~Hermes~

The water muffles everything—the sound of the world, the noise in my head, even the ache sitting in my chest. Down here, beneath the surface, it’s quiet, and peaceful. For a moment, I let it hold me.

Then my lungs start to burn, and I push upward, breaking through with a sharp inhale. The air feels heavy, humid, pressing against my skin as I blink the water out of my eyes.

I rest my arms on the pool’s edge, staring out at the lounge side of the house. The Grande estate—his ...