Chapter 27
’CEO of Commissioned Club. Also known as the Devil p>
She let out a long, tired sigh and leaned back against the seat. Of course. Of course everyone knew the Devil.
“How She shook her head. “Why p>
Luca shrugged, turning the wheel with casual ease. “I think you underestimated how good-looking I am. Women tend not to look past that p>
She studied him from the side. “You don’t seem to care about the evil things you do p>
“I love what I do, Bambola. I don’t really care what anyone else thinks p>
The car slowed as massive wrought-iron gates rose ahead of them. Two security men stepped forward, scanning the vehicle before waving them through. The gates opened soundlessly.
Vee’s jaw dropped.
Inside was another world entirely. Long, sweeping driveways curved through manicured gardens lit by soft ground lights. Water features glimmered. The house itself loomed ahead, modern stone and glass.
“You’re drooling,” Luca said lightly.
She snapped her mouth shut. “I am not p>
He parked and got out, moving around the car to her side. He opened the door and offered his hand. When she stepped out, he positioned himself subtly behind her, one arm hovering at her waist, shielding her half-dressed state from the guards and staff.
Inside, the house was warm and quiet. Art lined the walls. Pieces that spoke of blood money and impeccable taste.
He walked her down a corridor and into a bedroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a massive bed dressed in neutral tones, a bathroom that glowed softly beyond a glass partition.
“Take a bath,” Luca said gently. “Rest. I’ll see you in the morning p>
He turned to leave.
“You said you would do whatever you wanted with me tonight,” Vee said.
Luca stopped.
Slowly, he turned back to her, one brow lifting with dangerous amusement. “Are you that excited for me to touch you,” he asked calmly, “that you had to remind me p>
Her spine stiffened. “No. I want to show you that I’m a woman of my word. If I say I’ll pay back a debt, I pay it back. You don’t have to hold me or my sister hostage p>
Luca stepped back into the room and closed the door behind him.
He moved closer. “It’s amazing,” Luca said quietly, “how one thing comes out of your lips, and I can see another written all over your eyes p>
She folded her arms defensively, chin lifting. “You see what you want to see p>
He stopped an arm’s length away. “No, Bambola. I see exactly what’s there p>
Her pulse betrayed her, loud in her ears.
“You’re just like every other woman,” he continued with certainty. “You want me. You want me to fuck you. You just don’t want to admit it p>
Anger flared. “That’s not true p>
“I’m not going to fuck you,” Luca went on, “until you admit you want me, until you ask me to p>
“No,” he corrected himself, a faint smile touching his lips. “Until you beg me to p>
“And even then,” Luca added, “I don’t plan on doing anything with you tonight. Especially not when another man has been touching you all night p>
“At first, yes,” Vee said quietly, the fight draining out of her voice. “I had a tiny attraction to you. Besides, you seemed… nice. So yes, you’re right. If you had asked me to drop my underwear willingly, at some point, I probably would have p>
She lifted her chin, meeting his eyes.
“But now? Now I’ll just do whatever you want to keep my sister safe. And that is the truth p>
“I’ve been seeing Cassidy for weeks,” she continued. “And today was the first time he would see me like this. The first time he would touch me.” She gestured to her barely clothed body, the motion small but devastating. “Do you know why p>
“Because I wanted a good memory,” Vee said softly. “With someone I care about. So when you eventually touch me, all I have to do is go to that memory. And not think about how disgusted I feel p>
Luca’s jaw ticked once. The muscle jumped.
He looked away first.
“I’ll bring you one of my shirts to sleep in,” he said, pivoting away from the subject. “Nonnina will take care of you in the morning p>
Her brows knit together. “Nonnina p>
“She runs the house p>
He moved toward the door, then paused. “In the night,” he said, back to her now, “be ready to be punished for your insolence and your stubbornness p>
And then he was gone.
Nonnina had been awake long before the sun dared peek over the hedges.
When one of the maids mentioned that Luca had brought someone home in the middle of the night, Nonnina’s eyes lit up. She thought she would have a few more days at least to prepare but it gave her something to keep her busy.
Kitchen staff were firmly rearranged. Menus were revised. Nonnina dictated the day’s meals, overseeing the preparation of Luca’s meal.
She assigned a maid to the guest room immediately.
By the time Luca came down, breakfast was laid out perfectly in the sunlit room overlooking the gardens. Fresh bread. Fruit. Coffee strong enough to wake the dead. He appeared in his sleepwear, the shirt loose and open at the front, hair slightly disordered.
“Diavolino,” Nonnina called warmly, “breakfast is ready p>
Luca leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Good morning, Nonnina p>
“I hope I didn’t give you too much trouble with the guest p>
Nonnina waved him off. “No trouble at all. She is still asleep. The maid will attend to her p>
He took his seat and settled into breakfast. The plate before him was simple. Poached eggs, bread still warm enough to steam when torn.
“When will you have her moved?” he asked casually, breaking the bread as Nonnina poured his coffee.
“Before the end of the day,” she replied.
“I’m going to send a package meant for her later today. Make sure she gets it p>
Nonnina sighed. She handed him the coffee, her eyes never leaving his face. “Diavolino, you need to be careful. This arrangement doesn’t sound like business personal. I fear people will talk and your wife will find out p>