Hurrying through the crowd by the pool, you searched around for where you’d left your purse. A small smile spread across your face as you remembered dancing with Rafe inside, remembered how he’d held you close and whispered in your ear to leave with him. Now, if you could just find your purse and avoid your drunk ex boyfriend Max, the night would be perfect.

Your eyes land on it, on a lounge chair right next to the pool. Finally. You walk over, picking it up and turning to leave. That’s when you see him, and the dread settles in your stomach. You know a scene is unavoidable. Your eyes search the crowd for Rafe, not seeing him you square your shoulders, preparing for the confrontation.

“Leaving so soon?” He moves closer, his words slurred. You’re forced to take a step back, edging closer to the pool.

“Yeah, I was just heading out” you say calmly, trying to defuse the situation.

“You think you’re too good for me don’t you? Started hanging out with Rafe and forgot me” he growls, pushing you closer to the pool’s edge.

“No..no, I don’t” your voice has a panicked edge to it. You glance behind you at the pool. You didn’t know how to swim. He’s crowding you, your heels are right on the edge and as he takes one more step, his arms gesturing wildly, he makes contact and you’re falling into the deep end.

You sink down, your clothes dragging you under and all you feel is panic. You can’t think. All you see is the darkness of the water, all you feel is the water surrounding you, enveloping you in its darkness.

Rafe searches through the crowd for you. He was getting worried. You’d been gone for longer than you should have been. He sees a crowd by the deep end of the pool, and he elbows through it. His heart drops as he sees you at the bottom of the pool.

He doesn’t think, he just dives in. Swimming easily down to the bottom, wrapping his arms under your shoulders and swimming back up to the surface. You’re coughing and spluttering and he’s never felt more relieved.

He has you cradled against his chest, walking through the crowd, glaring at everyone who looks at you, even as he’s whispering to you, telling you that you’re safe now. His eyes land on your ex, and the rage coils inside him.

“You’re dead. Do you hear me?” He growls at him, clutching you more tightly. No one was ever going to get away with hurting you now that you were his.