Page 13 of Bound By Honor

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 murkywater, 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.

---