Gina
The blade slices. Adrien cries out behind the tape. I scream, leaping off the bed.
“Stop! Stop it, please! I’ll do whatever you want, just—please, don’t hurt him!”
Vittorio tilts his head. The blade moves higher, pressing against Adrien’s throat.
Adrien looks at me. His eyes are glassy, terrified. The blade presses harder, dimpling the skin of Adrien’s throat just below his Adam’s apple. A bead of blood wells up, trembles, then slides down the column of his neck in a thin scarlet line.
“Take off your underwear and bra.”
I freeze, certain I’ve misheard. “What?”
“Your underwear.” He doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to. “Remove them. Now.”
My hands tremble at my sides, fingers curling into fists then uncurling. “Please, don’t make me—”
“I won’t ask again.” The blade twis
