Chapter 90 SEDUCTRESS
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AUTHOR’S POV
His dark eyes raked over her, unreadable, but there was something sharp behind them. Something dangerous.
“What are you doing here?” his deep, rough voice cut through the silence like a blade.
Adeline crossed her arms, tilting her head.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
Luciano’s gaze flickered, and for the first time, she saw his eyes dip—just briefly—to her appearance.
The fitted black dress she wore clung to her like a second skin, the slit on her thigh revealing smooth, golden flesh.
Her hair was tousled from the night air, and her lips were stained the softest shade of red, like she had been kissed before even arriving.
His jaw clenched.
“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice gruffer than before.
Adeline sighed.
“I’m here to find a clue about Leonardo.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched.
The mere mention of that name sent something dark through his expression, but before she could say anything else, she frowned, narrowing her eyes at him.
“And why are you sneaking in?”
Luciano scoffed, his lips twitching in irritation.
“Who’s sneaking?”
Adeline arched a brow.
“Please. I know you better than that.”
He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head before running a hand through his thick dark hair.
“I want to find something. Something that can give me solid proof of how and why they killed your father…” His voice lowered, rough with unspoken emotion.
“…and my best friend.”
Adeline’s breath caught.
Her father. His best friend.
They had been taken from them both, and now they were here, standing in the very heart of their enemies’ empire, trying to make sense of the wreckage left behind.
But was Luciano really here to get a clue?
Luciano stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.
“Go home, Adeline. I’ll handle it.”
She lifted her chin defiantly.
“No.”
His nostrils flared. “Adeline.”
“No,” she repeated, firmer this time.
Luciano’s glare was enough to make most men crumble, but she had always been immune to him in ways no one else was.
His frustration was evident, but she also knew something else—he was being possessive.
Possessive over her.
His eyes darkened, scanning her once more, this time slower.
“I don’t want anyone to see you like this.”
She knew what he meant.
The way she looked—the way the dress sculpted her curves, the way the dim lighting made her skin glow—she was a temptation neither he nor anyone else in this place could ignore. And that made him furious.
Adeline could have argued. Could have told him she wasn’t his to control.
But instead, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, a slow, knowing smirk that had his glare sharpening.
She stepped closer, pressing her palms against his solid chest. His body was like steel beneath her fingers, hard muscle coiled with tension.
Luciano stiffened.
“Adeline,” he warned.
She ignored him, trailing her fingers lower, tracing the ridges of his abs through the thin fabric of his dress shirt.
Her nails dragged slightly, teasing, before her hand dipped even lower.
Luciano’s body went rigid as her fingers brushed over his belt.
She tilted her head, her voice barely above a whisper.
“If you let me do my work…” She leaned in, her breath warm against his jaw.
“…I might reward you.”
A low growl vibrated in his chest.
“Adeline,” he warned again, his voice rough with restraint.
But she knew him too well.
She felt the way his body reacted, the way his muscles tensed, his fingers twitching as though he was seconds away from grabbing her.
Her hand slid lower, and she cupped him through his pants.
Luciano inhaled sharply, his jaw clenching as his fingers curled into fists. His entire body was coiled, tight with the effort to hold himself back.
His grip shot out, fingers wrapping around her wrist in a bruising hold.
His eyes—dark, wild—locked onto hers, his voice dropping into something lethal.
“Don’t tempt me, Adeline.”
She smiled, slow and wicked. “Why not?”
His grip tightened.
“Because if you do, I won’t stop.”
“ And I wont hesitate to take you right here when anyone can walk on us “
The air was thick with tension as Adeline leaned in, pressing her lips softly against Luciano’s.
His lips were warm, firm, moving against hers with an unspoken intensity. For a moment, time seemed to stop—the danger, the mission, the risks—none of it mattered.
She pulled back, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
“I’ll be back,” she whispered.
Luciano exhaled heavily, nodding, though his jaw was tight with reluctance.
“I’ll be here. You won’t need to worry.”
Something in his gaze held a silent promise, a vow that no matter what happened in that party, he’d be watching, waiting, ready to strike if needed.
Adeline smiled, brushing her fingers lightly over his jaw before turning away.
She stepped out of the dim hallway, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor as she made her way toward the grand suite room where the night’s main event—Leonardo’s party—was taking place.
The air grew heavier with each step. The distant sound of laughter and music grew louder, mixing with the scent of expensive liquor and cigar smoke.
Adeline smoothed down the fabric of her dress, her heart steady despite the weight of the moment.
Just as she neared the entrance, a large, heavily built guard stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
His dark, beady eyes raked over her, suspicion flickering in them as he crossed his arms.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?”
Adeline forced herself to stay calm, her lips curling into a slow, knowing smile.
She saw the way his eyes lingered on her body—on the deep neckline of her dress, the slit that revealed her toned leg, the effortless sway of her hips.
She had him exactly where she wanted.
Her lashes lowered slightly as she tilted her head, her voice sultry.
“I’m one of the strippers… here to perform.”
The guard’s eyebrows raised slightly, but the suspicion in his gaze melted almost immediately, replaced by pure male interest.
He let his eyes shamelessly roam over her, his lips parting slightly as he took in her tempting beauty.
“A stripper, huh?” His voice dropped, husky with amusement.
“I don’t remember them mentioning anyone this gorgeous.”
Adeline smirked, stepping just a fraction closer, her body exuding confidence and seduction.
“Well,” she murmured,
“they wanted it to be a surprise.”
The guard’s grin widened. “I like surprises.”
She forced herself to stay still as his thick hand suddenly moved forward, landing on her ass.
Every instinct in her body screamed at her to break his wrist, to twist out of his grip and make him regret even thinking of touching her.
But she endured it, keeping her seductive smile intact even as revulsion churned in her stomach.
What she didn’t know was that behind her, hidden in the shadows, Luciano was watching.
His blood boiled.
His fingers twitched at his sides, the overwhelming urge to snap that bastard’s neck clawing at him like a wild animal.
He clenched his fists, his breathing controlled but heavy, his muscles taut as he held himself back.
Killing the guard now would ruin everything. Adeline had a plan. She was handling it.
But fuck, it took everything in him not to drag her away from this filthy place and make sure no man ever looked at her like that again.
Adeline subtly pulled back, just enough so the guard wouldn’t get suspicious, but not enough to make it seem like she was uncomfortable.
Her sultry gaze remained, her body still exuding temptation.
“Maybe we can have a little fun later,” she purred, trailing a delicate finger over his chest.
The guard let out a low chuckle, clearly pleased.
“I’ll hold you to that, sweetheart.”
And just like that, he stepped aside, waving her in.
Adeline smiled sweetly, stepping past him, feeling the weight of his lingering gaze on her backside.
But she didn’t falter.
Not when she could still feel Luciano’s burning anger from the shadows, his silent rage pressing into her back like a storm about to break.
The man was dead.