Chapter 57 #2
With almost measured slowness, Austin lowers me back to the surface of the pool, his cruel eyes never leaving mine. “Austin. Please.” I beg, kicking with everything I have. I’m desperate to stay afloat.
“Goodbye, Cecilia.”
“No!”
I take one last breath before my head is pressed beneath the surface, and like before, I kick and twist, desperate to get free. But unlike before, only a handful of seconds pass before the hand holding me down is gone.
My heart clenches, knowing this is probably my last chance. Without missing a beat, I dive deeper and swim for the other end of the pool. I have to get there before Austin does. I have to reach the other side first.
My chest squeezes, lungs burning, but I’m almost there.
A body crashes into the water above me and strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me tight against a hard chest.
“No!” I scream, the word muffled underwater.
I was so close.
I flail in his hold, tugging at the material of his shirt to get him to release me, but his grip on me tightens. I let loose another scream of frustration and air bubbles fan out in front of me.
Keeping me in his arms, he kicks his powerful legs and pushes us toward the surface.
It only takes a moment for me to realize Austin isn’t dragging me deeper.
That we’re getting closer and closer to the light up above.
I still in his arms, letting myself be dragged to the surface as I try to slow my racing mind and think.
Austin isn’t wearing a short-sleeved shirt like whoever is holding me.
He’s wearing a long-sleeved polo with the sleeves shoved up to his elbows.
I twist to look behind me, but my hair floating around me obscures my vision.
Whoever has me now isn’t Austin. Heart soaring, I begin to kick alongside him, propelling my body forward.
Our heads break the surface, and he lifts me up, shoving me into the arms of another guy who waits by the edge of the pool.
I’m dragged over the ledge, my thighs scraping across the concrete floor, but I hardly notice. I choke and sputter, coughing out the water in my lungs. “Are you alright?” Despite the familiar voice, I shy away from his touch when he reaches for my shoulder and turn to look back at the water.
Felix lifts himself from the pool before tearing his waterlogged shirt off and tossing it to the side.
“I’ve got her,” Julio says beside me. “Go help them.”
I follow their line of sight to see Gabriel straddling Austin’s chest as he delivers punch after punch to Austin’s face. I flinch with each hit Gabriel lands, a part of me wishing he’d stop. Deacon is only a few steps away, squaring off with Parker and Gregory and blocking their path to the exit.
“On it,” Felix says, sprinting into the fray.
“You okay?” Julio asks, concern coloring his voice. He pulls out his phone and dials a number.
“There’s been an attack,” he says into the receiver. “PacNorth University. Campus pool. A girl was almost drowned.”
He pauses to listen.
“Yes— His name is Austin Holt.”
Another pause.
“Six three, white male. Blond. Blue eyes. Two accomplices. Yes.”
He grimaces. “Parker Benson and Gregory Chambers.”
A bang sounds behind us and my stomach drops when I see Gabriel lift Austin from the ground only to slam him back into the concrete.
“Fuck,” Julio curses. “Just get someone down here.” He hangs up and drops his phone beside me. “Are you good?” he asks me again.“Cecilia, I need an answer. Do you need me to rush you to the hospital? Are you okay?” He curses again. “He’s going to kill him.”
Wide-eyed, I nod my head, chest still heaving. “I’m good,” I tell him. “Go. Don’t let him kill him. He can’t—” As much as I’d like to see Austin dead for all the things he’s done to me, I don’t want Gabriel going to prison because of it.
Julio doesn’t hesitate, rushing for his friend. I look away and take the opportunity to catch my breath, taking stock of myself. My head is dizzy, heart still racing, but I don’t feel like I’m going to pass out anymore.
Julio rips Gabriel away from Austin and shoves him back, keeping him away from Austin’s unmoving body.
Shit. Is he too late?
“Enough!” Julio roars, shoving Gabriel again. “He’s down. You have to stop.”
Gabriel doesn’t look like he wants to listen.
I contemplate getting up but decide against it. I don’t think my shaking legs can hold me right now. There’s more shouting and commotion as campus security comes in, followed quickly by two officers.
They assess the scene and decide Austin is the first person to approach. One of the officers checks for a pulse while the other talks to Deacon, and then everything happens so fast.
Parker and Gregory are arrested.
Paramedics arrive a few minutes later, and Austin is carted out on a stretcher. He groans as they move him, so he’s still alive.
Part of me is relieved, but another part of me is wholly disappointed.
Felix and Julio manage to keep Gabriel in place while the officers and paramedics move around to work.
Seeing Gabriel like this, all riled up and angry on my behalf, it twists something inside of me. Makes emotions bubble up inside my chest that I don’t want to examine too closely.
My fingers gently probe at my cheek, and I wince. The skin is split and blood stains my fingertips.
A paramedic crouches down in front of me, and I stumble back on my hands and knees.
“Whoa. It’s okay. I just want to check you out,” he says.
Shaking my head, I flinch when he reaches toward me again, and the next thing I know, Gabriel is beside me.
“Give her some space,” he snaps.
“Hey man, I’m just doing my job.”
Gabriel ignores him, his honey-brown eyes finding mine.
“She’ll get checked out later,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Sir, that’s not—”
Gabriel turns to face him. “You’re not touching her. Not right now. Back off, and when she’s ready, she’ll get checked out.”
The paramedic raises both hands. “Fine. But make sure—”
“I got it,” Gabriel snarls and turns his back to him again.
Moving forward, Gabriel sits on the wet concrete beside me, and with bloodied hands, he pulls my wet and shaking body into his arms.
“I almost lost you,” he murmurs against my hair, and I cling to him, clutching the fabric of his shirt and curling into his chest. His arms encircle me, and the next thing I know, he’s lifting me from the ground and heading for the doors.
“The police are going to want a statement,” Julio reminds him as soon as he’s within earshot.
Gabriel stops but doesn’t turn around. His eyes remain on mine as he says, “They can have one in the morning. I’ve got more important shit to worry about right now than giving the 5-0 a statement. The center has cameras. Tell them to look at them.”
My eyes widen at the reminder, and a small smirk curls the corners of Gabriel’s mouth.
“Let’s see Holt worm his way out of this.
” To Julio he adds, “I need keys.” Julio nods, rushes over to say something to Deacon, and then returns with a pair of keys in hand.
He and Gabriel swap sets before Gabriel starts walking again.
As soon as the cold air outside hits my damp skin, I shiver.
“Where are we going?” I ask, curling my face into his shoulder.
“I’m taking you home,” he tells me.
I don’t want to go home. I’m not ready to face my parents. They’ll want to know what happened. And they’ll ask questions. Questions I’m not ready to give them the answers to. But before I can open my mouth to object, he adds, “My home. I want to take care of you. If you’ll let me.”
With a sigh, I nod against his chest, wrapping my arms tighter around his neck. “Okay.”
Some of the tension drains from his shoulders, and when we reach what I assume is Deacon’s car, Gabe carefully opens the door and helps me into the front seat. Taking a blanket from the back, he wraps it around my body before helping me to secure my seatbelt.
“I should probably take you to the hospital,” he says, but I shake my head in a definitive no.
“I’m fine,” I assure him. “I don’t want to go to the hospital. I just …” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I just want to go home with you.”