Chapter 21 Twenty One
Kamari’s POV
My palm hit his cheek before I could stop myself.
The sound was so loud it echoed across the rooftop.
And then… silence…Luciano didn’t speak. Didn’t blink. His jaw flexed, his cheek slowly reddening under my handprint.
I froze. Oh God… what did I just do? Before I could step back or even apologize, his hand tightened around my waist and—“Wait—Luciano—!”
He hoisted me up like I weighed nothing and threw me over his shoulder. “Put me down!” I kicked, my fists pounding against his back.
Instead of listening, he delivered a sharp slap to my butt.
I gasped. “Are you insane?!” "That’s for trying to jump.” His voice was ice. Another slap. “And that’s for slapping me.”
My face burned in humiliation as he carried me into the house, ignoring every struggle like I was a feather. His steps were steady, controlled—too controlled. He was furious, but he wasn’t yelling. Somehow, that terrified me more.
Lady Maris froze when she saw us. Celine’s eyes widened.
Guards instantly looked away, pretending not to see their boss carrying an angry, kicking girl like a sack of rice.
“Luciano! Stop! PUT ME DOWN!” I kept fighting. He didn’t. Not until he kicked open my room door, walked in, and dumped me on the mattress.
I bounced once on the bed, breathless, hair scattered. He shut the door behind him with a slow click….Just the two of us.
No escape.
He stood there. Cheeks are still red. Chest rising and falling. Eyes locked on me like a storm waiting to break. “ You want to die so badly, why don’t you let me do that myself. There’s no fun trying to kill yourself."
“Go back to your fiancée,” I spat, scooting away. “Don’t waste your time on a filthy slut someone sold to you.”
His eyes sharpened instantly. I opened my mouth to continue but he was suddenly in front of me.
And then his lips crashed onto mine. My breath caught. My palms pressed against his chest to push him away, but… he didn’t move. His mouth was warm, demanding, angry. His fingers slid into my hair and tilted my head exactly how he wanted.
The kiss was rough, aggressive and dominating. I couldn't even pull away even if I wanted to. Our nose brushed as I tilted my head to kiss his upper lip while he took my lower lip.
My hands pressed softly against the nape of his neck, pushing his face into mine as we kissed.
His tongue sucked so hard on my tongue that a small whimper escaped my lips, making my insides squirm with need. My brain screamed no but my body arched into him,and I allowed myself to enjoy the kiss.
“Stop—” my voice dissolved into his kiss. God, why was I melting? Why was I kissing him back like I’d forgotten how to breathe? For a moment—just a moment—I allowed myself to drown in it. In him. In the heat, the possessiveness, the way his hand cupped my jaw like it belonged to him alone.
But reality hit me, I was giving him the impression that I am indeed a slut. I tore my mouth away, gasping. “Stop—please, I can’t—” Luciano didn’t touch me again.
He stepped back, chest heaving. His voice was low, dangerous. “I should punish you for running.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“But I’ll let it go,” he continued, “this once.” I laughed bitterly. “How kind of you, Boss. Should I bow?”
“Kamari,” he warned.
“What? Did I offend your pride? Should I apologize for slapping the almighty Luciano De Rossi? Should I kiss your ring next?” His jaw tightened. A muscle ticked.
I knew I was provoking him. I knew he was seconds from snapping….But the pain inside me was stronger than fear.
He exhaled slowly, trying to stay calm. “You will not sleep in my room. Not while Joselyn is here.”
My stomach twisted. Of course. The reminder stabbed deeper than any insult. His fiancé, Joselyn.
“Great,” I whispered. “Maybe now your little mafia princess won’t walk in on her fiancé with the house collateral.” His eyes closed for a moment like he was trying to keep control.
“Kamari, enough.” “No. Not enough,” I said softly, staring him dead in the eyes. “Because every time you go back to her bed… I remember exactly what I am here. A debt. A body. A thing.”
His expression changed—just slightly—but I looked away before I could decipher it.
Silence filled the room. Then he said quietly, “Get some rest.” He unlocked the door. But he didn’t leave.
He looked back at me like there was something he wanted to say but couldn’t. Then he stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Leaving me alone with my racing heart and the ghost of his kiss still burning on my lips. “ I bet he was going to give Joselyn the punishment he wanted to give me," I hissed, turning away from the door.
I sat on the bed, sketching escape routes in my head. The window… too high. The balcony… too exposed. Maybe the laundry exit? Or the service gate near the greenhouse? If I could just find five minutes without someone watching me.
The door burst open so violently it slammed against the wall. I jumped.
Two maids stormed in, faces hard, eyes cold. Before I could even react, their hands clamped down on my arms. “Let me go!” I jerked back, struggling. “What are you doing? Leave me alone!”
They didn’t listen. They didn’t even speak. They only dragged me, my feet scraping against the floor, my breath catching as panic punched through my ribs.
“Stop! Where are you taking me?” I yelled, twisting desperately. One of them gripped me tighter.
Joselyn.
That name was the only explanation. She must have heard how her fiànce spanked my butt in the presence of his entire staff
They hauled me down the hall like I wasn’t even human. My heart thudded painfully as we reached the sitting area—and there she was.
Joselyn stood in the center of the room like she owned the world. Perfect blonde curls. Perfect red lips. Perfect smirk.
And she looked at me like I was dirt on her shoe. “So this is the little rat,” she said loudly, her voice dripping venom. “Luciano’s charity case.”
The maids shoved me forward. I stumbled but refused to fall. I lifted my chin even though my hands trembled.
“Let me go,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I didn’t do anything to you.”
Joselyn laughed. “Did you hear that? She thinks she can speak.” She circled me slowly, eyes scanning me like I was a disease. “Do you know what you look like? A cheap, filthy stray that doesn’t belong in this house.”
The words stung, but I didn’t bow my head. “I don’t want to belong here,” I muttered. “Just let me go.”
Her hand moved so fast I didn’t see it.
SLAP.
My head snapped to the side. My cheek burned, eyes watering instantly. “You don’t get to make requests,” Joselyn hissed. “You don’t get to breathe unless I say so.”
She turned to the maids. “Take her to the dungeon. Tie her to the pole. Let’s see if she learns some respect.”
My stomach dropped. They grabbed me again, dragging me away as Joselyn watched with a satisfied smile.
“No—please, wait—”