Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty
Luciano’s POV
The door clicked shut behind her, and I stood there in the quiet, the sound of running water filling the room. My entire body felt wired—restless. Every bone in my body screamed at me to move, to find Kamari, to make sure she was okay.
But leaving without saying anything would be suspicious.
Joselyn wasn’t stupid…annoying, clingy… yes. But not stupid.
I let out a breath and walked toward the bathroom door, knocking lightly. “Josy,” I called.
There was a pause before she answered, “Yes, baby?”
“I’ll be right back.” “What?” Her voice lifted over the sound of water. “Where are you going? I thought we agreed on thirty minutes of fun.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose….I needed something she would never question, something simple, casual, something that would feed her ego, not her suspicion.
“I’m going to get condoms,” I said. “We’re out.”
Silence….Then, a soft laugh.
“Oh… really?” she asked, sounding flattered. “You want me that bad?” “If you want your thirty minutes, I need to be prepared, don’t I?” I forced out, my tone smooth even though my mind was miles away—on Kamari.
Joselyn giggled again, clearly convinced. “Okay, baby. Don’t take too long. I’ll be waiting in bed.”
I smirked even though I felt nothing. “I won’t.”
As soon as I stepped away from the bathroom, all pretense fell from my face. The calm mask dropped. My chest tightened again with that same burning urgency.
Kamari….She left hurt…She left heartbroken.
I needed to find her….I needed to explain…I needed to… I didn’t even want to finish the thought.
I slipped out of the room silently, closing the door behind me before Joselyn had the chance to call out again.
The moment I reached Kamari’s bedroom door and found it open, my heart dropped.
She was gone….That was all it took for the predator inside me to awaken.
I didn’t call guards, Jasper had failed to protect her before, how could he possibly be of any help now? She was mine to find. And I would. I moved through the hallway with long, quick strides, ignoring every servant who lowered their heads when they saw me. My pulse was thundering. I didn’t know how long Kamari had been gone or how far she had gotten—and that thought made something primal twist violently in my chest.
The moment I stepped into the kitchen, the workers froze like statues. Pots stopped clattering. Voices died instantly. All eyes dropped to the floor.
“Lady Maris,” I said.
She spun around from the counter, her old wrinkled face immediately tightening with nerves. “Y–yes, sir?”
“Where is she?” I asked.
She blinked. “Where is who?”
“You know exactly who,” I snapped. “Kamari. She came down here not too long ago.”
Lady Maris swallowed, fear washing over her eyes. “She—she looked upset, sir. I tried asking if she needed something but she didn’t respond. She just walked straight through. I–I thought you knew where she was.”
A muscle in my jaw twitched. She walked through the kitchen… but didn’t stay. Which meant she went deeper into the house. Or worse, outside.
My gaze hardened. “Did you see which direction she took?” Maris shook her head quickly. “No, sir. I only saw her pass. She didn’t speak to anyone.”
“Useless,” I muttered under my breath.
I turned sharply, only to see Celine standing behind one of the counters, holding a tray. The moment she realized I was staring at her, she flinched like a frightened cat.
“Come here,” I ordered. Celine hesitated only one second, then shuffled forward with tiny steps, avoiding my gaze.
“Do you know where she went?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm. Celine shook her head immediately. “No, sir. I—I didn’t speak to her today.”
I stepped closer, towering over her. “You didn’t speak to her,” I repeated slowly. “But you have a habit of knowing things that aren’t your business.”
Her breath caught, and she quickly shook her head again. “Sir, I swear—I swear I didn’t see anything.”
My patience snapped.
I grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look up at me. “Celine, if you don’t bring Kamari to me in the next five seconds, I will personally break your neck and feed it to the dogs.”
Tears sprang into her eyes instantly. “I—I don’t know where she is, sir! I swear on my life!”
I released her with a shove, disgusted, more at my own fear than her trembling. Because she was telling the truth, celine was too terrified to lie to me.
Which meant… Kamari really was gone. Not hiding…Not sulking….Not playing games. She was running again, this was her second chance to use it wisely.
That realization sent a cold wave of anger and panic rushing through me.
I stormed out of the kitchen, taking the stairs two at a time, moving through every hallway, checking the corridors, the servants’ wing, the sitting rooms, everywhere.
Nothing….No trace…No sign she even existed, my heartbeat turned into a roar inside my ears.
Where the hell did she go?
Then a thought hit me like lightning.
The rooftop, a place someone goes only when they want to escape everything. Or end everything….My chest tightened so hard it almost hurt.
“Dammit,” I growled under my breath as I pushed open the stairwell door and started climbing fast. The rooftop door was slightly open—just enough to let the night breeze pass through.
And through that narrow gap, I saw her. Kamari stood at the very edge of the building, her toes hanging over the ledge, her hair whipping in the wind like a ghost. Her shoulders were trembling, not from the cold, but from fear… and hopelessness.
My heart slammed painfully against my ribs.
“Kamari,” I said quietly. She didn’t turn around. She just froze, her fingers gripping the railing slightly as if she was gathering courage to let go.
“Don’t,” I warned, my voice low and firm. She inhaled sharply, but still didn’t turn. I stepped forward, each movement controlled, careful… like approaching a wild animal ready to bolt.
“Why are you here?” I asked. She finally spoke—and her voice shattered me. “What does it matter? You called me a slut anyway.”
My jaw clenched. “I didn’t mean that. I didn’t—” “You didn’t mean it?” Her laugh was broken, painful. “You said it. You said it right in front of her.”
“I was trying to protect you!” I snapped. “Protect me by calling me something disgusting?” she shot back, and finally she turned her head to glare at me over her shoulder. Her eyes were red. “You made me feel like trash.”
My chest tightened. I hadn’t seen it then… but now, it was all I could see. I took another step closer.
“Kamari… come down.” “No.” Her voice wavered. “I won’t go back there. I can’t.” “You think jumping solves anything?” I growled.
“I’m not your prisoner, Luciano!” she screamed. “You can’t keep me here like something you bought!”
My breath caught. She was repeating the same words I’d spat without thinking, words that cut her deeper than I realized.
She wiped her tears with shaky fingers. “I just want to leave… I want to go home.”
“Your husband is dead,” I said quietly.
She flinched. “That’s not true,” she whispered weakly, though she didn’t sound convinced. “It is,” I said, softer this time. “But I don’t see you as nothing.”
Her lips trembled. She looked away. “I don’t believe you,” she whispered.
And that was when she moved her foot shifted, like she was about to step off the ledge.
My blood froze. “Kamari—don’t—” I lunged forward, grabbing her waist and yanking her backward so hard she gasped. Her body crashed into mine, her back pressed to my chest. I wrapped both arms around her, locking her in place.
“No!” she cried, struggling. “Let me go! Let me go!”
“Never,” I growled into her ear. She twisted violently, trying to break free. And when she couldn’t, she did the only thing she could, she slapped me.
Hard. The sound echoed across the rooftop. I didn’t let go.
She hit my chest with her small fists again and again, her sobs ripping through her.
“You don’t get to control me,” she cried. “You don’t get to hurt me and then act like you care!”
“I’m not letting you fall,” I said, tightening my hold. “Even if you hate me right now.” “I do!” she screamed. “I hate you!” “Then hate me,” I whispered, pulling her tighter against me. “But you’re coming down from this ledge.”
Her body shook violently, her tears wetting my arm. Her body slowly lost its
fight, collapsing back into me. The wind whipped around us, but neither of us moved.
And for the first time tonight… she let me hold her.