★JANIE★

A wave of shock skimmed through me.

Leave with him to Italy? What? Why?

He didn't inform me about this beforehand and he doesn't expect me to follow him wherever he goes.

I immediately shook my head and refused. “I don't want to go to Italy.”

From where I was, I could feel Luciano's heated gaze piercing my skin. It seemed as though he was studying me. Like he was trying to browse through me and I began to wonder what was going on in his head.

Tension.

That was the only thing swirling around in the atmosphere.

He hardened his jaw and his face revealed nothing but irritation as he said. “I don't remember asking for your opinion. I gave an order that you are coming with me and that's final.”

I shook my head again. “No, I won't come with —”

“You better stop whining like a child and do my bidding, Janie!” He bellowed angrily, pointing a finger at me to show he wasn't pleased.

Nevertheless, I didn't give a damn.

“And I don't want to do your bidding.” looking at him dead-straight in the eye, I said between gritted teeth. “Do. Your. Worst.”

Instantly, Luciano closed the door behind him and strutted towards me in a conceited gait.

My heart started to pound rapidly against my chest. Why did I dare him to do his worst?

Oh my goodness Janie, you shouldn't have. I scolded myself inwardly then bit down on my lower lip in fright of what he was about to do to me.

He stopped only when he was two feet from the bed. Damn, he looked so intimidating as he tower over me and I felt timid.

I immediately drifted my eyes away from his to my fingers.

If one could listen closely, the rhythm of my heart thumping fast could be heard.

“Did you just ask me to do my worst?" He questioned.

Not wanting to provoke him any further, I swallowed hard and remained quiet.

“All I have done so far is to act kind and nice to you. Something I am not so familiar with doing!" He said, blowing very hot this time.

Once again, I didn't dare to utter a word.

Luciano climbed on the bed with his knees, facing me squarely. “As far as I am trying to respect you, you ought to do the same for me!"

Oh crap!

I should not have dared him. That was a grief mistake on my part, I accept.

Straightaway, I felt my fingers trembling and my throat getting dry. My nerves felt queasy, however, that did not stop me from staring right into the eyes of the devil himself, to assert the same dominance he was trying to impose on me. Whereas all I wanted at this moment, was to find a dark corner, creep there and hide forever.

I had no idea that would trigger him. In a flash, Luciano forcefully grasped my chin and stared deep into my eyes, at first he seemed to relish them like he has found some treasure, but soon I could see the profound rage in his eyeballs.

“Need I remind you that— I am a mafia king. I don't take orders from people especially not from a tiny annoying human like you. So, do not test me!” His growl was filled with a clear warning.

And at that moment, all the emotions I had been struggling to wield inside, burst out at once.

I broke into a series of tiny sobs.

My whole body was shaking as his cold fingers dug into my skin and his hot breath fanned against my face.

In all my life, I have never been so intimidated by someone. So frightened.

As much as I wanted to act tough in front of him, I couldn't. Maybe it was the mood swings associated with my period or totally something else.

Screw the menstrual period!

Luciano's eyes narrowed at my face in awe.

With the tears streaming down my cheeks, He didn't seem to have an idea of what to do.

“Stop crying this instant!” He snapped, but I refused to obey him because more tears cascaded down my cheeks.

"Fuck! Fuck!” He roared, shoving his hands into his ruffled jet-black hair.

Grunting and cursing, he issued me a stern look before storming out of the room. Luciano my foot. More like Lucifer.

It was then my nerves calmed. I sniffled back sobs, wiped off my tears then pull myself to a sitting position.

Dragging my knees to my bossom, I wondered why I cried so hard in front of him. Had he broken through my defense?

Was I that frightened because he gripped my chin?

Still pondering what made me tear up, Luciano returned to the room a few minutes later and distorted my thoughts.

“Take this.”

I looked up to see him offering me a handkerchief and my mouth almost dropped to the floor in shock.

Nonetheless, I took it from him and wiped off my tear-strained cheeks.

My heart melted at his kind gesture. Perhaps, he didn't mean to make me cry and that was his nature.

“You have no choice but to pack your stuff.” He said, pointing awkwardly at my pad and some other things on the bedside table. “We leave this evening.”

Having said that, he strolled out of the room and I was left with my wandering thoughts.

★★★SEVERAL HOURS LATER★★★

Dusk was fast approaching. I couldn't seem to find anything that could distract me from the shitty moments of before.

I tried to continue watching Big Mouth on the laptop but it didn't captivate me. Trying other movies too did nothing for me. Nothing was entertaining. Nothing seemed fun anymore.

Even with his last act of generosity, I still despise Luciano for the huge decision he forced into my life. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.

So I vowed not to give any concept to his instructions, no matter what the consequences might be.

Mafia king be damned!

Just as I expected, Luciano returned to my room that evening. He was dressed in a half-buttoned European shirt. And I easily understood what his presence meant.

"Remind me again, why are you still on your bed? You have arranged all your stuff, haven't you?" He demanded.

Yet, I stayed silent.

"No fucking way." Luciano chuckled wryly. But I knew there was extreme fury shrouded behind that sound.

He strolled to the bed and started packing everything— my laptop and phone, in his right hand.

And then impulsively, Luciano grabbed me, pulled me up, and flung me over his left shoulder with the other hand.

What the actual hell!

I was beyond flustered at the level of his strength despite being hurt on that same hand a few days ago.

Focusing on making him let me go, I squirmed, trying to struggle free. But the more efforts I made, the stronger his grip tightened around my frame. I gave up the attempt after I realized it was fruitless.

In the blink of an eye, Luciano sauntered out of the mansion, heading straight to his private jet standing tall on the large cultured lawn.

This guy is seriously a pricier piece of work, I thought to myself.

He didn't even bother taking any of my clothes. He treats me like a puppet but I wish I could just turn him into a wooden one.

Two of his henchmen followed right behind him, and one of them immediately took the laptop and phone from his hand.

Once they stepped into the jet, Luciano tossed me on a chair like a bag of meat. And before I could make any moves, he quickly clasped the seatbelt around my waist.

"You better not dare to move and behave yourself. It would be good if you can resist all the silly urges your naughty mind creates and sit tight." He warned.

"Oh yeah? Which one are you, the pilot or the plane steward?" I fired back at him.

Luciano clenched his fist and issued me a scornful glare.

"Don't make me toss you out of the fucking window, girl." He bellowed angrily.

My next words were anything but warm. "And what's stopping you?"