Page 125 of Cinder
“It’s going to be okay.” I try to reassure her. “Try to keep calm.”
She starts to cry, but Viktor grabs her by the hair and yanks her head back, strangling the sobs in her throat.
Carolina watches from the stairs. A smile of excited anticipation on her cruel mouth.
“Let’s try that again, shall we,” Luca says, enjoying himself. He starts to circle me again. “Did you enjoy your first taste of cock?”
Across the foyer, Lucretia whimpers.
“Yes,” I whisper.
As Luca circles, I frantically scan our surroundings, considering everything and anything I could use as a weapon. The crystal ashtray on the marble table. The umbrella in the umbrella stand. The marble bust of our grandfather by the stairs.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,” he growls.
I could grab the ashtray and smash it into his jaw.
But if I did, Viktor would hurt Lucretia.
We’re trapped.
“Yes,” I say harshly.
Luca stops circling and leans in. “Slut.”
His breath skates over my skin.
I close my eyes so I don’t see the slap coming. But I feel it. He slaps me so hard I swear it reverberates around the foyer.
“Was he worth it?” he growls.
But I don’t answer. Just open my eyes to glare at him.
Him and his pathetic attempt at being fierce.
He’s not fierce.
He’s a coward.
He grabs my jaw and brings his face closer. “I repeat. Was he worth it?”
I look him in the eye.
“Yes.”
CHAPTER 57
Lars
Santo fills me in,and I sit opposite him feeling like a fucking fool. Mouth agape. Heart raging. Mind trying to make sense of it.
I hear it all.
How Ella isn’t who she said she was. How she is the daughter of a respected don. Mafia born and raised.
How her half-brother has waged terror on the family.
Yeah, I know him.
