Page 3 of Cinder
She loved books so much, she became a rare book collector and encouraged both her daughters to read.
“What are you in the mood for?” I ask, holding up her two favorite Harry Potter books. “The Sorcerer’s StoneorThe Chamber of Secrets.”
Lucretia thinks for a moment. “The Sorcerer’s Stone.”
I give her a bright smile. “Good choice.”
But the sound of car tires in the driveway draws my attention toward the window.
I cross the room quickly to see what’s happening outside.
Luca.
And he’s back early.
Oh hell.
With alarm pounding in my heart, I watch as he brings the Bentley to an abrupt halt and flies out of the car at a rapid pace.
If he finds out I’ve been sneaking out, he’ll let his cruelty out to play when he punishes both Lucretia and me.
I hurriedly turn to Lucretia. “I have to go. Make sure this door is sealed after I’ve gone.”
“Ella, why is he back?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m scared. Is he going to start yelling at you again?”
I give her a reassuring smile. Despite the fear building in my stomach. “He probably just forgot something. Why don’t you write one of your stories until I get back.”
Her face brightens. “Okay.”
I give her a quick kiss before disappearing through the hidden door and back along the corridor to my room, wondering why Luca is back so soon. My brother is a creature of habit. He leaves the house every evening at the same time.
Something made Luca break his routine.
My gut tells me that something has everything to do with me.
I close the door to the secret passageway and lean against it, forcing myself to control my breathing. But my heart is pounding so hard, it’s a struggle to catch my breath.
Does he know I’ve been sneaking out to see Lucretia?
No, he couldn’t know about the hidden corridors.
My father kept them a closely guarded secret.
He had them constructed so he could get his family to safety if a threat came from inside the house. And my father never told him about them because he didn’t trust him.
Thank God.
Now they are the only reprieve I get when he locks me in my room for whatever reason he can conjure up.
If he doesn’t know about my visits to Lucretia, then what caused him to turn around and skid to a stop outside the house?
I hear footsteps outside my bedroom door, and I know it’s him.
Quickly crossing the room to resume my place at the window, I bite back my fear and straighten my spine, because when Luca visits, I never know what he is going to do.
