Grace POV

The US Embassy was alive when the car pulled up, I could see a few of the guards from other embassy's looking through their fences, staring at the commotion. Our gates were flung open, armed guards rallied the car in and surrounded it. The gates shut with a slam, the metal hiss filled the air.

'What's going on?' I asked Jamie. He ignored me as he opened the door, armed guards surrounded Jamie and took him into the embassy. 'Jamie!' I called after him

'Miss Blakely exit the vehicle now' A marine on my side already had my door open and offering me his hand. I grabbed it without arguing. He remained holding onto me as I was hustled behind those stone walls.

'Will someone tell me what's going on?' I shouted in the lobby.

'Grace?' The old withered voice that said those words did not match the man that I'd remembered. All the anger left me right then. I felt like a little girl again. The whole room stopped. The marine who had my hand dropped it and stepped back, everyone cleared a space for him to hobble forward. He was walking slowly, and every instinct I had told me to run but I couldn't. I was planted on the ground. His hair was thinner and whiter than I remember, his face was gaunt and tired. 'Grace is that really you?' He whispered, his sunken eyes were wide, glistening with moisture.

'H...Hi grandpa' I stuttered. A smile widened across his face.

'My dear' He opened his arms wide. My legs moved robotically towards him, the majority of me wanting to pull back and run away. I walked into the familiar warmth of his arms. He squeezed as if checking that I was real. 'It's so good to have you home' He muttered into my hair. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I was so overcome with emotions that I was numb. My grandfather pulled back, holding me at arm's lengths. He smiled widely, my eyes drifted away from him to Jamie who was watching us, his expression unreadable.

'Grandpa, I think Gracie needs her rest' Jamie took a small step forward. My grandfather looked at him and nodded. He stepped out of my grasp and I released the breath that I didn't realise I held. Jamie came close to me, his arm snaked on the back of my waist and he led me away and up the stairs.

'Grace' We had reached the top of the stairs and quite frankly, I would rather go back downstairs than deal with…

'Ms Chancellor' I said curtly

'Grace, we're so glad that you're back' She placed her hand on my shoulder and I recoiled at her touch. Her expression softened and she looked worried. 'Gra-'

'You left me there' I whispered, my voice strong and determined. A far cry from the girl who came here '243 days and there was nothing from you. I'm sorry Ms Chancellor but I cannot possibly say that my feelings of being back are the same as yours' I plastered a fake smile on my face and walked past her shocked figure. Jamie didn't follow me either. I kept walking, keeping my head up and my feet fast. I almost crashed into my room and slammed the door behind me.

I leaned against the door, feeling my legs give way, falling towards the ground. I rested my forehead on the door, my shallow breaths filling the room. The curtains in my mom's room were drawn, the single lamp in the corner cast a warm yellow glow over the space.

1...2...3...4...5 I continued to count to steady my breathing. You can do this Grace. The Society may still want you dead but you're alive and you'll fix this. You have to fix this.

'Grace Olivia' I spun around and saw Dominic sitting on the plush armchair in the corner. He was looking at me carefully.

'What are you doing here?' I hissed standing up trying to compose myself, not showing that I was having a panic attack.

'I'm your protection detail Grace Olivia'

'Still doesn't mean you can hide in my room!'

'You left the palace without me' He stated 'I've been on your protection detail from the moment you stepped foot in the palace'

'I never saw you'

'You never left the palace' He raised his eyebrow at me. I opened my mouth to speak but I didn't have an argument. He was right, I'd spent 243 days confined within the palace walls, not stepping out. I should have probably guessed that Dominic was around all the time, watching me, waiting to leap in front of a bullet for me because he couldn't get in front of my mom before I shot her.

'I…'

'This is for you Grace Olivia' He stood up and handed me a small box. I opened it and saw a small bracelet with my birthstone. 'That is a distress button' He told me. 'You must only press it if you are in danger, that way I'll be able to find you' I stared back at the intricate detail on the bracelet. It was silver with gold woven through it.

'Thank you Dominic' I looked back at him, feeling grateful that no matter what the Society might do, no matter what lengths Jamie will go to protect me, Dominic won't stop me. Dominic will protect me. Dominic will chase me to the ends of the Earth to make sure that I'm still breathing. Dominic will be on my side.

'You need to be careful Grace' He put his hand on my shoulder, this time, unlike with Ms Chancellor, I didn't recoil.

'Why?' I asked, a slight panic rising, but Dominic's sure and steady hand calmed me down.

'What occured tonight has upset many people. Some people that know about who you and your bloodline may have got wind that you are now back at the Embassy. Grace, you need to promise me that you will not go anywhere without this bracelet or alone'

'I promise' I answered automatically. If it was anyone else telling me what to do, I might have argued with them. But Dominic has never lied to me and I know it's best not to lie to Dominic.

'You must never be out after dark. If you are, find a tunnel. Unless you are being followed' He now gripped my shoulders with both hands 'You must never go into the tunnels if you're being followed'

'Haven't you just contradicted yourself? You said I can't be alone but I have to be alone when I go into the tunnels?' I raised my eyebrow at him. His grip tightened on me.

'You'll know who to trust Grace'

'Noah?' I asked. Waiting for a reaction 'Megan? Rosie? Jamie? Lila? Alexei?' His grip tightened when I mentioned my neighbour. 'I can trust Alexei' I stated. Dominic removed his hands.

'Press the button if you are in trouble'

'I can trust him Dominic' I muttered again. Dominic didn't grace me with an answer. He simply patted my arm and left my room. I stared at the closed door waiting for him to come back through, but he didn't.

Author's note: Ohhh, so Grace is finally back in the embassy. But will she stay long? And will she listen to Dominic's warning? Find out next Sunday xxx

smartiegirl800: Thank you! I'm glad that you enjoy this story so far! I have a few surprises up my sleeve for Grace coming up xxx

A New Look: There are some sweet moments between Grace and Alexei coming soon! xxxx

Smiles180: That comment has just made my day! Omg thank you so much, I absolutely love surprising people and i love that my writing can keep you engaged. Grace and Alexei get cute soon and Ann isn't too far away... xxx

Dreamer0704: Exactly! I love Cam so much and I feel like Grace is similar yet in a completely different way. I see Grace in All Fall Down kind of like Cam when she lost her memory. Both of them were chasing/running from their past and needed to find answers. I just loved it a lot! Thank you so much! i'm so glad that you are enjoying this story, I feel like this is the most nervous i've ever been about creating a story because it could go wrong so easily xxx

Chameleondancer: Can I just say that I love your name! It's so cute! This story is updated on Sundays, check out my other stories based on Gallagher Girls and Heist Society. Grace faces a little bit of drama soon and she'll have to face Ann soon as well xxx

MaddieMorganGoode007: Thank you so much! I was really worried about not being able to establish the relationships properly but hearing your feedback makes me so happy that I'm doing it right! I love Jamie and I really wish that there was more of him in the last book, like what if Ann used him as an actual bargaining chip and they exchanged Grace for Jamie while standing on the wall. Ah, my brain is going into overload! I also love Noah and I'm happy to say that there is more of him in this story and his friendship with Grace is stronger than ever. Also, can I ask, have you changed your name or are you a new reviewer? Did you used to be GryffindorQueen101? xxx

4EverAGallagherGirl: I know that their moment was cut short, but there will be more moments like that coming soon! Grace doesn't want anyone to get hurt and a barrier will form around her soon. Who will break down her walls? I love everything that Ally writes as well, I'm really looking forward to her new book! Ahhh I'm fucking excited! OMG thank you so much, you always make me feel like I'm doing a good job and I love that you love the stories more because of me. *happy tears*. I hope you love where this is going, it's definitely unexpected...xxx