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e water and scraped my toe. I cursed beneath the surface and forced myself back up, gasping for air in the process. I looked down and saw wisps of blood mixing in with the water. I tilted myself onto my back, floating as I brought my foot out of the water. Damn it, I’d really scraped my big toe up good. It stung, too.
I wasn’t done swimming, though.
I turned around and started with a breaststroke, moving beneath the water like a graceful frog, as weird as that sounded. And as I worked my heart rate up again, my thoughts fell back to my parents.
I wasn’t sure what they’d think. I mean, I knew what they would think once they figured out what was really going on. But my father took my change in major hard enough. He’d shunned me for three days because I didn’t want to follow in his medical footsteps. It had been torturous, too. I loved my father. The nickname ‘Daddy’s girl’ was apt for me. I loved him dearly. I wanted him to be happy with me. To be proud of me.
And I knew he wouldn’t be if I told him any of this.
He’s a criminal, Danika!
My father’s voice echoed off the corners of my mind as my hands slapped against the edge of the pool.
He’s a biker, for God’s sake!
I pushed off the wall, the water rippling over my back.
A man with no prospects. How could you do this to yourself? To us!? As a family!?
I kept kicking beneath the water, leaving my father’s voice behind in my wake. I swam beneath the surface, straining my lungs as the wall on the other side came into view. I pulled myself through the crystal liquid, kicking with all my might. My lungs protested. My eyes began to dim. And just when I felt my hand touch the wall, I came up for the biggest, most refreshing breath of air to date.
“Hiya, Bambi.”
Through my goggles, I saw him. Benji, with that cocky little grin on his face. I gazed up into his menacing eyes, watching as he crouched down in front of me.
“That a new tattoo I spy on that thigh of yours? Got it wrapped up pretty tight. Why don’t you come a little closer so I can get a good look at it?”
I pushed off the edge of the pool, desperate to get away from him. But he reached out quickly and caught my wrist.
“Let me go,” I hissed.
His grip tightened. “You made a mistake, little deer. I know exactly what that tattoo is. And it makes you one of them. For life. Your timing couldn’t have been any worse.”
“Let. Me. Go!”
He chuckled. “Your mistake is my gain, I suppose.”
I struggled to break free, but he wouldn’t release me. I pressed my feet against the edge of the pool, but I felt the bandages around my thigh giving way. I gasped and quickly straightened my legs. If any water got up underneath those wrappings, I could get an infection. So I splashed him with water. Trying to get it in his eyes so he’d let me loose.
But all he did was bark with laughter.
“Cute. I’ll give you that.”
I snarled. “I swear to fuck, Benji, if you don’t let me go, I’ll scream.”
He looked me dead in my eyes. “Yes. Yes, you will.”
I thought he was going to drag me out of the pool. Just hoist me up and have his way with me. I didn’t like the twinkle in his eye. I didn’t like the feeling of his skin against my own. But, instead of pulling me out, he released my wrist. I quickly pushed off the edge of the pool, treading water a few feet away from the edge. And as he stood to his feet, smirking down his nose at me, he straightened up his jacket.
“Watch yourself, Bambi. This town isn’t going to be good for the Red Thorns anymore.”
My heart raced. “What are you talking about?”
He slid his hands into his pockets. “You’ll see. I promise you, you’ll see.”
His laughter echoed off the walls as he made his way to the exit. I watched him the entire way, feeling those bandages getting looser around my thigh. He peered over his shoulder at me and winked, then disappeared out the door. And the second I could, I scrambled to the edge of the pool.
Where I hoisted myself out.
