Page 84 of Twisted Bonds
"Please, Brant, get off. You're crushing me," I tell him, no emotion whatsoever in my voice. I'm beginning to gasp while trying to breathe with how his weight is pressing into me.
Brant stares at me briefly, growls angrily, and then stands once again, yanking me up. Throwing some clothing at me, he orders, "Get dressed. We're home."
I look out the window, confused. "Home?"
"My home away from home, and yours, too, for the time being." He keeps his eyes on me until I close myself in the tiny bathroom.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I hold up the clothes and see that it's actually women's clothing. A dress wouldn't be my first choice, but anything to get me out of Brant's oversized t-shirt. I quickly wash myself before dressing in clean clothing that is a perfect fit. All the while, I'm running through different scenarios as to ways I may be able to break free of Brant.
Brant is still in the small cabin when I exit the bathroom. Whatever is on his phone screen worries him if the look on his face says anything. My eyes dart to the small lamp on the nightstand, and with Brant being right next to it, I make the split decision to lift the lamp and swing it at his head. Getting him on the side of the head, the impact is still enough to knock him over.
"Son of a bitch! Get back here!" he calls out angrily as I open the door and flee down the hall.
The cabin I've been held in is at a dead end; there is only one way to run, and so I do. I hear the door slam against the wall when I reach a flight of stairs. I glance back, and Brant is taking large strides towards me.
"There's nowhere for you to run to, Ryan. Now be a good girl and stop. I'll even paddle that ass for you if that's what you really want, but I don't do whips." Brant's voice is mocking— he’s amused by this little chase.
I rush up the steps and come to an open deck. I don't stop, and when I round a corner, I run into a drink cart, knocking it, and myself, over. Brant has caught up to me, so I scramble to my feet. Noticing a large piece of broken glass, I snatch it up to use as a possible weapon.
"Stay the fuck away from me, Brant!" My arm goes out in front of me with the glass pointed at him, surprisingly, with a steady hand.
"You're not going to hurt me, Ryan. We're friends…"
"Wewerefriends, you psycho fuck!" I notice a dock a short distance away as I look over his shoulder. It would be an easy swim for me.
Suddenly, another voice calls out from the other side of the boat. "Stay the fuck away from her, Castor—if you know what's good for you!" Brant and I snap our heads in that direction, and I stumble backward. "Careful, poppet, you don't want to fall overboard."
"Sergio…" I breathe his name out.
"Let me take care of this, poppet. Just stay back." Fucking Sergio D'Angelo is standing on the deck of another boat not far off.
But he's supposed to be in prison. Is that what this is about? Am I to be turned over to Sergio once again?
Shaking my head, I back up slightly before stammering, "N-no. I'm not going back to that place."
"We will discuss it later, poppet. Now just stay back, and I'll come to you…"
"No! I will never live that life again…" I stare at the sharp, broken glass I'm still holding. A chorus of 'no's and 'don’t’s’ filters through my ears, but then what sounds like waves crashing drowns out the yelling, and a deep burn rises to the surface as I slide the glass across each of my wrists. Looking up, Sergio and Brant stare in disbelief, too stunned to even move—good. "Fuck you both. Now, neither of you can have me."
Dropping the piece of glass, blood drips everywhere as I back up to the edge, where a flimsy little rope is all that keeps us from going over. It's funny, there's a strange look on Sergio's face, almost as if he actually cares about me. Maybe it's because he can no longer have his revenge on me, or perhaps it's because he's losing his pet poppet. Either way, I grin at him one last time, and with a wink in his direction, I let myself fall backward over the side of Brant's boat. I hear my name dancing on the breeze one last time before I hit the water, and it sucks me under.
Forty-Seven
Ryan
The weight of my dress helps me sink lower and lower. I'm crazy for doing this, but I can't let them win this time. I don't have the strength to fight anymore, but as I sink closer to the bottom, my lungs begin to burn, and fear takes hold.
I've always been afraid of drowning, but here I am, ending my life in just that way. My only regret is not being able to say goodbye to my loved ones. Laney and Heather will take good care of the Foundation, and Liv, well, she will have a new little one to take care of. Bain and Beau…
My body jerks from lack of air.
I see Beau and Bain's faces on each side of me, almost like Bella saw Edward's in that vampire movie when she was being reckless just so she could see him again.What am I doing? I've overcome so much in my short life, and now what? Am I just going to give up?
My body jerks again, but this time, I open my eyes. The dark lake water doesn't allow me to see much, especially since I've sunk so deep.I can't go out like this—I won't!I kick my feet and move my arms, hoping to breach the surface soon.
Slowly, my limbs come to a stop, and I have no energy to move any longer. I can feel my body begin to shut down. I open my mouth to call out for help, but all that does is fill my lungs with water. I try to kick my feet again, but I no longer feel them as my body drifts.
I'm so sorry I wasn't strong enough, Beau, and I'm sorry for making you love me only to leave you, Bain.
