I have a feeling this will be the last time I ever set foot inside the Kendrix family home.
9
Lila
"Let me go!"
I thrash as hard as I can, fighting against the hands holding me down to the chair while another person works to secure me with rope, the rough fabric rubbing against the skin of my wrists.
Everything is so much worse because I'm wearing this stupid nightgown. It barely covers me, and I'd be worried about flashing someone if the situation were different.
"You can't keep me here! Let me go!" My head throbs, the lights are too bright, and I hate Cilento all the more for having his man knock me out. "Get off! I'm not staying here with that creep!"
I can't see Cilento right now, but I have to assume he's close. He wouldn't leave his new prize to his guards.
Because something tells me these animals don't care about consent.
My wrists are secured, and I can't move as my ankles are tied to the legs of the chair, forcing me to push my knees together to stay covered.
I still can't believe this is happening, and then I hear the sharp clicks of shoes against the wood floors.
When I'm fully bound, Cilento circles around me from behind, coming to stand just a foot or so away. Even though I can't, I try to kick at him.
Marcus, where are you? Get me out of here.
"You really should be more grateful for my hospitality. You'll be staying here for a long while, Lila. So why not enjoy it?"
"Enjoy it?" I glare at him, reeling backward. "Have you lost your mind?! You kidnapped me, you asshole!"
Quicker than I can prepare for, Cilento steps forward and slaps me across the cheek. My head knocks to the side as my cheek burns, tears threatening to break free.
I won't let them. I won't give this monster the satisfaction.
"You will learn your place,puttana." Cilento practically growls the word at me, and even though that last bit was Italian, I can guess what he meant.
Spitting on the floor by his feet, my saliva tinted pink from the split lip I'm now sporting, I glare back at him.
"I've never been particularly good at that."
Cilento just eyes me, and in the brief few moments I have, I take in more of my surroundings.
I noticed how nice the place was when we got here. It's a veritable mansion—hardwood floors here but marble in others, with ornate fixtures that gleam a natural gold color, paneling and wallpaper, and drapes of yards and yards of fabric.
It's like something out ofThe Godfather.
From what I can tell, I'm in a bedroom, likely not the master suite because it's a bit smaller, more like my room back home, and there's a large bed against the wall to my left.
I'm facing the door, but I'm tied to this chair, and I can't move or twist enough to see if there's a bathroom or anything else.
"Well, perhaps a night in solitude will improve that attitude." Cilento turns on his heel, heading for the door with guards following behind him.
He's going to leave me here?! Tied to a chair?!
I start thrashing again, trying to loosen the binds. "You can't leave me like this! Let me go!"
But Cilento doesn't break his stride. He exits the room as the guards close things up behind them. They even turn off the light, and I'm plunged into darkness and silence.
That's it. He just left. I'm stuck in this room—a bedroom in Cilento's mansion—with nowhere to go and no one to help me.
