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Now what am I going to do with her?My insanity will only increase if I let her out of my sight.

“Move,” I say, and she reluctantly walks toward the golf cart.

Goddamn it. I had months to plan her return, yet I couldn’t come up with a plan for her once she’d be here. A headache pounds behind my eyes, ready to split my fucking skull in two. Sulking and thinking of what to fucking do, I drive toward the house built in her absence. Once I stop, I catch her staring at it from the corner of my eye.

This is your brilliant plan. Punish her by welcoming her in your house?

“It’s beautiful,” she whispers.

Of course it fucking is. While money won’t buy happiness, I’ve always liked aesthetically pleasant stuff. I don’t skimp when it comes to quality.

I type a message to Lorenzo, needing her out of my sight for now.

Just then I see Kill pawing at the glass door.

“What is that?” her voice trembles.

I can’t believe she’s terrified of my dog who appears as if he’ll tear out your jugular but loves to cuddle and lick your face. Maybe my dog is broken. I blame my sister for that. She made him soft. I don’t have the heart to train him into becoming a killer.

I am sure in a worst-case scenario, I’ll be the one to defend Kill and not the other way around. That doesn’t mean I can’t have a bit of fun with Luciana.

Moving to my side, she grips my arm tightly, her nails breaking the skin.

“Don’t let him out,” she says in an almost inaudible voice. Her face scrunches up with panic as she watches my dog, who continues wiggling his body, curious about her.

Please don’t embarrass me,knowing full well he’ll do fucking anything for the promise of some treats and pats.

I tear my arm away and she stays still, petrified in her fear. If she could see past that, she would realize that he’s harmless.

“Come on, Luciana, your guards had dogs.”

“I knew exactly when they made their rounds, and they were always leashed and kept their distance. It’s not like I could reveal that I am terrified of dogs.”

Opening the door, I give Kill the command to sit, to appear that I am in control of him. He knows some commands, hand picking those to follow depending on if he likes them or not.

I scratch behind his ears, and Luciana stabs me with her eyes as if I committed the biggest betrayal.

One more second and the tension between us will catch fire. Neither of us backs down. I am about to show her again who’s in the position of power when my head of security finally appears.

“Take her with you,” I say, and I am about to turn around when Lorenzo clears his throat.

“Train her as a foot soldier,” I add, walking inside my home, but not before hearing her gasp of outrage and she mumbles, “I’ll show you foot soldier.”

Striding straight to the bar, I pour myself a glass of whiskey and down it in one go before Kill nuzzles me in the leg, letting me know it’s dinnertime. I swear, he eats more than I do.

Moving into the kitchen, I scoop his dinner—a high-quality kibble for large puppies—and put it in his bowl before I drop on the couch, listening to some classical music.

She’s here. Now what? I know damn well that I can’t kill her. Not because of a sense of duty towards her, but because of who she fucking is. I am committing the biggest treason by treating her the way I do.

Luciana was born to be my fucking equal. I wish I’d never investigated her birth and stopped when the smallest thing pointed at who she could be. When I got the confirmation, I hated it.

Throwing my head back, I close my eyes when there’s movement at my door.

Two people in my life wouldn’t even bother to announce their visit, my sister and Mika. It’s the latter.

“I see it’s going well,” he says as he spots the empty glass in my hand.

“Fuck off.”