Page 123 of Cinder
Yep, I can’t see this working out in Luca’s favor.
“Meaning?” I ask.
“Your brother is a psychopath,” he says. “He was lucky I needed him more than he needed me. Which I suppose was unlucky for you.”
I frown. What does he mean by that?
Luca sold me to Viktor in a malicious auction. But Viktor is talking as if this is more than that.
His cold eyes seek me out again. But looking at him makes me sick to my stomach, so I turn my face back toward the window. “It sounds like you regret your arrangement.”
“I had little choice about it. I needed unhindered access to the coast roads. They belong to the Moretti.”
And there it is.
Luca didn’t just sell me to Viktor. He also sold his soul to the Bratva kingpin and joined forces with him.
“When I asked your brother what he wanted in return, he said there was only one thing he wanted.”
I turn to face him again. “Which was?”
Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror.
“Revenge.”
When we arriveat the Moretti estate, Viktor grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the car.
But before I can take a step, he yanks me to him and bringshis lips to my ear, “Time to face the music, you fuckingblyad.”
Whore.
I turn to look him in the eye. “I’d rather be his whore for five minutes than your wife.”
The back of his hand slaps into my face and his pinky ring catches on my cheek, tearing into the skin.
I taste blood.
So I spit at him, and blood splatters across his face.
He slaps me again. “Pizda.”
Cunt.
“I should kill you,” he snarls.
“Enough,” Luca barks from the doorway.
Its two a.m. and he’s wearing a suit as if he’s dressed especially for the occasion.
No doubt this is his grand finale when he tortures me to death.
Beside him, Carolina looks like Cruella De Ville, dressed in a long gown, ridiculous hat, and a face full of makeup, puffing on her long white cigarette.
“Get her inside,” Luca demands.
Viktor shoves me up the front steps and into the house.
I struggle to swallow because my throat is cold and tight with fear.
