Page 56 of Cinder (MC Fables #2)

E lla

Carolina stands by the staircase, while Viktor shoves me into the middle of the marbled foyer where Luca begins to circle me like a shark.

Silently.

Slowly.

Toying with me.

Trying to intimidate me.

He wants to squeeze as much fear out of me as possible.

But I hold my own. I lift my chin. Square my shoulders.

My face hurts from where Viktor struck me, and I can still taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.

But I don’t show it. Just brace myself for what is about to come.

Luca makes a point of releasing a deep breath. As if me purely breathing is a disappointment to him.

“So tell me,” he starts. “Did you enjoy your first taste of cock?”

I close my eyes. Here we go.

I had hoped he would skip the theatrics and just get on with it.

But then, Luca loves his games.

I open them again. “Nothing happened.”

Luca stops circling and his black shark eyes burn across at me. “This will go so much nicer for you if you don’t lie to me.”

He nods to Viktor who disappears.

Which is a giant red flag.

To my horror, when he returns, he brings Lucretia into the room with him.

Oh God.

She’s not overseas at boarding school at all.

Fear erupts inside me, and I start to panic. “Let her go.”

She’s frightened as Viktor hustles her into the foyer.

“Ella?” she cries.

I want to run to her, but Luca blocks me .

“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.”