Sinner's Paradise|| 18+

Just a friend.

Luciano's POV:

In the dimly lit study of my uncle's home, the heavy scent of cigar smoke hung in the air as I relayed the latest developments. My uncle, perched behind his grand mahogany desk, listened intently, the flickering light from the desk lamp casting shadows on his stern face.  He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on me, waiting for the update he knew was coming.

"Uncle," I began, my voice steady but cold, "I've given the Cruz family until Friday to pay up. If they don't, their only son is as good as dead." I watched his expression carefully, noting the approving nod he gave.

"I've already taken everything they own," I continued, a hint of a smile playing on my lips. "They won't know about it until Friday, just in case they get any ideas about running or hiding assets. Everything they had is now under my control." 

His eyes gleamed with interest, but I could tell he was waiting for more. "And there's something else," I said, leaning back in my chair. "There's a new family member. Her name is Liliana. We'll need to keep an eye on her too." He raised an eyebrow, signaling me to continue.

"She's 23, fresh off the plane, and from what I've gathered, she's blissfully ignorant of the mess her family is in," I said, a hint of satisfaction in my tone. "She doesn't seem to know a thing about our plans or the pressure we're putting on her family."

A grim smile crept onto my uncle's face as he absorbed the information. "This could work to our advantage," he said, nodding thoughtfully.

Uncle's gaze hardened, and he nodded again. "Good work," he said, his voice low and approving. "Keep me updated on their every move. We can't afford any slip-ups."

As I stepped out of my uncle's house and into the sultry Havana evening, the city's energy seemed to pulse beneath my feet. I caught sight of my sleek, black motorcycle parked at the curb and turned to my right-hand and best friend, Juan, who was waiting beside a polished luxury car.

"Take the car to the company," I instructed him, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I'm heading to the restaurant."

Juan raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "I thought Alissa was just a friend."

Without missing a beat, I shot him a wry grin and responded, "Vai se foder," brushing off his comment with a wave of my hand. Though he was right—Alissa, my childhood friend from Bahia, had always had feelings for me, while I had none in return.

The ride to the restaurant was a blur of Havana's nightlife, the motorcycle cutting through the warm night air with precision. 

The elegant ambiance of my Havana restaurant enveloped me as I stepped through the gleaming entrance. The soft hum of jazz and the rich aroma of gourmet dishes filled the air, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I spotted my friend, Alissa, seated at a corner table, her red dress catching the candlelight in a captivating glow. Her eyes lit up as she saw me approach.

"Oi, Alissa! Que bom te ver!" I greeted her with a genuine smile, my Portuguese flowing effortlessly.

"Oi, Luciano!" she responded warmly, her accent laced with a hint of nostalgia. "It's so good to see you."

I slid into the seat across from her, taking a moment to appreciate her presence. "Como você está? Tudo bem?"

"I'm good," she replied, her smile fading slightly as she leaned forward. "But I've been thinking about you. How have you been? And how's Juan? I haven't heard from him lately."

I took a sip from my glass, considering her question. "I'm doing well, managing everything as usual. Juan's fine. He's been keeping busy with the company, handling things on his end. We're all managing, as you can see."

Alissa nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "That's good to hear. I've missed catching up with you and everyone."

We continued our conversation, the lively atmosphere of the restaurant serving as the perfect backdrop for our reunion, with the soft clinking of glasses and the murmur of other diners blending into the backdrop of our friendly exchange.

"So, how's Brazil?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

"It was beautiful," she replied with a wistful smile. "But you know, I missed Havana . I missed this" She gestured around the restaurant, then looked at me. "I missed you."

I raised an eyebrow. "And what else did you miss?"

Alissa's smile faltered slightly, her gaze dropping to the table. She fiddled with her wine glass before meeting my eyes again, her expression serious. "Luciano," she began softly, her voice trembling slightly, "why can't you love me?"

The question hung heavy in the air, slicing through the casual conversation we'd been sharing. I leaned back in my chair, taking a deep breath, and looked at her. "Ali," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "I don't believe in that bullshit. You know me. I'm not the type for... what you're looking for."

Her eyes flashed with hurt, but she nodded slowly, as if she'd been bracing for this answer. "I just thought..."

I interrupted her gently, "I get it. I really do. But I've never been one for love, you know that. It's just not my thing."

Alissa looked down at her lap, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "I just wish things were different," she murmured, almost to herself.

I reached across the table and took her hand, squeezing it lightly. "I'm sorry, Ali. I truly am. But you deserve someone who can give you what you need, and that's not me."

She nodded again, a small, sad smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, I know. But I guess I had to ask."

As the conversation drifted back to lighter topics, the weight of her confession lingered between us, adding a bittersweet note to our reunion.

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words. "Alissa, I'm not what you're looking for. You deserve someone better, someone who can give you what you want."

Her gaze softened, and she shook her head. "No one is better than you, Luciano Santos," she said firmly.

As we continued our conversation, the warmth of the restaurant and the familiarity of her presence made me wish things were different. If only she weren't in love with me, maybe we could have had something simple and easy. But as it was, I knew it was better to let her find someone who could truly give her what she deserved. 

After a pleasant dinner with Alissa, I signaled one of my drivers to come over. "Take Alissa home," I instructed, ensuring she was comfortably settled in the car. "I'll be heading back myself."

As I arrived home, I found Juan waiting in the study, a stack of documents in hand. His expression was serious as he handed me the file. "I've got more on Liliana," he said, his tone businesslike.

I flipped through the papers, my interest piqued. "What's the latest?"

Juan leaned against the desk, his gaze intense. "Turns out Liliana has a boyfriend in London. He's a businessman with a wife and kids. Liliana is his mistress—whether she's aware of it or not."

I let out a dark chuckle, a smirk spreading across my face. "Perfect. This is just the kind of leverage we need. I can't wait to use this to our advantage."

Juan nodded, clearly pleased with the development. "What's the next move?"

"Arrange for our private jet to head to London," I instructed, my tone leaving no room for debate. "We need to bring her boyfriend here. He should be here by Friday. His presence will make our plan even more effective."

Juan immediately started making the arrangements, his efficiency evident as he set to work. The anticipation of unraveling Liliana's world and watching the Cruz family's carefully constructed facade crumble gave me a grim satisfaction. 

ps: keep reading i promise it gets interesting.