Bound By Honor (Bound By Blood #1)

Chapter 6

6

AURORA POV

I need some time to clear my head—to think about something other than death and the practical imprisonment my brothers have put me under. So when I see the text that the girls are meeting at one of Chicago’s hottest bars, I’m in.

Even with the increased guard detail at the mansion, I know most of the family’s men, so it isn’t too difficult to avoid their attention. It’s Luciano who I need to worry about… Luckily, Dominic eventually calls him into his office, and I can finally make my exit unnoticed.

I borrow the least ostentatious of our collection of cars and send word that I’m on my way. It feels good to drive—to be in control of my own direction. When I arrive, my friends already have a drink waiting for me.

About an hour later, my martini glass freezes halfway to my lips, olive-scented gin catching the amber lights above the bar. The club’s ambient jazz—all slow saxophone and smoky piano—stutters as Dominic’s thunderous voice cuts through the carefully cultivated atmosphere.

My skin prickles with awareness before I even see them. Three dark suits part the crowd like sharks through murky water, and the temperature in the room seems to drop. Dominic leads with barely contained fury, and Enzo’s usual smirk is replaced with genuine concern, but it’s Luciano’s presence that makes my pulse jump—tall, dangerous, and utterly focused on me.

The crystal stem feels delicate between my fingers, like my grip on this moment of freedom. Around me, my friends’ laughter dies, their bodies tensing as they recognize the approaching storm.

“What the hell are you doing here, Aurora?”

Behind the bar, I notice a group of men in suits exchanging furtive glances. Their body language is tense, whispering behind drinks, and the air buzzes with unspoken threats, sending a chill down my spine.

“Having a drink with friends,” I say, gesturing to my companions, who suddenly find their cocktails fascinating. “Last I checked, that wasn’t a crime.”

As I shift on the barstool, the warmth of Luciano’s gaze feels like a tangible touch, setting my skin alight and making me acutely aware of the space between us.

I’m infuriated with my brothers, but as I catch Luciano’s eye, the heat of his gaze draws me in. This rebellion isn’t just about freedom; it’s a gateway to something deeper—and terrifying.

“It is when there are credible threats against our family.” Dominic closes the distance between us, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You were explicitly told to stay home.”

The crystal stem feels fragile in my tightening grip. “I’m not a child you can ground, Dominic. I have a right to live my life.”

“Your life?” He laughs, the sound harsh. “Your life won’t be worth much if?—“

“Enough.” Luciano’s quiet command silences everyone. He moves forward, and the air seems to thin around him. “She’s leaving. Now.”

Heat floods my cheeks. “Like hell I am?—”

His hand finds my elbow, the touch sending unwanted electricity through my body. “This isn’t a request, Principessa .” His voice drops lower, meant only for my ears. The warmth of his breath against my neck makes me shiver. “Move.”

Something in his dark eyes—concern rather than anger—makes my resistance crumble. I grab my purse, standing with as much dignity as I can muster.

“I’ll take her home,” Luciano tells Dominic, his grip on my arm both protective and possessive.

My oldest brother’s jaw works. “Fine. But straight home, Aurora. No detours.”

The sleek interior of his Audi feels like a cage, but one I’m dangerously comfortable in. Each gear shift brings his hand close to my thigh, the near-touches more intimate than any contact.

I find myself leaning closer, drawn to the warmth radiating from him. The intensity of his grip on the steering wheel makes me want to reach out and soothe his tension, to feel the strength in his hands—not only as he drives but also what that strength could do if directed toward me.

His cologne fills the confined space until I’m dizzy with it, with him, with the knowledge that this “punishment” feels more like temptation. The city lights paint patterns across his sharp profile, highlighting the muscle ticking in his jaw.

“You think keeping me locked away solves anything?” I break the silence, watching his hands tighten on the wheel. “The threats will still exist tomorrow, and the day after.”

His laugh is dark, almost pained. “You think I don’t know that?” He takes a corner faster than necessary, the momentum pressing me closer to him. “Every time you pull stunts like this, you have no idea what it—” He cuts himself off, and the unfinished sentence hangs between us.

His phone buzzes, and he glances at it with a sigh. “We need to stop at my place. Rosetta says Luca’s giving her a hard time—won’t sleep until I tuck him in.” For a moment, his voice loses its edge, replaced by something softer, more human. The glimpse of the father beneath the consigliere makes my heart twist unexpectedly.

The ride to Luciano’s penthouse is thick with tension. I stare out the window, hyper-aware of his presence beside me.

“You’re being reckless,” he finally says.

“And you’re being overprotective.” I turn to face him, watching the streetlights play across his sharp features. “I can’t spend my life hiding because Alessandro might be a threat.”

“Might be?” His laugh is harsh. “The photograph you found proves he was with Maria before her death. He’s more than a threat—he’s a promise of violence waiting to happen.”

“Then teach me to defend myself instead of locking me away!”

The car jerks to a stop outside his building. When he turns to me, the intensity in his expression steals my breath. “This isn’t a game, Aurora. You don’t understand the risks.”

“Then help me understand,” I challenge, my heart racing at our proximity in the confined space.

The elevator ride to his penthouse is silent, the air between us charged.

“ Papá !” The excited shout cuts through the tension like sunlight through storm clouds. A small dark-haired boy launches himself from the hallway, and I watch in wonder as Luciano transforms. The dangerous edge melts away as he catches his son, replaced by a tenderness that makes my heart ache.

“Did you finish your homework, tesoro ?” Luciano’s voice is gentle, nothing like the controlled power I’m used to. His large hand smooths Luca’s dark curls—so like his father’s—and something shifts in my chest, watching them.

Luca’s eyes find me, curiosity replacing his excitement. He shrinks slightly against his father, suddenly shy.

“Luca,” Luciano says softly, “this is Aurora. She’s...” He hesitates for a fraction of a second. “A friend of the family.”

I smile, crouching down to Luca’s level. “Hi, Luca. Your papá’s told me about you.”

“He has?” Luca peeks out from behind Luciano’s leg, interest overtaking his shyness. “Do you like Pokemon? I have a new card collection...”

“Luca,” Luciano warns gently, but I see the corner of his mouth twitch.

“I’d love to see them,” I say, and Luca’s face lights up. He grabs my hand without hesitation, all traces of shyness gone.

“Can she stay for a story, Papá ? Please?”

I feel Luciano stiffen beside me. This is dangerous territory—this glimpse of what could be, of a warmth I shouldn’t want. The look he gives me is laden with warning, but there’s something else there too, something that makes my pulse quicken.

“One story,” he finally concedes, and I catch the flash of vulnerability in his eyes. “Then homework, then bed.”

The way Luca beams at us both, innocent and trusting, makes my chest tight. This version of Luciano—father, protector, human—is more dangerous to my heart than any family secrets could ever be.

The domesticity of the scene strikes me—Luciano sitting in an armchair, Luca curled in his lap as he reads, his deep voice gentle in a way I’ve never heard before.

Watching him with Luca makes my heart ache—not just from the warmth between them, but from a yearning I’m not ready to admit. Could I handle seeing that side of him in my life? The thought terrifies me, like stepping into uncharted waters.

Later, after Luca is asleep, the drive home feels different. The silence between us is weighted with possibility.

We retreat to his office, where I turn to face him. “Why did you really bring me to your penthouse tonight?”

“I needed to check on Luca.”

“Bullshit.” I step closer, drawn by the tension radiating from him.

“You wanted to show me something tonight,” I press, stepping closer. The air between us feels electric, charged with weeks of denied attraction. “The real you, not just the ruthless consigliere everyone sees.”

“Aurora.” My name is a warning on his lips, but I see the crack in his armor—the way his eyes drop to my mouth, the slight tremor in his hands.

“You think force keeps people safe?” I challenge, close enough now to feel the heat radiating from his body. “How’s that working out for you?”

His hands find my waist, and the touch burns through my dress. “You have no idea what you’re playing with,” he growls, but I hear the need beneath the warning.

“Then show me.”

Time seems to stretch as my breath hitches; his eyes flicker to my lips, hesitation etched across his jaw. The air thickens with unvoiced confessions, until at last, he steps forward, crushing the space between us with a kiss that ignites everything I’ve tried to ignore.

The kiss explodes between us like a storm breaking. His mouth claims mine with a possession that steals my breath, one hand sliding into my hair while the other pulls me flush against him. I gasp, and he deepens the kiss, tasting of scotch and danger and everything I shouldn’t want. My fingers curl into his shirt as he backs me against the wall.

His cologne surrounds me, his touch brands me, and everything narrows to this moment.

When he finally pulls away, we’re both breathing hard. His forehead rests against mine, and for a moment, I see everything in his eyes—desire, fear, need.

As he steps back, the cold air lashes against me. My heart races, not just from the kiss, but from the flood of emotions threatening to drown me. Am I falling for him? The thrill of the kiss clashes with the fear of what a relationship with Luciano could mean—a crossroads between desire and the dangers lurking just beyond reach.

“This can’t happen again,” he says, but his hands haven’t left my waist, his thumbs tracing circles that brand my skin through the thin fabric.

“Liar,” I whisper, feeling his sharp intake of breath.

He steps back with visible effort, and the loss of his warmth almost hurts. “Stay out of trouble, Aurora.” His voice is rough. “For both our sakes.”

The door closes behind him, but his presence lingers like smoke, impossible to catch but burning in my lungs. My phone’s buzz feels like an intrusion, the screen’s glow harsh in the darkness:

You’re not as safe as you think, sorella. Sweet dreams.

Alessandro’s words should chill me, but all I can feel is the ghost of Luciano’s kiss, the phantom press of his hands. Let Alessandro play his games. Tonight, I’ve tasted something worth fighting for—something that tastes like danger and tastes like home.