Bound By Honor (Bound By Blood #1)

Chapter 16

16

AURORA POV

Six weeks after leaving the hospital, Luca’s laughter echoes through the corridor of the Salvatore mansion, bouncing off marble and gilded edges, a sound so pure it feels out of place in a house built on shadows. He races past me, toy airplane soaring through imaginary clouds, while Luciano watches from the doorway with that soft smile reserved only for his son.

“Careful, piccolo ,” Luciano calls as Luca rounds a corner. “Not too fast.”

I lean against the wall, savoring this moment of normalcy. “He seems to be adjusting well.”

“Kids are resilient.” Luciano moves closer, his hand finding the small of my back. “Unlike their stubborn fathers.”

“You’re doing fine.” I turn to face him, noting the shadows under his eyes. “Though you could use more sleep.”

He snorts. “Says the woman I caught practicing knife throws at three AM.”

“That was one time?—”

“Three times this week.” His thumb traces circles on my hip. “The guards are starting to think you’re possessed.”

“Speaking of guards...” I glance pointedly at the men stationed discreetly along the hallway. “Don’t you think Dominic’s being a bit... excessive?”

“After everything that happened?” His jaw tightens. “No, I don’t.”

Before I can argue, Luca comes barreling back, crashing into Luciano’s legs.

“ Papá ! Can we show Aurora the secret room? Please?”

“Secret room?” I arch an eyebrow.

“It’s not really—“ Luciano starts, but Luca tugs my hand.

“It’s where Papá keeps all his important stuff! Like pictures and?—“

“Luca.” Luciano’s voice carries a gentle warning. “Some things are private.”

I catch the flicker of pain in his eyes and understand immediately. Maria’s things. Her memories, preserved in whatever sanctuary he’s carved out in this massive house.

“Hey piccolo ,” I crouch down to Luca’s level. “How about we explore the garden instead? I heard there might be frogs in the fountain.”

His face lights up. “Really? Can we catch them?”

“Absolutely not,” Luciano says, but he’s fighting a smile.

“Please, Papá ?” Luca deploys his most devastating puppy eyes. “ Zia Aurora will help!”

“Will she now?” Luciano’s gaze meets mine, full of warmth and something deeper. “And what makes you think Aurora wants to wade through fountain water chasing amphibians?”

I stand, matching his challenging look. “Bold of you to assume I don’t.”

“See?” Luca bounces with excitement. “She’s fun, Papá . Not boring like your business friends.”

Luciano’s laugh is unexpected and rich. “Is that so? And here I thought I was quite entertaining.”

“You’re okay.” Luca pats his father’s hand consolingly. “But Zia Aurora’s better at voices when she reads stories. And she knows all about frogs!”

“I’m wounded.” Luciano presses a hand to his chest in mock offense. “Betrayed by my own blood.”

The domesticity of the moment hits me suddenly—this easy banter, this warmth. After everything we’ve survived, it feels almost surreal.

“Earth to Aurora.” Luciano’s voice pulls me back. “You okay?”

“Perfect.” I blink away unexpected tears. “Just... perfect.”

His expression softens with understanding. Before he can speak, Dominic appears at the end of the hall, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he says, though his tone suggests it’s anything but casual. “Luciano, we need you in the study. Family business.”

The warmth in Luciano’s eyes dims slightly. “Now?”

“Now.” Dominic’s gaze shifts to me, carrying an weight of unspoken words. “Aurora, Rosetta can watch Luca if?—”

“I’ve got him.” I squeeze Luciano’s hand before he can protest. “Go. We’ll be fine.”

“The garden only,” Luciano says firmly. “Stay where the guards can see you.”

“Yes, sir.” I mock salute, earning an eye roll.

“I mean it, Principessa .” He brushes a kiss against my temple, his voice dropping. “No wandering.”

“Gross,” Luca declares, scrunching his nose. “Can we go now?”

I watch them disappear down the hall—Luciano’s controlled stride matching Dominic’s powerful presence. Two titans of our world, bound by loyalty and blood, yet still dancing around the cracks in their brotherhood.

“ Zia Aurora?” Luca tugs my hand. “The frogs are waiting!”

I let him pull me toward the garden, his excitement infectious. But something in Dominic’s expression lingers in my mind—a shadow of guilt, or perhaps warning.

The sun hangs low over the mansion’s grounds, painting everything in soft gold. Guards patrol the perimeter with practiced efficiency, their presence both comforting and suffocating.

“Look!” Luca points to ripples in the ornate fountain. “I think I saw one!”

“Careful,” I steady him as he leans over the edge. “Your father will kill me if you fall in.”

“No he won’t.” Luca’s confidence is absolute. “He loves you too much. Like I do!”

The simple declaration steals my breath. “I love you too, piccolo . Both of you.”

“I know.” He grins, then gasps. “There! Did you see it?”

For the next hour, we chase shadows in the fountain, our laughter echoing across manicured lawns. It’s only when the sky turns purple that I notice the temperature dropping.

“Time to head in,” I announce, earning a dramatic groan. “Come on, frog hunter. Bath time.”

“But we didn’t catch any!”

“Tomorrow,” I promise, wrapping my cardigan around his shoulders. “We’ll try again.”

The walk back feels different—heavier somehow. Guards shift positions as we pass, and I catch fragments of urgent whispers in their earpieces.

Something’s wrong.

I usher Luca inside, my senses on high alert. The mansion’s warmth wraps around us, but it does nothing to ease the chill creeping up my spine.

“There you are!” Rosetta appears, relief evident in her voice. “Time for bath and bed, young man.”

“But Zia Aurora promised?—”

“Tomorrow,” I remind him gently. “Sweet dreams, piccolo .”

He hugs my legs tight before following Rosetta, his airplane making one last loop through the air. I wait until they’re out of sight before heading toward the study.

The door is closed, voices carrying through thick wood. I move closer, years of eavesdropping making my steps silent.

“—can’t ignore this.” Dominic’s voice, sharp with authority. “If he’s really back?—“

“He’s not.” Luciano cuts in. “It’s impossible. We verified the body ourselves.”

“Did we?” Enzo this time. “Or did we see what Alessandro wanted us to see?”

My blood runs cold. Alessandro. Even his name carries poison.

“The threat is real.” Marco’s calm tone somehow makes it worse. “The question is: what do we do about it?”

“We protect what’s ours.” Luciano’s voice carries deadly promise. “Whatever it takes.”

I’ve heard enough. Pushing away from the wall, I head toward our suite. The halls feel longer tonight, shadows deeper. Every corner holds potential threats, real or imagined.