Luciana's POV
The car purred to a seamless halt before the hotel’s admirable entrance. Its polished exterior gleamed under the sun, a beacon of luxury. Inside me, however, my muscles were a knot of pain, and exhaustion screamed in every vein. I found myself rooted to the back seat, the simple act of standing was a monumental effort. Nevertheless, I forced myself out, accepted my suitcase from the driver, and headed for the revolving glass doors where a guard stood sentinel.
As I neared him, the guard executed a polite bow, muttering a practiced greeting. I stepped into the lobby. The cool air was a brutal shock against the heat radiating from my body. Chandeliers cast a warm, inviting glow that pooled on the tiled floor, enhancing the hotel’s interior splendor.
I moved toward the recep
