Page 81 of Cinder
“I heard you, Luca. But that won’t be necessary. I won’t fail. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Good. Because you should know, I have sent Lucretia away to an out-of-country boarding school.”
I gasp. “Why?—”
“Insurance. That you will do as I say. One word to the Knights or to anyone about who you are and what you aredoing there, and I will have the men stationed outside of the school take her into the woods and do the worst possible things to her.” He leans closer and whispers, “Right before they slit her throat.”
My heart beats like a drum. Fear twists in my gut. I should’ve known Luca would take extra steps to ensure my silence.
I can’t get her to safety when I don’t know where she is.
And if I confide in anyone about what my brother and Viktor are trying to do, then he’ll ensure I never see her again.
“Where is she?”
He chuckles. “You don’t need to concern yourself with her whereabouts. She’s quite safe.For now. All you need to concern yourself with is doing exactly what I tell you.”
Unshed tears brim in my eyes.
I might never find her if I don’t comply with his commands.
Inwardly, I steel myself and lift my chin, determined not to show him the raging fear I feel.
One day I am going to kill this man, and I am going to rejoice when I’m doing it.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Luca. I know exactly what to do.”
CHAPTER 37
Lars
In Church,Beast brings the rest of the club up to speed.
“Do we have any idea who killed him?” Bear asks.
“Devil’s Kitchen is a blind spot,” Bram adds. “Minimal cameras. Nobody willing to talk.”
“So we don’t know who came and went out of Cheezy’s apartment,” I say.
“Or put a bullet in his skull while he was doing the five-finger shuffle,” Axe adds.
“Is it possible our suspicions about Cheezy were right and he was the one who sold the clean routes on the dark web?” Rogue asks. “Maybe they paid him a visit.”
Gambit frowns. “But why would they kill him?”
Rogue shrugs. “Maybe they’re afraid he’ll say something to the wrong person.”
“Dead men can’t talk,” Axe says.
“It’s possible,” Beast says. “The sheriff will keep us up to date with any new developments but in the meantime we’ll do some digging of our own. I also want another crew to join me on patrol tonight. I want eyes on the roads to see what is passing through our territory.”
I volunteer.
So does Balls.
And we head out straight after church.
I volunteered because I’m trying to figure out what is going on with me and Ella. I’m trying to make sense of my feelings for her.
