A Madness of Crows: Mafia University #3

17. Day 43 – Caterina

Ilook for Stefano the next morning.

My night was filled with nightmares. I saw them; saw Dante, Gio, Dom, Luc – all of them turning away from me, fading out of sight. I saw Bea and Pepe, fighting with dark figures to protect my daughter only to curl up in the flames that rushed over them both, consuming them.

I saw Alessia.

I can still smell smoke when I jerk awake, breathing heavily as my eyes dart around the room, searching.

But it’s Cecile who strolls in and releases me from the restraints, a little smile on her lips that makes my eyes narrow as she pushes me towards the bathroom. “I’m getting you ready today.”

My gut clenches. “Where’s Stefano?”

She laughs, the bracelets on her arm tinkling. “His world doesn’t revolve around you. Get in the shower.”

I walk around her, waiting for the last second to lunge as if I’ll wrap my hands around her neck. Cecile’s frightened shriek actually tugs my lips up into a smirk as I slam the bathroom door in her face.

There’s no lock to keep her out, but it still makes me feel better.

The small entertainment doesn’t last for long.

My blue dress is short, indecently so, and I glare at Cecile. “Underwear?”

She shrugs, but her eyes glimmer with malice. “I forgot it.”

Bitch.

Cecile pushes me into the breakfast room but doesn’t follow me. Salvatore sits there, the bowl of yogurt and fruit waiting.

Of all the things. It had to be yogurt.

My steps are slow as I sweep my eyes over the tall, thin man sitting across from my usual seat. He watches me in return, his eyes scanning me as he sips at a black coffee. The assessment is almost clinical, but something lingers in his expression that makes my body tense as I slide into the seat.

Salvatore clicks his tongue, and I swallow my irritation as I place my arms into the straps. He buckles them more tightly than Stefan, the leather digging into my skin.

The stranger watches with interest.

Salvatore doesn’t bother introducing us. My cheeks flush in humiliation as he holds up the spoon, forcing me to reach forward for it.

He tips up my chin when I’m finished, twisting it from side to side. “Good. Isn’t she lovely, Reed?”

Reed smiles at me. It turns my stomach. “She is.”

I glance around, searching for any sign of Stefano.

“He’s busy,” Salvatore says softly, and my eyes slide to him. “He does not have time for you today, wife. So, we’re going to spend a little quality time together instead.”

There’s an odd note in his tone as he pushes his chair back. My stomach churns as I look between him and Reed. Salvatore undoes my straps, lifting me out of my chair. “I believe you know the way, Reed.”

“Naturally.”

I’m pulled along with them, stomach flipping as Reed pulls open the door that leads to the dungeon. The guards on duty let him through without question. “What’s going on?”

Reed disappears down the stairs as Salvatore turns me to face him, his hands gripping my upper arms tight enough to bruise. He smiles, but there’s no amusement in it. “Just a little health check, Caterina.”

The oxygen vanishes from my lungs as he slides his hand down to my wrist. Salvatore picks it up and presses his dry lips against my suddenly pounding pulse. “In preparation for the next step in our marriage.”

Nausea surges, sudden and violent, and I rip my wrist from his hand, turning to run. But the guards are there, grabbing me.

My nails scrape at their skin, their faces, but they slowly drag me through the door. Salvatore unpeels my fingers from around the door frame. He only sighs. “This will be easier for you if you relax, Caterina.”

I do not relax.

I buck and wrestle with them, forcing them to drag me every inch of the way.

They drag me past the empty cages.

Past the room that I normally attend for training, the door closed and Cecile’s voice ringing out from behind it.

Stefano – where is he—

My struggles increase when I see the cold, clinical space. The chair. The stirrups. Beside it, Reed glances down at a clipboard in his hands, flipping through pages. “She had a child fairly recently, you said?”

My heart wrenches, my response ripped from me. “Don’t you even mention her.”

He raises his eyebrows, not remotely fazed by my outburst.

As if he’s seen it a hundred times before.

Everyone ignores me, even as the guards press me down into that chair. They strap my arms down. My chest. My abdomen. My hair tumbles over my face, my panting breaths harsh and erratic.

Salvatore does my legs himself, a small smile on his face as he dismisses the guards. Stepping back to watch, as Reed steps closer, snapping on a pair of gloves and pulling a trolley closer.

“Deep breath, Caterina.”

***

My husband walks me back to my bedroom.

His hands travel over my back. Lower.

When he pushes me up against the bedroom door, I stare stonily over his shoulder as he presses his mouth against my neck.

“We will have dinner together tomorrow night.” The touch of his tongue makes my skin crawl. “To discuss our future. Wear something appropriate.”

I stare back at him dully. The space between my legs aches as he pushes me through the door, closing it behind me.

The minutes tick past as I stay in the same place. My skin itches where they drew my blood.

Finally, I move. Once I’m sure that my legs will hold me up.

My reflection doesn’t look any worse than yesterday. The same hollow eyes look back, the bruises perhaps a little more faded but new ones springing up in their place.

I stare at myself.

My fist smashes into that mirror, hard enough that a crack appears.

Over and over again, I hit it, until my breathing is harsh and raw.

Glittering shards of broken glass rain around me, my blood speckling the white porcelain of the sink.

When I’m finished, I clutch the sides with bloodied hands and lose the contents of my stomach.