Chapter 62

• Luciana's POV:
• The sea stretched out in front of me, endless and dark, the kind of deep blue that looked like it could swallow you whole and not give a damn. The yacht rocked gentle beneath my feet, the deck smooth and cool against my bare toes, the salt air sticking to my skin. I leaned against the railing, the metal cold under my elbows, and took a slow sip of champagne—bubbles fizzing sharp on my tongue, the glass sweating in my hand. My bikini hugged me tight, black and skimpy, the strings digging into my hips just enough to remind me how exposed I was. The robe over it—sheer, white, barely there—fluttered in the breeze, doing fuck-all to cover me up, but it was part of the look. Sexy, untouchable, exactly what Müller wanted to see.
• The sun was dipping low, painting the water gold and orange, the light bouncing off the waves like a damn postcard. I squinted out at it, my hair whipping across my face, sticking to my lip gloss. It was gorgeous—had to give Müller that much. This yacht was a beast, all sleek lines and polished wood, the kind of rich-man toy that screamed money louder than words ever could. I could hear the hum of the engine below, feel it vibrating up through the deck, steady and powerful. For a second, I let myself breathe, let the champagne loosen the knot in my chest. But only for a second—because I wasn’t here to relax. I was here to play a part, and the clock was ticking.