Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen
Luciano’s POV
Kamari rushed out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. The moment she disappeared, my mind drifted to what Joselyn might do to her in my absence just like she did to Celine when she caught us together. That slap she gave Celine was only a tip of the iceberg. And Kamari… I thought, she has no idea what she’s stepped into.
“Mind explaining what just happened?” Joselyn’s voice sliced through my thoughts. She batted her fake lashes, her gaze flicking from my face to the door.
“That’s what you should be worried about, Josy. Seriously?” I shot back, though my mind raced for a plausible lie. I could stand her punishing Kamari tomorrow not when I have a business meeting to attend.
“I’m sorry, Lucian. I just want to know who she is. I know you don’t have a sister or a female cousin… or—is she by any chance Celine’s sister?”
“She’s just the daughter of a debtor,” I blurted before my mind could stop me. “I’m planning on holding her hostage until her father pays me my money before the end of the week.”
Even as the words left my mouth, my mind drifted back to Kamari. What would she be doing all alone right now? Was she angry? Scared? Maybe she was plotting against me… No, she wouldn’t. Not Kamari.
“Baby, I’ve never doubted you before,” Joselyn said, pouting as she moved closer, her hand brushing my chest. “I just don’t like seeing all these cheap girls around you. I thought she was one of them, just like Celine.”
“I told you, she’s nothing but a debtor’s daughter. I was trying to make a video to forward to her useless father who refuses to pay up,” I said, hoping she’d believe me. But her eyes narrowed, suspicion burning in their depths.
“Why didn’t you pick up your phone last night? And why didn’t you call me like you always do?” she pressed, resting her head against my chest.
Maybe I should tell her the truth, I thought, my chest tightening. Maybe I should confess that my mind has been clouded with thoughts of the same girl she just called a slut… the girl she chased out of the room. Maybe I should admit that Kamari is the only one I’ve been thinking about—
But instead, I mumbled, “I was busy with work… paperwork.”
She was silent for a moment, then murmured, “You know you can always assign me or Jasper—or both of us—to handle all that for you.”
She doesn’t understand, I thought, feeling a sharp edge of frustration. She can’t know how much danger surrounds her. She can’t know she’s already inside my world… she might as well lose her life just like my mother did.
I tried to steady my voice. “You know, Mafia lords don’t let their wives do the dirty work. They do it themselves. Why won’t you let me treat you like my princess instead of my business partner?”
“We should stand together as one, Luciano,” she whispered, her warm breath brushing against my chest. “That way, we’ll be stronger than the others. At least I won’t be your weak point.”
Kamari is different, I thought bitterly. She’s like my mother… a distraction, a beautiful weakness I can’t control. But Joselyn… She's predictable, loyal, and safe.
“Safe?” I asked, my voice low, almost a growl. “Josy, do you know what it feels like to have someone invade your mind? To have them… occupy your every thought?”
She tilted her head, blinking innocently. “I don’t know, Luciano. But you don’t have to be alone in that. You don’t have to carry everything yourself.”
And yet, I thought, I want to carry her. Kamari. I want to… The thought made my chest tighten, a dangerous fire licking the edges of my restraint. I want to protect her. I want her so badly that it’s maddening. And yet… telling Joselyn that would destroy her, shatter her trust. So I lied. I always lie.
“I… just…” I trailed off, frustrated. “I can’t explain it to you. It’s complicated. More than you can imagine.”
She pulled back slightly, searching my face. “Luciano… you know I’ll always stand by you, right? I don’t care how complicated it gets.”
And that’s the problem, I thought, closing my eyes for a brief second. She doesn’t understand that some complications are… untouchable. Unshakable. Dangerous. And yet… she still wants to stand with me.
A slow, tense silence filled the room. Her heartbeat thumped against my chest, grounding me in a way that made me both furious and terrified. Kamari. You’re running through my mind like a wildfire. And I can’t stop it. Not even for Joselyn.
““I know you love me deeply, Luciano… but I’d love to help whenever you need me. I want to always be here for you,” she whispered. She smiled warmly and leaned up to kiss my chin lightly.
God. What was she thinking? Did I ever give her the impression that I loved her deeply? Sure, I told her that once or twice—but only on the nights when I needed her silent loyalty. Not because I felt it. Never because I meant it.
She didn't even notice the way my jaw tensed.
“Let me take a quick shower,” she said with a teasing smile, dragging her fingers down my chest. “I’ll be right back… I want at least thirty minutes of fun with you before you leave.”
Thirty minutes….Fun….With her.
My stomach tightened, not with desire, but irritation.
Here she was, thinking everything was normal, while my entire mind was on Kamari. Wondering where she ran off to. Wondering if she was scared. If she was crying. If she was angry with me for not defending her.
Kamari would never throw herself on me like this.
Not the way Joselyn was doing now, smiling and swinging her hips as she walked toward the bathroom.
“Josy—” I called out before I could stop myself.
She paused in the doorway, turning with a bright smirk. “Hmm?” I swallowed the words I wanted to say: I’m not in the mood. I don’t want your hands on me. I need to check on Kamari.
But instead, I forced myself out, “Don’t take too long.” She giggled. “I won’t. I know you’ve missed me.”
I watched her disappear into the bathroom and shut the door. The moment it clicked closed, my entire chest felt like it loosened—only to tighten again with something sharper.
Missed her? I could barely remember the last time I truly thought about her when we weren’t in the same room.
Meanwhile Kamari’s face hunted me every hour. Her voice lingered in my head, the way she flinched earlier replayed behind my eyes like a warning I couldn’t ignore.
Damn it….Why was I like this?
I dragged a hand across my face, pacing once. If Joselyn came out of that bathroom expecting passion, I didn’t know what the hell I was going to give her.
Because all I wanted…All I could think about…Was finding Kamari.