4

Ernest POV

Jake says to me as I sit across from him in front of the fireplace, "You were meant to keep her." He just returned after working on a few jobs, and he doesn't usually spend the night here. Unless his demons come to bother him.

They torment us all, but especially me.

I sigh at what he said.

"Dog." He passes me a crystal tumbler of whiskey and I turn to face him. "She could be useful to us."

"For?"

He smiles. "Marriage. The males will definitely be kind at first.

Staring into the flames, I respond to him, "You all get enough pussy."

Indeed, but one who lives in? As like this is the greatest idea he has ever had, he nods.

"Jake, we don't rape women."

"Whoa." He raises his hands. That was not uttered by anybody. We could give her money. Many times.

"No," in response. Though we are many things, it is not who we are. And during our lives, we've committed a lot of bad things.

"Dog."

Each of us turns.

With his arms folded in front of him and his gaze fixed on the ground, Phillip stands there. "She requested to go swimming. She's not inside. Phillip turns around and leaves.

I finish my drink, set the empty glass down, and get up.

"I'll wager she screws your minds out. There's something so darn fuckable about the silent ones. I turn to go, and Jake chuckles. Since it's preferable not to encourage him, I don't answer him.

She's still wearing that outfit when I go outside and see her sitting on the edge of the pool. I turn to face her and gesture for Phillip to come in.

She is unique.

She's not at all what I anticipated, but I'm not sure how to put it.

"You must believe that I'm a feeble woman," she remarks, gazing down at the surface of the pool. I don't know how she knows it's me. "That wasn't how I was always. Even when you're not aware of it, there are moments when things shatter you and you let them to.

I answer her with nothing.

I am at a loss for words with her.

She doesn't want to hear what I have to say.

She's obviously had enough of me being cruel for now.

"There are moments when I just want to vanish." As she advances, her body plunges into the water, causing her to slump forward and eventually get completely buried. As I approach the edge of the pool, I see her reaching down and not raising her body to breathe.

I glance at my watch to see what time it is, then return my attention to her.

She remains underneath.

For one minute.

For two minutes.

She eventually pulls up off the bottom, taking in air as she reaches the surface, just as I'm about to dive in after her.

Her stare tightens as it focuses on mine as she looks at me. "What's off?"

"What makes you believe that something is amiss?"

"You look like this." She gives a headshake. "Never mind." She then submerges one again while I time her.

This time, she stays down for about three minutes before rising again, but this time, she is having trouble breathing.

"I used to go swimming every day, in all kinds of weather. It was a way out. She turns over on her back and begins to float.

"Why are you revealing this to me?" I don't remember inquiring about her life story.

"I thought you should know who is living in your house since we have to spend a week together." She turns and swims to where the steps are, turns to face me, and climbs out, her dress now clinging to her narrow tiny figure. "Give me my phone,"

"You're asking for things now?"

Those eyes focus on me, suffused with the scent of lush woods and sweet honey.

I wonder why she never handed it to him since I can sense the disobedience in them. Judging from his words, he was in complete control of her. However, her fire is seen there, glimmering behind those deer eyes as she waits for someone to strike the match and light the tinder box.

"No, I'm asking for my phone. I have a job to go to after this week, and I know for a fact that he's going to go home and sell everything we own, leaving me with nothing."

She's correct; it's likely that he's doing it now.

I do business with them since I am well aware of their character. Everybody has a reason for being here in this life. Some people don't even try to steer; they simply go along for the ride.

"You ought to enter the building."

The Mirella opens her lips, shuts it, and moves past me.

I'm still not sure whether I want to murder her or not.

We'll find out in time.