Twenty minutes laterâWhere is she?â Lucian paced down the hallway, âI need to get down to the port, but I need to see Sister Maria before we leave.âDomenico glanced at his phone, âIâve put a call through to the convent, she should be here inâŠ.âHis voice trailed off when the elevator chimed as its doors slid open. Two of Lucianâs men stepped out first, carrying a wooden chest between them. Behind them, a pair of feet trailed. Her habit pressed neat against her body, with a rosary clenched tight around her hands.Her eyes flickered to the marble floors, the high windows and the open skylit of the penthouse ceiling. âSheâs here,â Domenico peeped from the hallway,âAve MariaâŠâ She whispered, her voice in awe. âQuesto posto e bellissimo.â (This place is beautiful)A squeal cut through her surprise, shattering the stillness.âSister Maria!âLianaâs voice echoed differently with excitement as her little feet moved swiftly down the hall, her curls bouncing with each step she took. Sist
âAh! Ahhh!â A piercing scream shattered the stillness of the morning.The duvet scrambled off Lucian as he jerked awake, his heart pounded rapidly in his chest as his hand instinctively reached for the gun at this nightstand before realizing it wasnât danger.âUncle!â The voice screamed, panic filled the voice so much that it echoed differently. Aria jerked up instinctively, her head snapped to Lucian, whose gaze was fixated on the door, like his ears were straining.âLiana!â He breathed, in seconds he was on his feet. Aria scrambled beside him, her barefoot almost stumbling on each other as they raced for the door. Lucianâs feet moved swiftly in the hallway, his hand pressed hurriedly on the handle of Lianaâs room door.âUncleâŠâ Sobs tore through her throat, as she sat upright in her bed. Her small hands clutched the sheets as her small frame trembled.âNon avere paura, sono qui adesso.â (Donât be afraid, Iâm here now) He whispered as he sat gently on her bed, reaching for her.
âYouâll have a safe word,â Lucian said, his hands moving softly as he dragged the coil of leather across her skin. Her breathing got heavy as her chest rose highly, the whip hummed faintly when he snapped it tight in his fist.âAh!â A sharp gasp escaped her throat as she flinched,âOne word, and everything stops.â His feet moved repeatedly in circles around her, âOne word, and Iâll let you crawl back into the light.âHer lashes fluttered against the blindfold, âWhat word will it be?ââYou choose, little doveâ He paused his steps as his mouth curved, and his eyes beamed with dark amusement. âBut think carefully. Because once you say it, once you spit it past those pretty lips, youâll make all of thisâŠâ His hand flexed upward as he cracked the whip against the marble floor, the sharp sound shattered the silence.âGo away.â He finished, Her mouth let out a soft exhale, and her thighs pressed together as if the sound itself cut through her.âCandles.â She whispered, his brow furrowe
âYouâre safe now, nothing will hurt you anymore.â Ariaâs hand brushed over Lianaâs small frame. Her lashes rested like a fragile angel against her bruised skin, as she curled beneath the heavy duvet. Ariaâs eyes darted to the small faint mark circled around her wrist, where Evelinaâs men had grabbed her too roughly, or maybe it was Rafael. âPoor thing, Iâm so sorry.â She whispered. Then she tucked the blankets tighter, smoothed the stray strand of hair from Lianaâs forehead, and her lips collided against her temple in a soft kiss. The sheets writhe softly as Liana stirred, but she remained deeply asleep. With one last glance, Ariaâs hand brushed against the door handle as she closed it softly behind her. Before she could turn, another sound shattered the silence in the air, âHm! Fuck!â A groan echoed in the hallway, Ariaâs head snapped to the side, to catch the sound. Her feet padded softly on the marble tiles, as the hem of her white gown trailed behind her,
Ariaâs pulse spiked, her lips parted but the words were stuck in her throat. Eventually, she forced out the words,âWhy would she set an engagement? Did you..â Her voice trailed off, but her eyes hinted at the fear she couldnât finish, the fear that maybe Lucian had said yes.His gaze cut to hers, as he threw the phone on the bed.âOf course I didnât.â He said, answering her unfinished question.Her gaze lowered softly, like relief washed over her features. But that wasnât enough, âWhat are you going to do?â she pressed further. Lucian reached for a cigarette on the drawer, âWeâre going.âAria blinked back repeatedly, âThatâs what she wants. Why give in to her?âHe exhaled softly and smoke curled around him, then tilted his head with his eyes glinting at some dark idea he must have had.âBecause Evelina is not smart enough,â He took a drag from the cigarette, âAnd because I know sheâd keep Liana close by.âHer throat tightened. âSo what, you think sheâll just let you walk in and ta
His grip tightened around the back of her head, pulling her face away from his cock. Her gaze held his lazily, drunk with need as her lips were swollen and glistening with saliva and pre-cum. His gaze held her down, and his chest heaved as the water cascaded them both. His eyes trailed down to her nightgown, how the wet fabric clung on her body, shaping her perfectly round breasts.âGet up, little dove.â He urged, his voice dark and low. Aria hesitated for a second, but the way he caressed the back of her head, the sensation of how pleasurable it was made her obey. Her legs shook slightly as she rose to her feet, and her wet nightgown clung to her curves, exposing the way she had no underwear on. Ariaâs feet remained glued to the wet floor, till his hand slid from her hair to her throat. Lucianâs fingers pressed just enough to make air trapped in her lungs. Swiftly, he yanked her closer to him, spun and pushed her back against the tiled wall. The cold surface was a deep cont