Kiara's breath hitched as she read the message. Her mind raced. Driver Guy? The same guy she’s been hoping to meet? Who could that be? She didn’t recognize the number, but the name felt oddly familiar—the same way she’d refer to the man who saved her anytime the conversation came up. A chill ran down her spine. Could this be a trap? Or was it the key to uncovering the truth? Maybe she could finally have something tangible enough to throw Luca under the bus. Maria noticed her daughter’s reaction. “Kiara? " What’s wrong?” she asked softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.Kiara hesitated. Should she tell her mother about the message? No. She’d already dragged her family through enough. If she’s doomed to tell anyone, definitely not her mother. This was something she needed to handle on her own—at least for now.“It’s nothing, Mom,” Kiara lied, pocketing the phone. “Just a spam message.”Maria’s brow furrowed with concern, but she didn’t press. “Get some rest, sweetheart.
“Luca?”Kiara’s pulse quickened at the familiar voice—a mix of anger and cold amusement that sent chills down her spine. She was pushed into a chair; the black bag yanked off her head. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw him—Luca, leaning casually against a table, his arms crossed, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.“Luca,” she spat, her voice trembling with rage and fear. “What the hell is this?" Why did you have me kidnapped?”He laughed—a sharp, mocking sound that echoed through the room. “Kidnapped? Such a dramatic term, Kiara. Let’s call it... a necessary intervention that should have taken place a long time ago.”She glared at him, her hands struggling against the tight bindings. “Intervention? You’ve gone too far, Luca. Whatever game you’re playing, it ends here.”“Oh, Kiara,” he said, shaking his head mockingly. “You’re so naive." Do you really think you’re the heroine of this story? " That you can outsmart me and bring me down?” He leaned closer, his smirk fadin
Maria shifted uneasily in their bedroom, the morning light filtering through the curtains. Damian sat on the edge of the bed, his face an unreadable mask of tension and exhaustion. His hands rested on his knees, his posture rigid as though carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.“Damian,” Maria began softly, breaking the silence. She sat beside him, her delicate hand resting lightly on his arm. “I know you’re angry. " I’m angry too, but...” She hesitated, searching his face for any sign of softening. “Kiara is still our daughter. Whatever mistakes she’s made, we can’t turn our backs on her now.”Damian let out a sharp breath, his jaw tightening. “You think I don’t know that?” he snapped, though his voice held more frustration than malice. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to know that your best friend—a man you’ve trusted with your life—has been sleeping with your daughter—a child young enough to be his daughter? Betraying your family? And Kiara... she lied to me,
“They were just so adorable, and seeing the smiles on all their faces made me so happy, Dad.” Kiara rambled on about her previous expedition for a charity project. She was extremely passionate about helping the less privileged. The kids in the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica, didn’t have access to any water, so she and her team stayed there for a couple of weeks, making boreholes, wells, and taps for them. Of course, she was a Lux, but she didn’t misuse her power, or take it for granted. Instead, she put it towards helping others who were in need, endangered, or living in not-so-safe homes. It had become a part of her, one that she could never take away.She pointed at her phone smiling, “Look at them!” Her father, Damian Lux, watched the video to the end, feeling very proud of his one and only daughter. “And there was this lovely little girl too, she was so intelligent and beautiful, I couldn’t help but admire how strong and resilient she was.”“She told me she would go to the river
“Mr. Campbell?” Kiara exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my goodness, you’re here! What for?” She asked as she led him to the couch. He was the last person she was expecting to see visiting her since he had to man the NGO all by himself. “This is such a pleasant surprise, could I offer you anything to drink?”“Oh, no,” he chuckled. Standing at 5’6, Mr. Campbell was a buff man who was dark in complexion. He was the one who governed the NGO that she followed to Jamaica and he was very friendly. “You must have dropped ya’ purse,” He shook his head, tutting his lips as he pulled it out of his backpack. “I have always told you to be more careful with your belongings.” He said sternly, his Jamaican accent seeping out through his words already.“I appreciate you,” She smiled sheepishly, thanking him. Lord knows where she’d be without Mr. Campbell’s help. “Don’t call me uncle, you’re making me feel old.” He teased, laughing heartily. “If anything, I should be the one thanking you for all the work yo
Kiara turned to face the mystery man. She didn't know what she was expecting but seemed to forget that this was a masquerade party. She couldn't see his face, because he had a green masquerade mask on that complimented his pretty eyes. He was dressed in a black suit with the usual red tie. He was extremely fit, she could tell, and all it did was want to make her take him to the bedroom.“Why, thank you,” She responded, bowing her head ever slightly, trying to dead the nasty thoughts that overtook her mind. All of a sudden, she felt nervous. Not knowing who she was talking to was a huge game changer for her, since she wasn't used to it. But, it was just for the night.What could go wrong?“I spotted you from across the room, you looked absolutely ravishing, I just had to come over and say hello. So, hello.” He offered a warm smile and bent to kiss her hand. “And who might you be?” His eyes traveled over her, from her hair to shoes. She was curvy and he loved that, it would give him som
Kiara’s shouting made Luca run to the room. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He worriedly glanced at her, before redirecting it to his bag.”Why the hell is my bag on the floor, Kiara? My laptop is in there!” He spat, rushing to pick it up.Kiara could barely speak, “N-no, you tell me what the fuck this is right now!” She shouted again, waving the mask in the air. Luca’s eyes finally landed on the masquerade mask in her hand. Her hand was trembling, she didn’t want to believe it. No, not yet.“Did you attend the Charity Gala, Luca?” She asked, a bit calmer now. She steadied herself by taking three deep breaths in, anticipating his answer. “Yes…I did.” He confirmed as he stood back up, towering over Kiara.“Oh my God, I can’t believe this,” she said, waving the mask in her hand, “I can’t believe I kissed you! You!” She threw it onto the bed, running her hand through her hair.So, he was the cause of her sleepless nights and wet dreams? She groaned, wanting to smash her head into the wall.
“You what?” Kiara said, backing up a bit. He couldn’t possibly be serious, right? “You heard me right…I love you.” Luca repeated himself, his gaze moving to her lips once again. He wanted to kiss her again, test the waters. See what they could become and where they’d land.Kiara’s heart rate soared, as her skin became flushed with a light shade of red. His hand moved to her waist, while the other cupped her face gently, lovingly. “Do you mean it?” She breathed, looking up at Luca.“Every damn word, princess.” He said, as their noses bumped together. He brushed his lips against hers gently, creating tension between them. Kiara’s heart was pounding, her mind was hazy and all she wanted to do now, at this very moment, was to give in. “I want you.”Luca kissed her softly and tenderly with more passion. She had missed this feeling so much, she didn’t want it to end. His lips danced against hers in perfect unison, as he slid his hand down to her ass. He squeezed gently making her giggle int
Maria shifted uneasily in their bedroom, the morning light filtering through the curtains. Damian sat on the edge of the bed, his face an unreadable mask of tension and exhaustion. His hands rested on his knees, his posture rigid as though carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.“Damian,” Maria began softly, breaking the silence. She sat beside him, her delicate hand resting lightly on his arm. “I know you’re angry. " I’m angry too, but...” She hesitated, searching his face for any sign of softening. “Kiara is still our daughter. Whatever mistakes she’s made, we can’t turn our backs on her now.”Damian let out a sharp breath, his jaw tightening. “You think I don’t know that?” he snapped, though his voice held more frustration than malice. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to know that your best friend—a man you’ve trusted with your life—has been sleeping with your daughter—a child young enough to be his daughter? Betraying your family? And Kiara... she lied to me,
“Luca?”Kiara’s pulse quickened at the familiar voice—a mix of anger and cold amusement that sent chills down her spine. She was pushed into a chair; the black bag yanked off her head. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw him—Luca, leaning casually against a table, his arms crossed, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.“Luca,” she spat, her voice trembling with rage and fear. “What the hell is this?" Why did you have me kidnapped?”He laughed—a sharp, mocking sound that echoed through the room. “Kidnapped? Such a dramatic term, Kiara. Let’s call it... a necessary intervention that should have taken place a long time ago.”She glared at him, her hands struggling against the tight bindings. “Intervention? You’ve gone too far, Luca. Whatever game you’re playing, it ends here.”“Oh, Kiara,” he said, shaking his head mockingly. “You’re so naive." Do you really think you’re the heroine of this story? " That you can outsmart me and bring me down?” He leaned closer, his smirk fadin
Kiara's breath hitched as she read the message. Her mind raced. Driver Guy? The same guy she’s been hoping to meet? Who could that be? She didn’t recognize the number, but the name felt oddly familiar—the same way she’d refer to the man who saved her anytime the conversation came up. A chill ran down her spine. Could this be a trap? Or was it the key to uncovering the truth? Maybe she could finally have something tangible enough to throw Luca under the bus. Maria noticed her daughter’s reaction. “Kiara? " What’s wrong?” she asked softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.Kiara hesitated. Should she tell her mother about the message? No. She’d already dragged her family through enough. If she’s doomed to tell anyone, definitely not her mother. This was something she needed to handle on her own—at least for now.“It’s nothing, Mom,” Kiara lied, pocketing the phone. “Just a spam message.”Maria’s brow furrowed with concern, but she didn’t press. “Get some rest, sweetheart.
“What did you say?” Maria’s voice was barely above a whisper. “What did you say?” She repeated. Kiara sniffed the tears about to run down her checks back in. She just threw a bomb. The reaction was expected. "We...we had a—something—I mean, a relationship.” She muttered. Kiara’s confession hung in the air, sucking all the oxygen out of the room. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the ceiling fan.Damian’s face contorted with a mix of shock, disbelief, and fury. Maria gasped, her hand flying to her chest as she took a step back, visibly shaken.“A relationship?” Damian’s voice was low, trembling with barely restrained anger. “You mean to tell me you’ve been... involved with Luca? The same man you accused of trying to kill us both?”Kiara nodded, her head hanging low, unable to meet their eyes. “Yes, Dad. But it wasn’t... it wasn’t what you think.”“Wasn’t what I think?” Damian bellowed, his voice echoing through the room. “You’ve been lying to m
“Do you realize what you’ve done?” Damian’s voice rose, his frustration boiling over. “You let him walk free! A man who’s been under investigation for attempted murder and possible fraud and likely has ties to this mess!”“Dad, you don’t understand,” Kiara said weakly, her voice shaking. “Luca—he’s not what you think.”“Oh, I understand perfectly,” Damian snapped. “You’ve been manipulated. Or worse, you’re willingly working with him. Which is it, Kiara? Are you naive, or are you complicit?”“Neither!” Kiara shouted, her voice breaking under the weight of her emotions. Tears streamed down her face as she stepped forward, her fists clenched at her sides. “I didn’t have a choice!”Before Damian could respond to Kiara’s outburst, his phone buzzed again. The vibration felt like a sharp interruption in the thick tension of the room. He exhaled sharply, snatching it up from the table.“It’s the office,” he muttered, his brows furrowing. Kiara took a shaky step back, her chest rising and fall
“Kiara!” Damian’s yell caught Maria by surprise and sure sent Kiara over the edge. Kiara stumbled into the living room, her legs trembling beneath her. The hollow echo of her own steps on the tiled floor sounded deafening in the quiet house. Her father’s voice cut through her thoughts like a knife.She was still shaken by the events that took place at Luca’s house but never expected to get home to her father yelling at her. “Where the hell have you been?” Maria hurried to her side, holding her arm. “Your father is really mad at you. What did you do?” Damian’s voice thundered from the hallway, into the living room, freezing her in place. “Kiara!” She looked up to find him standing, his posture rigid, his face a mask of fury. Her mother was just standing by, her face etched with worry, her hands clutching tightly at a tissue.“Dad…” Kiara started, but Damian held up a hand to stop her.“Save it,” he said, his tone colder than she had ever heard. “I’ve been patient with you, Kiara.
“What do you think?” Luca asked, grinning. “Where is this?” Kiara asked again, still looking around the room. “BDSM?”“It’s exactly what you think it is, ki.” The room has every implement one could imagine, with an assortment of bondage equipment to keep the victim perfectly still. At that moment, nothing else mattered; no one else mattered. They were the only two people on earth; they were alone in a place where they could let all their inhibitions go and Luca could make Kiara fulfill her submissive purpose in life. Kiara wanted to talk, but Luca stopped her from saying another word. “We’re here already. Only one thing should be on your mind. And that’s to feel every moment you have here because there’s no going back anymore. For your own sake.” He added in a very scary tone. Kiara understood the threat. She became calm and obedient. Luca walked closer to her and whispered into her ears. “I am going to use my toy hard, use it until we both lose track of time and reality, where
It’s finally time. Kiara stood outside Luca’s house, her heart pounding against her ribcage. It was exactly 7 p.m., and the air carried a crisp coolness that heightened her awareness of every sound, every sensation. She took a deep breath, adjusting her scarf as she stepped forward and rang the doorbell. She was hoping that Sam and Katie would run into her embrace the moment the door opened. Although she wished not. Almost instantly, the door opened to reveal Luca, dressed sharply in a fitted black shirt and dark jeans. His smirk was as disarming as ever, his piercing blue eyes scanning her face with unspoken intent."Right on time," he said, his voice low and velvety. "Come in, baby."Kiara sighed. The warmth of the house enveloped her as she stepped inside. The entrance was lined with a trail of crimson rose petals that led to the dining area. Soft ambient lighting bathed the room in a golden glow, while faint classical music played in the background. The table was set for two, co
Harrison approached Kiara as she stood in the station lobby, still trying to make sense of what she had just done. His brow furrowed in thought as he held a file in his hand, the same file he had been working on earlier.“Miss Kiara,” he called gently, his voice calm but firm.Kiara turned to him, her eyes narrowing. “Detective, I don’t want to hear it.”Harrison frowned, confused. “You don’t even know why I’m here. I came to share some findings with you—”“Don’t bother,” she interrupted sharply. “I know you’re going to try and convince me that I’m making a mistake by posting Luca’s bail. But it’s done. I’ve made my decision, and I don’t need your opinion.”Harrison paused, taken aback by the hostility in her tone. “That’s not why I came,” he said carefully. “This isn’t about Luca. It’s about the driver who saved you during the car chase. We’ve uncovered some information—”Kiara cut him off again, her frustration bubbling over. “I don’t care! Just close the case, detective. Stop all i