Chapter 228

Latisha began to struggle.

The hand on her neck tightened, pinning her against the door. "Don't get so worked up. I'm not interested in you."

She stared at him, terrified.

"I've been thinking," he mused. "Instead of asking you, maybe I should just take a few videos and send them to Clifford. Who knows, he might just give up on his own?"

A bitter taste filled Latisha's mouth. Using her to threaten Clifford? Santino had really miscalculated.

Before she could process it, the hand at her waist found her ribs and squeezed, hard. The pain was so sharp it made her curl up, tears springing to her eyes.

He always knew the most painful spots, inflicting a pain that was short of death but felt just as agonizing. And Santino loved to see her like this-a crying woman was at her most beautiful.

Latisha grabbed his hand, trying to pry it away.

Just then, she heard a noise from outside. Footsteps. Someone was coming up the stairs. Her eyes shot wide open.

Santino also stopped, his expression darkening. He glanced up as if he could see through the closed door. He let out a soft scoff. So tightly watched.

But he didn't let go of Latisha.

Outside, someone gripped the doorknob and tried to turn it.

Latisha held her breath, tears clinging to her lashes, looking utterly pitiful.

Santino whispered in her ear, "I wonder what he'll think when he comes in and sees us together like this."

Latisha's fingers clenched. With a sudden burst of strength she didn't know she had, she pushed him away.

The bedroom door was locked; the person outside couldn't open it. But Clifford didn't keep trying. He stood at the door for a moment, then let go of the handle.

Latisha looked from the brazen Santino to the door, her mind racing. Should she open it?

The next second, a violent crash echoed from the door.

Latisha stumbled back from the shock, the lingering pain in her ribs making her lose her balance and collapse to the floor.

She stared at the door as another crash followed. This time, with a loud bang, the bedroom door splintered and flew open.

Latisha clutched her clothes, her eyes wide with terror as she looked at the man standing in the doorway. His face was a mask of frost, as if he'd brought the cold night airin with him content

She mechanically turned her head back. Where Santino had been standing just a moment ago, there was now nothing.

Clifford walked slowly into the room, his gaze sweeping over Latisha from head to toe. She felt her skin crawb under his scrutiny. His eyes moved from her tear streaked face to the bedroom window, which was wide open, the curtains billowing in the night wind.

Then, Clifford grabbed her by the wrist and, without a word, dragged her toward the bathroom.

Latisha's heart pounded with fear. She remembered the last time, when he had held her under the water in the bathtub.

She stumbled as he pulled her into

the bathroom and threw her onto the floor. She looked up at his dark,

furious face and instinctively

Scrambled backward.

Clifford knelt in front of her, his eyes boring into hers. "Where did he touch you?”

She shook her head frantically.

"Nowhere?"

Latisha nodded forcefully, reaching for his sleeve with a pleading look in her eyes. "What did he say to you?"

She pressed her lips together. What did he say? That she was a good little puppy... Clifford let out a humorless laugh. “Wrong question. What did you say to him?" Latisha shook her head and signed: *I didn't say anything.*

"Is that so?"

She nodded.

His fingers traced her cheek, gently wiping away her tears. He seemed so tender, if one could ignore the cold fury in his eyes.

"I was under the impression you two might have been discussing how to team up and kick me off the board."