Page 8 of Sweet Revenge

I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from behind, and suddenly Luca stepped into my line of view, his expression unreadable. “Welcome to your new home, Adriana,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Get comfortable.”

Luca nodded to the guard, who immediately left us, closing the door behind him with a soft click. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. I was trapped in this opulent prison, surrounded by luxury but utterly alone and at the mercy of the son of the man I was trying to kill. The grandeur of the mansion did nothing to soothe my fear; if anything, it amplified it. This place was a testament to Luca’s power, a reminder of the world I was now entangled in. One that there was no way I could have prepared myself adequately to face.

“Let’s talk,” Luca said, pulling up a chair and sitting across from me. “You have nothing to lose, so you might as well be honest. Tell me about your father.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “My father was a good man,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “He had his flaws, but he loved me. Carmine Capuzzo took him from me, and I’ve spent the last four years planning to make him pay.”

Luca listened intently, shadows flitting across his chiseled face. “And you thought killing my father would bring you peace?”

I shook my head. “No. But it would have given me some semblance of justice. It would have made him feel the pain I’ve felt every day since my father died.”

“Interesting,” Luca said, leaning back in his chair. “You’re driven by vengeance, but you didn’t think it through. Killing my father wouldn’t have ended well for you. You’d either be dead yourself or your father’s death would continue to haunt you. Is that any way to live?”

“I know,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I had to try. And I’ve had no desire to live since my father was murdered. He’s all I had left after my mother died.”

Luca studied me, his eyes dark and piercing. “My mother is also dead. Perhaps I know a little of what you feel. You’re a fascinating woman, Adriana. Most people would have given up, accepted their fate. But not you. You’re a fighter, like me.”

“I have nothing left to lose,” I replied, meeting his gaze.

A few beats of silence passed, our gazes locked together, searching. There was something behind the man’s eyes that I recognized, the vast hole that grief leaves in one’s heart. I wondered whether either of us had any heart left.

“Maybe,” Luca said, a flicker of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I can help you, Adriana. I can give you a chance to live, to find a new purpose.”

“What’s the catch?” I asked, suspicion lacing my voice.

Luca leaned in, his face inches from mine. “No questions. You work for me. You prove your loyalty, and I’ll spare your life. Betray me, and you’ll wish you were dead.”

It was a dangerous proposition, but what choice did I have? I could see the determination in Luca’s eyes, the power he wielded. He was giving me a chance, and I would be a fool not to take it. I’d pretend to submit to him until I figured out a way to achieve my goal—killing his father.

“Fine,” I said, my voice steady. “I’ll do what you ask. But know this, Luca Capuzzo…I will never stop wanting justice for my father.”

Luca smiled, a dangerous, predatory smile that curved across his face like the Cheshire cat. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

The tension between us was palpable, the air thick. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking a tightrope, one misstep away from a deadly fall. But I was determined to survive, to find a way to turn this situation to my advantage.

“What do you want from me, Luca?” I asked. “Why keep me alive?”

“I told you no questions,” he replied with a laugh. “But I will do you a favor and say this: I see potential in you. You have the spirit of a fighter, and that’s something I can use. But more than that, I’m curious. I want to see how far you’ll go, what you’re capable of.”

“And if I refuse?” I challenged.

Luca’s smile was cold, his eyes hard. “You won’t refuse,” he said, rising from his chair and straightening the sleeves of his jacket. “Because you know that working with me is your best chance of survival. And because deep down, you’re as curious as I am.”

He was right, and I hated him for it. But I couldn’t deny the truth. I was intrigued by Luca, by the power he wielded and the man he was. He could have killed me, should have killed me, but he didn’t. And that made me wonder what his true motives were.

“So, what now?” I asked.

He strode to the door of the study and opened it, revealing my captor on the other side. Luca bent his head to the other man’s, and the two of them exchanged words, speaking in hushed tones that I was unable to overhear.

“Now, we see what you’re made of,” Luca replied, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. “You’re going to stay here, under my watch. Prove your loyalty, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find what you’re looking for. Enjoy the rest of your night, Adriana.”

With that, he turned and left me to the guard who had re-entered the room, and untied me from the chair. I rubbed the marks on my wrists left by the rope while he led me to an ornate bedroom suite, closing the door once I was inside. I heard the sound of a key in the lock, and when I turned the doorknob, it was futile, as I’d expected. I was locked in, at least for the night.

Gazing around, I saw that the room consisted of a king-sized bed topped with fine linens, a mahogany armoire, and a matching dresser and writing desk. In the bathroom I discovered a huge clawfoot tub, luxurious towels, and an assortment of scented bath products and toiletries.

Suddenly exhausted, I stripped off my clothes, donning a satin nightdress I found in one of the dresser drawers and crawling under the thick covers of the bed. I knew this was a dangerous game, but I had no other choice. I had to play along, to bide my time and wait for the right moment. Luca had given me a chance, and I intended to make the most of it. The man was powerful, intelligent, and undeniably magnetic. He was a dangerous enemy, but he could also be a valuable ally. I just had to figure out how to turn the situation to my advantage.

As I lay my head against the soft pillow and closed my eyes, I resolved play the game he had set before me wisely. One wrong move, and it would all be over.

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