My hands scrabble at the edge of the fountain, desperately seeking something to hold onto while my bare feet slip and slide in the water spilling over the fountain's edge.
I can't breathe.
My heart pounds like a drum in my chest.
Pressure builds in my chest with such force that it's a wonder my ribs don't crack, and he holds me under with such strength that my cheek rests against the base of the bowl.
I'm going to die here.
I'm going to die because whatever plan they had to kill Kon in the street failed and Daniil died instead.
I'm going to die here and I'll never see my family ever again.
Mathew suddenly drags me up out of the water by the hair and pulls me against his body while I gasp for air like a drowning fish.
"You're so fucking lucky I still need you," he hisses against my cheek. "Or I'd fucking kill you right now." He shoves me towardthe sink and stalks away as if doing me a favor by restraining himself.
"Fuck… you," I gasp, panting heavily. "Are you insane? Calvin is right outside the door. How the hell would you explain this?"
As if hearing his name, Calvin suddenly pounds on the door in a rhythm that's so familiar, I think I might have heard it in the background while I was underwater.
"Rose!"
Mathew turns to me, eyes like daggers. "Unless you want me to kill him, tell him to fuck off." The anger pouring off him is smothering even from the other side of the room. Calvin's sweet. He's strong but I don't know if he's strong enough to take Mathew, and then what would I tell Kon?
"I'm fine!" I yell back, pouring all my frustration toward Mathew into my words with Calvin. "God, can't you leave me alone for five minutes?!"
Silence greets me and guilt knots in my chest.
Fuck.
"Here." Mathew digs a box out of his pocket and tosses it at me. Still disoriented, I fail to catch it, and it clatters to the floor. A pregnancy test.
"That's the only reason you're alive right now," he hisses. "So fucking take it and help me decide if it's even worth keeping you alive."
I pick it up slowly and clutch the counter for balance. "Where?" I shoot back as tears spring into my eyes. "There's no bathroom here."
"Piss in the fountain for all I care, just fucking take it."
Three minutes later, Mathew stands with the test in his hand. "You better be pregnant."
"I've been trying," I snap back. "It's not instant."
"Have you been trying hard enough?" His smirk turns cold. "You should be all over him like you were all over me."
My stomach rolls and bile warms the base of my throat. "I was never all over you," I whisper hoarsely. "You raped me, you son of a bitch."
"And Kon isn't?"
"No, I actually want him to fuck me and he's good at it."
Mathew's eyes narrow. "Potato potahto."
"You're fucking insane!" Tears leak down my cheeks. "I should go out there and tell Calvin everything, and watch him splatter your brains all over that fucking wall."
"Oh really?" His gaze turns dark. "Do you really think it's wise to leave Beatie alone with Lev?"
The thought of Mathew's other brother, the middle child, makes me shiver.
