~The lost one~

Chapter 38

3rd PoV:

Luca stood at the doorway, watching Simi carefully as she stirred. She seemed disoriented, which wasn't surprising given everything she'd been through. When she finally blinked her eyes open, he approached, offering a gentle smile. "How are you feeling?"

Simi rubbed her forehead, wincing slightly. "Just a little headache," she replied, trying to mask the deeper exhaustion behind her words.

Luca nodded, though his concern lingered. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you feel up for a house tour? If you're not feeling well, we can wait."

Simi paused, then shrugged. "I'm good. A tour sounds fine."

From the outside, Luca appeared calm, his voice steady and composed. But inside, his thoughts were a tangled mess of nerves. He was trying his best to keep it together. If she only knew, he thought. If she knew what was happening just a few floors below them, with the mastermind of her kidnapping locked away in the basement, and his brothers down there "helping" them... God, he was relieved he wasn't left alone with her for long. He hated keeping secrets, but this one was necessary for her safety—for now, at least.

Clearing his throat, he gestured for Simi to follow him. "Let's start the tour."

Luca led her through the house carefully, explaining things slowly, aware that this mansion was probably overwhelming for her. They passed through the main living areas first. The living room was grand, with large windows overlooking perfectly manicured gardens. The furniture was lavish, the kind of luxury Simi hadn't experienced before. It all seemed surreal to her, and she struggled to take it in.

They moved on to the kitchen, state-of-the-art with sleek appliances and a marble countertop. "This is where we usually gather for meals," Luca explained, though he felt a pang of awkwardness at the formality of it all. He could see that this world—his world—was far from what she was used to.

Next, they stepped into the family library, and for the first time, Luca noticed Simi's expression soften. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, filled with books that told stories of power, history, and knowledge. The room was quiet and peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just come from. "Our father spends a lot of time here," Luca said quietly. "He's always been drawn to this space."

Simi took in the room, feeling a rare sense of calm amidst the chaos of her new reality. There was something about the quiet of the library, the smell of old books, that felt grounding.

Luca continued the tour, leading her to the recreational areas. They passed a private cinema, a billiards room, and even an indoor swimming pool. Each room more extravagant than the last, making it harder for Simi to wrap her head around the fact that this was now her life. These luxuries were worlds apart from anything she had ever experienced, and it was overwhelming.

Finally, they arrived at her new room once again. This time, Simi took her time to really look at it. The double doors opened to a large, beautifully decorated bedroom. The king-sized bed was draped in soft linens, and a private balcony overlooked the gardens below. The en-suite bathroom was modern, pristine, with every amenity imaginable.

Simi stood in the doorway, still feeling out of place. This room, though gorgeous, felt too perfect, too foreign. It wasn't like anything she had ever lived in before. She missed the familiarity of her old life, however broken it had been.

"You can personalize it however you like," Luca reassured her gently, sensing her discomfort. "This is your space now."

Simi nodded but remained quiet. She wasn't sure how to feel yet, but there was a part of her that appreciated Luca's attempts to make this transition easier.

Before leaving her to settle in, Luca stopped by the door. He hesitated, then added, "If you need anything, anything at all, you can come to me. I know this is a lot, but you don't have to go through it alone."

His words were genuine, and Simi felt a flicker of something she hadn't felt in a long time—support. She nodded again, this time with a bit more sincerity.

Luca, still battling the storm of emotions beneath his calm exterior, gave her a final nod before turning to leave. He hoped she felt the sincerity of his offer, and more importantly, that she understood—despite everything—that she wasn't alone anymore.