Page 78 of The Harbinger
I stretched my arms as far as they’d go, letting the water whoosh pass my cupped hand as I cleared my mind of thoughts resembling a missing white ball of fur and how I’d lost my mind more than usual.
Right.
Left.
I placed my hand on the edge of the pool and pulled myself up, my forearms resting on the edge, keeping me afloat.
“Feeling better?”
“Jesus.” His boot scuffed in front of me, and I ran my hand down my face clearing it of water droplets. His gravelly voice teased the tremor inside of me. “Much better.”
The sun burned bright around the fringe his broad frame made before me with his sleeves rolled to the elbows, one hand in his pocket and the other resting by his side. He hunched down and brushed back my hair already slicked to my scalp with red and bruised knuckles.
I guess he wasn’t just doing business.Or was this included in his office job?
“I heard you had an adventure yesterday.”
My stomach lurched.
He knows.
He knows I went into his office.
He knows I went beyond the trees.
I gulped the thick lump in my throat and shook my head with a fragile smile. “Not really. I got the garden done, but that’s about it.” Not that it mattered because Catherine ripped it all out and did it her way again.
“Nothing else?”
“Nope. All’s quiet on this front.”
His eyes narrowed as he let out a heavy sigh.
He definitely knows.
My heart rushed into my throat as I pushed away from the wall with my feet.
Sacha lashed out and grabbed the back of my head, fisting my hair. I gasped, the sharp pull-like needles in my scalp. “Do you remember what I said about people who lie to me?”
Bile scalded the back of my throat as I cried out. “I’m not—”
“Do you think I’m weak because I’ve shown you kindness?” He shoved me down, and water filled my nose and mouth, sending inflamed agony straight to my brain. My nose and lungs burned as I kicked against the deep water, my grip tight around his wrist as if he’d save me.
Sloshing water surrounded me, my feet thrashing through the clear water, sending chaotic bubbles trailing up my body. Darkness swallowed me up as water gushed into my mouth, my desperate need for air pounding in my head. My limbs deadened, the chlorine stung my eyes and burned my throat. I dug my fingers into his wrist but couldn’t hold on, and my thrashing legs slowed.
Panic burned in my chest, my body giving up hope. Then a soothing peace blanketed me, beckoning me to let go.
He yanked me out, cool air slapping my face and reawakening my lungs.
A wretched sob bubbled out of me as my body flopped onto the cement beside him. I coughed violently, water gushing from my lungs.
“Let’s try again.”
“You psycho. You could have killed me.” I curled onto my side, my ribs aching, but Sacha’s features remained steady.Un-readable. There were no emotions behind his blackened eyes, and it turned my gut.
“If I wanted you dead, I would’ve had a little more fun doing it. Now, where is it?”
I panted as I patted my chest, the coughs subsiding. “Where’s what?”