Page 80 of Mafia Don's Secret Twins

I think my mom taught me this one with the vision that one day, I would likely need it to escape.

One day.

I silently glide into the water. I take a few tentative strokes, noting how smooth it feels against my skin, before I drop the routine of silence and shut my eyes.

I start to swim, eyes closed, and see how long I can go without breathing. How long it takes me to reach one side and push away, gliding back.

How long it takes me to stuff the memories down of my father, and remember the ones I love instead.

The girls.

My mother.

Unbidden, Dino’s face springs into my mind. I pull up, gasping, wiping water out of my eyes.

I can’t count him among the things I love.

I don’t evenknowhim.

The brutal man from several days ago. The bloodthirsty fighter. The man who entered, uncalled for, and stood before my father.

Drakos.

I tread water, trying to shake my head as I rid myself of thoughts of Dino.

There’s a sound. It’s so small I might miss it, but in the pool room, every sound is magnified. I can hear the water sloshing, and my own breath, sawing in and out of my lungs.

And something else.

The back of my neck prickles. I spin, looking around.

It feels like there are eyes lingering on me.

“Andrei?”

The word echoes. The door to the pool room snaps open, and Andrei comes in, his pistols out.

“Marisol. Are you okay?”

I frown. I look around again. There’s no sign of anyone else, and the room echoes with the last of Andrei’s concerned footsteps, accompanied by the light slap of water against the tiles.

“I’m fine,” I whisper. “I just…”

I pause.

I just thought someone was watching me.

15

DINO

A week.

That’s how long we’ve been waiting for the motherfucker to pose his next goddamn challenge.

One.

Fucking.

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