Page 2 of A Madness of Crows

My fist slams into his face, snapping it back and loosening his grip enough for me to fall to the floor between the opposite seats. My foot comes up, kicking him in the chest as he grabs for me again with anger growing on his face. A trickle of blood runs from his nose as we face each other, both of us breathing heavily.

“Enough,” he snaps, dragging his hand across his nose and glancing down at the scarlet streak on the back of his hand. “I’m going to enjoy teaching you how to behave.”

His hand smashes into my face, sending my head bouncing against the floor of the car. It’s enough to daze me with whateverthey gave me still floating around my skull, and I taste iron in my mouth as Salvatore follows.

My hands come up again, andfuck, I wish I had my knives. The struggle is pitifully short as we wrestle, my feet kicking in desperation as he flips me over, his knee digging into the space between my shoulder blades, pressing down until I’m gasping to try and suck oxygen into my lungs.

“Better.” His voice is silky. “This is not a battle you’re going to win, Caterina. Breaking strong-willed women happens to be my specialty.”

I almost vomit into the carpet beneath my face as fingers stroke through my tangled hair.

“You’re not acrowanymore,” he murmurs. His face is next to my ear, his breath hot and gusting as I hiss, still trying to break free. My struggle renews as metal clinks - wrapping around my wrists, tight and unyielding.

“You are Caterina Asante now, and your new role requires a different set of skills. Skills I intend to teach you, startingnow.”

He leaves me there. Leaves me trussed up on the floor, his feet pressed into my back so I can’t move, as he settles back into his seat.

I yank at the restraints, try to break them, loosen them,anything. But they’re solid as rock around my wrists.

“Keep going,” he murmurs. “I rather enjoy watching you struggle. Although you should save your strength. Our wedding party is waiting.”

The words slide along my spine like oil, and I can’t stop the shudder. “Will you enjoy it when I humiliate you in front of your men?”

My voice… it’s raw. Croaked words dragged from a dry throat.

I need a drink. A weapon.Something.

In the absence of either, I need to make do.

He sounds almost bored when he responds. “You will find it extremely difficult tohumiliateme. I don’t give a flying fuck if I have to drag you there in chains, kicking and screaming. You’ll learn eventually, and it will be all the sweeter when you break.”

“Would you not prefer I walked in obediently?” I dangle that thought, hold it within his reach. “The beaten loser in the fight? I assure you, I have plenty of fight left in me. But I’m willing to leave it… until after. Let you have your little moment of glory, Asante. For an exchange, of course.”

The words taste sour on my tongue, but I force them free, offer them to him. The silence stretches on, his fingers tapping against his thigh. I twist my head to peer up at him. Pale blue eyes look back at me.

He looks at me as I’m… a thing. Not a person.

A trophy.

I hold his stare. “Well?”

“In exchange for what?”

Breathe.

“Send our meeting coordinates to Giovanni Fusco’s phone,” I breathe. “That’s it.”

The foot at my back disappears as he leans over. Salvatore inspects me, his eyes sweeping up and down. “And in exchange, you will… behave.”

I lick my lips. “For the party only.”

Because what happens after that… I will not be able to lay down and accept that. I can’t.

He pulls out his phone without saying anything else, and I hold my breath.

If he sends the location to Gio…

Find him, I pray silently.Find him, Gio.