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, ...