Romance

Before I could react, Lucio turned me around to face him.

His side profile was crystal clear to me now, and I could see water droplets sliding down his face.

I felt like someone had hit me over the head, causing my ears to ring.

This face… It was identical to that of the man in the hotel that night.

Dear God, please don't play such cruel tricks on me.

"It's you?"

My throat felt tight, and I didn't even sound like myself anymore.

I'd slept with the man I rejected under the assumption that he was an escort, and I'd even left him a tip.

I was practically the joke of the century.

He'd already known about me! His actions at the bar that night had been deliberate!

Be it the 500 million bounty or the ring, everything had been a trap!

I struggled fiercely, trying to escape his grasp, but to no avail.

He was too strong, and his grip was like iron.

"Let go of me!" I yelled.

"And let 

"Are you alright, Don Corleone? I heard a commotion," one of Lucio's bodyguards called out.

Lucio lowered his voice. "Tell me, Elvira—how do you want me to answer?"

He rubbed his thumb against the back of my neck. His gaze was locked onto me, waiting for my answer.

The bodyguard outside knocked twice more and asked with a tone of vigilance, "Don Corleone?"

I held my breath as my thoughts ran a mile a minute.

"Make him leave," I eventually said through gritted teeth.

Lucio smiled almost imperceptibly.

Then, his voice regained its cold authority, and he ordered emotionlessly, "Stand down. Nobody is allowed near this floor without my permission."

"Understood, Don Corleone."

The footsteps grew farther away, and silence returned to the bathroom.

All that remained was the sound of our breathing.

Lucio released his grip on the back of my neck, but he still kept me trapped between him

I started studying a map of Lucio's estate.

After scouting out the area several times, I finally decided on a time to strike.

On a dark and windy night, I slipped into the estate like a sneaky cat.

I climbed up to the second floor, successfully avoiding the patrolling bodyguards.

The lock on the patio was a piece of cake for me.

After gently prying it open, I darted inside.

The air was filled with water vapor and the fragrance of shower gel, and I could hear the sound of running water from the shower.

However, the sounds soon stopped.

I held my breath and hid behind some thick curtains.

I saw a man walk out of the bathroom through a gap in the curtains, but I could only see his back.

I was certain that this man was Lucio, who had gotten so angry that I rejected his confession that he'd put a bounty on my head.

Lucio walked over to the edge of the bathtub. He had broad shoulders, and his back muscles were very well-defined. He also had a narrow waist and sturdy hips, so he was probably pretty good in bed.

Water dripped from his black hair, trailing down his back and disappearing below his waistline.

There were several fresh scratch marks down his sides and back.

Why was he still pursuing the affections of a thief he'd never met when he already had such a feisty woman warming his bed?

Also, he looked rather familiar.

In fact, didn't he look a little like a certain "stray" as well?

I was truly going crazy. There was no way I was seeing that "stray" in every man I met.

Frightened by the thought, I shook my head wildly in an attempt to clear it and focus on my target.

Said target casually tossed his towel onto a low stool nearby before raising his left hand.

My eyes widened in an instant.

He slowly took off the ruby ring and placed it gently on a small tray next to the bathtub.

Then, he stepped into the bathtub, leaned comfortably against the wall of the tub, and closed his eyes.

He certainly knew how to enjoy himself. I pursed my lips at this, but inwardly, I was thrilled. This was my chance.

This job was turning out to be much simpler than I'd expected. I was practically being handed the 500 million Aurasian dollars on a silver platter.

Still, I didn't act immediately and continued observing the situation.

Patience was the basic among basics for a top-class thief.

Lucio leaned against the bathtub, motionless except for the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

The steam was slowly evaporating.

It looked like Lucio had fallen asleep.

After waiting another ten minutes or so, I decided that it was about time to act.

I stepped soundlessly out from behind the curtain like a shadow.

With a flick of my wrist, a device disguised as an ordinary decorative button slipped into my palm.

Inside it was a powerful gaseous drug that I'd made myself. It was colorless, odorless, and took effect quickly.

It was capable of putting an adult man to sleep for over half an hour.

I held my breath and slowly approached the bathtub.

When I was still six to ten feet away from him, I gently pressed down on the mechanism on the side of the button.

A faint mist quickly dispersed into the air.

Lucio, whose head was tilted to one side, remained completely unaware.

I waited another half minute to ensure that the drug had already started taking effect, then walked toward the ring on the tray, feeling assured.

The 500 million Aurasian dollars were close at hand.

I had to keep my movements slow.

Finally, my fingertips brushed against the ring.

In just two seconds, I successfully swiped the ring and quickly stuffed it into a close-fitting inner pocket.

Got it!

Ecstatic, I turned around and prepared to leave the same way I came in.

Yet, just as I moved, my wrist was suddenly caught by a large, powerful hand.

My whole world seemed to spin as I was pressed up against a wall.

Shit! That hurt a lot.

I wasn't screwed, was I?

Lucio's warm body pressed against me from behind, keeping me firmly trapped.

When he spoke, his voice sounded particularly familiar. "Why are you leaving so soon? Did I not go hard enough to satisfy you before?"

Before I could react, Lucio turned me around to face him.

His side profile was crystal clear to me now, and I could see water droplets sliding down his face.

I felt like someone had hit me over the head, causing my ears to ring.

This face… It was identical to that of the man in the hotel that night.

Dear God, please don't play such cruel tricks on me.

"It's you?"

My throat felt tight, and I didn't even sound like myself anymore.

I'd slept with the man I rejected under the assumption that he was an escort, and I'd even left him a tip.

I was practically the joke of the century.

He'd already known about me! His actions at the bar that night had been deliberate!

Be it the 500 million bounty or the ring, everything had been a trap!

I struggled fiercely, trying to escape his grasp, but to no avail.

He was too strong, and his grip was like iron.

"Let go of me!" I yelled.

"And let you slip away from me once more?" he asked, his breath hot and wet against the back of my ear.

He t

Chapter 5