His face twists at the heavy taste, but he doesn’t stop eating it. The smell continues to surround me, and my stomach grumbles. Lucca’s gaze swings towards me.
“You can’t eat porridge like that.”
He stops eating, waiting for me to continue.
“You need milk and sugar.” I drop his gaze and stare into my own bowl. “A dessert spoon of sugar and cover it with milk.” I frown as pain burns my throat.
“I’ll put sugar and milk on mine if you eat.”
I exhale before looking up at Lucca. Was he trying to show me kindness? “No.”
His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t say anything as someone steps into the kitchen.
“He is here.”
I glance over my shoulder at the deep voice as his security man leaves the kitchen.
When I face Lucca, he isn’t looking at me. Instead, he scoops up another spoon of porridge before leaving the table.
The front door opens, and male voices travel all the way to the kitchen table. Footsteps move closer. My spine is rod straight, and I flinch when a large warm hand touches my shoulder.
“The doctor is here to assess you.” Lucca’s voice doesn’t give away anything. I glance at him, and he removes his hand from my shoulder.
I’m in a trance as I follow Lucca to a room where a man in his sixties waits for me. I’m pausing at the door.
“Don’t be nervous. It won’t hurt.” His smile curls back over his white false teeth. I take another look at Lucca, but he isn’t watching me.
I don’t know what I’m waiting for. The sky to fall around my feet? Or for Lucca to tell the doctor that this isn’t necessary? Neither happens. Instead, the door closes behind me, and when I turn around, I’m alone with the doctor. The bastard left me.
“Why don’t you lie down.” I turn back to the doctor who’s bent over his bag, taking out instruments to check for my innocence.
I move to the bed, wondering why I am going along with this. I lie down.
He turns to me as he puts gloves on. His lips curl across his pearly whites again. “Don’t be nervous.”
My heart is ready to come out of my chest as I tug up my long skirt as he instructs.
“You’ll have to remove your underwear, also.” I don’t know why this felt more humiliating than it ever has. We get checked regularly, so this shouldn’t bother me, but it does.
“Evie.” The doctor’s voice has me unclenching my fists and pushing my panties down my legs. Slipping them off, I hold them as I lie back. My legs are spread, and he gives me one final smile that’s meant to be encouraging.
I close my eyes, and I’m ready to laugh when I hear his small “Oh.”
The cold instrument has me stiffening. It’s always been uncomfortable, but the pain from last night resurfaces, and my eyes snap open.
It takes me a moment, and I even tilt my head.
“Oh.” The doctor repeats. “You’re not a virgin.” His words should shake me to the core, but I can’t look away from Lucca as he steps right up behind the doctor, who’s oblivious to him.
I’m ready to scream when Lucca’s gaze clashes with mine, and at the same time, he runs the blade across the doctor’s throat. Blood sprays from the doctor’s throat and pours down the front of his shirt.
A siren blares, and the sound morphs into sobs that I realize are coming from me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LUCCA
Her screams continue as I release the doctor, his blood pooling between her legs. Horror takes over her stunning features, but I’m listening for the footfalls of my men.
“What the…” Two words, I allow two words to leave his mouth before turning and slicing his throat. His large hands instantly go to the wound. Blood that can’t be stopped pours between his fingers, and he crumbles to his knees with a look of shock that dies on his face as he gurgles for the last time.
I step over his body as the second member of staff storms into the room with his gun drawn. He’s not looking at me, but around me, he’s looking for the threat.
It’s almost too easy as I move and, in one swift movement, remove the gun from his hand before running the knife across his throat. He doesn’t expect it, and the look of shock and confusion mars his face. Instead of grabbing his wound, his hands reach out, and he clings to me as he slowly makes his way to the ground.
Evie is still screaming when Pavel enters the room. He doesn’t march in with his gun drawn. He knew what would happen here. He's quick with the needle as he marks the three dead men behind the ear, just like all the security on the ship.
Cleaning the knife, I place it back in its pouch on the band of my trousers before turning fully to Evie.
I reach out my hand, and she blinks rapidly. “We have to leave.”
At my words, her gaze snaps up to me, and I can see she doesn’t want to, but she takes my hand, and I pull her off the blood-soaked bed. We didn’t have time to clean her up, and she doesn’t ask any questions. Shock has silenced her as I lead her from the house and to the waiting car, where Lenny awaits. Pavel follows behind, and once he’s in the driver’s seat, we leave my home.
I
