Page 104 of The Striker
My vision darkens at the edges. I swipe at the hair tangled around my face before reaching up and feeling my way across my head to Austin’s hand again. Digging my fingers beneath his, I try in vain to pry his hand open. When that doesn’t work, I sink my short nails into his skin again, giving the task everything I’ve got until his laugh cuts off and he curses above me.
Fuck you, Austin Holt. Fuck. You.
The weight above me vanishes, and I swim for the surface. As soon as I break it, I gulp down a lungful of air. Coughing and gasping through each breath. My hair sticks to my face, making it impossible to see, but all I can think about is getting as much air into my lungs as possible.
“Bro, we need to leave,” someone says.
“Relax and go watch the door,” Austin responds.
Less than a handful of seconds pass before fingers tangle into the dark strands of my hair again.
“No!” My eyes latch onto Parker’s—who’s standing across the room, watching the door like Austin ordered—for less than a second when a hard strike slams into my already injured cheek. If it wasn’t for Austin’s grip in my hair, I know I’d go crashing back beneath the surface.
I cry out, the sharp stab of pain making my head spin.
Don’t pass out. Do not pass out.
“You think you can hurt me?” he screams, jerking me close. Half my body hovers out of the water as I kick furiously to get away. “You think your pointless struggles can help you get away?” Austin shakes me like a rag doll, and my heart leaps into my throat.
Come on Cecilia. Think.
“Don’t do this.” He likes it when I beg. When I break. I just have to give him what he wants and maybe he’ll let go. Or at least give me the opportunity to get away. “Please. Austin. I didn’t mean?—“
He stops shaking me and pulls me closer, my upper half now out of the water and over the pool’s concrete edge. I try to get my leg over the lip, but his hold won’t let me.
With an almost gentle touch, he pushes my hair out of my face with his free hand, and I blink back my tears.
Cruel blue eyes meet mine.
“Are you sorry?” he asks.
“Yes.” I swallow hard and choke out my words. “I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I’m really really sorry.” I’ll say whatever he wants to hear if it means getting out of here alive. “To both of you.” I direct my words toward Parker, too. If I can’t get through to Austin, maybe I can get through to him.
The door opening reaches my ears, and I crane my head, hoping the sound means someone will help me, but instead of help arriving, it’s Gregory Chambers who steps into the room.
No.Dread fills my gut, but I refuse to give up.
My eyes flick toward the clock. Pool hours are almost over. The janitor should be by within the next half hour to lock up. Only, I don’t have half an hour. I have minutes at best. I need to buy myself enough time for help to show up.
With shaking fingers, I bring my hand toward his face. Austin latches on to my wrist before I’m able to make contact. I wince when he squeezes, my bones grinding into one another, but I school my expression. “I wasn’t going to hit you,” I tell him. His eyes are guarded. “I’m done fighting you. I don’t …” I hiccup on a sob. “I don’t want to fight with you anymore. I don’t want to fight with any of you.”
He watches me carefully through narrowed eyes but releases my wrist.
Parker shifts on his feet. “Holt, we need to?—”
“Shut up,” Austin snaps, his eyes never leaving mine.
Stealing my breath, I press my hand against Austin’s smooth cheek, keeping my expression blank of the emotions I’m feeling as I say, “I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean to …” What? Shit. Think of something.
I wet my lips and try a different tactic. “I don’t like that you’re mad at me.”
It sounds weak, but my words seem to do the trick. Some of the anger leaves Austin’s gaze, and the corners of his mouth quirk into an arrogant smirk.
He eyes me curiously but doesn’t shove my hand away when I stroke his jaw. Swallowing hard, I decide to push my luck a little bit more. I need him to let me out of the pool. If I can just get on my own two feet, I can make a run for it. I’ll have to get past Parker and Gregory, but I’ll figure out how to do that after I’m out of the water.
“We don’t need to be at war with one another,” I tell him. My voice is soft. Whispered, “Nobody needs to know about this. You can let me go and we’ll just pretend it never happened. I promise. I won’t say anything to anyone. You have my word.”
“She’s lying,” Gregory says.
