Chapter 263

Latisha's body went rigid, her eyes following his hand as it moved lower, coming to rest on her stomach. She was wearing one of his silk tunics, which was constructed somewhat like a dress, but fastened with buttons down the front.

With a flick of his finger, he easily undid the first one.

Panic seized her. She grabbed his hand, shaking her head in a silent plea.

"Then tell me, do you want to go back to Clifford?" Santino's voice remained light, his eyes clear. There was no trace of lust in them. He seemed to be merely toying with her.

Latisha's lips were a thin, tight line. She didn't know what answer he wanted to hear. Shaking her head was wrong, and nodding was wrong, too.

“Hmm?” His hand was already under her clothes, his warm palm resting on her thigh. It felt scorching against her cool skin. She tried to push him away, but her strength was nothing against his.

Latisha shook her head again, signing frantically with her free hand: *I won't go back. I won't go back!*

The amusement in Santino's eyes grew. Her answer did nothing to stop him. He leaned in, whispering in her ear, "Has Clifford ever done this to you?"

Latisha turned her head away, trying to escape his breath on her skin, and crumpled weakly to the floor. She tried to push him off, but he caught her wrist in an iron grip.

Santino's gaze fell on her slender neck, the soft baby hairs behind her ear, the reddish tip of her earlobe, and the quickness of her breathing. His gaze darkened, the clarity in his eyes slowly clouding over.

Latisha's fingers dug into her clothes as her eyes darted to the small metal shovel she had used for the coal. She reached for it, grabbed it, and swung it at his head.

But before it could connect, he seized her other wrist. She looked up and saw the dangerous glint in his eyes. Her own flickered with fear.

He squeezed her wrist hard. The pain was sharp, and the shovel clattered to the floor. In the next instant, his hand swung through the air.

"Crack."

The sharp sound echoed in the room as she was thrown to the ground. Her cheek didn't hurt at first, there was only a ringing in her ears. and a blackness that swam before her eyes. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

Latisha lay on the floor for a long moment before her vision cleared. She lifted her head and looked at

Santino trickle of blood ran fro the comer of her mouth. She tried to smile, but half her face was O completely numb.

A coldness had entered Santino's eyes. He grabbed her by the collar and hauled

her to her feet. "Why must you be so disobedient?” he asked, a smile playing on his

lips.

Latisha's eyes glistened, tears welling up but not falling.

"Clifford has already abandoned you, yet you're still trying to stay faithful to him. Don't be so pathetic, will you?" His fingers gently traced the swelling on her cheek His voice was incredibly soft, almost pitying, as he hadn't been the one to strike her.

Santino let her go and sat back down in his chair, looking down at her. “Come here.”

Latisha hesitated. She pushed herself up, but before she could stand, he spoke again. "Crawl."

He tilted his head, his curly hair falling across his forehead. With his upward-curving lips and his white suit, he looked like a prince straight out of an oil painting—if you added a crown.

An angelic face hiding a dark, violent demon. That was the real Santino.

"Latisha, come here,” he repeated.

Latisha clenched her hands in her sleeves, refusing to move. Humiliation washed over her, spilling from her eyes.

"Is this too much for you?" Santino asked mildly. "If you don't obey, I'll sell you overseas. You can see how they torture people there."