Chapter 43 Chapter 44
Luciano POV
When Valerie said she couldn’t wait for all of this to end, something inside me shifted in a way I didn’t like. It wasn’t anger, not at first. It was something deeper, something colder. She spoke like she was already gone, like she had already walked out of my life and left everything behind. Like I was just a phase she needed to survive. That thought alone didn’t sit well with me.
I felt uneasy, restless in a way I couldn’t explain. She didn’t understand what she was saying. She didn’t understand that there was no ending for us, not like she imagined. I was never going to let her go. Not now. Not ever. She was mine. Mine to protect, mine to keep, mine to stand beside whether she liked it or not. And no matter what happened, I would make sure she stayed exactly where I wanted her.
She had no idea what was coming, and I planned to keep it that way. Everything was already falling into place, slowly, carefully, like a game I had already decided to win.
“Boss.” Damian’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. I turned my gaze toward him slowly, already irritated by the interruption. He stood by the door, stiff and unsure, like he didn’t know whether he should speak or leave.
“Damian,” I muttered, my tone low and controlled, “what do you want this time? I need some time alone.” I picked up a file from the table and flipped through it without really seeing anything on the pages.
My mind wasn’t there. It was still on Valerie, on her words, on the way she looked at me like I was temporary. I placed the file down and looked back at him, waiting. But he didn’t speak. He just stood there in silence, and that alone was enough to test my patience.
“Are you going to speak,” I said sharply, “or are you planning to stand there all day staring at me?” He hesitated, then finally gathered the courage to talk.
“Boss… there’s been an attack on our warehouse in Italy.”
For a moment, everything around me went quiet. The words settled in the air, heavy and sharp, but I didn’t react the way he expected. I didn’t get angry. I didn’t shout. Instead, a laugh escaped my lips. Low at first, then louder.
I leaned back slightly, shaking my head as the laughter grew. I already knew who was behind it. I didn’t need evidence. I didn’t need anyone to tell me. There was only one person bold enough to do something like this. Noah Boneman.
“Boss, this isn’t funny,” Damian said, his voice tight with worry. “This is serious. If word gets out, our black market stock will drop.” I waved my hand at him dismissively, still laughing, but slowly the laughter faded. My expression changed, becoming cold, sharp.
“It’s clear, Damian,” I said calmly, “whoever did this is targeting me for personal reasons.” I stood up, adjusting my sleeves slowly, my movements controlled. “Set up a conference meeting with all our suppliers. I want everything handled before this spreads.” He nodded immediately.
“Yes, boss.” Then he turned and left. but his leaving didn’t change anything. The damage was already done. I walked toward the window, my jaw tightening as I stared outside. Millions. That was what this would cost me. Maybe more. But money wasn’t the problem. It never was. This was about power. and control.
Someone trying to challenge me. And I never ignored a challenge. If Noah wanted war, then I would give it to him. But not the way he expected. I would take everything from him piece by piece. I would make him regret the moment he decided to come after me. Slowly, Carefully, and Painfully. He would pay for this in a way he would never forget.
My phone started ringing, breaking through my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and a smirk appeared on my lips. Leah. Of course. She wasn’t going to stop. Not now. Not when she believed she still had a chance. I stared at the phone as it kept ringing, my expression unreadable. I knew this was another game, another attempt to pull me back into something I had already moved past. And if she wanted to play, then I would play too. But only on my terms.
The ringing continued until it became annoying. Without thinking twice, I switched the phone off completely and tossed it aside. I wasn’t in the mood for her persistence. Not now. Not when there were more important things to focus on. I stepped out of my study and took the stairs instead of the elevator, my mind still running with thoughts. Everything was moving too fast now.
The tension, the pressure, the quiet build-up of something bigger. War was coming. I could feel it in every move being made, in every decision, in every silence that followed actions like the one Noah had just taken. And in the middle of it all was Valerie. When I reached the dining room, she was already seated at the table. Waiting.
She didn’t look at me when I walked in. She didn’t speak. She didn’t react. She just sat there, focused on her plate like I didn’t exist. That alone irritated me more than I wanted to admit. I took my seat across from her, my eyes fixed on her as the maid served the food. No reaction, no acknowledgment. Like I was already gone from her world.
My jaw tightened slightly, but I said nothing. Instead, I reached for the envelope that had been sitting on the table and pushed it toward her. She paused, then slowly lifted her head and looked at me. Then at the envelope. Then back at me again, confusion clear in her eyes.
“What’s this for?” she asked. I shrugged, saying nothing. She hesitated before picking it up, her fingers careful as she opened it. And then she froze. Completely still. I watched her closely, my expression calm, but my eyes sharp, waiting for her reaction. Because I already knew what was inside. And I knew exactly what it would do. Everything was about to change, whether she was ready for it or not.