Page 124 of Cinder
When the door closes behind us, Luca turns to me with a menacing smile, and I know whatever happens next is going to hurt.
I bite back my fear.
And I thank God Lucretia isn’t here to witness what is going to happen to me.
CHAPTER 56
Ella
Carolina stands by the staircase,while Viktor shoves me into the middle of the marbled foyer where Luca begins to circle me like a shark.
Silently.
Slowly.
Toying with me.
Trying to intimidate me.
He wants to squeeze as much fear out of me as possible.
But I hold my own. I lift my chin. Square my shoulders.
My face hurts from where Viktor struck me, and I can still taste the metallic tang of blood inmy mouth.
But I don’t show it. Just brace myself for what is about to come.
Luca makes a point of releasing a deep breath. As if me purely breathing is a disappointment to him.
“So tell me,” he starts. “Did you enjoy your first taste of cock?”
I close my eyes.Here we go.
I had hoped he would skip the theatrics and just get on with it.
But then, Luca loves his games.
I open them again. “Nothing happened.”
Luca stops circling and his black shark eyes burn across at me. “This will go so much nicer for you if you don’t lie to me.”
He nods to Viktor who disappears.
Which is a giant red flag.
To my horror, when he returns, he brings Lucretia into the room with him.
Oh God.
She’s not overseas at boarding school at all.
Fear erupts inside me, and I start to panic. “Let her go.”
She’s frightened as Viktor hustles her into the foyer.
“Ella?” she cries.
I want to run to her, but Luca blocks me.
