Another slap jolts me out of my thoughts. “You’re hurting my feelings, princess. I feel like you’re not listening to me.”
There’s a click and a light so bright that it’s glowing through the thick material of the hood. He rips it off me and a groan escapes as I squint, trying to turn away from the light searing my corneas.
He starts laughing, it’s harsh and mocking. “Aw, princess. You pissed yourself. Did you even know? Yeah, you’ve been sitting in your own piss. That’s fucking pathetic.”
Don’t underestimate the impact of humiliation.It’s Professor Campell’s voice again.Sometimes, the words can cut deeper than a knife. Be prepared for that.
“If you give me your name, princess, I’ll get you out of this chair and you can take off those piss-soaked clothes. Take a nice, hot shower, put on something warm? I’ll even slap a band aid on that toe.” I still can’t see enough through the spotlight to determine anything other than his shape. “What do you say?”
I close my eyes again and he leaves, slamming the door behind him. The light stays on, searing my eyelids.
Professor Campbell’s voice is trying to remind me of what to do next, how to prepare for the next round of torture. But the cold little voice is whispering in my ear, and she’s drowning out the professor.
It wouldn’t be so bad. You’ll just go to sleep. It’s not like you let Roman down. He sent you here. It’s not your fault you got sick…
“What the fuck did you do to her!”
Oh, I didn’t even hear the door open this time.
“Stupido bastardo!She’s ice cold! Fuck- I can’t find a pulse!” I hear the sudden terror in his voice and I realize that it’s Lucca. I feel hands tearing at the bonds on my wrists and ankles and I moan as I’m lifted out of the chair. My head lolls against his shoulder and the comforting scent of his cedar, rum, wintergreen, and worn leather fills my senses. He’s putting his jacket around me before taking off for the steps leading out of the basement at a run.
“Where the fuck is Dr. Giardo! Why the fuck wasn’t he checking on her! He’s supposed to monitor all the interrogation subjects!” I hear terror in his voice and I feel sad that he’s upset. Even though he’s jostling me painfully as he breaks into a run, I don’t care. I’m so happy he’s holding me. He’s so warm…
Chapter Twenty-Six
In which love is stronger than despair. Also, Aleksandr’s dad is such a perv.
Tatiana…
“Ti amo, dolce ragazza. Per favore svegliati.I love you, sweet girl. Please wake up…”
There’s the whisper of a prayer. It’s in Italian but something about the rhythm tells me I’m right.
Lucca…my mouth shapes the word but I don’t think I spoke it. A calloused finger strokes over my lips.
“Piccolo bacio.Wake up, baby.Ti amo…”
Bozhe moy,I feel like a litterbox that hasn’t been cleaned in a year.
“Tati?”
It’s Lucca, my eyes open and he’s blurry. Trying to smile as much as my cracked lips allow me, I whisper, “Hey,velikolepnyy.”
He presses his lips to my forehead and pulls away abruptly, yanking open the door. “She’s awake!”
“Move over!” It’s the cranky voice of Dr. Giardo. “Miss Aslanova, you gave us quite a scare.” His thumb pulls open my eyelid, shining his light against my defenseless cornea. “Why didn’t you tap out?”
“What?”
Is that my voice? I sound like I’m 800 years old.
“Why didn’t you call an end to the exercise when you reached your limit?” Giardo elaborates crossly.
“Oh,” I croaked. “I didn’t know I could.”
He pulls back. “Did you pay attention to any of the instructions? Atall?”
I’m looking past him to Lucca, who is hovering as close as he can. He looks so beautiful, his amber eyes glowing for me like they used to.
