Page 154 of The Silence Lies

I bite back a sob and narrow my eyes. I refuse to let Gabriella grow up alone. Even if this wasn’t my doing, I knew what Giovanni was going to ask me earlier. I need to get out of here. I need to find her. I don’t owe Giovanni shit for what he did to me, but this has gone past the point of blame. I won’t let another innocent girl fall into the hands of Luciano and his sick ways.

“You’re right,” I grin through a bloody mouth. “I did this.”

I use all my energy to push away from the wall. It’s minute, but just enough to shock Luciano, enough to swing my body and lift my knee to his groin.

“Figa stupida!” Luciano’s fist connects with my ribs, stealing my breath. I coil over, but Luciano has me pinned against the wall again, stepping between my legs.

My throat scratches as I try to swallow my fear. I refuse to beg or give in, though. I might not have been taught to withstand torture, but I refuse to give Luciano the power over me. He may have broken me on the inside, but he’ll never know. I’ll die before he ever knows how broken I am.

“All you have to do is say those words!” Luciano bellows. “And then all of this will go away!”

Another lie.

“Never!”

“Fine!” Luciano snaps, shoving another fist into my side. The agony rains down as I drop to the floor. He kicks at my slumped form over and over. Never breaking his rhythm, his momentum never falters.

My insides burn up, my throat feeling like it’s tearing from the inside out. I refuse to go out this way, though. I’m determined to get myself out of here, even if it kills me. Nobody is coming to save me, not even the man who swore to protect me. There’s no sign of Luca or Levi. As far as I am aware, nobody knows where I am. At least I can rest easy with that thought because I know they’re safe. I don’t think I could bear to lose either of those men, even if it was to rescue me.

Every kick in my stomach sends waves of nausea through me, but I push forward, fighting through aching limbs and a blood filled mouth. I look past his form, to the light filling the doorway. I try to crawl forward, desperation pumping through me.

“I don’t think so,” Luciano cackles.

I scream out as agony rips through my hand and I collapse. I look at where Luciano’s shoe flattens my palm, my fingers outstretched, crunched beneath his weight. Blood dribbles from my mouth and down my chin, but I don’t have the energy to spit out, so I just let it fall from my parted lips, watching the crimson strands slink to the ground.

“I knew I’d enjoy your fight.”

Grabbing my hair, he yanks my head up to rub my bottom lip with his thumb. It’s a gesture that I would normally enjoy from anyone else, but being this weak has definitely put a shit spin on things.

“I always admired this body, Serafina,” he grins, grabbing my tits harshly. “And now I have you all to myself. Are you going to be a good little mouse and scream for me?”

I cry out, the cold air against my hard nipples makes it all hurt. But that’s what Luciano wants. My cries, my screams. He revels in my pain because it’s the only power he’ll ever get.

I shiver as the cold air wraps around my naked body. I’m aware of my state, covered in dirt and blood, but it doesn’t seem to deter Luciano. He shoves me backwards, crawling on top of me, until his weight pushes into me. It feels like every single bone is about to crack, and it rips agony right through me like I’m being split in two.

Through blurry vision and empty screams, I see Luciano shift slightly. My heartbeat pounds in my ears, my breaths coming out in staggered heaves. I’m more than familiar with how Luciano likes to take control of situations, but despite the turn of events, I know I won’t survive this.

Then I hear the zipper.

I kick out, but between his body and the concrete, there’s not much give for me to escape. It doesn’t stop me though. I slam my head forward, butting heads with him.

It fucking hurts like a mother fucker, but I don’t care. It momentarily stuns him, giving me enough time to crawl out from underneath Luciano’s groaning form and stumble clumsily to my feet. The room feels like it’s spinning, my nausea returning as I gulp in air.

Oh no.

The ground meets my body once more, offering me the coldest embrace.

“You’re going to pay for that,” Luciano hisses as he grabs on and yanks me backwards, pinning me to the ground with his body again. “I was going to make this sweet for you.” His hands fumble between our bodies. “But now, I don’t really care!”

He parts my thighs with his own, his hand gripping my throat. All my energy has been exerted and I’m back to running on fumes. Suddenly, the prospect of getting away seems like a dream.

I give into the helplessness and cry out.

“Oh, you’re so pretty when you beg.” He runs his tongue over my face, the cut of his earlier incision stinging from the contact, but I force back the bile and tears.

It won’t stop him. I can already feel him pressing against my entrance, forcing himself as hard as he can. Though I know he’ll struggle. That knee to his balls must have done a number on him because even though the numbness, I can make out him struggling.

I’m all out of tears, all out of energy. The darkness that blossoms from the edges of my vision starts to close in.

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