Chapter 113 HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Chapter 113 HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

••Luciana••

The day had passed, the dinner from hell was the highlight of the day, and the tension in the Orlov estate was thick enough to choke on. 

To cope, Roman and I had retreated to our bedroom, falling back into the habit we formed in Mauritius. 

We were curled up together, eyes glued to the TV as we watched our favorite show. It had become our sanctuary; no matter how much blood was being spilled or how many mistresses were being moved into the house, we always made time for the next episode.

“I’m telling you, he’s the one who leaked the documents,” I murmured, leaning my head against Roman’s shoulder.

“No way, Princess. He’s too stupid to pull off a double-cross like that,” Roman countered, his arm tightening around me.

We were just getting to the good part when a sharp knock at the door ruined the moment. “Come in.” I said.

Vikoz, one of Roman’s most trusted men, stood in the doorway.

“Forgive the interruption,” Vikoz said, his face a mask of professional neutrality. “Don Lorenzo has requested both of you in his office immediately.”

Roman sighed, a long, weary sound. “The show will have to wait.”

We stood up, smoothed our clothes, and made our way to the lion’s den. When we stepped into Lorenzo’s office, the atmosphere was unexpectedly different. The heavy, suffocating anger from the night before seemed to have vanished.

“Luciana,” Lorenzo said, standing up from behind his massive desk. He actually smiled—a small, stiff gesture, but a smile nonetheless.

“How are you settling in? I hope you’ve been comfortable since your return.”

I blinked, completely caught off guard. “I’m… I’m fine, thank you, Lorenzo.”

Inside, I was reeling.

Who is this man and what did he do with my father-in-law? 

Based on our previous encounters, I was convinced the man hated the very air I breathed. I couldn't rule out the idea that he was currently plotting three different ways to have me erased. His sudden kindness felt like a trap, but I kept my face neutral.

“Sit, please,” he gestured to the leather chairs.
 He turned his focus to Roman. “What is the progress on taking down Marco? I want that rat handled before the month is out.”

Roman leaned forward, his voice dropping into his business tone. “We’re tightening the noose. 
My men are working every angle to make him act impulsively. He’s hiding, but he’s losing support. Not all his men are at his beck and call anymore after the last hit. He’s weak, and he knows it.”

“And what about the plan for her?” Lorenzo asked, gesturing toward me, though he kept his eyes on Roman. “Since you guys are back in Russia, we don’t know what can happen.”

“I’ve already doubled the security around her,” Roman answered firmly. “Everywhere she goes, my best men are five steps behind. The estate is on lockdown.”

“Good,” Lorenzo nodded, tapping a pen against the desk. “You need to protect her at all costs. Having a bounty on one’s head is full of danger that even an Orlov can’t always predict.”

The word hit me like a physical blow. “Bounty?” I exclaimed, my voice cracking. “Who has a bounty on their head?”

The room went silent. Lorenzo paused, his eyes shifting from Roman to me, then back to Roman. “You didn't tell her?”

I turned to Roman, my eyes narrowing. He looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze.

“I was going to tell her later,” Roman muttered. “I didn't want to put unnecessary tension on her yet. We just got back.”

“Really? Wow,” I said, the anger bubbling up in my chest. I wanted to lash out right there, but I forced myself to stay seated. I couldn't believe he had kept something this massive from me. 
Again.

Lorenzo cleared his throat, sensing the shift in the room. “Luciana, since Marco escaped the kill, he has put a massive bounty on your head. It’s revenge. Most people out there who want a favor from him, or just want to make a name for themselves and will be looking for you. They don’t care who you are; they just see the price tag.”

He saw the look of terror I was trying to hide and added, “But you’ll be fine. We are Orlovs. Just follow whatever security protocols you’re told, and stay close to Roman.”

The walk back to our room was silent and fast. The moment the door clicked shut, Roman reached for my hand, but I pulled away.

“A bounty, Roman? A literal price on my head, and I have to hear about it from your father?”

“Luci, listen to me—”

“No! You listen!” I snapped, pacing the length of the rug. “I told you, Roman. I warned you in Mauritius. No more secrets. No more keeping me in the dark to ‘protect’ me. Why do you keep doing this?”

“Because that’s why I made us stay away!” he shouted back, his frustration finally boiling over.

“That’s why I kept us in New York and Paris and that damn island for so long! I was keeping you safe and far away from all of this until I could neutralize the threat!”

I stopped pacing. The realization hit me all at once. The vacation hadn't just been a romantic getaway. It was a tactical retreat. No wonder Roman had never been away from home for that long. No wonder his father hadn't bothered us or demanded we return sooner.

“So the whole trip was just a means to keep me in a cage? A pretty, tropical cage?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“It wasn't a cage, Luci. It was a sanctuary,”

Roman said, stepping closer, his voice softening. “I wanted you to have one month of peace before the world started trying to kill you again. Was that so wrong?”

“It’s wrong because we’re supposed to be partners,” I said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“You should have told me. We should have faced that fear together. How am I supposed to support you if I don’t even know what we’re fighting?”

Roman sighed, sitting down beside me. He looked smaller, the weight of the bounty and the war pressing down on his shoulders. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I thought I was being a hero, but I was just being a liar. I won't do it again. I promise.”

I looked at him, seeing the genuine remorse in his eyes. My anger began to soften, as it always did when he looked at me like that. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, sleek box.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Open it.”

I opened the box to find a beautiful, high-tech wristwatch. It was elegant, with a deep black face and a silver band.

“It’s an emergency alarm,” Roman explained, taking it out and strapping it onto my wrist. 

“If you ever feel like something is wrong, if you're ever separated from the guards, you just click the screen twice. It automatically sends an encrypted alert to every single person in the Orlov mafia. It gives them your exact coordinates. Within sixty seconds, an army will be at your side.”

He looked me in the eyes, his expression deadly serious. “Promise me you will always make sure this is with you. Even when you sleep. Even in the shower.”

I looked down at the watch, the weight of it a constant reminder of the price on my head. But looking at Roman, I felt a different kind of safety.
“I promise,” I whispered.

“Good,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “Now, can we go back to the show? I really need to know if that guy gets caught.”

I laughed, leaning into him. “Only if you admit I was right about the double-cross.”

“Never,” he grinned, kissing my temple. “But I’ll let you have the last of the popcorn.”

We settled back onto the bed, the world outside was full of people trying to find me, but inside this room, with the watch on my wrist and Roman by my side, I felt like I could finally breathe again.