Page 48 of Unspoken Promises

She nods quickly, adrenaline clearly coursing through her, and she breathes hard. “That was less painful than the last time you saved me.”

A wary, meek laugh slips from her lips, and I know that scared the shit out of her, but people have gathered around now. Everyone is watching so she’s slapped on a brave face.

Karl leans over us. “I’m sorry… I didn’t know you couldn’t swim…”

I ignore him for the moment. I need to get Ava out of the pool. She’s shaking with the shock of it.

“Look at me…” I place my hand on her cheek.

Her gaze meets mine. Her pupils are so large I can hardly see the red-brown iris anymore.

“You’re all right… let’s get you out… okay… hold the edge. I’m going to pop out and get you on dry land. You okay with that?”

She nods again, still speechless, and reaches both hands to the edge and holds on so tightly she’s white-knuckled. I press myself out of the pool then grip her forearms to pull her out. She stands there soaked and dripping, hair stuck to her neck and the side of her face.

As if the emotion of almost drowning finally occurs to her, she throws herself on me. “Thank you, Enzo.”

My hands land on her waistline, and I wish the world would fall away beneath our feet and the walls of the life around us would disappear so I could enjoy her flesh in my hands. But everyone is watching. Thankfully, Penelope piles in behind Ava for something of a group hug, taking the tone of the embrace down a notch. We lead Ava to a lounge chair, and Callum puts a towel over her shoulders.

Now that she’s okay, I most definitely am not. Rage courses through my veins, and I snap my gaze to the man who did this to her.

Karl starts to apologize again, but he’s interrupted by my fist grabbing his stupid Hawaiian shirt so tightly he nearly comes off the ground. “You fucking leave this property now. You don’t work here anymore.”

“Hey, it was an accident.” He puts his hands up innocently. He glances over to Ava for support.

“Don’t look at her.” I growl. I jostle him with the grip of the fabric I’m grasping so hard my veins are thick and popping. “Get. Off. My. Property.”

By now, Rio is standing behind me with his arms crossed, deliberately making his biceps look twice as big, backing me up. My dad and Santi stand next to Ava, and Dad puts another towel around her shoulders and rubs her back.

“Santiago,” Karl pleads.

Hearing his voice again only makes me tighten my grip.

“Come on, man…”

Santi comes to my side. “Zo… let him go.”

I can’t help but snarl in the fucker’s face but I release him with a shove. Karl attempts to find some dignity and smooths his shirt, but everyone is looking at him with disgust.

Santi places his hand on my shoulder. I’m still heaving with anger.

“My mess, bro, my cleanup. Come on, Karl, I’ll walk you to the gate.”

Shock sparks on his features. “The gate? Wait. What the hell?”

“You’re fired, man.” Santi starts walking, fully expecting Karl to follow.

“What? We have a contract! I gave up my job in Europe…”

“The lawyers will work it out,” Santi says in that nonchalant way of his that if you’re on the receiving end is painfully patronizing. “Are you coming with me or am I giving my brother the pleasure of dragging you?”

Karl spurts something in German that I can only imagine are obscenities. He’d better leave soon because I’m not giving him any more credence.

Thankfully, he grabs his cell from the lounger in complete disgust and follows my brother, disgraced.

Rio announces to the crowd, “All right. Nothing more to see here.”

He claps his hands, and people seem to understand it means get back to the party.

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