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Chapter 26
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2026-07-05 14:26:33
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THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 38
ISABELLA'S POVThree days had passed since the kiss, three painfully awkward days.Lorenzo had buried himself in work, while I had buried myself in books, hoping to forget everything but neither strategy had worked.Every accidental glance lingered a second too long. Every shared meal ended in uncomfortable silence. Somehow, speaking had become harder than it had ever been before.A knock sounded on my bedroom door."Come in."Maria stepped inside with her usual warm smile, the maid assigned to me. "Mr. De Luca would like to see you in his study."My heart skipped for a second."Did he say why?" I asked, hoping she knew something, but she shook her head."No, Mrs. De Luca." I sighed, "I'll be there shortly."She inclined her head and quietly left.I stood before my mirror for several seconds, smoothing invisible wrinkles from my blouse.It was ridiculous, I had faced gunfire, Kidnapping, and death. Yet walking into Lorenzo's study suddenly felt far more intimidating.His study do
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 37
ISABELLA'S POVI barely slept a wink last night, every time I closed my eyes, I found myself back in the sitting room.All I could think of was his hand around mine, and the kiss.I turned over for what felt like the hundredth time before finally giving up.The first rays of morning filtered through the curtains as I climbed out of bed.Perhaps if I reached the dining room early enough, I could avoid him altogether. I thought to myself.It was a foolish hope, the moment I stepped inside, I saw him.Lorenzo sat at the head of the table, already dressed for the day. A newspaper lay open before him, though judging by the untouched coffee beside his hand, he hadn't read a single page.He looked up the instant I entered.Our eyes met, for one suspended moment, neither of us moved.Then, almost simultaneously, we looked away."Good morning," I murmured and cleared my throat."Morning." That was all he said.I took my usual seat, deliberately leaving an empty chair between us.A maid stepped
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 36
ISABELLA'S POVI lay on the bed hoping to doze off but sleep refused to come.I had spent the better part of an hour staring at the ceiling, replaying my day at the museum and the strange feeling that had followed me home.Eventually, I got tired and gave up.Wrapping a light robe around myself, I slipped quietly out of my bedroom.The mansion was almost silent.Only the grandfather clock in the hallway marked the passing of time.I thought perhaps a cup of tea would help.As I descended the staircase, a faint glow coming from the sitting room caught my attention. The lamp beside the sofa was still on, curious, I stepped closer.I was shocked when I saw Lorenzo lying on the couch, and he was asleep.One arm rested over his eyes while the other hung loosely over the edge of the sofa.His tie had long since disappeared, the top buttons of his shirt were undone, and his sleeves were rolled to his forearms.The whiskey remained half-finished beside him. An expensive cigar rested forgotte
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 35
LORENZO'S POVI had barely touched the coffee growing cold on my desk when a knock sounded against the study door."Come in," I said standing close to the window.Seeing Damiano step inside, I went to sit down.But something about him seemed off, he looked different, and too composed.Whenever he looked that calm, it usually meant something was about to go down."We found him." He said the minute he came close.The room suddenly became cold, I slowly lifted my head."Where?" I asked him."Caffè Bellini."I stared at him."He isn't hiding?"Damiano shook his head."No."Silence stretched between us.It felt almost as if he wanted me to understand what that meant before he said anything else, for some reason. "He's been sitting there for nearly an hour.""He hasn't tried to leave."I leaned back in my chair, of course he hadn't.Francesco wasn't waiting for an opportunity, he was waiting for me.As if he could read my mind, Damiano folded his arms."It could be a trap."A humorless smi
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 34
LORENZO'S POVThe estate had been quiet that afternoon.I sat alone in my study, reviewing a stack of contracts that had somehow doubled overnight.Numbers usually settled my mind, but today they refused to, my thoughts drifted back to the museum and Isabella.The outing I'd reluctantly approved, but a knock sounded against the door interrupted me."Come in."Damiano stepped inside carrying a slim black folder."The security report from today's outing," he said,I didn't look up immediately."Anything unusual?" I asked him."Nothing" then he paused."Standard route, standard timing. Mrs. De Luca and Mrs. Vittoria returned safely." I nodded."Good."He placed the folder on my desk, before he continued."The detail also included photographs."I reached for the folder almost absentmindedly.They photographed every outing, entry points, exit points, crowd, and anyone who approached.It was just standard routine, until it wasn't.I absent-mindedly flipped through the pictures hurriedly so
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 33
ISABELLA'S POVThe lockdown had become easier to endure, not because I enjoyed it, but because eventually, even restlessness grew tired.Most mornings followed the same routine, breakfast, the library, lunch, a walk through the gardens if security deemed it safe, dinner, and another quiet night inside the estate.It was becoming dangerously easy to mistake routine for peace. This morning I was done with the first routine and was getting ready for the second when a knock sounded on my bedroom door."Come in."The door opened, revealing Vittoria.She leaned casually against the frame, a pair of sunglasses resting on top of her head."I come bearing good news."I closed the book in my lap."Should I be worried?""Only if you've developed an irrational fear of museums."I frowned."Museums?"She walked inside."There's a private exhibition opening this afternoon.""And?""And we're going."I blinked, wondering what part of what happened the last time she doesn't get."I thought I wasn't a
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 1
I paced the cracked tiles of the abandoned warehouse, clutching the burner phone so tightly in my hands that the cheap plastic creaked. The air smelled of rust and mold, a sharp contrast to the luxury I had enjoyed these past two years. It was exactly 2:00 am when I made the call, I knew he would
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 5
TWO YEARS AGO The first morning at the De Luca's mansion, I refused breakfast out of pride.The second morning, I refused it out of anger.By the third day, I refused it because I had already come too far to stop.The tray sat untouched on the small table beside the window.Fresh fruit, toast, cof
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 4
TWO YEARS AGO It was 3 a.m. when they came for me.Not even a warning knock. Not even the courtesy of footsteps in the hallway that might have given me time to pretend I wasn’t afraid.The door slammed open instead.“Get up.”Alberto’s voice came first. My fathers Consgliere He wasn't loud like my
THE DE LUCA BARGAIN Chapter 3
I couldn't shake it off no matter how hard I tried.My father's cold dead eyes stared at meBlood splattering across the warehouse floor.Lorenzo's voice barking orders somewhere behind me.Then the gunshot.And another.Chaos.Screaming.I remember dropping to my knees.I remember reaching for my
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