Electricity pulsed through my ankle, and the pain radiated up my entire body. Screams echoed around me, but I couldn’t see. Couldn’t process anything beyond the pain.
Then just as quickly as it started, it was over.
I lay slumped against the floor, my breaths coming in jagged gasps.
Sebastian kneeled next to me, and whispered in my ear, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I gasped back.
Sebastian gently ran his hand across the crown of my head before standing in front of me, blocking Luca from my sight.
“I’ll do it, just leave her alone,” Sebastian said.
What was he promising? I pushed myself up and forced my shaky legs to stand.
“You’ll do what?” Lucaasked, glee glittering in his eyes.
“What you asked for earlier. I’ll do it. Just don’t hurther.”
“Don’t promise that asshole anything. I can handle it,” I growled.
Ignoring me, Luca responded to Sebastian, “Fine. But I can’t allow her to get away with this completely. She attackedone of ourmen.”
Luca’s attention shifted back to me as he continued, “Selene, you and thisAnyagirl will pay all of Lorenzo’s medical bills and any additional damages. However,only Anya will bephysically harmed.”
Sebastian's eyes narrowed, but I spoke before he could.
“No,” I growled, and Luca’s eyebrows raised. I was sure that wasn’t a word he was used to hearing. But there was no way in hell anyone was laying a hand on Anya.
“Leave Anya and Sebastian out of this. I can handle whatever you throw at me,” I said.
Images of the last time he’d tortured me swam through my mind.
“Selene, let me handle this,” Sebastian said, his posture stiff.
“You’re stupidly brave,” Luca said to me with raised eyebrows. “But I’d rather have what Sebastian’s offering me than you writhing on the floor.”
“Fuck you!” I snarled, pushing away the remnants of the memories.
“Don’t push me too hard. You may pretend like you aren’t scared, but Iknowthat isn’t true,” Luca said. Bile moved up my stomach, but I kept my face hard as he continued, “Plus, I have Anya locked up in the basement. Are you really sure that you want to push me?”
Shit. He had me. I couldn’t push back, or he’d take it out on Anya.
I dropped back in the chair with a groan.
Luca smirked, knowing he’d won this round.
He stepped forward and began laying out the terms. “You and Anya will take full financial responsibility for Lorenzo’s medical bills. It also appears he has a concussion, so you'll also repay him for missed work.” Luca paused after glancing at Sebastian. “However, you and Anya will not be physically harmed for this.”
Great, another debt I’d owe. I seriously hoped Lorenzo was a peon rather than one of their top men. I groaned internally. The man had said he probably made more in a year than I made in my entire lifetime. He was definitely exaggerating, but I still didn’t want to think how expensive the cost of his lost wages would be.
“Luc, just let it go. I already said I’d do what you asked,” Sebastian said.
Luca’s face hardened. “She has to learn there are repercussions for her actions. Don’t push me Sebastian, or I might feel less generous.”
“I’ll handle the bills on my own. Don’t punish Anya for this,” I said.
Luca smiled.
