Page 131 of Cinder
“What happens now?” I ask, trying to keep my tone even.
But Viktor’s cold, harsh voice turns my veins to ice. “Now, it’s time I receive my goods.”
CHAPTER 59
Lars
I pushmy Harley harder than I’ve ever pushed her. I tear through the darkness toward the Moretti estate, my heart beating like a war drum against my ribs. My nerves of steel are buckling beneath the emotion ripping at my insides.
Love. I’ve fought against it my whole life. Because I know it is more powerful and more destructive than anything else in this world. I’ve done everything I can to avoid it. From fucking randoms, to indulging in two, three, four at a time.
But life has changed. And it washerthat changed it.
Ella.
I know without a doubt I am in love with her.
I don’t give a fuck that she lied.
I know the worlds we live in.
Mafia. MC. You do what you gotta do to survive.
It’s not like she had a choice. She was forced into a corner by her psychopathic, sniveling, crybaby of a brother.
And I’m going to rain down fire and brimstone on his head if he has harmed her.
I grip the handlebars tighter and don’t allow those thoughts to linger in my head. Because a world without Ella is a world I don’t want to be in.
When I arrive at the Moretti estate, a guard stops me at the security gate.
“Tell that piece of shit to come and face me,” I demand.
Before the guard can reply, his phone rings. He puts it on speaker.
“Lars Andersson, I take it?” the voice on the other end says. It’s Luca Moretti, and he sounds like he’s having fun. “Your reputation precedes you. Apparently, you’re some hot shot enforcer I should be afraid of.”
“Why don’t you open these gates and find out.”
He thinks for a moment and then chuckles. “I think this is going to be fun.”
A loud buzz breaks into the predawn light and the gates start to open.
Revving my bike, I pull away from the guard post and roar up the long driveway to the front door of the mansion.
Bounding up the front steps, I come to an abrupt halt when the door opens a crack, and I see Ella’s beautiful face.
Her eyes are red and her cheeks are tearstained.
“Baby…”
“Lars, you shouldn’t have come,” she says softly.
I move toward the door, but before I reach it, a man in a suit that is slightly too tight steps in front of Ella.
“Not so quick, buddy,” he says with a smug smile. He makes a show of tugging on the end of his shirt sleeves. Making me wait. Showing me who’s boss.
“I’m guessing you’re Luca,” I say.
