Brazen (Brazen #1)(14)

After her shower, she dressed in denim cut-off shorts and a tank top. She didn’t bother with shoes and headed down stairs. She could hear Carmen bustling around in the kitchen and knew she should go check in. Carmen would be worried.

Instead, she found herself outside on the back patio, stepping closer to the edge of the pool.

She stared into the sparkling blue water, marveling at the fact that something so beautiful and peaceful could evoke such terror.

Mesmerized by the shine of the sun reflecting off the iridescent swirls, she knelt down, gripping the concrete ledge with both hands.

Can you breathe underwater, bitch?

His laughter rang in her ears, suddenly muffled as he shoved her head underneath the water. It filled her ears, her mouth, her nose.

His hand gripped her hair and yanked upward, just when she thought her lungs would explode. She gasped for air, choking as she coughed up water.

Change your mind yet? I’ve got all night. One way or another, you’ll do as I’ve told you.

Jasmine shuddered and closed her eyes to ward off the memory. Each breath came in a shallow gasp. Her chest rose and sank in rapid succession as she struggled with her panic.

Still, she forced herself to stare down into the aqua depths of the pool. She could see herself underneath the placid surface, fighting for her life. She could see the hand holding her under and hear the derisive laughter ringing in her ears.

“No more,” she whispered. “No more. Never again.” Her fingers dug into the side of the pool as her anger built and swelled inside her chest.

So much rage, suppressed for so many years. For so long she’d felt that maybe she’d somehow deserved it, but now she had such fury inside her. She wanted to wrap her hands around the bastard’s neck. There was no telling how many young girls he’d preyed on. How many had been forced into a life of sexual slavery because of him? She’d been lucky. An odd twist of fate had thrown her into Seth and Zane’s path, a fact she would be eternally grateful for, but there were others who hadn’t been as lucky. Where were they now?

No tears threatened her this day. She was too damn mad. And in that fit of anger, a surge of rebellion welled up and festered like an infected sore.

She stood up and before she could think better of her decision, she jumped into the water.

It was cold. A shock to her system. Though she’d jumped into the shallow end, her feet slid on the bottom, and she sank below the surface.

Panic hit her square in the face, and she nearly inhaled as she scrambled to get her feet back underneath her. When she finally righted herself and got her head above the water, she was gasping. Her pulse pounded, and adrenaline ripped through her system.

Every instinct screamed at her to get the hell out of the water, and for a moment, she froze, unable to process exactly how she was going to get to the steps. She couldn’t seem to make her legs work. Her arms flailed ineffectively, splashing the surface like an injured seagull.

She closed her eyes and willed the terror to go away. Get a grip. If she could slap herself, she would, but she couldn’t seem to make her arms cooperate either.

There she stood, in the middle of four feet of water, completely powerless to do anything but shiver in the breeze. She laughed at the absurdity, and then she winced at the harsh sound.

“Walk, you dumbass. Wade over to the steps,” she grated out.

Her throat seemed to close in on her, reminiscent of how she felt underneath the water, lungs burning, seconds away from taking in a huge breath only to have the water rush in.

She heard a shriek. Carmen. Then she heard the pounding of footsteps. Had she left the patio door open?

“Jasmine! What the hell are you doing?” Seth demanded.

She looked up to see him charging to the side of the pool, looking as though he was going to jump in after her. She giggled. She couldn’t help it. It sounded strained, thin and tinged with hysteria. But the idea of Seth jumping in to save her when she stood in four feet of water seemed ludicrous.

“Jasmine, honey, come out of the pool,” he said in a more soothing tone. “Come over to the steps.”

She looked down as if expecting her legs to cooperate. Her feet swam in and out of her vision as the water swirled and shimmered.

She was in the water. And she wasn’t freaking out. Okay, maybe a little, but she’d done it without completely losing her sanity.

“Jasmine,” he said in a firmer tone. “Honey, you need to get out of the water now.”

Was he afraid she was going to throw herself into the deep end? Fat chance of that. She nearly giggled again. She didn’t have a death wish.

When she looked back up at him again, he was reaching for his shirt. Was he coming in after her? She frowned, remembering her self-lecture from earlier. She didn’t need saving, damn it. No, she’d saved herself this time.

She turned and forced one foot in front of the other. She heard a hiss as Seth sucked in his breath. She glanced back at him, connecting with his gaze. His worried gaze.

“I can do this,” she said quietly.

The concern lessened, and his features visibly relaxed. She glanced at the steps, seemingly a mile away. Then she made herself take another step forward. The water slid easily over her skin, dragging a bit, which added another layer of panic.

But she was determined that this time she would win. She trailed her fingers through the glossy surface. Brought both hands in front of her to cup a handful of the water. She pushed upward, water streaming over her fingers as she raised her hands. She opened her hands and let the water fall with a light splash.