Page 5 of Cinder
He steps closer, and I’m engulfed in a cloud of his expensive Italian cologne.
“Imagine my surprise when it quickly created a bidding war of offers.” He reaches for a lock of my hair and slowly winds it around his finger. “You’re my most valuable asset, sweet sister. You are going to make me a very rich man.”
“You are already rich. Our father ensured that.”
Luca glares at me. He doesn’t like any reminders that he is only the most powerful man in town because our father built the empire he now rules.
He comes closer and leans in, his breath grazing my cheek as he says, “And you are going to make me even richer when you marry one of these men.” He slides his hand down my body and cups me between my legs. I stiffen, revulsion rising in my belly. “This virgin pussy is going to make me a king. You see, I don’t want just the kingdom. I want the entire fucking world.” Hecups me harder and squeezes, making me wince. It’s not the first time my brother has put his hands on me. He likes to show me who’s boss, and it’s usually his hands that do the talking. Especially around my throat. “And you’re going to make sure I get it.”
He releases me, and I step back, desperate to put some space between us. My nerves rattle.
“Luca please?—”
He sighs. “Of course, if you refuse, there is always Lucretia.”
A gasp hitches in my throat. Our sister is only sixteen years old. Fear grips at my heart when I think of her being forced into marriage at such a young age.
Surely Luca wouldn’t sell her off when she is so young and innocent.
I look at my brother.
Of course he would.
“She’s just a child,” I say.
“She will be seventeen next week.”
The way he says it ignites the protective part of me that would do anything to keep her safe.
“You stay away from her, or?—”
“Or what?” He grabs my jaw and forces me back into the wall. “You listen to me, and you listen to me good. I am the boss of this family now and what I say is the law. You get in my way and I will destroy you. If your sweet virgin cunt can’t grant me the deals I want, then I’ll make sure all of my men visit you, one after the other, to fuck the disobedience out ofyou, over and over until you can’t walk or talk or fucking breathe. And then I’ll send them to Lucretia’s room to do the exact same thing. Do you understand me?”
His hand slides from my jaw to my throat and he squeezes.
I can’t breathe.
I start to see stars, and my hammering heart pounds in my ears. But I know he’s not going to kill me. I’m worth too much to him alive.
Just like I know I will be punished if I don’t do as he says.
And so will Lucretia.
Feeling my lips going numb and the pressure build inside my skull, I try to slap his hand away but he doesn’t release the pressure. In fact, he tightens his fingers as his lips curl into a snarl, and I see the flash of his perfectly white teeth.
“Am I going to have any more trouble with you?”
I hear the menace in his voice. See the depths of depravity in his dead eyes.
Somehow, I manage to shake my head, and he releases his grip on me, and I drop to the floor, clutching my throat and sucking in deep, heavy breaths of air.
“Now pull yourself together and get dressed.” He walks toward the door. “It’s time to find out who your new husband is going to be.”
CHAPTER 3
Lars
When my knucklesconnect with the man’s nose, blood sprays across his face and the back of my hand. Pain shoots through my bones but barely registers because of the adrenaline flooding my veins.
