Chapter 54 IS HE BACK?
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ADELINE
The flashing neon lights flickered erratically as the club’s music faded into the background. A moment ago, the pulse of the bass had been deafening, bodies moving in sync with the rhythm, but now, the sudden brightness exposed the faces of the intoxicated crowd, their movements sluggish as they adjusted to the abrupt shift.
The once-dim corners, where shadows danced freely, were now illuminated, revealing everything—except the person I was looking for.
My breath came fast, chest rising and falling in quick succession as I spun on my heels, scanning the faces around me. Someone had been close—too close.
I could still feel the whisper of their presence, the ghost of a touch that had sent a shiver down my spine. The nickname.
Yet, there was no one that stood out, no one that looked remotely suspicious.
My heart pounded against my ribs, an erratic rhythm that matched the chaos of my mind. What was that? A horrible memory from the past flashed in front of my eyes sending me over the edge of losing my mind.
A cold sweat broke across my forehead, the fine hairs on the back of my neck standing on edge. Something wasn’t right. How could he be back?
Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, my gaze locked onto a pair of eyes—dark, piercing, and filled with unrestrained fury.
Luciano.
A nervous gulp slid down my throat as I took in the sight of him. He stood at the far end of the club, his broad shoulders tense, jaw clenched tight.
The storm in his gaze was unmistakable, his fury burning hot beneath the surface. I could almost feel the weight of my anger pressing against my skin, and for a brief moment, I hesitated. I wanted to tell him and I took a step forward but……
But then, I remembered why I was mad at him.
The hesitation vanished, replaced by something far more dangerous—defiance. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I straightened my posture, refusing to let him intimidate me.
What was he even doing here? Of course, he was here to scold me once again for defying his orders.
Luciano stalked toward me, his presence commanding, each step sending a silent warning. His men had spread across the room and the music suddenly dropped. Everything stopped at his orders and no one dared to make any sound.
When he reached me, he didn’t even bother to lower his voice, his tone a rough growl filled with irritation.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
he demanded, his dark eyes narrowing.
“I warned you not to step out of the house alone, Adeline.”
He gritted his teeth and I saw the way his jaw clenched, showed he was really really mad. I tilted my head slightly, unimpressed by his dominance. The fuck was he worried about?
Worried about me or was it all his lie to win my trust?
Instead of answering, I shifted my gaze sideways. Luciano followed my line of sight, and when his eyes landed on Aurora, Kiara, Rose, and Valentino, his jaw ticked.
I didn’t miss the way he poked the inside of his cheek, a telltale sign of his frustration. He hated when I ignored his authority, and I knew it but now things seemed different. I …… hated his attitude of dominating me and the satisfaction knowing he could dominate me.
But before he could say another word, I turned on my heel and walked straight out of the club. I knew better than to argue in a public setting, but that didn’t mean I would give him the satisfaction of a response.
I would never fall for the same thing the second time.
The cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, the heat of the club fading behind me. I didn’t need to look around to know his men were stationed everywhere. They were always watching, always waiting.
Without hesitation, I walked toward the sleek black car parked at the curb, opening the passenger door and slipping inside with practiced ease.
As I settled into my seat, I pulled the car keys from my pocket and tossed them toward one of Luciano’s most trusted men—William.
“Drive.”
William didn’t question me. He caught the keys midair and slid into the driver’s seat, starting the engine without hesitation.
I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes trying to calm my burning head. The thought of Elena filled my mind and I hated to admit that I was jealous. I was mad and did not like it at all.
But what made me tremble was …… the voice. The nickname.
Was he really back? If he was,then why was he hiding? Why did he not contact me before? Why did he…… not come meet me?