathering her up closer. Liam covers her with a blanket as Jai strokes down her glossy dark hair.

"That was my response too." Christian nods.

We settle down and just hold Grace through the rest of the movies. Grace sleeps soundly through it all.

"God, Ilsa really is awful," Jai mutters as I pass Grace to Liam as we all get out of the back of the truck.

"Told ya so," Grace murmurs before snuggling into Liam's arms. We all fight to keep our laughter quiet so we don't actually wake her up. Liam slides into my car with her and she snuggles into his side with a contented sigh.

Once everything is packed away and we are back at the Van Doren estate, everyone kisses her goodnight before leaving me to carry her to her room.

I lay her down on her bed and slide off her shoes and cover her with her blanket. I'm at the door when I hear it. A terror-filled gasp. Her once sleep-softened face is tense and tears are pouring down her cheeks. I won't leave her like this. I don't care what her uncle says. Or the butler.

I slide into bed next to her and hold her to me until she calms down.

"It's okay, baby, I'm here. I have you. You're safe. I'm with you." I whisper and it seems to work. She relaxes into me and her breathing evens out. Thank God.

It's not long before I'm asleep too.

Grace