“You—” I snapped my lips shut. I had almost said “you too” out of habit.
He let out a chuckle. “I’m sure I will.” He looked around the dark, dank cell, then moved toward the narrow bed and sank down.
I felt horrible for leaving him like that. “I’ll be back.”
“I’m counting on it.”
With a last weak smile, I left.
Iwaited for two days before Achille Lamorgese came for me the first time. The halogen lights attached to the wall across from every cell glowed night and day. They didn’t reach my cot. Sleep wasn’t at the forefront of my concerns, though.
I imagined what I’d do with the shard in my hand. It was from the plate I’d broken for that very purpose. The plate Amelia had given me. I doubted she had even for once second considered what a mere plate could be turned into. My mind always saw the potential for a weapon in everyday objects, something my father had trained me with from an early age.
It was late at night when the heavy door to the cellblock swung open, and Lamorgese entered, followed by Eduardo and three bodyguards. The guards had taken my expensive watch yesterday, so I wasn’t sure exactly what time it was.
Lamorgese favored his right side and looked ashen. My knife had definitely done its job.
He stopped in front of my cell, his smile menacing.
“I hope it hurts,” I muttered, faking bravado despite the fear simmering in my veins. I didn’t know what to expect, only that it would be painful. Father had hit me often, sometimes out of anger, sometimes for training, and I had done kickboxing and cage fighting since the age of four. Still, I knew the additional humiliation and helplessness during torture made it much harder to bear. I didn’t want to give Lamorgese the satisfaction of knowing my fear, though.
Lamorgese rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, revealing arms that hadn’t seen a real fight or gym in a while. “Let’s see how long your arrogance lasts once I carve you up with my knife.”
My stomach roiled with anxiety, but I kept my face unimpressed. Fear was the enemy.
Lamorgese motioned at Eduardo. “Unlock the door and take him to the interrogation room.”
Eduardo hurried to follow the order, unlocking the door and stepping inside. “Get up.”
I stayed where I was, pretending I hadn’t heard him. I wouldn’t make this easy for them.
“Get up now!” Eduardo hissed, glancing at Lamorgese cautiously.
“I’m good where I am.”
Eduardo was by my side in two long strides and reached for my arm. My fingers around the shard tightened. Launching up, I rammed it into the side of his throat with full force. He stumbled back with wide eyes, clutching his throat and making choking sounds. His horrified gaze moved to Lamorgese as if he hoped the asshole would jump to help him. Eduardo was replaceable. Lamorgese wouldn’t shed a single tear over his demise.
“Grab him and watch out for weapons!” Lamorgese barked at the other men. I curled my fingers around another shard, thankful again for the plate Amelia had used to bring down my food.
Eduardo stumbled back until he hit the bars, then he sank down, gasping like a fish and trying to form words.
I didn’t feel an ounce of pity or regret. The three other men stormed the cell at once and ambushed me. I shoved to my feet when they were close enough and managed to slam the second shard into the shoulder of one of them before a fist collided with my face, knocking me back. More hits followed until I was disoriented, and blood filled my mouth. Brutal hands ripped my arms behind my back and tied them together, then two of them dragged me out of the cell past a furious Lamorgese.
“Go to our doctor and take him with you,” Lamorgese muttered, nodding toward Eduardo, who didn’t look like a doctor would be of much use anymore. The amount of blood that soaked his shirt and pants likely made up half of his body’s supply.
I was carried out of the cellblock into a room that my father had used for questioning in the past. The two assholes strapped me to a metal chair bolted to the concrete floor and checked that I was secure before Lamorgese appeared before me with a self-indulgent sneer.
“I’m wondering where you got the shards from? They remind me of the plates I get my food served on…” He narrowed his eyes. “Curious thing.”
“Maybe the last prisoner forgot them in my cell,” I said with a smirk.
His fist smashed into my nose, followed by a sickening crunch of bone breaking. I let out a muffled groan as pain spread in my face. Blood filled my nose and trickled down my throat,forcing me to swallow. Breathing became difficult, so I sucked in air through my open mouth.
“Who gave you that plate?”
“I got the delicious rotten sandwiches decorated with feces on that fancy plate.” I had flushed it down the toilet. Thanks to Amelia’s provisions, I hadn’t been tempted by hunger. Though more than two days would have to pass without eating for me to touch shit-covered food.
Lamorgese backhanded me even harder, whipping my head to the side. My neck ached from the sudden motion, and my head rang with the beginning of a headache. It was still nothing I hadn’t experienced before.
