Page 42 of Bound By Honor

“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.

“ZiaAurora?” 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.”

“ButZiaAurora 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?—“

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