Chapter 18 Chapter 18
Luciano POV
When Damien told me that Valeria had left without the bodyguards assigned to her, my heart skipped a beat. Panic hit me so fast it stole the air from my lungs. I left everything and rushed back home, hoping, praying, that I would find her there so we could talk. I needed to see her. I needed to know she was safe.
But she never came back,The hours dragged on, slow and cruel. With every passing minute, my worry grew heavier. My thoughts turned dark. I was troubled, restless, and terrified in a way I had never felt before. The fear of losing her wrapped around my chest and refused to let go.
What if she ran away from me?
The thought sliced through my mind like a blade. What if she never planned to come back? What if I had finally pushed her too far? I tried to convince myself that she would return, that I was overthinking but doubt is loud when fear feeds it.
Valeria and I were sworn enemies. We had fought each other for years, challenged each other at every step. Yet, despite everything, she was the only reason I pushed myself harder. She was the reason I climbed the ladder of success, the reason I refused to fall. Standing head to head with her gave my ambition meaning. Losing her felt like losing the ground beneath my feet.
When she finally walked back into the house, the sight of her broke me.
I don’t remember when I lost control. One second I was standing still, and the next I had pulled her into my arms. I kissed her without thinking, without restraint. That kiss held everything I had been holding back,fear, anger, longing, relief. It was everything I had wanted for so long, everything I had denied myself.
For a moment, the world disappeared.
I forced myself to stop. I had to draw the line before I crossed it completely. But questions burned inside me. Valeria had gone to see her friend, yes,but she had also spent the night away. That didn’t sit right with me. Something felt off, and I trusted that instinct more than anything.
So I sent Damien to investigate. I needed answers, and he was the only one I trusted to bring them to me without lies.
While he worked, I had matters of my own to settle.
I walked through the hidden corridors of the mansion, places known only to a few. The walls were cold, the silence thick. When I reached the end of the passage, I stopped in front of a door that did not exist to most people.
I opened it,The sound hit me first loud, desperate screaming that echoed through the space. The smell of iron and blood filled the air, heavy and sharp. It clung to my senses, familiar and unwelcome all at once.
I stepped inside slowly,As I walked closer, I began humming a quiet tune, one I barely realized I knew. The screaming grew louder, then weaker. I stopped in front of a cell and tilted my head slightly to the side.
A smile spread across my lips.
Some debts are not forgiven,some lessons must be taught.
“I believe you’re enjoying your stay, Martinez,” I whispered.
The weak man stirred at the sound of my voice. He tried to lift his head, but his neck trembled under the effort. His lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but no words came out. His fingers shook violently as he reached for me, dragging his hand across the cold floor. There was no strength left in him only fear.
I scoffed and stepped past him without another glance.
He was already finished, My footsteps echoed as I moved toward the next cell, my presence filling the narrow hallway. The air was thick, heavy with silence and dread. Each cell held a different story, a different mistake. None of them mattered to me anymore.
I kept walking until I reached the last cell.
I stopped.
“Just the person I’ve longed to see,” I muttered.
The man inside snapped his head up the moment he saw me. Rage flashed in his eyes as he charged forward without thinking. The chains binding his wrists and ankles pulled tight, stopping him inches from the bars. The metal rattled loudly as he struggled, his breathing wild and uneven.
“Son of a bitch! Let me go!” he screamed, his voice shaking the walls.
I tilted my head, studying him calmly, as if he were nothing more than an insect trapped under glass.
“Calm down,” I said smoothly. “You’re shouting so loudly. If you keep this up, I might actually let you go.” I paused, then smiled faintly. “But for now, let’s enjoy the fun while it lasts.”
His eyes widened. Fear replaced anger in an instant.
I turned slightly and looked over my shoulder, signaling Damien with a sharp glance. He understood immediately. The cell door was unlocked, the sound loud and final. Damien stepped inside, grabbing the prisoner without hesitation.
The man fought back, kicking and yelling, but it was useless. The chains were released only to be replaced with a tighter grip as he was dragged out into the open space.
I walked over to the couch and sat down slowly, relaxed, unbothered. I rolled up my sleeves with care, one arm at a time, already prepared for what was coming. This was not rushed. This was deliberate.
The prisoner was forced into an iron chair and tied down tightly. He struggled again, pulling against the restraints until his strength failed him. When he finally lifted his head, his eyes met mine directly.
Good.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a cigarette, never breaking eye contact. His breathing became uneven as I placed it between my lips. I lit it calmly, the flame briefly illuminating my face.
I took a slow drag,smoke filled my lungs, then drifted lazily into the air between us. A smile formed on my lips not one of joy, but of control.
He knew then,Whatever hope he had left was gone.