Page 87 of Filthy Elites

No sooner we are in the hallway than he punches me in the face, rendering me useless for a couple of precious seconds. I taste blood in my mouth, and my ears are ringing. I try to remember my aikido lessons, but it seems I forgot everything. Two weeks of practice wasn’t enough.

I have no idea where Juan is taking me, because my vision is blurry too. The last time he took his time using me as his punching bag. I doubt he’s going to repeat that again, not when the possibility of discovery is much higher here. Which means I have to escape him before he can kill me.

We go through a set of double doors, and I finally recognize my whereabouts. He brought me to the swimming pool. I see nothing in reach that I can use as a weapon. I pray for a miracle, which happens in the next second. Juan slips on a patch of the wet floor, almost losing his balance. I don’t think twice, I body slam into him, and together we fall into the pool.

He releases me, and I don’t waste any time, I kick my legs and swim away from him as fast as I can. But my damn long dress tangles with my legs. He catches me and then proceeds to choke the life out of me.

My survival instincts take over. I know I can’t dislodge his hands from my neck, but I can inflict pain. I grab his face and press my thumbs over his eyes as hard as I can. Bubbles come out of his mouth as he screams underwater. I’m free again.

I break through the surface with a loud gasp. A coughing fit follows as water comes up my throat. I keep swimming toward the edge, knowing he’s right behind me.

“You fucking bitch.” He grabs me by the hair and yanks hard.

I scream, but soon it gets muffled by the water entering my mouth when he pushes me under. For a dizzying moment, I see nothing but bubbles of air. I’m drowning, and there’s not a damn thing that I can do. I think about Jason, about all the things I didn’t say to him, and regret consumes me.

I should have told him I loved him sooner, I should have…. lived longer.

ChapterThirty-Six

Jason

I burstthrough the doors like a hurricane. The motherfucker is in the pool, too busy drowning Isabelle to notice my presence. I yank my jacket off and dive in. Submerged, I have a clear view of her, and she isn’t moving.

No. I can’t be too late. I just heard her scream.

My vision becomes tinged in red. I don’t care about consequences. I’m killing the son of a bitch tonight. I grab him from behind in a chokehold and yank him away from Isabelle. I’m too aware that I need to end this fast and help her. But it’s obvious he won’t make it easy for me.

We thrash in the water, and I begin to lose my grip on him. The slack allows him to elbow my stomach, and he breaks free. Isabelle breaches the surface in that moment, and a wave of relief washes over me. But my distraction costs me, and I don’t react fast enough to block Juan’s punch. My head is thrown back, and blood fills my mouth.

Then there’s a sudden pressure around my neck and I’m down under water again. I throw punches and kick him blindly until I connect with flesh. I’m free, but I don’t go up to the surface. I grab him by the lapels of his jacket and shove him against the wall.

I’m conscious I’ve been under water for too long, but I’m riding on my rage. I grab his face and bang his head against the wall again and again. Whisps of blood curl in the water like vises, yet I still don’t stop.

Isabelle appears next to me, floating like a siren. She touches my arm and pulls me away from Juan. The moment I release him, he sinks, unmoving.

I take a deep breath when I return to the surface, and then I pull her into my arms.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Y-yes. How about you?”

“Fine.”

I search her face and get hit by another bout of fury when I see the swelling on her right eye. I want to scream and cry.

“I’m so sorry, babe.” I kiss her softly on the lips, afraid to hurt her.

“Don’t apologize for saving my life,” she whispers.

Footsteps echo in the open room. I turn and find Finn, Luke, Reid, and Cameron sporting similar stupefied looks.

“What happened?” Finn asks.

“Isabelle’s ex-boyfriend tried to kill her again,” I say.

“Isabelle?” Finn raises an eyebrow.

“That’s my real name,” she replies. “I had to change it and move to Triton Cove because of him. It’s a long story.”

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