All Chapters of Vows Of Deception : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Emma’s POVVenice was nothing short of breathtaking. The city glimmered like a living jewel, with the canals reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun. Luca had been quiet as we arrived, his smirk giving away nothing, but I knew better than to believe his silence meant peace. Everything he did had a purpose, a calculated move in a game I wasn’t sure I understood yet.From the moment we stepped onto the dock of the Danieli, it was as if the world had been remade to fit Luca’s vision of luxury. Staff bowed as though we were royalty, their polished manners and discreet smiles making it clear they knew exactly who he was. Or maybe they just knew better than to ask questions.The suite we were staying in wasn’t just a room—it was an entire floor. Gold accents, hand-painted murals on the ceilings, and silk-draped windows that framed the Rialto Bridge in the distance. It screamed excess, but that was Luca. Everything about him was larger than life, from the money he threw around like con

Luca’s POVEmma had no idea how much power she wielded over me. Her defiance, her strength, her stubborn refusal to fall in line—it should have irritated me, yet it intrigued me instead. She was fire wrapped in silk, daring me to get closer despite the risk of being burned.As the door to the bedroom clicked shut behind her, I stood there for a moment, staring at the gilded edge of the frame. I should have walked away, left her to stew in her frustration, but I found myself rooted in place, the echo of her challenge ringing in my ears.She thought she knew me. Thought she had me all figured out—the cold, ruthless mafia king who threw money at problems until they disappeared. But Emma Carter was no problem to be solved. She was chaos in its purest form, and the more she fought me, the more I wanted to claim her completely.I turned and poured myself a drink from the crystal decanter on the sideboard. The whiskey was older than some countries, a reminder of the life I’d built from blood

Luca’s POVI watched Emma retreat to the villa’s expansive living room after dinner, her steps quick and deliberate. She didn’t look back, but I could tell she was still wearing the necklace I’d clasped around her neck. Small victories, I supposed. Still, her defiance lingered in the air, like a stubborn ember refusing to be extinguished.I poured myself another glass of the Château Margaux, letting the rich aroma fill my senses. The chef had made a perfect pairing, not that Emma had noticed. She’d barely eaten anything, too wrapped up in her frustrations to enjoy what was probably the finest meal she’d ever had.Her words from dinner echoed in my mind: “I’d rather die free than live like this.”She had no idea how close to death she’d come before I stepped into her life. Freedom? That wasn’t an option for someone like her. Not anymore.I downed the wine in one swift motion and set the glass down harder than I intended, the sharp sound echoing in the empty dining room. Enough of this.

Luca’s POVI watched her from across the room, her back to me as she stared out at the glittering cityscape. The lights of Monaco reflected off the glass, casting soft shadows across her face, making her look almost ethereal. But I knew better. Emma wasn't the type to be easily swayed by the grandeur of this life, even though I could see how she tried to hide her fascination with it.She was pretending to be unaffected. But I could see through her. I always could.I took another sip of my whiskey, the rich amber liquid burning down my throat. My mind raced through the events of the day. The shopping spree—her reluctance to accept any of it, her resentment at every piece of clothing, every item of jewelry. The dinner had been no better. I could see it in her eyes—the way she couldn’t even enjoy the food, the way she looked at me like I was the enemy. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen that look. I’d seen it on the faces of many women who thought they could control me.But Emma wasn’t li

Luca’s POVI watched her. The way her fingers trembled as she clutched the edge of the glass, her eyes darting away from mine. Emma. She didn’t want to admit it—didn’t want to face the truth—but I saw it. I saw the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t watching. The flicker of something, something deeper than anger, something closer to desire, curling behind her eyes.I had known from the moment she stepped into my world that this would be a game. A game where the stakes were higher than she could ever imagine. She thought she could outwit me. She thought she could stay unaffected, but I’d been playing this game far longer than she had. And I always got what I wanted.Emma didn’t understand yet. She didn’t understand how far I was willing to go to make her mine, how relentless I could be once I set my sights on something. And it was clear she didn’t understand the power I held, the world I commanded. The money, the influence, the danger.But she would.I leaned back in the ch