Page 27 of Ruined By a Devil

I try yanking my wrist, but he doesn't let go.

“You're going to regret humiliating me,” Nolan continues and my heart pounds harder. “And after that, you'll understand where you belong.”

That’s all it takes and I gather all the strength I have left to drive my knee upward as hard as I can. I’m tired of men acting like they have the final word in the most important decisions of my life, of being treated like a ragdoll on a string. I watch as Nolan folds instantly and his grip lets go of my wrist as both of his hands fly toward his groin. He makes a strangled sound and drops to one knee.

I don't wait for him to get up, I run. My shoes slip against the stone beneath me, but I don't stop. I can hear people laughing somewhere behind me, completely unaware of what just happened.

Unfortunately, I barely make a few steps before a hand closes around the back of my arm.

“Bitch,” Nolan yanks me backward despite my screaming and twisting as I try to pull free.

“Let me go!” For one terrifying second, I see the pool behind me and then he throws me.

My body hits the water hard, the cold shock stealing the air from my lungs and I just continue to sink, everything around me becoming bubbles and muffled noise.

My dress pulls against my body immediately, heavy and restrictive as I try to kick upward, but the fabric tangles around my legs. My lungs burn as I reach for the surface, panic exploding through my chest.

I can't breathe.

My hands claw through the water, searching for something to hold on to, but there’s nothing. I don’t even know how much time passes before I feel an arm wrapping around my waist and someone pulling me upward.

I break up the surface with a violent gasp, coughing as air rushes painfully into my lungs.

“Jade!” Malachi’s voice cuts through the panic, anchoring me.

He drags me toward the edge, one arm locked around me while I cough and choke, water streaming down my face and dripping from my hair. My fingers desperately clutch at his shirt.

“I've got you,” He reassures me but I can't answer. I'm shaking too hard.

He lifts me out of the pool and sets me down on the stone, but he doesn't let go immediately. His hands move over me, checking my arms, my face, my shoulders. I could almost swear that there is genuine fear behind his eyes. Or maybe I’m delirious.

“Are you hurt?” He asks, his voice steady.

“N-no…” I try to breathe, but even that feels like hard work in this moment.

When I look past his shoulder, I see Nolan is still standing in the same place by the pool.

Malachi follows my gaze and the moment he sees him, his entire body goes still. He takes a deep breath and wipes the water from his face, brushing his hair back with his hand, before he stands.

I barely have time to realize what's happening before he grabs Nolan by the collar, not even giving him a chance to speak. The sound of his fist landing on Nolan's face makes me flinch.

Nolan stumbles backward but Malachi grabs him by the front of his shirt once again, and knocks him to the ground getting on top of him. The people around us finally begin to notice what’s going on. The music continues to play for another few seconds before someone rushes to shut it off.

“Malachi!”

He doesn't seem to hear them. Or maybe he just doesn't care, his full focus on Nolan who is now trying to defend himself.

“You put your hands on her again,” I hear Malachi’s voice through the loud chatter between us. “You’re going to wish you had killed me when you had the chance.”

The sound of another punch landing fills the air.

“Malachi, stop!” I jump to my feet, shouting, but he doesn’t stop. He has Nolan by the throat now and the crowd has gone completely silent. I can almost hear my own heartbeat.

“Malachi!” Ezekiel reaches him first and he grabs Malachi's shoulder, trying to pull him back. “That's enough.”

Malachi shoves him off but Cain moves in immediately, and the two of them catch Malachi before he finishes off Nolan with his bare hands.

“Let me go,” Malachi speaks. “He put his dirty hands on her.”