Page 75 of June 7

"I'll kill you, so she'll come back to me. My Lorelei will come back." Mr. Owens gripped both her arms and lifted her to her toes.

She kicked out, feeling the strength of his size overpowering her. "You're insane. Let me go."

"No more. No more. You can't stop us from loving each other." He threw her against the building.

Searing heat penetrated her shoulder. She slid to the concrete, scrambling to get to her feet. Panic filled her. This couldn't be happening.

"Make you pay." Spittle flew from Mr. Owens' mouth. "She would've been mine."

The muttering continued, but she could no longer understand what he was saying. He cried out, gazing wildly around.

Pressed against the wall, she screamed, "Help! Someone help me."

Her plea bounced off the glass enclosure, echoing in her ears. A cry escaped her. She doubted anyone next door at Havlin Motorcycle Parts would hear her.

Bane expected her to be cleaning the pool house. He wouldn't come looking for her until after her swim when she could close the windows and leave.

Mr. Owens removed a knife from behind him. Terror flashed in front of her. The realization that it was Mr. Owens who'd stabbed Dio and punctured her tires made her dizzy with terror.

He was someone she knew. Someone she'd trusted.

She lunged to the side, crawling away from him. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to run.

There was only one place where she could escape him.

She rolled across the concrete, grabbed the pool's edge, and flopped into the water. Holding her breath, she pulled herself through the water.

A splash came beside her. Knowing he'd come after her, she skimmed the surface, taking another breath, but Mr. Owens grabbed her ankle. Kicking out, she fought the water, fought the hold, pulling handfuls toward her, trying to break free.

The water was over her head, but she sensed Mr. Owens could stand. At a disadvantage, she fought to get her head out of the water. The second her mouth cleared the surface, she gulped air into her lungs before he pulled her back into the water's depth.

She grabbed his fingers, straining to pry them off her leg. But she wasn't strong enough.

Her lungs burned. She gave up the fight and pulled herself through the water until she'd stretch her full height. Her hand touched the air, but her head was still underneath the surface. The pressure in her head pounded. Panicked, she kicked her captured legs with all her might.

Spots filled her vision.

Darkness consumed her.

She was going to die in the water.

And Bane would never know how much she loved him.

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