Chapter 19 Chapter 19
Luciano POV
“I warned you to be careful with your words,” I said coldly. “But no you chose to drag me out by calling for a meeting. You really thought you could bend me to your will, Matteo?”
I sneered as I watched him groan in pain. The sound gave me satisfaction, deep and dark. I had wanted to see him for a long time. For months, his name had stayed in my mind like an unfinished sentence. But seeing him now right in front of me filled me with a joy I couldn’t explain.
It made my blood burn,I wanted to tear him apart where he sat. Every nerve in my body screamed for it. And honestly, what was the point of taking things slowly anymore?
He lifted his head with effort, his breathing uneven. His voice came out rough, forced. “I have no hand in this, Luciano. You’re attacking the wrong person.”
I laughed softly. “You really believe that?”
I stepped closer, tilting my head as I studied him. There was something almost admirable about the way he tried to stand his ground, even now. Almost. A flicker of fear flashed through his eyes before he could hide it, and I saw it clearly.
“Yes, I know,” I continued calmly. “You didn’t start this. But the moment you opened your mouth and asked me to give Valeria back to her father, you became my enemy.”
The words hung heavy in the air,He swallowed hard.
“You can’t kill me,” he said, forcing a weak smile. “And even if you do, they will come for you. You know the rules, Luciano.”
Then he laughed.
The sound echoed through the room, sharp and hollow, like he was trying to convince himself more than me. I listened without interrupting, then nodded slowly.
A smile spread across my lips.
“I agree,” I said. “I know the rules.”
His laughter faded, uncertainty creeping into his expression.
“That’s exactly why I won’t just kill you,” I continued evenly. “Your entire family will go down with you.”
The color drained from his face.
Panic took over instantly. He began to struggle, pulling against his restraints, desperation clear in every movement. His breathing became wild, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for a way out that didn’t exist.
“No—no, you can’t do that,” he stammered. “Luciano, listen—”
He started cursing, shouting threats, begging in the same breath. The words spilled out of him without control, ugly and frantic.
I ignored every single one, at this point, his voice meant nothing to me, he wasn’t a man anymore. He was a message.
People like Matteo believed they could interfere in my life, in my decisions, and walk away untouched. They thought rules would protect them. They thought names and connections would save them.
They were wrong.
I needed an example,someone whose fall would be loud enough to silence the rest. Someone others would remember before opening their mouths or reaching into my affairs.
Matteo would be that example, I straightened slowly, my expression calm, my mind clear. There was no anger left in me now. Just certainty.
Fear had finally settled into his eyes, real and undeniable. And as I looked at him, I knew one thing without doubt,This was the moment he understood exactly who he was dealing with.
With a sharp snap of my fingers, the doors burst open.
Matteo’s son was dragged into the room.
Matteo’s eyes widened in horror, his mind unable to understand what was happening. His face drained of color as fear hit him all at once. Cold sweat broke across his forehead, soaking into his collar. His gaze jumped wildly, from his son, to me, and back to his son again
,like he was hoping one of us would disappear.
But nothing changed,His son stood frozen in place, shaking uncontrollably. His knees trembled, his lips parted as if he wanted to scream but couldn’t find his voice. Damien stood behind him, calm and silent, the gun pressed firmly to the side of the boy’s head. He waited patiently for my command, his finger resting near the trigger.
I stood up slowly from my seat and clapped my hands together, the sound sharp and loud in the room.
“What a wonderful family reunion,” I said calmly. “I guess the two of you will be going on a very long vacation.”
Matteo let out a broken sound, something between a sob and a gasp.
“From wherever you end up,” I continued, my voice cold and steady, “you’ll be able to watch from above,or from hell how I take over your business empire, Uncle.”
I paused, letting the words sink in.
“And how I deal with your two spoiled daughters,” I added quietly. “How they pay for your mistakes.”
Matteo broke.“No… no, you can’t do this to me,” he cried, his voice cracking. “Please, let’s talk about this. We can fix it. Do you want fifty percent of the company shares? It can be arranged. Anything you want.”
He struggled against his restraints, desperation written all over his face.
“Don’t do this,” he begged. “We are family. Please.”Family,the word made me laugh.
“Family?” I repeated slowly. “Do you remember family when you chose to side with a stranger against me?”
I took a step closer, my boots echoing against the floor.
“Do you remember your family when you sat there and let those old men open their mouths and insult me?” I continued. “When you stayed silent instead of defending your own blood?”
I tilted my head and looked at him carefully, my finger playing lazily with the gun in my hand.
“So tell me,” I asked softly, “what makes you think I would consider you family now?”
His shoulders slumped as the truth finally crushed him. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at his son again, fear twisting his face.
“Please, Luciano,” he whispered. “Let’s talk. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I swear I was wrong.”
I watched him for a long moment.
Once, his apology might have mattered.
Now, it was nothing but noise.
“Too late,” I said flatly,before he could say another word, before he could beg again or scream his son’s name, I raised the gun and aimed it directly at the boy.
Matteo let out a
broken cry.
Pak. Pak.
The sound echoed through the room, final.