The moment Valentina walked into the room, Luciano's gaze rested solely on her.
"My God!" His head rang with words directed at her that he couldn't say out loud.
Dressed the way she was, he assumed the earth's mission for her, knowingly or unknowingly, was to entrap more men.
It was so effortless with her. How could anyone be born radiating such easy sensuality without even trying?
He couldn't take his eyes off her. He didn't want to take his eyes off her.
Daniela suddenly burst into a bitter laughter that lasted only briefly.
"Are you okay? Do you want some water?" Elio asked, adding gasoline into the already burning fire.
She snapped.
"What is this bitch doing here? I thought she was leaving?!" Her head whipped behind to glare at Luciano.
Almost painfully, his gaze pulled away from Valentina who had not even bothered to return it, to Daniela.
"Could you excuse us? I have something to tell the girls," he said as sweetly as he could muster.
"God forbid I leave!" She spat in retort. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why they're still here."
Luciano in his usual way, kept his cool. "Alright. If you insist on staying--stay."
"Better," she shifted more comfortably on his lap, and then returned her attention back to the girls.
Her nose turned with fresh disgust at the sight of Valentina.
It bothered her beyond anything else how she could make a simple Jean short, and button-less shirt look so good.
She hated the fact her man had to be in the same space with a girl like her.
Even worse after Aurora practically confirmed her beauty.
"Stupidbitch!" She cursed Aurora anew in her head.
Valentina who was done looking around the room, settled on Luciano who she saw was looking at her too.
"We're here. What do you want?" She asked, pushing past the distractions of her thoughts.
He looked different tonight. Darker clothings. More like the devil he was.
A thrill had run through her the second she entered the room and saw him. Her trip around the room with her eyes had been a way to keep herself from analyzing his looks.
Really good looks?
She shook the thoughts off her head, as Luciano cleared his throat.
"There has been a change in plans."
"What?!" Both Valentina and Daniela hollered at the same time, but for different reasons.
"What do you mean there has been a change of plans? Please don't tell me it has anything to do with the witch leaving. I will lose my—"
"Could you allow me to talk, Daniela?" He cut her off again, but this time, with a dangerous edge to his tone.
She quickly clamped her mouth shut, and readjusted.
"What kind of change?" Valentina asked.
Her gaze briefly moved to Natalia who had shifted even closer behind her, in a bid to hide from Luciano who she feared greatly.
"One that has unfortunately affected your leaving," he said, pulling her gaze back to him.
"How so?"
"In simpler terms, you and your friend cannot leave anymore. Not yet. For safety reasons," he explained very vaguely.
Daniela's breath caught in her chest, and she jumped to her feet, unable to take one more second of the madness.
"This is all your fault!" She pointed accusatorally to Valentina who was also trying to make sense of the information.
Valentina ignored her, looking past her to Luciano. "What safety reasons? We were told our truths tallied with the documents from the government. What safety issue is in question now? Ours?"
Daniela's chest puffed in annoyance. "Who cares about who is safe or not? First you kiss my man, then you insert yourself into his life. What is the end goal? You think you can seduce him, you horrible, horrific whore!"
Valentina hissed sharply, but Natalia grabbed her hands and held them tightly before she could react.
"Please," she muttered under her breath.
Valentina didn't want to look at her. She wanted the irritation she already felt to fester and build up, so she could lash out on the silly girl who couldn't read the room.
But she ended up looking, and when she saw the expression on Natalia's face, she relaxed her shoulders.
"I will not stand here and watch you manipulate the situation anymore!" Daniela continued to rant like a mad woman. "Can't you see what is happening?!" She questioned Luciano in a hurt voice. "All of this is a plot by her. I'm not sure how yet, but she's trying to divert your attention."
Luciano locked eyes with Elio and he quickly got the message.
"Danny, let me take you to Luce's room," he said.
"Shut the fuck up, Elio! No one asked for your input. Why are you even here? Don't you have a dead twin to mourn, you moron!" She snapped at him.
The room stilled.
Once again, Elio looked at Luciano.
"Go," he said to him.
"Thank you," he replied, and quickly walked out of the room.
Valentina's brow furrowed as she observed the interaction.
Something had happened, but she was too distracted by her own situation to try to dig into it.
"I don't want to stay here anymore. Is there not a way for us to leave? Can't you explain better?" She directed at Luciano again.
"You know for once, I agree with the bitch. Why can't she leave? Or do you just want to keep her?"
Luciano still did not react to the obvious bait.
There were other ways to punish insolence. Especially when it came to Daniela.
"Unfortunately, I can only explain this much at the moment. But don't worry, your stay here shouldn't exceed two days. Once the details of the safety concerns have been clarified, you'll leave," he said, holding Valentina's gaze.
"Two days?" Daniela scoffed under her breath as she shook her head in absolute disbelief.
Valentina turned to Natalia. "Can we do two days here?" She whispered to her.
"Let's just accept. I'm surprised he hasn't flared up yet. I don't want to be here when he does," she replied shakily.
Valetina nodded in agreement, and looked up. "You're promising two days?"
Daniela snorted loudly before Luciano could respond.
"You're agreeing to this? And you want me to believe you're not trying to throw yourself at my man? Shouldn't you be fighting more for your freedom? I can't believe you're just going to relent. Wow, you're really a whore." She shook her head, her face scrunched with heavy disgust.
Valentina spared her a brief look, and then swallowed her retort.
"Do you promise?" She repeated to Luciano who was fascinated by how she managed to still keep her cool.
"I can't promise. I work with what the situation dictates. But give or take, two days."
Valentina nodded. "That's good enough. I want to get out of here," she said in a tone that suggested she was barely hanging by a thread.
"Yeah, get out of here! Seeing your face gets me heated. Stupid whore!" Daniela continued on the attack.
Luciano sighed, as he grabbed the telephone, and dialled a number.
A couple of minutes later, the girls were out of the room, and as soon as the door closed, Daniela turned to him.
"We need to talk about this Valentina girl, and how uncomfortable I am with her being around—" She paused, when she heard the sound of a zipper come undone.
"Come here," Luciano called to her, his voice lower than the rumblings of the deep sea.
Dazed, she sauntered over to him.
"Get on your knees."
Instantly, Daniela forgot why she was angry as desire covered her eyes, and she knelt in front of him.
"You need an attitude adjustment," he said, as his hand gathered a fistful of her hair from behind.
"I do," she confessed through a lustful whisper.
He yanked her head down, and closed his eyes.
Flinging his head back, his mind conjured up images of Valentina from moments ago, as Daniela's mouth worked on the hardness her brief but impactful presence had created.