Relucatanaly Ruined & Owned By The Mafia Novel

The Mask He Never Removed by Ariana Drew 4 Summary In Chapter 4 of "The Mask He Never Removed," Lucia finds herself trapped in Dante's penthouse, anxiously waiting for his return after four long hours. Her feelings of desperation and fear intensify as she contemplates the consequences of her actions and the looming wedding that awaits her. Struggling against the constraints of her father's expectations, she feels her chance for autonomy slipping away. The thought of being forced into a life she abhors, married to a man she despises, drives her to consider drastic measures.

Determined to take control of her fate, Lucia resolves to escape and find another man to aid her in executing her plan before dawn. She searches the penthouse for a way out, eventually discovering a key card that allows her to access the elevator. Her moment of triumph is short-lived, however, as she encounters a security guard. In a desperate act of self-preservation, she strikes him with a crowbar, enabling her escape into the night. As she runs through the deserted streets, clad only in Dante's silk robe, Lucia's heart races with a mix of fear and adrenaline.

However, her hope is shattered when she spots her father's men approaching in black cars. Captured by her brother Mario, she faces his wrath and the realization that her defiance has put her loved ones at risk. Despite her pleas for freedom, she is forcibly taken back, feeling utterly defeated and resigned to the fate her family has chosen for her. The chapter concludes with Lucia reflecting on her failed attempt to reclaim her autonomy. As she is driven away, she grapples with the despair of being returned to the life she desperately sought to escape.

Her thoughts drift to Dante, filled with bitterness and regret, as she realizes that her plan has unraveled, leaving her to face the wedding she feared more than anything else. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below **Chapter 4** **LUCIA** "Leave? Unless in a body bag, no." His words reverberated in my mind like an insistent echo, a haunting refrain that refused to fade away as I paced the opulent expanse of Dante's penthouse for what felt like the hundredth time. Four hours.

Four excruciating hours had slipped by while I waited for him to return and complete the reckless venture we had embarked upon together. Four hours spent watching the clock mercilessly tick away precious moments of my last night of freedom. Each second that passed felt like another nail being driven into the coffin of my meticulously crafted plan. By now, I should have been home, stealthily returning to my sanctuary, my bedroom, with the warmth of Dante's essence still lingering inside me.

I should have been lying on my virgin bed, a secret smile gracing my lips, reveling in the knowledge that tomorrow's wedding would unveil exactly what kind of woman my future husband was truly acquiring. Instead, I found myself pacing like a trapped animal in a silk robe that clung to me, infused with his intoxicating cologne, watching my singular opportunity for revenge slip further away from my grasp. What if he didn't come back at all? What if those men lurking in the lobby had ended his life?

What if, at this very moment, my father's henchmen were scouring Dublin for me, prepared to drag me back home to confront whatever monster they had chosen as my husband? The thought sent a sharp pang through my chest. I had overheard enough hushed conversations between my father and his associates to know the fate that awaited disobedient daughters. Beatings. Isolation. Sometimes something even worse. And if they discovered that I had attempted to ruin myself the night before my wedding... Madonna mia, they would probably kill me.

But perhaps that would be a more merciful fate than a lifetime spent in the missionary position with some ancient, drooling stranger who would treat me like mere livestock. I moved toward the expansive windows, pressing my palms against the cool glass as I gazed down at the street far below. From this height, Dublin appeared so serene, so normal. People strolled with their dogs, couples stumbled out of pubs, and life continued unabated as if my world wasn't disintegrating around me. Four hours and thirty-seven minutes. That was the duration of my vigil.

How long my plan had been suspended, gathering dust like everything else in my pitiful existence. Screw this. Screw waiting around like a helpless damsel for a man who might never return. Screw allowing my father to dictate every aspect of my life. And screw letting my last chance at autonomy slip away because I was too paralyzed by fear to take decisive action. If Dante wasn't coming back to ruin me, then I would find someone else who would. The realization solidified in my mind with a clarity that startled me.

I had perhaps three hours left before dawn, before my father would expect me to be home preparing for the wedding. Three hours to find another man who could assist me in executing my plan. It wouldn't be as gratifying as having the King of Dublin himself corrupt me, but it would serve the same purpose. Any man's seed would suffice, as long as my future husband knew he wasn't receiving an untouched bride. The challenge lay in escaping this fortress that Dante called home. I had already attempted the elevator-it required a key card that was nowhere to be found.

The emergency stairs were locked from this side, likely another layer of security. Even the windows were sealed shut, and we were forty stories up, anyway. But I hadn't made it this far in life by surrendering easily. I began to search the penthouse with methodical determination, seeking anything that might aid my escape. In the kitchen, I stumbled upon a drawer brimming with tools-screwdrivers, pliers, even a small crowbar. In his office, I discovered a safe that was undoubtedly beyond my capabilities, but also a desk drawer filled with spare key cards.

My hands trembled as I picked up one of the plastic cards. It resembled the ones hotel guests used, sleek and silver with a magnetic strip. Would it work on the elevator? There was only one way to find out. I tightened the robe around myself as I approached the elevator, my bare feet whispering against the marble floors. The card slot glowed red, awaiting my attempt. I slid the card through, holding my breath in anxious anticipation. Green light. A soft chime. The doors opened like the gates of heaven, a small victory that momentarily lifted my spirits.

However, I was so absorbed in my triumph that I failed to notice the footsteps in the hallway until it was far too late. As the elevator doors slid open to reveal the lobby level, I found myself staring into the face of a mountain of a man clad in an expensive suit. Not just any man. One of the security guards I had seen earlier when Dante left with his brother. He towered over me at six and a half feet, with shoulders broad enough to block out the sun and hands that resembled dinner plates. His eyes widened in surprise as he took in my disheveled appearance, clad in nothing but a silk robe.

"Miss, you shouldn't be-" I didn't allow him to finish. Pure desperation surged through me, granting me a strength I hadn't known I possessed. I swung the small crowbar I had pilfered from the kitchen, connecting with the side of his head with a sickening thud. He collapsed like a stone. Oh God. Oh God, what have I done? But there was no time for regret now. I stepped over his unconscious form and sprinted for the exit, my bare feet slapping against the cold marble of the lobby floor. The night air engulfed me as I burst through the glass doors, but I didn't stop. I ran.

Through deserted streets, past shuttered shops and darkened windows, clad only in Dante's silk robe, my heart pounding in my chest. My feet were already bloodied from the rough pavement, but I was beyond caring. All that mattered was finding someone-anyone-who could assist me in completing my mission. But I had barely made it three blocks when I saw them. Headlights. Multiple sets, gliding slowly down the street like predators on the hunt. Black cars with tinted windows, the kind my father's men always drove. My blood turned to ice. They found me.

I attempted to flee, but my legs felt heavy, as if weighed down by lead. The cars accelerated, encircling me from both sides until I had nowhere to escape. The headlights were blinding, transforming the empty street into a stage where I was the unwilling star. Car doors slammed shut. Footsteps approached from all directions, closing in around me. "Nyx Lucia." The voice was cold, dripping with disappointment, and achingly familiar. My eldest brother, Mario, emerged from between the headlights, his face a mask of controlled fury.

"What have you done to our family name?" I attempted to run again, but my feet slipped on the slick pavement. Strong hands seized my arms, yanking me upright like a rag doll. "Please," I whispered, though I already knew it was futile. "Please, just let me go. I'll disappear. I'll never-" The slap came out of nowhere, snapping my head to the side and filling my mouth with the metallic taste of blood. My brother's ring had caught my cheek, and I could feel warmth trickling down my face. "You stupid, selfish little whore." Mario's voice was dangerously quiet.

"Do you have any idea what you've cost us tonight? What your little adventure has jeopardized?" Tears burned in my eyes, blinding me. "I don't care about your business deals. I don't care about any of it." "No?" He seized my chin, forcing me to meet his piercing gaze. "Well, you're about to learn just how much your feelings matter in this family." He gestured to his men, and I felt myself being dragged toward one of the cars. I fought them with every ounce of strength I had, kicking and scratching, hurling curses that would have made a sailor blush, but it was all in vain.

They were too strong, too numerous. "Get her in the car," Mario ordered. "And ensure she understands that if she attempts to flee again, there will be consequences for more than just her." The threat in his words was unmistakable. My younger sister. My nurse. Anyone I had ever cared about would pay the price for my defiance. They shoved me into the back seat like a piece of cargo, and I finally allowed the tears to fall. Great, heaving sobs wracked my body as the reality of my situation crashed over me like a relentless tsunami. I was doomed. Completely, utterly doomed.

Whatever monster they had chosen as my husband would receive exactly what he had paid for-a virgin bride, pure and untouched, and properly broken to his will. My plan had failed spectacularly, and now I had nothing left but the wedding that awaited me in just a few hours. As the car pulled away from the curb, my thoughts drifted to Dante. I wondered if he was alive, if he had returned to his penthouse only to discover my absence. Would he care? Would he even notice? Probably not. I was merely another conquest to him, another night's entertainment that hadn't unfolded as planned.

Bastard, I thought bitterly. If you had just finished what you started, none of this would have happened. Lord knows I despised him even more than I hated my future husband. Conclusion In the dim light of the car, as the weight of despair settled heavily upon Lucia's shoulders, she realized the futility of her rebellion. The thrill of her brief escape had crumbled into a harsh reality, leaving her feeling more trapped than ever.

Each sob that escaped her lips echoed the finality of her decision to fight against her father's oppressive grip, only to find herself ensnared by the very forces she sought to evade. The fleeting hope that had ignited within her during those frantic moments of freedom now felt like a cruel taunt, a reminder of the autonomy she had yearned for but ultimately failed to grasp. The world outside blurred into a haze as she was whisked away, the reality of her impending marriage looming like a dark cloud over her heart. Yet, amid the crushing despair, a flicker of defiance remained.

Lucia might have been dragged back into the clutches of her family's expectations, but the fire that had ignited her resolve would not be so easily extinguished. She could not shake the thought of Dante, the man who had stirred something within her that she had thought long buried. Though she was forced into a path she detested, the memory of their encounter lingered, a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. As the car sped away, she vowed silently that this wasn't the end; she would bide her time, waiting for the moment to reclaim her power.

Will she find a way to reclaim her autonomy, or will her family's iron grip tighten around her, forcing her into a life she desperately wishes to escape? The emotional turmoil will intensify as she faces the reality of being trapped between her father's expectations and her own desires. Moreover, the chapter will likely unveil the fate of Dante. Will he emerge as a savior or remain an enigmatic figure in Lucia's life?

As she reflects on her choices, the narrative may reveal more about their complicated connection, leaving readers to ponder whether his absence signifies indifference or a deeper plot twist. With the impending wedding looming and the threat of violence from her family, the atmosphere will be charged with suspense, making it unclear if Lucia will find the strength to fight back or succumb to her fate. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions as secrets unravel and alliances shift, leaving readers breathless for what lies ahead.