Relucatanaly Ruined & Owned By The Mafia Novel

The Mask He Never Removed by Ariana Drew 26 Summary In Chapter 26 of "The Mask He Never Removed" by Ariana Drew, Lucia finds herself consumed by a mix of dread and unease as she awaits Dante's return. She struggles to eat, feeling disconnected from the normalcy of her surroundings, and her anxiety escalates with the sound of a helicopter approaching. When Dante finally arrives, he is bloodied and disheveled, evoking a visceral fear in Lucia as she grapples with the reality of being married to a man capable of violence.

Their interaction is charged with tension as Lucia confronts Dante about his relationship with another woman, Sophia. Despite her initial bravado, she reveals her vulnerability when she admits that his actions do matter to her because she is his wife. Dante's calm demeanor contrasts starkly with the chaos of their situation, and he attempts to reassure her that his messages to Sophia were about Lucia's well-being. Yet, the revelation of his past with Sophia complicates their relationship further, leaving Lucia torn between her feelings of betrayal and a deep-seated attraction to Dante.

As the chapter progresses, the emotional stakes intensify when Dante kisses Lucia, igniting a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within her. Though she protests that it was assault, her body betrays her as she finds herself craving more of his touch. The kiss serves as a pivotal moment, illustrating the complexity of her feelings toward him-she is both terrified and drawn to the danger he represents.

The chapter ends with a chilling realization that Lucia is not just a prisoner in a physical sense but also a pawn in a dangerous game, as Dante reveals that anyone who threatens him will also threaten her. Lucia's internal struggle becomes palpable as she contemplates the implications of being tied to a man involved in criminal activities. The chapter captures her sense of entrapment, both emotionally and physically, as she grapples with the fear of losing herself to the very man she both loathes and desires.

The ominous atmosphere and Dante's predatory nature create a sense of impending danger, leaving Lucia to confront the terrifying truth of her situation: she is not just Dante's wife but also a target in his violent world. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below **The Mask He Never Removed by Ariana Drew** **Chapter 26** **LUCIA** X When Mrs. Cullen arrived with the lunch tray, the food looked unappetizing, a mere collection of colors and shapes that failed to entice my appetite. My stomach twisted in knots, and I pushed the plate away, unable to even contemplate taking a bite.

The afternoon tea followed soon after, an assortment of delicate pastries and steaming tea, but even that failed to tempt me. I simply stared at the steaming cup, the aroma wafting up like a cruel reminder of normalcy that I could no longer grasp. By the time evening rolled around, I felt like a tightly wound spring, every sound-a creak in the floorboards, the distant hum of conversation-set my nerves on edge, igniting a simmering rage within me. Then, I heard it: the unmistakable thrum of a helicopter slicing through the air. I dashed to the window, my heart pounding in my chest.

There it was, descending onto the helipad, and with it came Dante, emerging from the aircraft with two unfamiliar men flanking him. Even from this distance, I could see the crimson stains marring his shirt, a sight that sent a shiver of dread coursing through me. Twenty agonizing minutes later, I heard the sound of his footsteps echoing down the hallway. The lock clicked, and as the door swung open, he stepped inside, looking as though he had just clawed his way out of hell itself. His blazer was nowhere to be seen, and the t-shirt he wore was indeed soaked in blood.

A jagged cut above his left eyebrow added to the grim picture he presented. "Good evening, rabbit." His tone was unnervingly calm, almost casual, but his eyes-those wild, stormy eyes-betrayed a different story. "Did you miss me?" I found myself speechless, breathless. The sight of him, drenched in someone else's blood, filled me with a terror I had never known. My brothers had been involved in terrible acts, but they had always shielded the women from the gruesome details. This whole notion of marrying a criminal, a murderer, felt like an unending nightmare I couldn't wake from.

"I see Sophia paid you a visit today." He moved toward the bar cart, pouring himself a generous amount of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the glass. "She certainly has a knack for stirring up trouble." "Is it true?" The question escaped my lips before I could rein it in. "Is what true?" He asked, arching an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "About you and her. About the... understanding." He took a deliberate sip of his whiskey, his gaze locked onto mine as he contemplated my question. "Would it matter if it were?" "Answer the question." My voice was firmer than I felt. "You first.

Would it matter?" I wanted to insist that it wouldn't. I wanted to convince myself that I was indifferent to his actions, to the women he associated with. But the words died in my throat, heavy with the weight of truth. "Yes," I finally whispered, the admission tasting bitter on my tongue. "It would matter." A slow, deliberate brow lift followed. "Why?" "Because I'm your wife." "In name only, as you said." "That was yesterday." "And today?" I squared my shoulders, meeting his intense gaze with defiance.

"Today, I'm questioning why my husband is texting other women while I'm locked in his bedroom." "Ah." He set down his glass, beginning to unbutton his bloodstained shirt. "So she showed you the messages." "Yes." "Did she show you what they actually said?" I hesitated, my heart racing. "I saw enough." "No, rabbit. You saw precisely what she wanted you to see." The shirt fell to the floor, revealing his bare chest, and I had to fight to avert my eyes, focusing instead on the wall behind him. "The messages were about you." "What?" "I asked her to prepare a bath for you.

To deliver your dinner at a specific time. To ensure you had everything you needed while I was away." He stepped closer, closing the distance between us, pushing me gently toward the bed. "I also made it very clear that if she upset you in any way, I'd throw her off the cliff myself." "Lies. The timestamps-" "Were from this morning, yes. When I was thinking about my wife and wanting to make sure she was taken care of." "She claimed you had an understanding. That you'd been together before." "We have." His honesty struck me like a physical blow.

"But that ended the day I married you." "I can't trust a man who kills." "Well, if I desired Sophia, I wouldn't need to fabricate anything. I'd simply take her." He reached out, tracing my jawline with bloodstained fingers, his touch igniting a fire within me. "But I don't want Sophia, rabbit. I want my wife." "Your wife who refuses to sleep with you?" "My wife who is about to reconsider that decision." Before I could voice my confusion, his lips crashed against mine, fierce and demanding, as if he were claiming me.

The taste of whiskey and violence filled my senses, and I felt myself spiraling. But my mind screamed- You should push him away, Lucia! Just one moment... When he finally withdrew, I found myself still leaning in, lips parted and eyes closed, craving more. "Just as I expected," he murmured against my lips. "You don't want to share me any more than I want to share you." "That was assault!" I protested, regaining my composure. "I didn't consent." "No?" His thumb brushed over my swollen lips, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

"Then why are you trembling?" "Because I hate you." "I'd be disappointed if this was simple." He stepped back abruptly, leaving me breathless and bewildered. "I need a shower. When I emerge, we'll have dinner, and then I'll take you somewhere. But first, we need to discuss boundaries." "What boundaries?" "The ones Sophia crossed today. And the ones you're about to cross tonight." "What? Tonight?" He disappeared into the bathroom, leaving me alone with the lingering flavor of whiskey and the unsettling realization that if it came down to it, I might not be able to resist him.

I could hear the shower running, could envision him washing away the blood from his skin, and for the first time since this nightmare began, a thought crept into my mind: What would it feel like to join him? The realization should have filled me with dread. Yet, instead, it ignited a fire deep within me. Just like the first time I laid eyes on him. Jesus, help me. I'm losing this battle. Please. I stood frozen, caught in a web of conflicting emotions, staring at the bathroom door as if it were a cage that could spring open at any moment, unleashing a monster.

My chest rose and fell rapidly, palms slick with sweat. I was trembling, but whether it was from the kiss or sheer terror, I could not discern. Turning to the window, I gazed down at the churning black sea below, crashing against the cliffside. It felt like a siren's call-impossible, a death wish. The door? Locked from the outside, as always. But perhaps-just perhaps-his jacket might hold the key. I scanned the room in a frenzy until my eyes landed on the discarded blazer draped over a chair. My heart raced painfully as I crossed the room, my fingers diving into the pockets-nothing.

Not even a keycard. He was too clever for that. The bathroom door creaked open. I spun around, guilt flooding my veins just as he stepped out, clad only in a towel that hung low on his hips. Water droplets glistened on his chest, and the cut above his eyebrow stood out starkly-raw and fresh, a reminder of his violent world. "Searching for something, rabbit?" His voice was deceptively mild, but the underlying steel sent my stomach plummeting. My mouth went dry. "I-I was just-" "Looking for keys?" He advanced toward me, a predatory smile playing on his lips.

"Do you think I'd leave you a way out? Do you think I'm unaware of your escape plans every moment you're awake?" He was too close now, a towering figure radiating heat and menace. My pulse thundered in my throat. "You won't keep me here forever," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "Forever?" His chuckle was dark and menacing. He grasped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "That's a long time, rabbit. Yet-" His thumb brushed my lower lip again, that maddening gesture that sent shivers down my spine. "The way you tremble tells me you're already mine." "I hate you." "I know.

It makes it all the more enjoyable." Before I could retort, a sharp buzz shattered the tension in the air. His phone, abandoned on the bar cart, vibrated insistently. He glanced at it, and for the first time since he had stepped off the helicopter, I witnessed a flicker of something in his eyes. Annoyance? Or was it... concern? He released me abruptly, snatching the phone from the surface. His voice dropped into Italian, sharp and brutal. I couldn't grasp every word, but the tone alone sent chills racing up my spine. When he hung up, his jaw was clenched, his eyes burning with a cold fury.

"What is it?" I asked, against my better judgment. He turned to me slowly, a predatory smile creeping onto his lips. "It seems someone attempted to breach the estate's lower gate." I swallowed hard, fear pooling in my stomach. "Who-" "Doesn't matter." He began dressing with swift efficiency, pulling on his shirt with practiced ease. "They didn't get far. But they will try again." "And me?" My voice trembled, smaller than I intended. "What happens to me when they do?" He paused, fastening his cufflinks with a deliberate calm, then looked at me with a smile that made my heart drop.

"You, rabbit? You stay exactly where you are. Because anyone who comes for me will come for you, too." "What do you mean by that?" He smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Weren't you just looking for a thrilling escape? Well, this would be quite the adventure. A little chase, a little death, a little blood, perhaps even a gunshot." I swallowed hard, the horrifying truth dawning on me: I wasn't merely his prisoner. I was bait.

Conclusion In the tumultuous aftermath of their confrontation, Lucia stood at a precipice, grappling with the realization that her emotions for Dante were far more complex than she had ever anticipated. The kiss that had ignited a fire within her was both a betrayal of her resolve and an awakening of a desire she had fought hard to suppress. As she stared into the abyss of their chaotic existence, she understood that the battle between her heart and her mind was one that would define her very essence.

The walls of her confinement were not just physical but emotional, as she wrestled with the intoxicating pull of a man who embodied both danger and desire. In the throes of fear and longing, she was forced to confront the truth-her love for him was as fierce and tumultuous as the stormy sea crashing against the cliffs below. As the specter of violence loomed ever closer, Lucia's sense of agency began to shift. No longer merely a pawn in Dante's world, she realized that her choices, however limited, still held power.

The knowledge that she could either succumb to this dark romance or fight against it filled her with an unexpected resolve. With the chilling reminder that she was not just a captive but a target, she found herself standing at a crossroads-one path leading to submission and the other to defiance. In that moment of clarity, she understood that her journey was not just about survival but about reclaiming her identity amidst the chaos.

With the stakes higher than ever, the arrival of intruders at the estate promises to shatter the fragile dynamics between them, forcing Lucia to confront her fears and desires head-on. Will she succumb to the intoxicating pull of her husband, or will the looming danger push her further away? Moreover, the implications of being used as bait will weigh heavily on Lucia's mind, igniting a fierce determination to reclaim her agency.