Upsurged ( Protection and safety unit Book 2)

Chapter 24

Nova

I gasped for air as I felt the water closing in around me, suffocating me. Helion's men held me under the water, their hands gripping my arms tightly. The voices around me were muffled, distorted, I was hearing them from underwater. All I could hear was the screams of Amara's men and Rei calling out for me.
Pain shot through my lungs as I struggled to breathe, the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision. Just as I felt myself slipping away, I was yanked out of the water by my hair, my body heaving for air.

"Who are you? How many of you are there?" one of Helion's men demanded, his eyes boring into mine.

"Go to hell," I spat, before being plunged back into the water.

My legs flailed as I tried to touch the bottom of the pool, but the man held me upside down, the water rushing into my nose and mouth.
I fought against the hands that held me down, the panic rising in my chest. Just when I thought I couldn't hold on any longer, I was pulled out of the water once again.

"Are you all so stubborn?" the man asked, turning my face to his again.

"Bite me," I replied, still gasping for breath.

"Enough!" came Helion's rough, coarse voice.

The way he spoke, he had an unmistakable Russian accent I am sure.
"Kill another one," he said, the "r" rolled, which gave the sound a special sharpness. He is Russian I'm sure of it.

"No please," Duke shouted, causing Helion to raise his hand and his man lowered his gun, which was aimed at one of Amara's men.

"Oh boy you really have balls..." says Helion laughing as he turns to Duke "But you're brave I must say." he adds.

"Leave her alone...I'm the one who can give you answers," Duke replies.

Rei looks from me to Duke, her eyes taking in the whole room we've been in since we arrived, too many men...far too many surrounding us.
Duke and Rei are on their knees, tied up just like the surviving men from Amara who were with us.Helion has already shot two in front of us, just for fun, to show us how much power he has.

" Who are you?" Helion asks again.

"We're nobody," says Rei.

Helion laughs, his voice echoing in the room as he glances from Duke to Rei.
" She's with you," he says knowingly.

Duke swallows with difficulty, keeping Helion's eye contact.

" The way she looks around...she wants to be brave so badly. But the fear in her eyes is too great," says Helion, watching Rei.

"You know nothing," Rei says to him angrily.

"I see you protecting your belly...your hands holding it protectively...you're pregnant" Helion realizes.

Duke looks at Rei, who swallows hard and holds Helion's gaze.

"What," Duke asks, confused.

"He doesn't know" says Helion laughing.

"I wanted to tell you when all this is done," Rei answers quietly, turning to Duke.

His eyes are fixed on Rei, the strong Duke who a few minutes ago was still resisting Helion is breaking before my eyes.

"You're pregnant" Duke says looking over Rei's face while she nods slightly.
" Why the hell didn't you tell me?" he asks her.

" If I had, you'd leave me at home, she replies.

" That's where you belong...Woman...you're pregnant, "Duke says, upset.

" No..I could never leave you alone...Never" she replies, eyes full of tears as she looks at him.