Chapter 5

"He's taking too long."

Matteo's voice carried no panic, yet the unease beneath it was impossible to ignore.

Across from him, Alessandro rested his elbows on the polished table and looked toward the corridor that disappeared into the eastern wing of the mansion. "You're assuming he had enough strength left to come back."

Matteo gave a dry laugh.

"Dad has survived assassination attempts, betrayals, and wars that buried stronger men than him. Whatever happened back there, weakness isn't one of the possibilities."

Enzo clicked his tongue impatiently.

"Won't he shoot us dead if he returns back?."

"That's the question."

Around them, the banquet continued as though nothing unusual had happened. Only the six people gathered around Matteo's table knew that beneath the luxury, a dangerous gamble had already been played.

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, his expression unusually serious.

"Let's assume the worst."

Bianca shot him a look.

"You always assume the worst."

"And that's why I'm rarely surprised."

He turned back to Matteo.

"If your father found out someone tampered with his drink, why hasn't he done anything?"

Matteo stared at the untouched glass of wine before him.

"Because something or someone interrupted the plan."

Silence settled over the group.

He had replayed the evening countless times in his mind already.

No gunshots, no shouting, no broken furniture, neither are there terrified servants running through the corridors.

Nothing.

That frightened him more than violence ever could.

Bianca leaned forward.

"What about the cameras?"

That single question changed Matteo's expression.

His jaw tightened.

"They're gone."

Enzo frowned.

"What do you mean gone?"

"I mean every security feed covering the eastern wing disappeared less than two minutes after Father left the dining hall."

Alessandro sat upright.

"Technical failure?"

Matteo looked at him as though the suggestion itself was offensive.

"In this house?"

No one answered.

"This mansion has three independent surveillance systems. If one fails, another takes over."

"Then who shut them down?" Bianca asked quietly.

"There was only one man who could."

Matteo didn't need to say the name.

Sofia did it for him.

"Vittorio."

Matteo nodded.

"The moment the cameras went dark, I knew this was no accident."

Gabriel slowly set his glass down.

"He secured the area."

"And if Vittorio secured the area," Alessandro added, "he already knows something happened."

Matteo exhaled through his nose.

"That old fox. I made one mistake by spending so much time thinking about Dad that I forgot he never rules alone."

His fingers drummed lightly against the tabletop as his smile widened, calm and dangerous.

"He's inviting me."

"Inviting you to what?" Enzo asked.

"A game."

The word hung between them.

Matteo slowly rose from his chair.

"If he intended to kill me tonight, I'd already be dead."

"He's obviously asking me to anticipate his own next move.”

They were so lost in the conversation that none of them noticed the soft footsteps approaching from behind until a gentle voice interrupted the conversation.

"Matteo?"

Every head turned.

Lia stood a few feet away, her fingers nervously intertwined before her. She managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"There you are."

Matteo crossed the distance between them and slipped his hand into hers, his smile warm enough to fool anyone watching.

"I was beginning to think you'd abandoned me."

Lia forced a laugh.

"I just... got a little lost."

His fingers closed around hers.

"Come with me."

She barely had time to answer before he was already leading her away from the table.

The corridor grew quieter with every step.

Matteo didn't slow down until they reached a private sitting room tucked away from the noise of the banquet. He pushed the door open, waited for Lia to step inside, then closed it behind them with a soft click.

The silence that followed felt heavier than the music outside.

Lia turned to face him, forcing a smile that even she knew wasn't convincing.

"You've been acting strangely all evening."

Matteo loosened the collar of his shirt and let out a slow breath. The polished gentleman who had smiled so effortlessly downstairs seemed to disappear behind the closed door.

"I've had a terrible night."

"I'm sorry."

"So am I."

He looked at her, but his thoughts were clearly somewhere else.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Lia wanted to leave. Every instinct inside her told her to open the door and run, yet her legs refused to obey. She was exhausted, confused, and still trying to make sense of everything that had happened since arriving at the De Luca mansion.

Matteo finally broke the silence.

"I need something to distract me."

"What do you mean?"

His eyes settled on hers.

"You."

A knot formed in Lia's stomach.

He walked closer, stopping only when a single step separated them.

"Lia..."

His voice softened.

"I need you tonight. Fuck me till I forget everything else in this world except you."

"Matteo…?"

Before she could finish, he reached for her and grasped her waist.

His grip wasn't violent, but it was firm enough to stop her from pulling away immediately.

"Is my request too much? Show me what you taste like.”

She searched his face.

This wasn't the affectionate young man who had confessed his feelings two days ago.

This was someone wrestling with frustration and hunger he couldn't explain.

"You're hurting me," she whispered.

Lia hasn't recovered from the thrust of Lorenzo, her hips and everything under her skirts still hurts. Now his son also wants to go down there?

Her mind searched desperately for a way out.

Then the first excuse came to her.

"I can't."

Matteo frowned.

"Why?"

She lowered her eyes.

"I'm still a virgin."

The room fell silent.

Matteo stared at her as though she'd revealed a secret he hadn't expected.

His surprise lasted only a moment before a faint smile appeared.

"That doesn't change anything. I'll like to fuck with a virgin, never done that before.."

Instead, if anything, it seemed to strengthen his resolve.

Lia felt panic tighten around her chest.

Think.

Think.

Think.

Another excuse.

Quickly.

She looked away, pretending to be embarrassed.

"And………."

She hesitated just long enough to make it believable.

"...I'm on my period."

The smile disappeared from Matteo's face.

For several seconds, he simply looked at her.

He wasn't convinced.

But he also wasn't willing to challenge the claim.

Frustration flickered across his features before he finally took one slow step backward.

Lia knew this was the only chance she would get.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Before he could answer, she slipped past him and reached the door.

"Lia."

She paused, her hand already on the handle.

"I'm not angry with you."

His voice had regained some of its calm, though the tension beneath it remained unmistakable.

"I'm angry with this night."

She didn't trust herself to respond.

Opening the door, she hurried into the corridor.

Her pace quickened with every passing second.

She ignored the puzzled expressions of the servants she passed.

Ignored the distant sound of laughter drifting from the banquet hall.

Ignored everything except the desperate need to leave.

By the time she reached the grand entrance, her breathing had become uneven.

The towering doors opened before she could ask.

A cool gust of night air rushed against her face.

For the first time since arriving at the De Luca estate, she felt as though she could breathe again.

She descended the marble steps without looking back.

The enormous gates slowly parted, and she crossed the threshold with hurried steps, putting as much distance as possible between herself and the mansion.

She had come expecting the happiest evening of her life.

Instead, she left carrying a secret that threatened to change it forever.

She checked the time, it's past 11 and taxis rarely move again. She was on the same spot for minutes and started losing hopes until a sleek black sedan packed beside her.

“Come in. Il Re Nero has prepared this ride for you…..”