Page 73 of Luciano

Aria gave a saccharine smile. “Thank you, Luciano. But don’t strain yourself. I know apologies aren’t in your programming.”

I tilted my head. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Take shots when I’m offering a white flag. Is it a defense mechanism? Because I will allow it. If it makes you feel better.”

Her smile faltered just a little, and I knew I was correct.

“Aht, aht,” Ava fussed. “Don’t you two start. You are just like each other.

Too Smart for your own good. Luciano wears glasses to hide behind and Aria uses femineity, but y’all are the same none the less. I understand it’s hard looking into a mirror and seeing a bright reflection of yourself but get over it.”

“I am not untrust—”

Ava cut me off. “Please, Luciano. Come help me cook.”

Saint remained quiet as usual, but I could see his jaw was tense. He wasn't pleased with me. I would refrain—for him.

I followed Ava to the kitchen.

Dinner was… tolerable.

I sat at the head of the table, as expected. Ava to my right, Saint across from me, flanked by Aria and Dewanda. The chairs were too close. The room too warm. Everyone talking at once. I was saying nothing as usual.

Saint was telling a story—something about a smuggler in Spain. His voice was too loud. His laugh even louder. I didn’t hear most of it. I will admit he seemed more relaxed—and dare I say it, happy—since Aria.

I couldn’t help noticing the way Dewanda looked at me. Every few seconds, her eyes cut in my direction like I’d insulted her mother and she was waiting for me to do it again so she could attack. I understood her hostility.

Aria barely ate. She pushed a piece of grilled squash around her plate like it had personally offended her. She smiled when Ava spoke, but I could tell my words had affected her.

If I’d paused long enough to calculate the kind of damage this life had to her body, her mind, her relationships—I might’ve masked and been nicer to her. I might have been more… strategic in response to her insults. People like us don’t deserve kindness, but we needed it.. Truth can sometimes cut deeper than a knife. I hadn’t thought about any of that until Ava. I would adjust my behavior.

Ava reached for my hand under the table, her pinky brushing against mine.

She laughed with Dewanda, her shoulders relaxed, her head tilted back. I just watched her.

Later, when Ava was saying goodbye to her cousin, I overheard something that made my chest swell.

“I think I’m really going to give this marriage a try. For real.”

Dewanda raised a brow. “Yeah? Even after all this mafia shit? The kidnapping. The shotgun wedding?”

Ava grinned. “Yes. I’ve been fascinated with Luciano since we were teens, since he walked into the dean's office. This shit is so surreal… I want to see where it goes,” she added, her voice dropping as she hugged Dewanda tighter.

I stayed perfectly still in the hallway, hidden in the shadows.

She said she had been fascinated with me. Since we were teens.

Those words stuck to me like glue.Fascinated.As if I were a puzzle she couldn’t quite solve but wouldn’t give up on.

I felt myself almost… smile.

Chapter 32

Luciano

The argument started overMoon Knight.

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