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My anger surges, hot and fierce. "So you're putting yourself and your businesses above my needs?"
"Absolutely," he replies without hesitation, his dark eyes unwavering.
"Fine!" I spit, yanking my injured ankle away from him. The sudden movement sends pain radiating up my leg, but I refuse to let him see how much it hurts. "I can finish this myself."
"Suit yourself," he says, getting up and turning towards the door. "Do you need anything else, Lucia?"
I refuse to answer him. In fact, I refuse to even look at him, my heart pounding in my chest. The ice around my ankle numbs the pain but does nothing to quell the storm of emotions inside me.
"Aw, is our little princess giving me the silent treatment?" Giovanni's voice drips with mockery as he leans against the doorframe, a smirk playing on his lips.
I clench my jaw and refuse to respond, focusing my gaze on the window instead. His presence feels like a weight pressing down on me, making it harder to breathe.
"Come on, Lulu," he taunts, stepping further into the room. "Surely you've got something to say."
His use of my nickname grates on my nerves. I want to scream at him, tell him how much I hate him for keeping me here, but that would only give him the satisfaction he's looking for. Instead, I bite my tongue and keep up my facade of indifference.
"Nothing?" he presses, circling around me like a predator stalking its prey. "Not even a thank you for fixing up your ankle?"
My fingers curl into fists, nails digging into my palms. I force myself to take a deep breath, trying to maintain control. Outside, I am a stone, unyielding and cold. Inside, though, I am close to crumbling.
"Fine," he sighs dramatically, throwing his hands up in the air. "If you're going to be this stubborn, there's no point in sticking around."
He turns on his heel and strides towards the door. But before he leaves, he pauses, throwing one last look over his shoulder at me. "Just remember, Lulu – you brought this on yourself."
The door slams shut behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My tough exterior cracks, and tears stream down my face. I miss my family, my home, and the life I used to have. I want nothing more than to be free of this nightmare, but the man holding me captive is also the one who's managed to crawl under my skin and into my dreams.
"Damn you, Giovanni," I choke out between sobs, my voice barely a whisper.
Exhaustion overtakes me, and I curl up on the bed, tears still running down my cheeks. Sleep claims me, but it is restless and filled with nightmares of captivity and longing, with Giovanni Maldonado at the center of it all.
ChapterFour
The sharp buzz of my phone pierces through the heavy air, and before I can even glance at the screen, I know what it means. Lucia has tried to escape again. A frustrated growl escapes my lips, and I clench my fists tightly under the table. My concentration falters, split between the needs of my business, the criminal enterprise we are working to dismantle, and the incessant demands of Princess Lulu. She's a wild storm, always leaving chaos in her wake. I wonder, for just a moment, if rescuing her was a mistake. But no, I don't regret my actions – only her stubborn attitude.
"Everything alright?" Lawrence Sinclair, sitting opposite me, raises an eyebrow, his voice laced with curiosity. He's the rock I rely on when it comes to overseeing my shipping company's operations.
"Fine," I snap, forcing Lulu's antics from my mind as I refocus on the meeting. "Let's continue."
Lawrence nods, but his eyes still hold concern as he delves back into our discussion. The rest of the day's meetings crawl by like molasses, each passing moment stretching out like an eternity. Finally, I find myself sliding into the leather seat of my car, gripping the wheel as I start the long drive back to the mansion. The city lights blur together as I navigate the familiar route, cursing under my breath at the circumstances that led to my relocation.
I never wanted to live in the mansion. My home was in the city, close to work with easy access to everything I needed. But Lulu's constant escape attempts forced my hand. Now, every day is an irritating battle against time, distance, and her unyielding spirit.
"Damn you, Lulu," I mutter, my knuckles whitening on the wheel. "You make everything so much harder than it needs to be."
My thoughts race with the speed of my car, each mile bringing me closer to the mansion and the woman who's turned my world upside down.
The memory of Primo's suggestion snakes its way into my thoughts as the structure comes into view, a dark silhouette against the evening sky. Maybe I should bring a prostitute into my bed. It's been quite some time since I've indulged myself that way. I don't do girlfriends or one night stands – they're too messy, too entangled with feelings and expectations. But a prostitute? That's business, pure and simple.
"Payment for services rendered," I mutter, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "No complications."
The car glides to a stop in front of the mansion, and I step out, my shoes crunching on the gravel driveway. The sound echoes through the still night air, a reminder that I'm alone here. Well, not entirely.
I find Lulu in her room, her eyes wide as she looks up at me. Guilt worms its way into my chest when I notice her injuries from her latest escape attempt. Damn her stubbornness.
I kneel beside her to examine her ankle. She reluctantly allows me to touch her, and I'm struck by how soft her skin is under my fingertips. Her toes are painted a delicate pink, a small reminder of her femininity in this harsh world we inhabit.
My body reacts involuntarily to the intimate contact, and I clench my jaw, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. I leave to get her ice and return to wrap her ankle carefully, trying not to let my thoughts drift to what might be hidden beneath her loose clothing.
