Chapter 10
The Honda’s engine roared as Lorenzo pushed it to its limits. His hand rested on my thigh, sending electricity through my body. Six years of buried desires surfaced with each touch, each glance.
We barely made it through the mansion’s front door. Lorenzo swept me into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist. His lips never left mine as he carried me up the marble staircase.
“Take her bags to the east wing,” he barked at the staff, who scrambled to follow his orders.
The door to his bedroom slammed shut behind us. Moonlight streamed through floor–to–ceiling windows, casting silver shadows across his face. His fingers traced down my spine, leaving trails of fire in their wake.
My dress fell to the floor, followed by his shirt. Time seemed to stop as we rediscovered each other, making up for six years of separation in a single night.
I woke to sunlight warming my face. Silk sheets draped across my bare skin, and the mattress dipped beside me. The rich aroma of coffee filled my
nose.
“Good morning, bella.” Lorenzo’s deep voice drew my eyes open. He sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in black slacks and an unbuttoned white shirt. A steaming cup of coffee extended toward me.
I pushed myself up, clutching the sheet to my chest. My fingers brushed his as I took the cup, and that familiar spark jolted through me.
“You remembered how I take it.” The coffee was perfect.
His hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing across my lower lip. “I remember everything about you, Valentina.”
I smiled and leaned forward, giving him a soft peck on the lips. The events of last night rushed through my mind. But as reality settled in, doubt crept into my thoughts.
“Lorenzo…” I pulled back, wrapping the sheet tighter around me. “I think we need to talk.”
His expression shifted, those dark eyes studying my face. “What’s troubling you?”
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“Everything. This.” I gestured between us. “Maybe we’re moving too fast. I mean, I just got out of…” The words caught in my throat. Even saying their names felt like swallowing glass.
“Dominic and Camilla,” he finished for me, his jaw tightening at their
names.
“Yes. And there’s so much I don’t understand.” I took a shaky breath. “Like why everyone knows you as Karlos Heis, this mysterious billionaire CEO. Who are you really, Lorenzo? Because the boy I knew six years ago couldn’t possibly be the same person who owns half the country’s businesses.”
Lorenzo’s fingers traced patterns on the silk sheets, his expression unreadable. “You’re right. I’m not the same person.”
“Then help me understand. Because right now, I feel like I’ve jumped from one mystery straight into another.” My voice cracked. “And after everything with Dominic… I can’t handle any more secrets or lies.”
The weight of unsaid things hung between us. Lorenzo set his coffee down and turned to face me fully, his shoulders squared as if preparing for battle.
“You deserve the truth, Valentina. All of it. But I need to know you’re ready to hear it.”
“I’m ready,” I said, my fingers tightening around the coffee cup. “Whatever it is, I need to know.”
Lorenzo nodded, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. “First, freshen up and get ready. We’re going to Vegas Mall.”
“The biggest mall in the country? Why there?”
“You’ll see.” His cryptic smile did nothing to ease my nerves.
After a shower and changing into fresh clothes from my bag, I descended the mansion’s grand staircase. The same lineup of black vehicles greeted me outside, with the Honda waiting beside Lorenzo. He wore that mysterious mask again.
We followed the same routine – mask on, guided into the car, the roar of the engine as we sped away. Within some hours, Vegas Mall’s imposing structure loomed before us.
My confusion grew as Lorenzo led me through the main entrance. Instead of heading toward the shops, he guided me to a staff–only door tucked away in a quiet corner. A fingerprint scanner glowed beside it. Lorenzo pressed his
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thumb against it, and the door clicked open.
Hidden stairs descended into darkness. My heart pounded as we walked down, our footsteps echoing off concrete walls. The air grew colder with each step.
At the bottom, a long empty corridor stretched before us. Lorenzo stopped at a heavy metal door and turned to me. “Are you sure you want to know the truth?”
I nodded, though fear crept up my spine.
The door swung open. I gasped, stumbling back. Men hung upside down from the ceiling, their faces red from the blood rush, screaming and begging. Some wore expensive suits, now rumpled and stained.
A man in an immaculate black suit approached us.
“Welcome back, Boss. We’ve been waiting for your instructions.”
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