Seven Days Grace (A Grace Rose Novel Book 1)
Read Seven Days Grace (A Grace Rose Novel Book 1) Online
Authors: Kellie Merriman
Kellie Merriman
DISCLAIMER
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
There is one exception. Shadow, the black cat. He is based on one of my much loved cats and his name was Shadow. He is remembered fondly throughout this book and missed dearly.
Copyright © 2016 by Taipan Group Pty Ltd
E-reader revised edition February 2016
For more information about this book and the author’s future work, visit:
www.amazon.com
type in ‘Kellie Merriman’
www.facebook.com/kelliemerrimanauthor
.
www.twitter.com/kelliemerriman
Manufactured in Australia
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
ISBN 978-0-9875605-0-6
Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9
Many Thanks
I would like to publicly acknowledge a number of people who have been instrumental in bringing
Seven Days Grace
to fruition. This book would not be in your hands right now without them. The protagonist, Grace Rose, is a blend of many women I have met over the years who have inspired and taught me numerous life lessons. She is a representation of all these women who vowed to fight for the greater good.
Brett, my husband – I know my existence on this earth would not mean as much without you by my side. Your loyalty, belief, assistance, input, editing, reading of
Grace
again and again, cover designing, patience and love is a testimony to your character and integrity. I thank God for you every day.
Emma Shahin – I cherish the friendship you have freely given to me. Thank you for reading
Grace
when she was a first draft and years later in a publishable format.
Alison Quigley – a fellow writer and willing reader who spent her own time and money printing this book, reading it and editing it. Your solid, constructive feedback on the legal system assured scenes containing legalise and due process were correct.
Karry Novy – artist and creative editor. Your insights on how to make small changes that make big differences have been valued. How you fit this in as a single mother of three children and a small business owner is hard to fathom. I’m humbly grateful.
Dr Saeid Saedlounia – a doctor who shows a medical interest in your health concerns and a personal one in your overall wellbeing, too. Your down-to-earth attitude and willingness to check medical facts for this book is to be applauded.
Anne Mahony – my Mum. Thanks for your prayers, support and encouragement as I embark on my writing career. There’ll be many manuscripts to read in coming years.
Jane Symes – your enthusiasm for life and your commitment to your friends and family is a quality I admire. You are truly a bright light in what can often be a dark world. Thanks for your editing and sharing this book with family and friends.
Bonnie Giles – an avid reader with a gift for editing. Your feedback on Seven Days Grace took it to the next level. I’m indebted to you.
Bev Mitake – thank you, Bev, for seeing the vision of a book cover than I now love. It’s exactly what I wanted despite my inept way of explaining the elements needed.
Readers and the Facebook Community – friends and supporters I may not meet you in person though we are all linked together through a common thread of grace. Thanks to you who take an active interest in trialling and supporting a new author. Ultimately, I write to reach people who believe in a bigger cause than themselves. And that’s you.
Thanks to my God. I would not be here without you.
Dedication
For my husband
,
Brett
This book exists because of you.
I
’
m overcome with gratitude.
‘
Do
n
’
t move
or I
’
ll drop her down the dam wall
,’
the man said.
They all watched
,
frozen in fear at the disaster they were witnessing.
‘
I mean it
,’
he said. He had hold of Grace around the waist with one arm. He used her like a shield as he dragged her and himself backwards to the dam
’
s edge.
‘
What are you doing? Let me go
,
you psycho!
’
Grace said.
‘
Easy
,’
Christian said as he edged closer to the pair.
‘
You
’
re a smart man. See how long it
’
s taken us to figure everything out?
’
‘
Your flattery means nothing to me.
’
‘
I
’
m not trying to flatter you but I am impressed.
’
Grace watched as Christian persisted in narrowing the gap between himself and the man. The man turned her to face him and pulled her up to his level
,
lifting her feet off the ground. His face was inches away from hers and she fought the urge to throw up.
‘
Put me down.
’
He ignored her pleas to be freed.
‘
T
ake it easy
,
mate. We can work this out. Let her go
,’
Christian said.
‘
Come closer. Please. It will give me the excuse I need to throw her over the railing and then drop her to the rocks below
,’
the man said.
‘
Christian
,
please help?
’
‘
Grace
,
I know it
’
s easy for me to say but please stay calm. We
’
ll get you out of this.
’
‘
Throw me your gun
,
’
the man said.
‘
W
hat do you need a gun for
,
mate? Looks like you have your hands full already.
’
Slowly
,
Christian put his sunglasses on top of his head.
‘
Stop stalling. Throw it to me or I
’
ll do it now. I don
’
t care whether she lives or dies
,’
he said.
‘
That
’
s a lie. We know you like her
,
’
Christian said.
‘
Throw it to me!
’
Christian threw his gun to the man who caught it by its barrel.
Jake said to his partner.
‘
Have you lost all your senses? We
’
re done for now.
’
‘
He
’
ll do it
.
I
’
m sure you don
’
t want that. The guy
’
s gone mad.
’
‘
Okay
,
okay. I
’
m going to take another shot at him as soon as Grace is safe.
’
‘
I heard that. I won
’
t hesitate
,’
the man said as he pulled Grace tighter to his chest. He continued to hold her off the ground
,
in front of him
,
as protection against the two men who wanted to rescue her. Then he kissed her long and hard. She pushed and punched at his chest with both her hands though it didn
’
t stop him from devouring half her face.
When he stopped
,
she said
,
‘
You
’
re a savage. You
’
ll roast in hell for your crimes.
’
‘
And I thought you were the girl for me.
’
W
ithout warning
,
the man flung her over the railing with one arm while holding the gun in his other hand. He bent over a little to dangle her feet in the rushing water. She began to slip from his grasp. As Grace
’
s arm ran through his hand
,
he secured her from falling by clutching her wrist.
‘
Grace
,
are you okay?
’
Jake asked.
‘
Get me out of here.
’
Jake took a step forward
,
placed his feet shoulder width apart
,
stiffened his stance and aimed his gun at the man.
‘
K
eep your head here
,
mate. You shoot him
,
it
’
s all over for her.
’
Christian said to Jake.
‘
Help. Oh
,
God. Don
’
t let him drop me.
’
She wondered whether Jake would really fight for her life
,
especially after their recent disagreement.
Perhaps he doesn
’
t care anymore
,
she thought
.
Grace was swinging herself around in the hope she could hang onto his arm with her free hand but he was dangling her too low and she couldn
’
t reach him. Meanwhile
,
the man tried to get a hold of the gun
’
s handle but he fumbled and dropped it.
‘
Shoot him. He
’
s going to let me go anyway
,’
Grace said. She noticed Jake was bathed in sweat
,
and his temples and jaw were pulsing as he breathed hard.
‘
Try to lock your elbow around the rail
,
Grace
,’
Jake finally hollered.
‘
Okay
,’
she hollered back.
Should
’
ve trained as a gymnast.
‘
Everybody
,
stop talking or I
’
ll do it now
,’
the man said. He placed one foot on the gun.
Grace continued to flail around to release herself from the man.
‘
Stop struggling
,’
he snapped at her.
Kate was creeping closer to Grace
,
unnoticed by the man.
‘
If you don
’
t stop moving
,
I will send you on the ride of your life
,’
the man threatened again.
‘
I
’
m not scared of yo
u.
’
She looked down the dam spillway and watched the gushing water crash at the bottom. The sudden halt of the water caused by the large rocks emitted vast amounts of spray into the area. Grace
’
s mind and body went limp with terror. It was difficult to see where the dam wall ended and the river carrying the water away started. She hoped there was enough water to break her fall if it should come to that.
‘
Shoot him
,
I
’
ll swing myself over to the railing
,’
Grace lied.
‘
Hang in there
,’
Kate said to her friend.
‘
Grace
,
I love you
,
I
’
m here for you
,’
Jake said.
So
,
he does still care.
‘
Grace?
’
he said louder.
‘
I heard you. Got a lot of thinking to do out here over the dam wall.
’
‘
Please
,
don
’
t give up.
’
‘
You people can
’
t shut up
,’
the man said.
In one swift movement he let go of Grace
,
bent down and picked up the gun and fired at Jake. Jake was quicker. The bullet tore a hole in the right side of the man
’
s neck and he slumped onto the dam bridge. Blood seeped out all over the gravel
,
soaking the ground with the viscous liquid that came from the wound.
Oh crap!
Jake
,
Christian and Kate rushed to the railing and watched Grace protecting her head with her arms. Then she disappeared into the crashing water at the bottom.
Kate
’
s screech was so deafening that it echoed off the dam wall and surrounding hills.
‘
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!
’
Jake yelled.
