Luciano’s
I rummaged through the papers on my desk, feeling overwhelmed by the whirlwind of events unfolding around me. It was all happening so fast, like a speeding train, and I barely had a moment to collect my thoughts.
Pushing the papers away, not caring that some flew off the desk while others clung to its cluttered edges, I let out a frustrated sigh and rose abruptly from my chair.
Every murder weighed heavily on me, and the number kept increasing. I still had no clue about the killer’s identity or whereabouts.
It gnawed at me, fueling a burning desire to slam my fist against the wall. I had exhausted every avenue to gather information, but the killer remained cunningly hidden in the shadows. Oh, when I found him, I vowed to strangle him with my bare hands.
Lost in my thoughts, I was interrupted by a faint knock, and I glanced up as the oak door begrudgingly opened with a creak.
My secretary peeked her shockingly pink head through the narrow gap, uncertain whether to enter or retreat. Without waiting for my permission, she hesitantly stepped into the airy office, clutching a file in her hands.
“Yes?” I asked, unable to conceal the gruffness in my voice. I was mildly irritated by the intrusion when all I wanted was to crush the killer with my clenched fist. Some action, finally!
“Sir, I have a few documents for you to sign before I take them to…” She trailed off, her words unfinished as I barked at her to leave, my voice thundering in the confined space. Startled, the secretary jolted in her spot.
“But, sir-”
“Are you questioning me?” I spun around to glare at her, and her face paled at the intensity of my dark expression, tainting my otherwise handsome features.
“No, but the client…” she stammered.
“I said get out, or you’ll be fired,” I roared, a vein pulsating on my neck. I must have looked like a monster, my breath coming in short bursts through flaring nostrils, my face contorted in furious anger, ready to silence any squirming prey.
She nodded curtly and retreated. As soon as she closed the door, I angrily kicked the leg of my desk, releasing a stream of curses. I despised being defeated.
Fuck, where was Raven when I needed her!
The rest of the workday dragged on as I slaved away in my office, my head buried in files that seemed insignificant compared to the weight of the murders.
The pain in my foot had long faded into the background, replaced by relentless thoughts about the heinous crimes. Who could be responsible for such a grave act? Was it a rival gang member? Or someone from within the mafia itself? I wished I had answers.
I wouldn’t hesitate to take swift action to eliminate any group that posed a threat to us. The lives of my people were at stake, and I couldn’t afford to lose a single one.
Upon returning to my study, I found Raven sitting there, wearing a light yellow sundress I had never seen her in before. It struck me as odd.
She stood up as I entered, and I let out a weary sigh, making my way to the opposite chair. Dropping my briefcase on the table, I crossed my hands and avoided looking directly at her.
“Are you ignoring me?” I heard the hurt in Raven’s voice, but I had bigger concerns than appeasing an embittered woman craving my attention.
I remained silent, causing Raven to scoff. “Really, Luciano?” She asked again, expecting a response. Finally, I lifted my gaze to meet hers, my face devoid of emotion like a stone statue. I caught a glimpse of pain on her face before she quickly masked it with irritation and a hint of disgust.
The corner of her mouth twisted in disbelief. “You’re even more infuriating than I thought,” she muttered, slamming her fist on the desk before storming out of the study. The deafening silence that followed struck me straight in the chest.
In the following days, I went out of my way to avoid Raven. I stayed late in the office, excused myself from the dinner table whenever I pleased, and woke up earlier than usual, intentionally limiting her access to me.
I could sense her growing anger, although she held it in, waiting for the moment it would explode like a cloud of dense smoke. That day arrived sooner than I expected, catching me somewhat unprepared.
I was going through a contract that I should have signed off on a week ago, with the client breathing down my neck, when Raven burst into the room with such force that it nearly broke the door off its hinges.
“We need to talk,” she said, fuming. Her breath was heavy as if she had been running a marathon. I nodded silently, gesturing for her to take a seat. She looked at the chair with open disgust but didn’t bother to sit.
Instead, she kicked it with her feet, causing it to topple over and land close to where I was seated. I bit down hard on my lips, trying to contain my anger, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. My patience was wearing thin. How dare she disrespect me like this?
“I’m sick and tired of you treating me like crap. And just the other day, you walked out on dinner without saying a word. What the hell is going on with you?” she roared, her voice so loud that anyone passing by could hear. But I kept my cool, briefly flickering my gaze over her as if I wanted to devour her.
I knew she had mixed feelings about that look, a blend of hatred and attraction, but I couldn’t care less. I wanted to see how she would react, although her response was not what I had expected, not at all.
Raven scoffed, pressing her lips into a thin line. “You think this is funny?”
“Isn’t it?” I shot back, maintaining my composure. Her ears perked up like a bunny’s as if they were ready to pounce on me at any moment. Did she think she could challenge me? I had the final say here!
“Well, I demand to know,” she said, her tone now more frustrated than angry. I stood up abruptly, walking over to her. We locked eyes, a dark look passing between us, the silence stretching taut like a spring.
Suddenly, Raven raised her hand as if to strike my chest, and instinctively, I tackled her to the ground, threatening to overpower her. She wriggled beneath me, breathing heavily, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Something about the desire to cry in her eyes broke something within me, and I loosened my grip on her, enough for it not to hurt, leaning impossibly close so that our lips were mere inches from touching.
My gaze lingered on Raven’s full lips, and she instinctively bit down on them. That single act ignited a fire within me, a fire I didn’t know existed, and I kissed her with hunger, my tongue dancing like a wild flame in the warmth of her mouth.
She kissed me back with equal fervor, her hand curving over my neck, pulling me in until we shared the same breath, inhaling and exhaling as one.
When I broke the kiss, gasping for air, I caught a look of longing in her eyes. She wanted me. Desperately. The anger that had consumed me over the past few days suddenly vanished, replaced by a profound calmness that shook me to the core. Raven had that effect on me.
“Please, stay,” I said, my voice low and dark with desire. I pushed a lock of caramel brown hair away from her eyes with a shaky finger and she nodded meekly, too weak to say anything.
***
Athena’s POV
I entered my room, still feeling the tingling sensation from where Luciano had touched me. His touch was like an electric current, sending waves of pleasure through my body. I couldn’t forget the longing look in his deep coffee-brown eyes, reflecting the desire I felt within me.
It made my cheeks flush a delicate pink, warmth spreading up my face and neck. The way he kissed me, with such intensity, stole my breath away. And then, when he asked me to stay in that soft, sweet voice of his, like an angel serenading on Karaoke night, I almost melted into his arms. But I gathered my composure at the last moment.
I stayed with him in his office until closing time, and this time, he accompanied me home. I subtly slipped my hand into his on our way back, and he held me tightly as we passed by the buildings, my face concealing a hidden smile behind the passing windows.
Shaking myself out of my reverie, I shifted my weight away from the door, suddenly remembering that Luciano had retreated to his study to make a phone call. Shit! I was supposed to listen in. My eyes darted around the room, desperately searching for my headphones.
Where were they? Where were they? I turned my room upside down until I found the headphones near the edge of the bed, where I had angrily thrown them after Luciano had humiliated me in his study. I had been so furious and frustrated that day, wanting to release my pent-up emotions by crashing into the wall, trying to calm the storm of pain raging within my chest.
With a sigh of relief, I connected the speaker to the one in his study and placed the headphones over my ears, expecting to hear Luciano’s conversation. But there was nothing, just an eerie silence.
What the hell? I removed the headphones from my ears, checking for any visible issues, but everything seemed fine.
Furrowing my brow, I contemplated what could have happened. Only one conclusion came to mind: someone had discovered the listening devices and destroyed them.