Chapter 7
7
LUCIANO POV
The soft scraping of silverware against fine china echoes through the dining room like gunshots. Alessandro’s voice cuts through the tension with practiced ease, each word a carefully placed bullet.
“You know, fratello , I’ve noticed how... attentive you’ve become to our dear Aurora’s safety.” His smile is razor-sharp across the table. “Almost obsessively so.”
My grip tightens on my fork, the metal digging into my palm as a bead of sweat slides down my spine, chilling me. Dominic’s gaze is a hawk’s—sharp, assessing—making every muscle in my body tense with the instinct to fight or run.
“It’s my job to protect the family.”
“Of course, of course.” Alessandro waves his hand dismissively. “Though I can’t help but wonder if some protections run... deeper than others.”
Aurora stiffens beside me, her knuckles white around her wine glass. The candlelight catches the flush creeping up her neck, and I force myself to look away.
“What exactly are you implying, Alessandro?” Dominic’s voice carries that dangerous edge I know too well.
“Nothing at all, fratello . Merely observing.” Alessandro’s eyes glitter with malice. “Though I must say, the way Luciano rushed to her defense at the club last night was rather... passionate.”
Merda . I set my fork down with deliberate control. “There are credible threats?—”
“Oh yes, the mysterious threats,” Alessandro cuts in smoothly. “How convenient they always seem to appear, just when Aurora starts to dance on that fine line between independence and recklessness. Isn’t it fascinating how easily that line blurs when someone special is involved?”
“That’s enough.” I start to rise, but Dominic’s sharp look pins me in place.
“No, let him speak.” Dominic’s attention fixes on Alessandro. “What exactly did you witness at the club?”
Aurora speaks up, her voice steady despite the tension. “Nothing happened. Luciano simply did his job.”
“Did he?” Alessandro’s smile turns predatory. “Is that why you ended up at his penthouse instead of coming straight home?”
The silence that follows is deafening. I watch the muscle tick in Dominic’s jaw, see the calculations running behind his eyes.
“I needed to check on Luca,” I say evenly. “And it was on the way.”
"Ah yes, little Luca." Alessandro's voice drips with false warmth. "Tell me, Aurora, how do you find playing happy family with my brother? It's quite... domestic."
“That’s enough .” The words tear from my throat before I can stop them. The table falls silent.
Dominic stands slowly, his napkin falling to his plate. “Aurora, go to your room. Luciano, my study. Now.”
“Dom—” Aurora starts to protest, but I catch her eye, giving a slight shake of my head. She subsides, though I see the rebellion simmering in her gaze.
Alessandro’s quiet chuckle follows us out of the dining room. “Sweet dreams, Principessa .”
In Dominic’s study, the tension thickens. He pours two fingers of scotch, not offering me any.
“Explain,” he commands.
“There’s nothing to explain.” I keep my voice neutral. “I’m doing my job.”
“Are you?” He turns, studying me with hard eyes. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re getting awfully... personal with my sister.”
“You know me better than that.”
“Do I?” He sets his glass down with careful precision. “The Luciano I know wouldn’t let emotion cloud his judgment. Wouldn’t put himself in compromising positions.”
“Nothing is compromised.”
“No?” His laugh is harsh. “Then why did Alessandro find you alone with her in the garden the other night and now at your place? Why are there whispers about private moments in your study?”
Ice slides down my spine. “He’s manipulating you, Dom. Can’t you see that?”
“What I see is my most trusted man and best friend growing distracted.” He moves closer, his voice dropping. “Fix it, Luciano. Whatever this is with Aurora—end it. Now.”
“There’s nothing to end.”
The lie tastes like ash on my tongue. Dominic studies me for a long moment before nodding slowly.
“For your sake, I hope that’s true.” He turns back to his desk. “You’re dismissed.”
The drive to my penthouse feels endless. My phone buzzes—a message from Aurora.
Aurora
We need to talk. Meet me in the garden in an hour.
I should ignore it. Should maintain distance, rebuild the walls Alessandro’s words have cracked. Instead, I find myself typing.
Luciano
Too risky. Come to my penthouse.
The response is immediate.
Aurora
On my way.
An hour later, the elevator dings. Aurora steps out, moonlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows painting her in silver and shadow.
“ Papá , Aurora is here!” Luca’s excited voice breaks the tension. He launches himself at Aurora, who catches him with practiced ease.
“Hey, piccolo .” Her smile is genuine, warming something in my chest. “Ready for that story you promised to show me?”
I watch them settle on the couch, Luca’s favorite book open between them. Her voice is soft as she reads, one hand absently stroking his dark curls.
Later, after Luca is asleep, Aurora finds me in the kitchen.
“We can’t keep doing this,” I say before she can speak.
“Doing what? Being human?” She moves closer, defiant. “Having feelings?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It could be.” Her hand touches my arm, sending electricity through my veins. “If you’d let it.”
I step back, putting distance between us. “Alessandro is watching. Looking for weaknesses.”
“Let him watch.” She follows, eliminating the space I created. “I’m tired of living in fear of what people might see.”
“Aurora—”
“No.” She cuts me off, fire in her eyes. “I saw your face when he mentioned Maria. What aren’t you telling me?”
As her sharp gaze pierces through my defenses, I feel the familiar weight of loss settle in my chest. Maria’s face flashes before me—her laughter, her warmth—reminding me of the fragility of love. I can’t let history repeat itself. I can’t lose her too.
The question hangs between us. My phone buzzes, the screen lighting up with an unknown number. The photo makes my blood run cold—Aurora, alive with the moment, my arm around her hip as we had argued, our faces inches apart. From another angle, it looks as if I am about to kiss her, the intimacy of the moment captured in a snapshot that twists my gut with equal parts desire and dread.
The message below it sends a chill down my spine.
Unknown
I hope Dominic doesn’t see this.
“What is it?” Aurora moves to see, but I lock the screen.
“Nothing.” I grab my jacket. “You should go.”
“Luciano.” Her voice stops me at the door. “Whatever you’re protecting me from—I’m stronger than you think.”
I turn back, taking in her fierce expression, the way moonlight catches in her hair. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
The elevator doors close on her confused expression. My phone buzzes again.
Unknown
You’re not the only one watching.
The message sends ice through my veins. Alessandro’s game is escalating, and Aurora’s caught in the middle. One wrong move could destroy everything—my position, her safety, Luca’s future.
But watching her with Luca tonight, seeing the way she fits so naturally into our world... The price of protection suddenly feels too high.
Something has to give. And soon.