Chapter 5 - I’ve Got Decades Of Experience

Lucia's POV

The ride back to the mansion was silent, but my thoughts were anything but. The name Vincenzo Calderone echoed in my mind, refusing to let me rest. When we finally arrived, I stepped out of the car and walked into the living room, where I found Dante seated on the couch. A bottle of tequila in his hand, and his expression unreadable.

“I’m back, Sir,” I announced, trying to steady my voice. Dante rose from his seat, his presence imposing as he walked toward me.

“How did it go?” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. He tilted his head slightly, brow arched. “Did you find answers?”

His sudden question caught me off guard, and I staggered back, confusion flooding me. I hadn’t told him I was seeking answers—why was he asking?

“I—I don’t… understand,” I stammered, the words faltering as my mind raced to make sense of his knowledge.

Dante scoffed. He took another slow sip of his drink, eyeing me with an almost amused detachment. “What do you mean, you don’t understand? Did you find answers, or was that not your reason for seeing your father?” His voice grew sharper as he leaned in, his proximity sending a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. His closeness, the heat radiating off his body, was unnervingly comforting. The warmth of it wrapped around me in a strange, almost protective way. A feeling I couldn’t shake, even as unease crept under my skin.

I hastily shook my head, trying to push the unsettling thoughts away. Dante was the villain in this story, why was I letting myself be swayed by his presence?

“I just wanted to check on my father,” I said, my voice steady despite the confusion swirling inside me. “Thank you for the opportunity, Sir.” I bowed my head, trying to regain control of the situation.

Dante nodded slowly, his gaze drifting over my body, his eyes scanning me like a predator sizing up its prey. When his eyes lingered on my thighs, I caught him licking his lips, the action so deliberate it sent a cold shiver through me.

I cleared my throat, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling. “I will be leaving now, Sir, unless you—”

Before I could finish, Dante’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist firmly. “Follow me,” he commanded.

I found myself trailing him, my steps slow and hesitant. He led me up the stairs, stopping just before a door. The realization hit me then—this was his room. I couldn’t help but wonder what he intended. It was the first time he’d asked me to join him there.

He pushed the door open with force, pulling me inside. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Dante locked it, and his next move caught me completely off guard. He gently pushed me onto the soft king-sized bed and started loosening his belt.

My heart hammered in my chest, every beat thundering in my ears. I couldn’t ignore the way his eyes seemed heavy, drowsy—too much alcohol clouding his judgment. It was clear he’d been drinking, but it also made me wonder… what was he going through? Was he hiding something deeper, something that made him act this way?

Panic surged in my veins as I rolled away from the bed, narrowly avoiding Dante’s weight as he almost landed on top of me. I scrambled to my feet and ran toward the wooden wardrobe, crouching behind it for some sense of safety. From my hiding spot, I watched him slowly undress, the motion almost mechanical, his body strong and defined.

Despite myself, I couldn’t help but notice the taut muscles of his back, the way his movements flowed with a certain power. I pushed the thought away immediately, but it lingered, a confusing mix of admiration and fear.

Suddenly, he lunged at me with a surge of adrenaline. Before I could react, he pinned me hard against the wall, his grip on my wrists like iron. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling my face to his. He kissed me—first my cheek, then my neck, his lips hot and urgent against my skin.

I tried to wrench free, my body twisting in an instinctive attempt to escape. But his hold tightened, like he wasn’t letting go no matter how hard I fought.

Dante’s hands slid beneath my shirt, his touch gentle yet firm as he traced the curve of my body. I felt a wave of warmth spread through me, my heart pounding in my chest, but I quickly pushed the feelings aside. This wasn’t right. My body was betraying me, reacting to him in a way that I couldn’t control.

No, I couldn’t allow myself to feel this. I had to stay focused.

“Fuck,” I heard Dante mutter, his voice rough, like a storm just below the surface. It sent a shiver down my spine, and I hated how it made me feel.

“Sir… please,” I said, my voice shaky, “this isn’t right. You’re drunk.” I added, hoping he’d understand.

Instead he ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. “You think I care about right and wrong?” He let out a bitter laugh. “You belong to me, Lucia. You’re here to do what I say, when I say it.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay. This wasn’t the life I imagined, but if I was to survive this, I had to find a way to endure. I couldn’t let him see the cracks. I had to give in, at least for now—whatever it took to protect my father.

I tried to imagine Daniel’s face, my sweet fiancé, as the overwhelming pressure of the situation closed in around me. I missed him so much.

Before leaving, I had managed to slip a note into my dad’s hands without Dante’s man noticing—just a small message to reassure Daniel that I was fine, that he didn’t need to worry, even though everything was falling apart.

The last thing I wanted was for Dante to learn about Daniel or drag him into this nightmare. Dante hadn’t even allowed me to have a phone.

“You don’t have to be so tense,” Dante’s voice broke through my thoughts, low and commanding. “I can make your body feel things you never imagined if you just let go. I’ve got decades of experience.” His words were laced with a dangerous confidence. “But if you’d rather I take a different approach, that’s fine too.”

He moved quickly across the room to grab a box. My heart raced as I watched, dread filling my chest.

The contents of the box made my stomach turn—restraints, equipment I’d never wanted to see, let alone use. I pulled out a set of handcuffs, my fingers trembling as I looked at them.

This wasn’t how I had imagined my first time with anyone, let alone with him. I had never even considered anything like this with Daniel.

“Please, I’ll do whatever you want,” I said, my voice breaking. “Just don’t use that.”

Dante paused, his gaze flickering over me with something unreadable. He shrugged, the tension in the room almost unbearable. “Whatever you want,” he said softly, his tone losing its edge.

Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. I still had to face what was coming.

I forced myself to imagine Dante as Daniel, even though the comparison hurt me deeply. My fiancé, the man I loved, was nothing like Dante. But in that moment, I clung to the thought of him, trying to push the dread aside.

Dante’s hands moved to my hair, and I allowed myself to respond, even though my mind screamed at me to stop. His lips found my neck, and his kisses were forceful, yet I couldn’t fully reject him.

Suddenly, Dante lifted me with ease and tossed me onto the bed. A rush of confusion and panic flooded me, but I couldn’t fight him off. He paused for a moment, looking down at me like I was some kind of project. It made my skin crawl, yet I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him.

His eyes held a mix of possessiveness and admiration, making my heart beat faster.

“Sir,” I whispered, my voice shaking, but he was already too close, his lips crashing against mine in an overwhelming kiss. I fought back tears as his hands roamed over my body, his touch too intense, too overpowering.

But instead of pulling away, I let myself lean into the sensation. There was a warmth between us that I couldn’t ignore, even as confusion swirled in my mind.

My body responded, betraying the conflict in my heart. It wasn’t that I wanted to give in completely, but there was something about the way he kissed me, the way he touched me, that made it hard to think clearly.

Just as Dante’s pace quickened, there was a sudden knock at the door.

He froze, his scowl deepening. “Who is it?” he barked.

“The press, Boss. They’re here about the warehouse,” a voice called from the hallway.

He cursed under his breath, glaring at me like I was the cause of all his problems. I instinctively pulled the duvet closer, trying to shield myself, feeling both exposed and filthy. In that moment, I was reminded of the reality of my situation—how I had let myself be swept up in this, how I had allowed my own body to betray me.

“Let them in, but give me a minute,” Dante barked, his tone laced with impatience.

As soon as I was alone, I let out a shaky breath, my mind racing. How could I tell Dante that I was a virgin? Would it even matter to him? Tears stung my eyes as I thought about it.

I had planned to keep my virginity until my wedding night. If I’d known life would turn out like this, I would have given myself to Daniel. We’d been together for five years, since my first year in college.

No, I had to find a way out of this nightmare. Whatever it took, I couldn’t let Dante break me. No matter how dark it got, I would breakthrough.