To Play The Devil’s Game

Chapter 3

Luciana

Present

Luciana had a meeting with her father that morning and she knew she couldn’t afford to miss it. The meeting wasn’t going to only be about her past but also the present and the future especially since the Fontanas were a constant threat.

Luciana woke up with a start, looking everywhere as she tried to get a bearing of where she was. She was in her huge room quite alright but there was still a lingering feeling within her that something terrible was about to occur.

One thing the heiress had was a gift of foresight. Her instincts never failed and this was something that had always been with her. She acted on it and it had never failed to warn her of impending disasters. Luciana had just woken up from a horrid dream but for the life of her, she didn’t understand the meaning of that dream.

She sighed, getting up from the bed. Her hair was in disarray from the constant tossing and turning from the night before. The only thing that could put her back on track was a strong glass of martini. Luciana staggered to her impressive living room where her bar was located.

She fished out the big bottle of the spirit, pouring a healthy portion in her cup before gulping it all down at once. She smiled drunkenly, pouring another one but this time she drank it slowly. She replaced the bottle, making her way towards the couch. She never bothered to switch on the television because she had no need for it.

Everything she needed to know was supplied by her numerous agents across Rome. Luciana took a sip of her drink, downing the rest of the contents in one gulp. She glanced at her wall clock that sat in the corner of the large living room.

‘’Dio Mio! I have to get going or else father would be crossed’’ Luciana muttered.

If there was one thing she knew her father hated, that was not keeping to time. His nine a.m was nine a.m and if you were a minute late, you would be severely quieres. Luciana took her bath hurriedly, rushing towards her impressive garage where her lamborghini was parked. Luciana drove out of her compound, pulling onto the highway. She wasn’t concerned if she jumped over red lights as all that was on her mind now was how to get to her father’s place and fast.

‘’Move it already!’’ Luciana barked.

The traffic seemed to be against her this morning and she knew it was as a result of the yearly festival that was about to commence. Like a snail, the traffic eased a bit, giving her the chance to zoom off. She got to her father’s mansion in record time with only five minutes to spare.

Luciana parked her car at the garage, sitting still for a moment as her eyes scanned the whole area. This was where she grew up, this was her ancestral home but somehow, she wasn’t pleased to be here. Despite all the joy and happiness she felt here, there was a lot of sadness and bitterness. There were some memories rooted deep within her that she knew she would never forget.

She got out of the car, heading towards the front door. She waved slightly to some of the guards stationed around the perimeter. In the whole country, her father’s house was the most guarded. The first being the president’s quarters, theirs came close.

‘’Signora! welcome." a voice said.

Luciana looked behind her towards the direction from where the voice came from and she was surprised to see the chief guard Alessandro walking towards her. Alessandro was like a father to her. He took care of her especially on the days when her parents were not talking. He knew all about the issue with the Fontanas and he never failed to give advice to her father when it was needed.

‘’Alessandro.’’ Luciana smiled.

‘’Hello child.’’ he smiled.

Luciana hugged him as she felt a sense of deja vu all over her. He smelt of home and the sea, a place where he always took her to whenever she was down. He was like a second father to her and was always there whenever she needed him.

He was getting on in years and Luciana saw this from the new stress lines at the side of his eyes.

‘’Alessandro, are you well?’’ she asked.

She couldn’t help but feel worried over the man who had helped her smile when there was no reason to.

‘’I am a child." he sighed.

‘’Papa. He’s not doing well right?’’ Luciana asked.

Alessandro sighed and somehow, Luciana knew it was all about that. Few years ago, her father had developed a stroke and it grew worse whenever he was under undue stress and fatigue.

‘’I think you should go inside." Alessandro said.

Luciana stared at him, looking deep into his eyes for anything hint, no matter how small it might be.

‘’Okay.’’ she said.

She made her way inside the mansion, heading towards her father’s quarters where most days, he locked himself in.

‘’Papa. Are you here?’’ Luciana asked.

She knocked slightly before pushing the double oak doors open. Her father’s room was dimly lit and she knew it was always so as long as she could remember.

‘’Mija, you’re here?’’ he asked.

‘’Yes papa.’’ Luciana smiled.

She would never grow tired of coming to see her father. They had been through a lot, weathering the heavy storms together.

Luciana made her way towards her father’s reading table where several files lay scattered on it. He was hard at work, something he was always doing.

‘’You should take some time to rest Papa.’’ Luciana said.

‘’And have my empire run down? Not a chance princess.’’ he smiled.

She sat on the chair facing him as she watched him look at something on his computer screen. His knuckles were blistered and she sknew it was as a result of a torture he just underwent. Her father showed no mercy especially to his enemies.

‘’You wanted to see me.’’ Luciana said.

‘’A minute Mija.’" he said.

Luciana was content to wait. Any slight pressure on her father was bound to set him on fire, well not literally but still, his blood pressure might be heightened due to the undue pressure from those around him.

‘’Okay Papa.’’ Luciana said.

She waited all of ten minutes before he was ready to speak. There was a glint in his eyes that wasn’t there before and Luciana wasn’t sure where it came from.

‘’Papa, everything alright?’’ she asked.

‘’What have we got presently on the Fontanas? '’ he asked.

Luciana sighed, looking at her fingers that were a bit chapped. She had been eating them since yesterday as a result of the nervousness she felt whenever her father called her. The fontanas had been their age long enemies for a while now and there was nothing they hadn’t done just to see them go down but try as they may, they seemed to be immune to everything they had been doing.

‘’Nothing yet Papa but I'm trying hard to find a lasting solution to this issue. But I promise you Papa, soon.'’ Luciana said.

‘’We don’t have the luxury of time, Luciana, I hope you know that.’’ he snapped.

Her anger was slowly rising to the surface but she knew she’d be a fool to shout back at him. He had a violent temper and she had seen first hand how he dealt with his enemies. She wasn’t about to allow him to transfer that aggression to her. The best thing she knew she could do was keep quiet as she watched him rant and shout.

‘’I know Papa but I'm really trying my best. You have to believe me.’’ Luciana said.

‘’Well your best isn’t good enough.’’ he said.

She remained quiet as she stared at her father’s wall clock that slowly tickled. The silence in the office was intense.

‘’This empire rests on your shoulders Mija. I am not growing any younger, I think you know that.’’ he said quietly.

‘’I know Papa.’’ Luciana said.

‘’Do all you can to bring the Fontanas rule to an end. I don’t care how you do it all i want is for them to end, all of them." he said.

In his eyes was an intensity she had never seen before. There was no feeling whatsoever in his deep blue eyes and she knew she’d be a fool if she went against his wishes.

‘’Oui Papa, I won't let you down.'’ Luciana said.

‘’Good. That’s all, you may take your leave if you so desire.'’ he said.

Luciana didn’t plan on staying there a minute longer. She rose to her feet before walking towards the door. Just before she left, her father’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

‘’I hope you won’t make the same mistake i made Mija.’’

Luciana turned around and what she saw in his eyes broke her. Within them were untold pain and secrets from long ago. She didn’t know all of it but she was determined to rewrite history.

‘’Let’s hope so.’’ Luciana said.

She walked out, heading outside. Now, she had a whole lot of work to do and she knew just where to begin.

The next morning, Luciana was summoned by her father to his mansion again. This time around, she knew that something was definitely wrong because for one, her father never summoned her twice in less than twenty four hours. Luciana knew she had to go before attending to anything else.

She took a cold shower, dressing up in a smart light blue jump suit that hugged her curves. Luciana was drop dead gorgeous but her guards knew better than to compliment her. The look in her eyes alone was enough to keep their mouths shut. Luciana wasn't easily flattered by compliments except if it was coming from her father.

"Good morning ma'am." One of the guards said.

Luciana raised a hand, acknowledging the greeting. She didn't have time for chitchats as her sole aim was to get to her father's house on time. Luciana couldn't deny the fact that her father's call troubled her.

She got into her Lamborghini, zooming off just as the early morning sun peeked out. A journey of thirty minutes took her less than twenty. Luciana was like a man behind the wheels, in fact, she was a man. She drove with careless abandon, disobeying every traffic rule and regulation.

When she got to the house, she parked haphazardly, throwing the keys to one of the guards who walked up to her. A sense of deja vu hit her all of a sudden. Few hours ago, she was here completely calm and relaxed but this time around, she was the complete opposite.

"What's happening?" Luciana snapped.

The guard looked confused for a bit as his eyes sought out the rest of the guards who were scattered across the large compound.

"I don't quite understand." The guard stammered.

"Forget it." Luciana said.

She stalked towards the house, slamming the door shut. She found her father in his study, slumped slightly on his chair.

"Mija is that you?" He croaked.

Luciana rushed towards him and she knew something was wrong. It just seemed like he had shrunk over night. His eyes were drooping and his skin was warm to the touch.

"Papa, what's wrong?" Luciana asked.

"The doctor just left here and he said my health isn't strong anymore. I'm dying Mija and it's up to you to continue this fight, that's why I called you." He coughed.

"I will papa, I promise you that." Luciana said.

She was trying desperately to fight back tears. Seeing her father in this condition left her depressed. He was the only parent she had for as long as she could remember and watching him struggle to live left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"I'm counting on you Luciana, do not let me down." He said.

Luciana sighed, helping her father to his room. He needed all the rest he could possibly get now that most of the activities fell on her shoulders. Now, Luciana knew it was time to live up to her father's expectations and she knew she couldn't afford to fail.