SHADES OF GREY

CHAPTER 13

As Luciana slowly regained consciousness, a throbbing ache chimed through her head. She struggled to sit up, but her movements were severely restricted.

She became confused and alarmed as she realized her wrists and ankles were bound by cold, rigid metal.

She lifted her left hand, and the chain of the handcuff clanked against the surface beneath her. A similar restraint encircled her right wrist. She began panicking as she tried to move her legs, only to discover they were also secured by handcuffs.

Despite the searing pain in her wrists, Luciana continued to struggle against the unforgiving metal cuffs.

But her struggle was interrupted by the sound of a calm, velvety baritone voice that seemed to awaken the spirit within her.

"stop wasting your time."

She turned her head to locate the source of the sound, and Antonio's face came into view as he switched on the lamp beside him. He sat on a plush armchair, his eyes fixed intently on her.

"I made sure you couldn't escape this time," he said, a feeling of satisfaction creeping into his voice.

"You monster..." Luciana's voice trembled, her words barely audible.

Antonio chuckled, his amusement evident as he stood up, hands on his hips. "Monster? I'm the monster?" He began to pace around the room.

"I took you to the boutique, made sure you had everything you needed. I booked the entire day, just for you, so you wouldn't feel embarrassed or overwhelmed by people there. And how did you repay me? You ran away."

He stopped pacing, his eyes overshadowed with fury. "Do you have any idea how much it cost me to book that boutique for the day? And then I came back for you, to save you from Alessandro's clutches. Do You know what he's capable of, what he could have done to you if I hadn't intervened?"

Antonio's eyes stucked on Luciana's. "So, tell me, who's the real monster here? You or me?"

Luciana stared at him. She tried to fight back tears that has formed a lake of salt water in her eyes, but her efforts were in vain, as the tears spilled over, streaming down her face like waterfall.

"Answer me!" Antonio's voice thundered through the room, making Luciana flinch. His fist slammed onto the side table, sending the delicate flower vase crashing to the floor. Shards of ceramic and scattered flowers littered the carpet.

Luciana's body trembled, but it wasn't anger toward Antonio that coursed through her veins. Instead, she felt an overwhelming sense of pity for herself.

Antonio's words struck her like a lightning bolt, reminding her of the horrific fate she might have suffered at Alessandro's hands if he hadn't intervened.

She realized, with a sinking feeling, that she had misjudged Antonio. Despite kidnapping her, he had treated her with unexpected kindness.

She had lived a life of luxury in Italy, surrounded by attentive servants and granted every whim. Even Ms. Grace had been flown in from Colombia at her request.

She cursed silently. She was the ungrateful peasant.

"you should know that if I wanted you dead, you would have been eliminated a long time ago. A single command from me is all it would take to erase you from erase you from existence." He raked his hand through his hair, before drifting his gaze back to Luciana.

She lay helpless on the bed, still wearing the dress from the boutique. Antonio's expression softened slightly as he took in her disheveled appearance.

He realized she hadn't eaten or bathed in a while, and her slender frame seemed even more fragile.

Antonio sighed, his broad shoulders sagging in a rare display of vulnerability.

"Ms. Grace will bring you a change of clothes and a decent meal. If you don't eat, then I'll show you how much of a monster I can be."

With that, he turned and walked out, the door closing behind him with a resounding slam.