As I shut my eyes, my strength dissolved. My limbs felt heavy, useless, broken. Every part of me was on the verge of collapse.
My body was desperate for air, for relief, and ready to surrender to Enzo.
To let him win. To let him own me.
At the same time that thought hit, he lifted me from the water.
My face broke through the surface, and I dragged in air like I’d just discovered what it was. Heavy gasps tore from my lungs as I violently coughed and spat up water.
His massive hand gripped the back of my head to suspend me above the water. Water streamed off my face.
He fisted my wet strands to remind me who was in control.
“Now, I’ll give you one more chance.” He tugged my head back until our eyes met. “Either I kill you or you agree to be my Fawn.”
At this point, I didn’t understand why he needed my agreement.
He’d already made my decision for me.
I choked out more water, my lungs burning, and said, “No.”
His gaze stayed glued to mine, so firm that he didn’t blink once. “If you thought I was brutal with Jett, you don’t want to find out what else I’m capable of. I’d advise you to reconsider your response with a three-letter word.”
“If I say yes …” I stopped, struggling to pull air into my lungs. “You won’t kill me?”
He cocked his head, as if he was still debating whether to do just that. “Why would I kill you? I plan to use you.”
Cold dread washed over me.
Use me.
“But you won’t kill me after?” I pressed, needing to hear that answer.
“I won’t kill younow.”
A shiver ran down my spine. I felt so drained and cold.
“Fine.” My chin shook as I wheezed out breaths.
Tears heated beneath my eyes at how easily I’d surrendered.
Enzo pulled me away from the water, making sure my face didn’t strike the stone. When he finally released me, my legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground beside the fountain.
He sat on the fountain’s ledge above me like some dark statue connected to it.
I shivered, staring at him as my teeth clattered.
“Good girl.” He petted my drenched hair like I was a dog who’d just learned a new trick.
I didn’t even have the energy to smack his hand away. That didn’t stop me from glaring up at him. He watched me beneath the lights, his stare rattling my core, and stroked my hair.
His fingers worked through my wet hair as his focus locked on me.
That unblinking stare of his was back.
It made me think he had more words on the tip of his tongue, but was holding them back.
He licked his lips again before biting into the bottom one, as if stopping himself, before dropping his hand.
