Chapter 74 UNEXPECTED EVENTS
••Luciana••
Marco Valerio. The name rang in my mind like a bell, loud and unsettling.
I remembered the accident that took Andrian and gave me this scar at the side of my stomach. It was the Valerios who were behind it, the ones who tried to destroy Roman. This man, the one responsible for so much pain, was at the core of all the tension.
As soon as Roman heard the name, I saw his reaction shift. His body stiffened, and his shoulders tensed. His eyes burned with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. His anger was palpable.
Vikoz and Theo returned to our booth. "They’re gone now," Theo said, his voice low but steady.
Roman’s gaze didn’t falter. He kept his eyes on the door where they had just left. His voice was sharp when he spoke. "Who allowed them in?" he demanded.
"They're new security guards. Just on shift," Vikoz explained. "They claimed not to notice anything off about those guys. That’s why they let them in."
Roman’s eyes narrowed, a sign that his patience was running thin. "Where are they now?" he asked.
"In the basement," Theo replied.
Roman’s voice dropped, full of authority. "You know what to do to them."
Vikoz, asked, "What level, boss?"
"Level 8," Roman answered immediately. "That should give them a sense of who they’re dealing with."
"Sure," both Vikoz and Theo said, and they left.
Roman poured himself a full glass of alcohol. I could see the tension in his body. He was about to pour another glass, but I reached out and stopped him, my fingers gently taking the bottle from his hand.
He withdrew his hand in surprise, but I poured him a more modest amount, just halfway to the brim.
"Take it easy, Roman," I said softly, rubbing his back.
"This is the reaction they want from you. You can’t give them that."
Roman sighed, rubbing his jaw. "Marco is testing me," he said, the anger in his voice raw.
I placed my hand on his cheek, trying to soothe him. "You just need to calm down and figure something out."
Roman’s posture softened slightly, and I took the opportunity to lean in, resting his head on my shoulder. His breathing slowly began to ease, and his hands found mine.
Curious, I asked, "What’s a level 8?"
"It’s the level of pain," he answered quietly.
His words hung in the air, thick with the implication of what was to come. Then he raised his head, looking me in the eyes. "Come here," he said softly, pulling me closer into his arms.
Without hesitation, he lifted me into his lap, our bodies now pressed together. He kissed me, and this time, it was different. There was a depth to it, a hunger that I hadn’t felt before. Our bodies intertwined as the kiss deepened, and his hands found their way down to my back.
I moaned softly, the heat between us rising. "Not here, Roman," I breathed, pulling away from the kiss.
He muttered something low under his breath. "You're driving me crazy, princess."
Roman stood up, quickly gathering his things: his phone, his keys. He took my hand in his and led me out of the room.
••Roman••
As soon as we stepped into our apartment, the door closed behind us, and I didn’t waste a second. I dropped my phone and keys, my focus entirely on Luciana. She was everything to me. I had been holding back, waiting for the right moment, but tonight felt like the time.
I carried her into my arms, feeling the heat of her body against mine as she wrapped her legs around my waist. Her lips were soft and warm as we kissed, and I couldn't get enough of her.
I moved quickly, our bodies pressed together as I walked us toward the bedroom. The moment the door closed behind us, it felt like the world outside didn’t matter anymore. It was just us, in this space, sharing something so raw, so real.
She lay back on the bed, and we couldn’t stop. We couldn’t get enough of each other. I slowly removed my shirt, unbuttoning it with care, watching her eyes follow every movement. Then she moved to my trousers, her hands shaky but determined. Then I flipped her over, so she can pull out of her clothes too .
I could feel her hands on me, her skin against mine, and it was everything I had imagined it would be and more.
The way she responded to my touch, the little moans escaping her lips, it drove me wild. But I held back. I wanted this to be perfect for her, and I didn't want to hurt her.
I could tell that she was nervous at first, but soon, she relaxed. The alcohol in her system made her a bit bolder, but I wanted to make sure she was comfortable. I whispered in her ear, checking if she was okay, and when she nodded, I continued.
When it was over, I lay beside her, both of us out of breath. The silence between us was comfortable. I kept my eyes on the ceiling, lost in the feeling of her being so close to me.
"Can I ask you something?" she whispered softly, breaking the silence.
"Yes," I answered, my voice quiet, still caught in the moment.
She hesitated before speaking. "What do you think about having our own home?"
The question hit me like a ton of bricks. Home. I hadn’t thought about it like that. My mind instantly went on guard.
"We can talk about that another time," I said, avoiding the conversation. I didn’t want to ruin the mood.
"But why not now?" she pressed, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.
I didn’t know how to answer. The thought of having a home, a place that was just ours, scared me. My past was tied up in places I didn’t want to think about, and the idea of leaving that behind felt... unsettling.
She didn’t stop. "We can’t just keep traveling from one place to another and not have a place to call home," she insisted.
"And what’s wrong with the house in Moscow?" I asked, trying to deflect the question.
She sat up slightly, wrapping the duvet around her. "It’s your family’s house, Roman. Not ours."
I felt a flicker of irritation. "So what’s wrong with that house?" I raised my voice without thinking.
"You’ve lived there your whole life, doing what you were told. You need a place where you can do things the way you want." Her voice was steady but firm.
I stood up, my anger rising. "Cut the crap, Luci. That is enough."
"No, Roman, it’s not." Her voice rose higher. "We need something that’s ours. A place where we can build something together. You can't just shut me up like that, my opinions count too."
I tried to ignore the knot forming in my chest. I didn’t want to talk about it, but she wouldn’t let up. "So what? Because we fucked for once or twice now, you think you have a say in everything. Incase you forgot I'm your husband and you do whatever the fuck I tell you too "
She didn’t back down. "So, what? Is that all I am to you now? A mistress, someone to satisfy you and to put in her place when you’re ready?"
"Enough, Luci I own you now and I do whatever I want with you."
Before I could say anything more, she moved quickly. Her hand slapped across my face, the impact sending a shockwave through me. My eyes blinked with control and everything just stopped for a moment.
"Did you just..." I started, but I couldn’t finish the sentence.