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“You think I don’t know that it was you?”
Matteo. His deep, sinister voice slices through me, and the blood in my veins becomes ice. I struggle in his grasp, but the arm around my middle tightens, and the pressure on my ribs becomes so painful, I know he’ll leave bruises. A whimper slips from my lips without permission.
His teeth nip at my ear. “This is all your fault. All of it. Now I have to live in that piece of shit room you used to live in. Wait until my father gets here…” He squeezes me a little tighter, and the air in my lungs becomes a wheeze. “As soon as he arrives, you’ll wish you had never met me.”
Something inside me snaps, and the urge to hurt Matteo festers. I’m tired of being the weak mouse, caught in a trap. I want to be the big bad cat. I want to be strong. I want to save myself. I struggle in his grasp, moving my arms backward, hoping to elbow him in the side. I hit him in the ribs, but it does nothing, and his hold on me tightens.
“Yes, keep struggling. You’re making my cock hard.”
Weak. I’m weak. The words resonate in my mind. I need to do more to protect myself. I need to take care of myself.
Gritting my teeth, I pull forward and then slam my head backward. My head contacts his face, and he releases me instantly. I gasp at the release, shocked I’ve escaped him.
“You fucking bitch!”
I whirl around and press myself against the wall. He cradles his face in his hands, but I can see a rivulet of blood trailing down his face.
A door slams somewhere down the hall, and I watch Matteo’s beady eyes fill with panic. Still, he turns his attention back to me and growls, “You’ll pay for that. Maybe not today, but soon.”
His warning lingers in the air, and I stand tall, my body threatening to crumble to the ground. My chest rises and falls rapidly, and my galloping heartbeat fills my ears.
I’m vaguely aware of him leaving, and I scurry across the floor like a newborn fawn. My fingers are slick with sweat, and I scan my keycard. Rushing through the door, I slap my hand against the light switch to turn it on. Whirling around, I slam the door closed and toss my bag near the tiny closet.
All I can think about is making sure the door is locked so I can erase the whispering threats from my mind.
I want to pretend this is a nightmare and that at any minute I’ll wake up in my bed. I stare at the door, part of me hoping Quinton walks through it.
He could save me, protect me, but he won’t. I’m not safe, and maybe I never was, to begin with.
Matteo is out for revenge, and something tells me he won’t stop until my blood is coating his hands.
24
QUINTON
As soon as I step into the large open space of the gym area, my eyes land on the one person I’ve never seen before. Instantly, I’m reminded of what my father told me yesterday. This must be him. Alessio Bianchi’s son. Just like my eyes are drawn to him, his are drawn to me. As I walk toward the group, he doesn’t hide the fact that he sizes me up. Neither do I. He is tall and well built, his skin is tan, and his hair is black like mine.
To a normal person, he would look casual and relaxed in the dark gray sweatsuit he is wearing, but I notice things others don’t. I notice the way his right foot is set an inch behind his left, the way his knees are slightly bent, and his eyes are constantly scanning his surroundings for danger. He is ready to fight, probably stays that way constantly, just like I do.
I catch a movement out of the corner of my eyes, and when I tilt my head, I find Aspen trying to sneak past me. For the time being, I let her; knowing I need to give this newcomer my full attention.
“Now that we are all here, please welcome our new student, Vito,” Quan announces, and every person in the room turns to look at the newest member of Corium’s elite.
Vito gives a curt nod but chooses not to give a further introduction. Fine by me. I’ll find out who you really are one way or the other.
Quan goes over some fighting techniques while I keep a close eye on the new student, who pretends to listen to Quan while his eyes keep searching the room as if he is memorizing each corner, each exit, and each face.
“Partner up,” Quan’s voice booms across the room, and I immediately look around for Aspen.
Normally, I stay close to her throughout the class, but I’ve been preoccupied and didn’t realize she moved around. When I find her, Vito is already talking to her. Motherfucker.
