Julz Library

⚔️𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒔 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆
𝓓𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓘𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓽𝔂🎭
{I own you, you are mine}
Written by Julz 📝
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CHAPTER 56: {Comfort }
…………………………………………………………………

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Almost an hour later, Luca’s black car rolled to a stop outside an abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city.

The rusted metal doors creaked open.

Inside, the air smelled of dust and old iron.

Several guards immediately straightened.

“Boss.”

Luca acknowledged none of them.

He walked deeper into the warehouse until he reached a single chair positioned beneath a hanging light.

Kal sat there with his hands restrained, a crooked smile still hanging on his lips despite the bruises on his face.

“Finally.”

He laughed.

“I was beginning to think you forgot about me.”

Luca remained silent.

Something about that silence made the smile slowly disappear from Kal’s face.

He had seen this expression before.

Years ago.

On Enzo.

Right before entire organizations vanished overnight.

“Ready to let me go?” Kal asked, forcing confidence into his voice.

Still…

No answer.

Luca simply stared at him.

Not with anger.

Not with hatred.

With emptiness.

A kind of emptiness that frightened even the most dangerous men.

After what felt like an eternity, Luca finally spoke.

“She died.”

The words were barely above a whisper.

Kal’s expression changed.

For the first time since his capture…

He had no joke to make.

No insult to throw.

Luca stepped closer.

“You took pleasure in making her suffer.”

His voice remained calm.

Too calm.

“I wanted to believe there was still a reason to spare you.”

A long silence followed.

“I was wrong.”

He turned toward the guards waiting nearby.

“Take him.”

The men immediately stepped forward.

Kal struggled.

“Luca!”

No response.

“LUCA!”

Luca didn’t even turn around.

He simply continued walking toward the warehouse exit.

Before stepping outside, he stopped.

Without looking back, he said quietly,

“Make sure he experience the worst form of death ever”

The heavy warehouse doors slowly closed behind him.

Kal’s desperate shouting faded into the distance.

Luca never looked back.

Not once.

The city had already disappeared behind him.

Luca drove with no destination in mind.

The rain had begun sometime after he left the warehouse, tiny droplets splashing against the windshield while the wipers moved back and forth in a slow rhythm. The roads were almost empty, yet he kept driving, his hands gripping the steering wheel as if letting go would send him crashing into the darkness swallowing his mind.

Every traffic light.

Every passing building.

Every familiar street.

All reminded him of Chloe.

There would never be a third day.

There would never even be a first.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips before disappearing as quickly as it came.

His fingers tightened around the steering wheel until they turned white.

Hours later, the familiar golden lights of The Imperial Vincenzo Casino came into view.

The towering building glittered against the night sky, looking as lively as ever. Luxury cars lined the entrance while elegantly dressed guests laughed as they stepped into the building.

Inside those walls…

People celebrated victories.

Lost fortunes.

Found love.

Made enemies.

Tonight, Luca wanted none of it.

He simply wanted to stop thinking.

The valet hurried over as Luca stepped out of the car.

“Good evening, Sir.”

Luca tossed him the keys without saying a word and walked straight inside.

The moment he entered, conversations lowered.

Some people recognized him immediately.

One of the owners.

Normally, he would head straight to the private lounge where only a handful of people were allowed.

Tonight…

He ignored the elevator completely.

Instead, he walked toward the crowded public bar.

The bartender blinked in surprise.

“Boss?”

Luca pulled out a stool and sat heavily.

“The strongest drink you have.”

The bartender hesitated.

“Sir…”

“I wasn’t asking.”

“…Yes, boss.”

Within moments, several expensive bottles were lined across the counter.

The bartender mixed them carefully before sliding the glass over.

Luca didn’t even smell it.

He lifted it and emptied the entire glass in one swallow.

The alcohol burned his throat.

It wasn’t enough.

“Another.”

The bartender silently poured another.

Gone.

“Again.”

Another.

Gone.

The cycle continued.

One glass became five.

Five became ten.

Time slipped away unnoticed.

Music echoed throughout the casino while laughter filled the room, yet Luca heard none of it.

He only heard Chloe’s voice.

“Promise me… you’ll smile sometimes.”

He shut his eyes tightly.

Another drink.

The bartender looked increasingly worried.

Four hours later…

Luca’s usually perfect posture had disappeared.

His tie hung loosely around his neck.

His hair had fallen across his forehead.

His words were beginning to slur.

“More…”

The bartender sighed.

“Boss… you’ve had enough.”

Luca slowly looked up.

His normally icy blue eyes were bloodshot.

“I said…”

He pushed the empty glass forward.

“…more.”

The bartender reluctantly reached for the bottle and poured more

Before Luca could pick it up, another hand appeared from beside.

It picked up the filled glass.

Without hesitation…

The stranger drank every drop.

Luca frowned.

“Hey…”

He turned slowly.

“…who are you?”

Standing beside him was a young woman wearing a simple black dress that reached just above her knees. Unlike the glamorous women surrounding the casino floor, she wore almost no jewelry.

Her beauty wasn’t loud.

It was effortless.

She placed the empty glass back on the counter before smiling.

“A princess.”

Luca stared blankly.

“…What?”

“A princess,” she repeated confidently.

“Saving a prince in distress.”

For the first time that entire day…

A small chuckle escaped Luca’s lips.

“You’ve got strange jokes.”

“I’ve been told.”

She leaned against the counter.

“But they usually work.”

Luca shook his head slowly.

“I don’t need saving.”

“I know.”

She folded her arms.

“But I’d hate to watch such a handsome man collapse face first onto the marble floor.”

Luca scoffed.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I’m sure you can.”

She smiled again.

“But tonight…”

Her voice softened.

“…you don’t look like someone trying to take care of himself.”

Something in those words struck him.

Not because they were harsh.

Because they were true.

He looked away.

“I’ve seen enough pity today.”

“It’s not pity.”

She replied almost immediately.

“It’s concern.”

He laughed bitterly.

“Same thing.”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“Pity looks down on someone.”

She met his eyes.

“Concern sits beside them.”

Luca looked at her for several seconds.

“You’re strange.”

“I get that a lot.”

“And yet…”

She shrugged playfully.

“…here you are talking to me.”

Luca looked down at the counter.

His fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of the empty glass.

“I lost someone.”

The words came out before he realized he’d spoken them.

The woman’s smile faded.

Instead of asking questions…

She simply nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

No speeches.

No advice.

Just two words.

Oddly…

That hurt even more.

He stood abruptly.

The room tilted.

His vision blurred.

His legs almost gave way beneath him.

The woman quickly caught his arm before he hit the floor.

“Easy.”

“I’m fine.”

“You nearly introduced your face to the tiles.”

He tried pulling away.

“I said…”

He yanked his arm free.

“…let go.”

Several nearby guests turned to look.

The woman didn’t seem offended.

Instead, she calmly stepped back, giving him space.

“It’s alright.”

Her voice remained gentle.

“You don’t have to pretend you’re okay.”

“I am okay.”

“No.”

She smiled sadly.

“You’re surviving.”

“But you’re definitely not okay.”

Those words shattered the last wall Luca had left.

He looked away.

His breathing became uneven.

“I…”

He swallowed.

“…need to go to the penthouse.”

“The penthouse?”

She glanced toward the private elevator.

“Only VIP guests can—”

“We own this casino.”

Luca interrupted.

“And everything on this block.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

She stared at him for a second before laughing softly.

“So…”

“I’ve been lecturing my boss this whole time.”

“Looks like it.”

She grinned.

“I should probably apologize.”

“You probably should.”

“I won’t.”

That earned another laugh from Luca.

A real one this time.

It lasted only a second…

But it was there.

She slipped one of his arms over her shoulder.

“Come on.”

“I can walk.”

“I know.”

“But I’d rather not test that theory.”

Together they made their way toward the private elevator.

The guards immediately stepped aside.

“Boss.”

Luca simply nodded.

The elevator doors closed.

Silence settled between them as it slowly climbed upward.

She glanced sideways.

“So…”

“Do all billionaire mafia bosses drink like this?”

He let out a tired breath.

“Only on the worst day of their lives.”

Her smile disappeared.

She didn’t ask why.

She didn’t need to.

The elevator doors opened onto the luxurious penthouse floor.

They slowly walked down the quiet hallway until they reached the massive apartment.

Luca entered the security code.

The door unlocked with a soft click.

The apartment was dark except for the city lights pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

He stumbled inside and walked straight to the large couch.

The moment he sat down…

Everything he had been holding back finally broke.

His shoulders shook.

His face disappeared into his hands.

Tears streamed freely down his cheeks.

No anger.

No shouting.

Just the heartbreaking sobs of a man who had lost someone he couldn’t save.

The woman quietly closed the door behind her.

She didn’t speak.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t interrupt.

She simply sat on the armchair opposite him, allowing the silence to comfort him where words couldn’t.

After several minutes, Luca finally whispered into the empty room,

“I promised myself…”

His voice cracked.

“…I promised myself I’d protect her.”

The woman lowered her eyes.

“Sometimes…”

she said softly,

“…the people we love aren’t asking us to save them.”

He slowly looked up.

“They’re only asking us not to leave them alone.”

Luca closed his eyes.

A fresh wave of tears rolled down his face.

Somewhere between grief and exhaustion…

He eventually drifted to sleep on the couch.

The woman remained there for a while, watching the city lights dance across the glass walls.

She smiled faintly.

“I hope tomorrow is kinder to you than today.”

Quietly, she stood.

She picked up the blanket folded over the couch and gently draped it over Luca.

Then, after one last glance at the sleeping man who carried the weight of an entire world on his shoulders, she turned off the lights and walked out of the penthouse.

She never noticed the small silver pendant that had slipped from her handbag onto the floor beside the couch.

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To be continued 🙃