41| hold fire

Victor tried keeping an eye out for Grace but with the bullets flying around him, it was hard to keep track. Frank was not easy to kill. His blood pumped with adrenalin as he looked around the room using the flashes of light to spot her. It didn't take him very long to make out her small figure backed up into a corner. He began making his way toward her when three gunshots came from where she stood. Immediately fear gripped his heart not knowing if those three shots were aimed at her.

"Hold your fire!" Victor called loudly, the gunshots ceased shortly after his order. Victor looked around as the lights came on, and the first thing he saw was Frank's body laying face down, three gunshot wounds on his back, his head immediately flew up to Grace who stood with a gun in her hands, she stood frozen in shock.

"Grace?" He said putting his gun away.

Grace drew her eyes from Frank's dead body, she knew that she shot him, she killed him. Her mind was completely blank, her ears ringing from the loud gunshots, she barely heard Victor's voice. She looked up at him, her face pale as fear coated her insides. Her body trembled and her stomach turned as she tried to process what she'd just done. She looked around at the men in the room who all stood with their guns aimed at her. Victor followed her line of sight looking around at his men.

"Put your weapons away" Victor ordered but they stayed in place still aiming at Grace "Stand down now!" Victor snapped, and slowly his men put their guns away.

"Grace?" Victor said taking a step towards her. She looked at him as her brown eyes glossed over with tears, his heart broke at the sight of her but she was safe now. He began taking off his jacket as he walked closer to her, "give me the gun" he said

Grace looked down at her hands and noticed she still had the gun in her hands. She handed it to Victor, who quickly slipped it to Vincent before pulling Grace into his arms, he covered her shoulders with his jacket as he held her hugging her close to his chest. Grace held onto him tightly as the events replayed in her mind, she killed Frank was all she could think of as a numbness settled over her. She couldn't help the sobs that escaped her as the realization of what she did began to take hold.

"Shhh," Victor said kissing her head "it's okay tesoro," He said holding her "It's over now" He assured her, pulling back slightly so he could check her for injuries, besides her bruised and bloody face she looked okay. He lifted her quickly carrying her bridal style to the car, exhaustion had finally gotten the better of her as she closed her eyes resting her head on Victor's shoulder. Grace stayed asleep for the drive home, only waking when Victor had put her down on their bed, he got a warm cloth to clean up the dried blood from her nose and face, she'd have a couple of bruises and a cut above her left eye but apart from that she was okay for which he was thankful.

She opened her eyes as he cleaned the last of her wounds, her mind still felt numb from the events of tonight. Her head felt as though it had been knocked with a hammer, everything hurt including breathing which didn't take her long to realize it was from her ribs.

"Are you in pain tesoro?" Victor asked gently

"Nothing I can't handle," Grace said softly.

"You should sleep some more," He said kissing her forehead gently. Grace nodded closing her eyes.

Victor got up, put the cloth in the washing basket he went into his office. He was angry at Frank for hurting Grace, but more than anything he was angry at himself. He should have killed Frank ages ago, then Grace wouldn't have been in this predicament.

"How is she?" Vincent asked sitting on the couch in Victor's office

"Tired and sore" Victor sighed, going over to his liquor cabinet and pouring himself and Vincent a drink.

"Do you remember the first person you killed?" Vincent asked taking a sip of his drink

"I do" Victor nodded sitting down "It's not an easy thing to forget."

"It sort of eats a part of you. I can't imagine what she must be going through knowing she's killed her father"

"He wasn't much of a father to her," Victor said taking a sip of his whiskey

"He was still her father Victor" Vincent looked at him "His not going to be the only person to come after her"

"I know," Victor said looking down

"It'll be safer if you sent her away" Vincent looked at Victor who kept his emerald eyes glued to his glass

"I can't" Victor shook his head

"I know it's hard but what else are you going to do? Keep her locked in this house?" He asked and Victor silently prayed for him to shut the hell up "She won't be happy with that, she's your wife you can't hold her prisoner here"

"What am I supposed to do?" Victor asked taking Vincent by surprise, he had never heard his brother sound so defeated in his life

"Let her go stay in New York, Sergio can protect her. No one will know she's there it's a big city. We'll send Debbie and Owen to Gloria in Italy, while we deal with Demani and the war to come. Once it is safe we'll bring them home again" Vincent said

Victor's eyes blurred with tears that welled up at the rims of his emerald orbs. He didn't want to leave Grace, he wanted to hold her and know that she was safe but Vincent was right. Until this war was over she would forever be in danger so if leaving her was the safest option for her then he would need to do it.

"We'll make arrangements with Sergio and Gloria in the morning," Victor said downing the rest of his drink. "It's been a long day, let's get some sleep"

"Goodnight Victor," Vincent said getting up

"Goodnight," Victor said as Vincent left his office.

Victor thought about how he would tell Grace and he could only hope that she would see that this is what was best for her. Getting up, he put the empty tumbler down on his desk before making his way to his bedroom. Grace sat up with her legs crossed staring out of the window.

"Tesoro?" Victor said, his voice tired.

Grace looked over at him with tears in her eyes as he made his way over to the bed, he sat down in front of her.

"How can you even look at me knowing what I've done?" She asked, her voice breaking as her tears spilled down her rosy cheeks

"You've done nothing wrong amore" He said placing his hands on the side of her face, he wiped her tears with the pads of his thumbs

"I killed Frank" She cried

"You did what needed to be done to ensure your safety tesoro, I don't think any differently of you because of it." He assured her

"And what will Debbie and Owen think when they learn what I did?"

"They won't think any differently of you either Grace." He said placing a kiss on her forehead. "I'm going to run us a bath, it will make you feel better" He stood going into the bathroom. He turned on the faucet letting the water run as he undid his tie. The emotions of the day rested heavily on his chest. Tonight was the last night he would spend with Grace for who knows how long and that thought left him feeling cold and empty like a part of him was being ripped away for the first time since he was a child Victor found himself crying for the loss that was yet to come.