Luciano stepped out of the dark hallway, walking slowly toward his room. His robe swayed gently behind him, and his face was unreadable. The moment he reached the corner, he saw one of the guards standing by the wall.
"You," he said calmly.
The guard straightened immediately. "Yes, my lord?"
"Go get Vittoria," he ordered. "She's with the girl—Gemma. Tell her to come to my room. Now."
"Yes, my lord," the guard said with a short bow and turned to leave quickly.
Luciano entered his room, closing the door behind him. The space was dimly lit, filled with the soft, golden glow of lanterns. He sat on the bed, his robe loose and open at the chest. His strong muscles glistened faintly under the soft light. He leaned back against the headboard and waited.
Vittoria was sitting on the edge of her bed, gently brushing Gemma's hair as the girl finally started to relax. After crying for so long, Gemma had fallen asleep with her head on Vittoria's lap.
