Chapter 33 Chapter 34
Luciano’s POV
I knew the exact moment Valerie logged into the computer. The notification had appeared silently on my tablet while I was scrolling through it.
It was a small, discreet alert most people would never notice unless they were looking for it.
Unknowingly to her, I had installed access into every device inside the mansion long before she arrived.
Not because I enjoyed spying on her, I told myself, but because control required information and information required access.
Still, when her screen appeared before me, something tightened in my chest.
She sat with her back straight, her fingers flying across the keyboard with determined urgency.
Even through the camera angle, I could see the spark in her eyes. It was the same fire she always carried whenever she thought she had found a way out.
Smirking, I leaned back slowly in my chair, watching without blinking.
“What are you planning now, Valerie…” I murmured under my breath.
The email opened and the first thing I saw was the address of the German embassy.
It didn't come as a surprise so a quiet, involuntary laugh escaped me.
She was clever, I would give her that.
Instead of confronting me directly, she decided to go directly to the embassy.
Most people underestimated the power of official channels when they were desperate but she didn’t.
My admiration lasted exactly three seconds then I picked up my phone.
The call connected almost immediately.
“Yes,” the voice on the other end greeted.
“It’s Luciano,” I said simply.
The recognition was instant and so respect followed immediately.
“I need a request flagged and denied,” I continued calmly. “Urgent classification, administrative complication, use whatever terminology you prefer.” I bit out.
There was no hesitation or questions on the other end, instead, the handler replied, “It will be handled.”
I ended the call.
One conversation was all it took and now her escape route had collapsed even before she even pressed send.
Satisfied, I placed my phone down and leaned back into the chair, exhaling slowly.
The room felt quieter than usual.
Staring at the plain walls in front of me, my fingers rose unconsciously to my lips as memories of the kiss flooded my head.
It kept replaying without permission.
I could still feel the softness of her mouth, the sharp intake of her breath and the way she had frozen for just a second before pushing me away.
Smirking, I closed my eyes briefly.
It was a dangerous kiss not because she resisted but because she didn’t resist immediately.
That tiny hesitation stayed with me.
With my eyes still shut, I rubbed my thumb slowly over my lower lip, trying to ignore the lingering warmth there.
You’re losing focus, I told myself.
Emotions complicated strategy, and blurred judgment but yet, the way she looked at me each time I stepped into her space stirred something deeper than control.
Before I could delve further into my thoughts, a knock broke the silence and I opened my eyes.
“Come in,” I said.
Damien stepped inside the next second, his expression unreadable but sharp. He never wasted time with pleasantries so he went straight to the point.
“We have him,” he said.
I straightened immediately, all distractions falling away.
“Where?” I asked, leaning forward.
“Downstairs.”
Pushing myself upward, I reached for my gun resting on the table.
“Let’s go,” I said, checking the barrel to be certain it was fully loaded.
With Damien leading the way, we walked through the mansion in silence.
The corridors were dimly lit, shadows stretching across the floor as we descended toward the lower level.
The air grew colder with every step.
When we reached the interrogation room, two guards stepped aside after pushing the door open.
Inside, a man sat tied to a chair.
He was already bleeding profusely. He had a split lip, bruised jaw and one eye swollen shut.
His breathing came out in shallow bursts and his panic was evident even before he saw me.
When he did, terror fully took over. He was trembling like a leaf in the winter.
“Please,” he said immediately. “I didn’t know… I swear I didn’t know who she was.” He blurted.
I stopped a few feet away, studying him carefully.
“Who sent you?” I asked quietly.
“I don’t know!” he said quickly. “It was an anonymous offer. It was surveillance only.”
“What kind of surveillance?” I asked.
“Routine! Just… watching her movements, reporting contacts. That’s all.” He bit out, his lips trembling hard.
My jaw tightened, same as my grip on the gun. Someone had been watching Valerie without my permission which was unacceptable.
“What were you promised?” I asked, staring hard at the floor because I couldn't control myself.
Keeping eye contact with him meant I was going to kill him immediately without getting the information I wanted.
“Money… benefits… protection,” he stammered.
His voice cracked as he continued. “Please… My wife just gave birth. I need to go home to her… I did it because of our baby. We can sort this out.” He added.
The mention of his wife meant nothing to me. He should have thought about her before taking up the job.
Straightening up, I tilted my head slightly.
“You should have thought about that before accepting the job,” I said calmly, voicing out my thoughts.
“I didn’t know!” he repeated desperately. “I swear, I didn’t know!”
Sucking my teeth, I watched him for a long moment.
Fear changed people, stripping them down to their most honest state and yet, honesty didn’t erase consequences.
“You were spying on her,” I said simply.
“I was just doing my job!”
“So am I,” I replied, raising my gun.
His eyes widened at the sight of it.
“Please…” he didn't get to finish as I fired the shot right in the middle of his forehead, the sound echoing through the room followed by silence.
He slumped forward, lifeless.
I lowered my gun slowly, exhaling through my nose.
“Clean it up,” I told Damien without looking at him. “I don’t want Valerie seeing any of this.”
“Understood.” He replied at once.
With my gun hanging loosely in my hand, I turned and walked out, the sound of movement behind me already beginning as they handled the aftermath of my action.
The contrast between upstairs and downstairs always struck me; violence was hidden beneath elegance and control beneath chaos.
When I reached Valerie’s door, I paused and after counting to three in my head, I opened it slowly.
She was curled slightly beneath the covers fast asleep. Her breathing was soft and even, strands of hair scattering across her pillow.
The anger she carried during the day disappeared in sleep, leaving her looking younger and almost fragile.
Without thinking, I stepped closer.
The urge to touch her and brush her cheek gently rose unexpectedly, catching me off guard.
My hand lifted halfway but I halted, lowering it slowly.
Instead, I reached for the duvet, pulling it higher over her shoulders. The contact made her shift slightly but she didn’t wake up.
Taking that as an invitation, I crouched next to her, watching her for a moment longer than I intended.
After what seemed like forever, I left her room quietly, closing the door behind me.
As I made my way towards my room, my thoughts still lingered on her as I wanted more of her.