Chapter 5 Chapter Five

Kamari’s Pov

“Drive,” Luciano muttered to the chauffeur, who responded with a sharp, professional nod.

I clasped my hands tightly in my lap, but they still trembled, small betraying shivers I couldn’t control. I tried to steady my breathing, tried to anchor myself to something, anything, but my mind kept spiraling.

Luciano noticed, Of course he did.

“Relax,” he chuckled, turning his head slightly as he watched me. “I’m not going to harm you. At least… not now.” The way he said it sent a cold ripple down my spine….half teasing, half threatening, fully intentional. He wanted me to react. He wanted me to feel the fear I was trying so hard to hide.

“What do you want me to do? Beg you so you won’t harm me… huh?” I hissed, meeting his gaze with a smirk that matched the dark one he always wore whenever he taunted me. “Go ahead and do whatever you want, Luciano. I don’t care anymore.”

“Miss!” the chauffeur snapped immediately, eyes flaring through the rearview mirror. “How dare you speak to the boss in such a manner? And who do you think you are to mutter such words to him?”

Before I could fire back, Luciano lifted a hand lazily.

“Let her be,” he said, amusement dripping from his voice. “She won’t talk to me like this when we get to the mansion.” His gaze slid to the mirror. “Just fix your eyes on the road, Please.”

The car remained silent for the rest of the ride. I didn’t speak to Luciano, nor did I dare glance at the rearview mirror where his chauffeur kept stealing looks earlier. The city blurred past the tinted window, skyscrapers fading into long stretches of quiet land. The further we drove, the more my skin prickled fear rising inside me.

My mind wouldn’t stop racing. Where were we going?

And why did this road feel like it was swallowing me whole?

“Are we there yet?” I finally asked, my voice small but steady. Luciano didn’t glance at me. His chauffeur didn’t move either. Luciano’s eyes stayed glued to his phone as he muttered, “Not yet.” His tone was unreadable—cold, flat, and terrifyingly calm.

Soon the car slowed, then stopped completely in front of a massive iron gate…so tall it swallowed the sky, guarded by no fewer than fifteen armed men. Their guns rested casually against their shoulders, but their eyes… their eyes were sharp, trained, ready.

My heart dropped.

One look at that entrance and I truly knew that every escape plan I had silently crafted in my head had just died at the gate. “Who are you?” one of the guards asked, stepping forward. The others remained in tight formation, blocking the entrance like they were protecting a classified vault instead of a home.

“Can’t you recognize the boss’s car? Have you gone blind?” the chauffeur snapped lightly, rolling the window down with an annoyed flick of his wrist.

The guard’s eyes widened the moment he saw Luciano inside.

“My apologies, boss,” he said quickly, bowing his head. He lifted a hand, signaling the rest of the guards.

They moved instantly—rolling the enormous gate open with military precision. The heavy metal groaned, and the sound echoed in my chest like a warning I couldn’t ignore. Luciano turned towards me, “ Now you will behave yourself while you stay under my roof unless. I will have my men chop your head off into pieces."

I swallowed thinking of how he would do just that after witnessing what he did to my own husband. “Understood?" I trembled as I nodded my head again afraid that my voice might betray me. As the door opened after the car was packed secured in the parking lot…. An elderly woman appeared with her head bowed, also with the few women accompanied behind her.

“Master, Welcome home," They all greeted in unison. Luciano didn’t reply to their greeting instead, he muttered. “ Take her away and make sure she gets a proper bath because she stinks." He walked away but before he went too far from where I stood I raised my voice loud enough for him to hear. “ I stink? You stink too. You're smelling a piece of shit."

The women present gasped and their hands flew to their mouths. “Miss! You can’t speak to him in such a manner, unless you want your head served as breakfast tomorrow morning." The elderly woman uttered. The rest of them nodded their heads in support of what their colleague had just said.

“And who does he think he is? A demi-god or what?" I scoffed loudly as the women stared at me in disbelief. “ Please we don’t want to be repriminded for your actions, miss. Please do it this way." One of the women gestured towards the entrance of the house.

“You must learn how to control your temper if you want to survive in this house and also you must be submissive and also learn not to speak back at him unless he asks you to do that. I hope you understand my girl." The elderly woman said as we made our way towards the entrance of the house.

“ I understand ma." I whispered because deep down inside me I knew that would violate those rules.

Once the door was opened, my eyes scoured the opulent view of the house—the chandeliers, the portraits that looked so heavy only four people could carry them.

The dining area glowed under almost ten candles, each flame reflecting off the variety of meals laid out. The tall open windows let the moonlight spill across the dark, heavy mood of the house.

“Make sure to scrub her body throughly.”His voice cut through the silence. My head snapped toward him.

“She’s yours until I say otherwise. Feed her, give her a bath, and don’t let her out of your sight.”He said standing from the couch he was seated in heading towards the stairs. He slowly turned and watched me like he was doubting I would comply with his rules.

My throat tightened, my stomach churning. He talked about me like I was some dog or cat.

“As you wish, Master,” the elderly woman said with a small bow, while the rest were dispatched into a room very close to the dining room.

She stepped forward. “I’m Maris, dear. Come along. You’ll feel much better once you’re clean.”

I looked back at him. His stare—intense and sharp—sent shivers down my spine. His hands remained tucked into his suit pockets as Maris held me gently by the shoulder.

I turned away and followed her, my bare feet padding softly on the shiny marble floors of the hallway lit by two chandeliers.

“I can bathe myself,” I muttered when we reached a king-sized bathroom filled with scented candles.

A hot tub, the size of a small hot spring, steamed with perfumed water. The scented oils in the air almost made me forget I was a prisoner.

Maris turned slowly, her gaze soft. “Master Luciano prefers obedience.” “I’m not a fucking toy that will be toss around!” I snapped.

Maris only smiled softly, completely unfazed. Her hands gripped the ropes around my wrists and she undid them gently. “You’re not the first girl he’s brought here, darling… but you’re the only one he watches.”

My jaw clenched. “What do you mean?” Doe

s it mean he took the life of every woman’s husband before bringing them here?