Punish Me, Luciano

E: The Pri

perfume. Laughter and moans echoed from the rooms upst

ms folded tightly. Her face was tired

ped at the man sitting across from

k in the chair, unfazed. "You're lucky Luciano's even interested. He doe

nsisted. "Obedient. S

rozen. She held a tray with half-filled glasses an

d closer t

touched, right?

cold. "Of cours

chest. She stepped back, bumping into the wall, knock

r creak

narrowed whe

said sharply. "What

sed, afraid. "Mama... what are you talki

en looked away. "It's nothi

ce trembled. "You said I didn't ha

own, like he was sizing up meat in a b

her voice cracking. "Ple

but there was no softness i

him, girl," she said flatly

rted, but no w

e floor had drop

walking to the side

wider, and Lucia

ng open, his hands in his pockets. His face was clean-shaven,

fell in

He said nothing at fir

he asked

allowed

is head sli

," Rosa sa

d an eyebrow.

for her age,

instinctively, but he stopped in front of her. He re

His voice was smooth, b

Rosa. "We'r

hit the table w

it up withou

widened. "Yo

She turned her back,

ast look before nodding

rm, Isla struggled. "Mama, d

didn't tu

cigarette wit

door close

***********

ut behind Isla before s

aking in her lap. The leather seats were soft, too soft.

er. He didn't speak right away. He just looked ahead,

id finally, voice low. "Yo

her slowly. "

ted, but no s

uciano's second. You listen to me, you

treets passed by, familiar at first, th

we going?

ur new

ant it," s

matter what you want any

e can't own people. That's

rkly. "In his

silence for

s, a faded t-shirt. Her shoes had holes. S

ughts d

ory f

he brothel kitchen, hungry, waiting fo

ever

ce of bread and said, "Yo

st, shaking th

" she wh

ciano saw your picture. Said you had a f

edient," sh

ised to survive, not fight. And now

ghtened. "I won'

and loud. "You think

eyes, but she loo

his damn

nge. The last girl who said that... let's

ar sl

ned with tall black trees. At the end st

heart d

dark castle-stone walls, tall windows

ar st

e opened her door but

om

out slowly

ited near the front door. H

han I expected,"

row," Enz

d something fro

ther

back. "No. No

s grabbed

ggled. "Don't to

nch. She walked up,

t on, we'll do i

behind her, at the tre

pped fi

round her neck. T

le' now," the woman sa

racked. "That'

is n

opened b

Belle-was p