Page 92 of House of Lies
“You’ve been shot before?”
“Shot, kidnapped, tortured. I don’t die that easily.”
“Stabbed,” she adds, pursing her lips.
“That too. How are you feeling?”
“Mentally? Unstable.” She shrugs. “Physically? Better.”
“You know you can talk to me if you need to. I’ll always listen.”
“I know.”
Her hair feels like silk under my fingers. I can’t wait to have her in my house for the next six months. It’s a slippery road. It won’t do my obsession any good, but things are not as bad as I thought. She took my proposal and hasn’t tried to open the door and jump out of the plane so far.
“How long until we land?”
“At least thirteen hours. You should get some sleep.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re afraid of flying.” It’s not a question.
She swallows, avoiding my gaze.
“I’ve never been on a plane before. It’s just new, that’s all.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“Would you?” She sounds surprised.
“All you have to do is ask, moya solnyshko.”
“What does that mean?” She stands up, waiting for me to follow.
“You can ask anything but that,” I smirk.
It’s something my father used to call me when I was a child. An endearment I didn’t think I was ever going to use. She rolls her eyes, taking my hand.
CHAPTER 60
Caelia
“Is this what you want, whore?” he sneers. My limbs feel numb, and my temples throb. All I want is to turn back time and stay with him. I should never have tried to run away. “Open your fucking eyes and look at me when I talk to you!”
I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter, refusing to obey his command. His thrusts inside me are aggressive and ruthless. I sense the blow coming before I feel it. There’s not much sensation left; the cold has numbed my body. I’m starving. I’m bleeding.
“Fucking look at me!”
I don’t need to open my eyes to know that Mattia is watching as Ludovic destroys my body. Mattia has been standing in the same spot since the beginning. I can hear him giving orders to his brother while he strokes himself.
“No.” I shake my head. “Fuck you! No!”
“Shh, Wildfire. You’re safe. Come back to me.” I wriggle, throwing my arm back with all my might, trying to escape the arms that hold me captive. “Fuck!” I hear as I accidentally hit him with my elbow before I can stop myself. I roll until I land on my backside. Looking at my surroundings, I remember where I am. Fuck indeed.
“Kaz? Oh, shit!” I stand up and crawl back to bed. He’s wiping the blood dripping from his nose with the back of his hand, looking like he just woke up. I must have disturbed him with my squirming. My body is covered in sweat, and my clothes are sticking to my skin. “I’m so sorry,” I sigh. “I didn’t mean to.” I lean over his body and take the box of tissues from the nightstand. “Here.” I take a couple out and hand them to him.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”