Chapter 31
They walked deeper into the estate.
Nonnina opened a door and ushered her inside.
It was an apartment.
A sitting area with plush couches. A small dining nook. A kitchenette gleaming with untouched appliances. Beyond that, a bedroom with a bed so large it felt absurd, dressed in crisp white sheets that practically glowed under the soft lighting.
Vee stopped walking.
“Oh,” she breathed.
“You will have your own personal maid,” Nonnina continued, gesturing vaguely. “The girl from this morning. Luca made a card available for you. It is on the bedside table. If you need anything else, you let me know p>
Vee stepped farther in, running her fingers lightly over the back of a chair. “This is much better than my house,” she admitted quietly.
Nonnina hummed. “Is it p>
Vee turned to her.
“Is there love in your house?” Nonnina asked.
“Not anymore,” she said softly.
Nonnina sighed. “Wherever love lives is a much better place, Zuccherino. Money do not make a home. People do p>
“Nonnina,” Vee said. “Are you Luca’s mother? I mean… he seems to respect you a lot p>
“I wish,” Nonnina said softly. “I wish he was.” She smiled then. “The package is in your bedroom too p>
Vee nodded, unsure what to say. She watched Nonnina walk away.
Alone again.
Vee crossed into the bedroom, already bracing herself.
Her gaze landed on the card first.
Of course.
It lay on the bedside table. Matte black. No name. Just his unspoken expectation humming in the air. She picked it up between two fingers, turning it over.
She scoffed softly. “How original p>
She dropped the card back.
Not that easy, Luciano Genovese.
Not without Valentina.
Her attention shifted to the bed, where a long, rectangular box rested atop the pristine duvet. It was matte black too.
She lifted the lid.
A coat lay neatly folded inside, the fabric so soft it seemed unreal.
Beneath it was the lingerie.
It was silk. Deep, dark, unapologetic. Straps and bindings crossed and looped. It was beautiful in a dangerous way.
She swallowed.
“I don’t even know where half of you go,” she muttered to the offending garment.
Her cheeks warmed despite herself.
At the very bottom of the box, was a folded note.
Simple. Clean. Commanding.
You have an appointment for 10pm tonight at Commissioned. Wear these.
“Of course I do,” she murmured.
She looked back at the coat. The lingerie. The silent black credit card waiting on the dresser.
Her first instinct was defiance.
Her second was exhaustion.
Her third, the most dangerous of all, was curiosity.
If he wanted to spoil her, to wrap her in luxury and illusion, then fine. Let him. She wasn’t a fool. She knew the game. But games could be played in both directions, and if Luca Genovese thought clothes and cash could buy her obedience, he was about to learn she was not that kind of woman.
Marco arrived at Luca’s office with a jaw set hard.
“Marco! You are a sight for sore eyes. I hate to say it, but I missed you p>
Marco stopped just inside the doorway, unimpressed. “Thank you, boss, but you could always assign someone else to babysit. The job is beneath me p>
“It’s just for a few days. Besides, after what happened with the girls the last time, I don’t trust anyone else to uphold our code p>
“Fine,” he muttered. “But we have another problem I need to handle p>
“Oh,” Luca said dryly, lips twitching. “And here I thought I was going to have a great night p>
Marco didn’t smile. “Veronica’s boyfriend. He’s making waves. I just got a call from our guy at the precinct. He’s been there reporting her and her sister kidnapped p>
Luca’s amusement faded into calculation.
“Cassidy,” Luca said quietly.
“Yes p>
“He thinks the police can save her,” Luca said softly. “That’s adorable p>
“The detective handling the case is quite tight-lipped,” Marco said. “Remember the one obsessed with you p>
“Yeah,” Luca said. “That one. Of course. I’ll handle it p>
Marco exhaled slowly. “Boss, this is something I can deal with p>
Luca’s eyes lifted then. “I said I will handle it p>
“Boss,” Marco said carefully, “what is it with this girl p>
Luca arched a brow, inviting him to finish digging his grave.
“This,” Marco gestured vaguely, “this isn’t you p>
“What isn’t me p>
“First, you burn ten million on her at that auction,” Marco said, words tumbling faster now, honesty spilling out because it was already too late. “And now you’re personally stepping into police interference? Boss, this is detrimental to you. I’ve known you long enough, Luciano. You don’t do this. You take. You command. You discard. You don’t orbit p>
“Go back to your post, Marco,” Luca said.
That was it. The line had been drawn.
Marco nodded, recognizing the finality in the tone. He turned toward the door, resignation in his shoulders. Just as his hand closed around the handle, it opened from the other side.
One of Luca’s men stepped in, nodding respectfully to Marco as he passed. “Boss,” the man said, “we have her situated in the room p>
Marco paused for half a second, curiosity itching, then continued out without looking back.
“You have the viewing room also set up?” Luca asked, already rising to his feet.
“Yes p>
Luca adjusted his jacket, smoothing the fabric. “You know what to do p>
The man nodded and left.
Luca smiled to himself, a slow, dangerous curve of lips.
Tonight was about observation.
Tonight was going to be quite informative.
And yes.
Delicious.
Luca entered the platinum suite sat at the very top of Commissioned.
He let his gaze take her in.
She stood near the window p>
“Hi there, Reinee,” he said, already wearing a smug curl of his lips he reserved for women.
“Hi, Luca,” she answered, pleased. She started toward him, fingers already working at the buttons of her coat.
He caught her hand gently, stopping her momentum. “Why the hurry?” he asked. “Can I pour you a drink p>
“Of course p>
He stepped past her to the table where the champagne waited in a silver bucket. Commissioned spared no expense for platinum members. Rare bottles. Custom blends. Everything curated to make people forget who they were when they walked in.