Bound To The Devil

chapter 30

Valarie scoffed. "Men like him don’t change, Luca. They manipulate. They control."

"I know what you're thinking," Luca said quickly. "And I don't blame you for worrying. But Damien—he’s been different lately. He’s… getting gentler."

Valarie’s expression darkened with disbelief. "Gentler? Luca, last time we saw each other, he nearly broke someone's arm for looking at you. Now you're telling me he's suddenly this reformed man?"

Luca bit his lip. "It’s not sudden. But I see it in the way he treats Ava, the way he treats me. He listens now. He let me come here, didn’t he?"

"With conditions, I'm sure," Valarie muttered.

Luca hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. But it’s a start. And I swear, if I ever feel like I’m in danger, I’ll find a way out."

Valarie sighed, rubbing her temple. "You know I love you, right? And I’ll always be here for you?"

Luca smiled, reaching for her hand. "I know. And I love you too."

Ava suddenly jumped up and climbed onto Luca’s lap, her big eyes looking up at him. "Luca, can I have more of your cookies before we go back home?"

Luca chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Only if Val says it’s okay."

Valarie watched the two of them, a conflicted look on her face. She exhaled sharply, shaking her head with a small smile. "You're lucky you’re cute, Ava."

Ava giggled, clapping her hands. "I know!"

Luca met Valarie’s eyes, silently pleading with her to trust him, even just a little. She didn’t look convinced, but for now, she let it go. And that was enough.

*

Valarie smiled as she ruffled Ava’s hair before excusing herself to get some cookies from the kitchen.

Luca, left alone with Ava, knelt beside her and gently took her small hand in his. “Come on, Ava. Let me show you around my house.”

Ava’s bright eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly nodded. “Yay! I want to see everything!”

Luca chuckled and led her through the warm, cozy home he had grown up in. Nostalgia wrapped around him like a comforting embrace as he guided her into the living room. “This is where my family spends most of their time together. We used to watch movies here, play board games, and talk late into the night.”

Ava gasped dramatically and ran to the couch, plopping onto it. “It’s so soft! Do you think Papa would fit here too?”

Luca laughed softly, imagining Damien trying to sit on their old couch. “Maybe, but he’d probably complain that it’s too small for him.”

Ava giggled before jumping up and taking Luca’s hand again. “What’s next? What’s next?”

Luca led her toward the staircase. “Let’s go see my room.”

As they climbed the steps, Ava hummed to herself. When they reached his old bedroom, Luca hesitated for a moment before opening the door. Everything was just as he had left it—the neatly made bed, books stacked on the shelves, and pictures of his family decorating the walls.

Ava immediately rushed to the desk, pointing at the framed photo of Luca and Valarie. “Is this you and Auntie Val?”

Luca nodded. “Yeah, we took that when I was about your age.”

Ava beamed. “You were cute, but you’re even prettier now!”

Luca felt a blush rise to his cheeks. “Thank you, Ava.”