LOGINLucasI had received a call from Ivan earlier this evening. They had found Dario. I put a lighted cigarette in my mouth. Took them long enough.I told them to put him in the black room. Different from where his friend had died. Ivan was waiting outside with an umbrella,as the rain was drizzling, when I got there.He took one look at me and shook his head like he knew I was making trouble again. "He's ready," Ivan said simply, giving me a tray to stub my cigarette. " We have taught him a few lessons so I think he has had plenty of time to think about his choices."I nodded and went inside. Dario was tied to a metal chair in the center of the room. Interestingly, Ivan's idea of a few lessons was a swollen face, two bursted fingers and a bursted knee. Two of my men stood guard nearby, their expressions professionally blank. Dario looked up as I approached, his eyes widening with recognition and terror."Lucas," he rasped. "Whatever they told you...."I held up a hand, cutting him off w
LucasCamilla sat rigid in the passenger seat beside me. The dress I had given her had ridden up her thighs, exposing the pale skin that called my attention to them everytime. Her bare feet were tucked awkwardly beneath her. She hadn't said a single word after she had asked me that question and I wondered what she was thinking.I allowed myself a small, private smile in the darkness of the car. This night was just the beginning of my laid down plans. It had taken months of careful orchestration, of pulling a lot of strings. It started from the day I realized that my father had someone close to him. He had tried to hide it from him, he had tried to hide his obsession over this red haired woman but he hadn't known that hatred run deeper than blood. It's why I knew Camilla's name. It's why I had taken her that night. And Sophia, the girl from the club was also orchestrated. Although everything else was true, I had known that Camilla won't resist saving her. She was quite dumb in that
CamillaThere was nothing gentle about this kiss. Lucas kissed me like he’d been starving for it. His hand tightened on my chin, holding me exactly where he wanted me, while the other slammed against the wall beside my head. I tasted anger and hunger on his tongue as it swept into my mouth, claiming, demanding. A low growl rumbled from his chest when I bit his lip in retaliation.My body betrayed me instantly. Heat exploded low in my belly, slick and urgent, and I arched against him before I could stop myself. The thin red dress was no barrier at all. I could feel every hard inch of him pressed against me, his thigh still wedged between my legs from how he’d pinned me. My nipples scraped against his chest with every ragged breath, aching.I hated how good it felt. I hated him.I shoved at his shoulders, but my fingers curled into his jacket instead, pulling him closer. A whimper slipped out of me when he angled his head and deepened the kiss, devouring me like he wanted to consume eve
Camilla We slipped out the estate. Lucas knew every corner without cameras and Elijah was nowhere in sight. I swear I still didn't understand that man. We took a path to a waiting car far from the main gate. "You shouldn't have dragged Elena into this," he said after a while of driving. "If Cassio finds out she talked..." "I didn't drag her. She wants to be free," I said. "And you are helping, so stop acting like you don't care." He glanced at me. "I wouldn't use the word care, princess. Don't be deceived." I looked at him. What was he going on about? He shifted the topic and began to talk about the plan. He had gone to the Garden yesterday night to scout. There was a blind spot in the east wall. Thirty seconds every hour when the cameras moved. Guards who took cigarette breaks at certain times. I listened carefully, memorizing every detail. Lucas kept his eyes on the dark road ahead, his hands tight on the wheel. The car hummed low, cutting through the night like a knife. M
CamillaWhat the hell was he doing here? I had not expected to see Lucas at Elena's house. We had talked about me coming here to see her, but he never said he would show up. The garden smelled of sweet roses and fresh grass. Sunlight danced on the fountains. But all I saw was him. Elena touched my arm gently. "I didn't know you two knew each other so well. Lucas showed up at my door early this morning. He said he wanted to see Matteo. He's been here ever since."Matteo, gave me a tentative smile. I forced a smile and stepped closer to the table. "Nice to meet you, Matteo."I took the chair across from Lucas abd Elijah stood like a statue near the tall hedges. Elena poured tea for everyone. Matteo chattered away about his cars and surprisingly Lucas listened to him. It was strange to see this side of him. But every time his eyes flicked to me, it felt like a brand.After a while, Elena stood up. "Matteo, come help me bring more cakes and biscuits from the kitchen. You can show Lucas
Camilla I told Lucas everything that Elena managed to tell him in that short while and to my relief, he seemed to know where this Garden place was. "This is fucking suicide, Camilla." I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to tell him I thought it was too. He released my arm only to rake both hands through his hair, pacing two steps in the confined space before whipping back to face me. "Do you think you can just walk into that place and pull people out?" "Then help me," I said. "You know the operations. You know the weak points. If you're going to stop me, do it now, but if not. ." "Stop you?" He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Baby, I don't think anyone could stop you. That's the fucking problem." Silence stretched between us, thick with everything unsaid. "Why are you helping me, Lucas? You could walk away. You could tell your father everything, stay loyal. You're his son. Why risk this?" He went quiet and even when he stepped closer, I didn't retreat. It was like I w
Camilla The music thumped through the walls of the alcove. It was a dull bass beat that matched the throb of anger building inside me. The man, Alfredo still had his hand suspended in the air, frowning at Lucas."You think I'm scared of you, pretty boy?" Alfredo spat but he lowered his hand. "I ha
Camilla Lucas looked me over. "Go change," he said.I blinked. "What?""Go to your room and change into something you can move in." He replied. "Something practical that could pass as a club wear. "I frowned "I don't have a...""Find one or you are not coming."He walked out of the study before I
Camilla The workers stood frozen in place, their eyes darting between Lucas and me like they were stuck a match they desperately wanted to escape.Lucas's jaw tightened. "Dismiss them." He ordered calmly.I blinked. "What?""You heard me." His eyes never left mine. "Dismiss the servants. Now."I t
Camilla I was in my room when I finally came to. I sat up, struggling to remember what happened before I blacked out. My throat was raw from all the screaming I had done. I reached for the water by my bedside and drank it greedily. My hands were still trembling. I had been so scared, God help







