Bound To The Devil

- Damien's POV

The laughter between them slowly faded, but the weight of history remained thick in the air. Damien studied Sebastian in the dim light of the estate, his once-friend, then-rival, and now something in between. It was strange-standing here after decades of animosity, looking at the man he once trusted with his life.

It had been years since he'd seen this side of Sebastian. Not the ruthless mafia king, not the cold-blooded killer, but the man beneath-the one who had trained beside him, fought beside him, and once believed in the same future as him. But time had turned them into something else.

Damien let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders as he glanced around. Ava was still running around excitedly, exploring every corner of the massive estate like it was her personal playground. It was amusing to watch. A little girl, the daughter of a mafia boss, treating the home of one of the most dangerous men alive like it was her playground.

Sebastian's sharp gaze followed his, watching Ava with a mixture of amusement and something else-something unreadable. "You're lucky," he murmured, crossing his arms.

Damien arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Sebastian exhaled, his expression unreadable. "You have something to protect, something worth holding onto." His voice was softer than usual, lacking its usual arrogance. "A daughter. A lover. A family."

Damien didn't respond immediately. He knew what Sebastian was saying-he had built something that Sebastian never had. The mafia had been Damien's life, but Luca had changed everything. His soft-hearted, stubborn lawyer had forced him to see beyond blood and violence. Then there was Ava, his little princess, who had wrapped him around her tiny fingers the moment she was born.

Sebastian had none of that. No family. No softness. Only the cold, empty halls of this estate and a lifetime of enemies.

"Nothing's stopping you from having the same," Damien finally said, his voice steady.

Sebastian scoffed, shaking his head. "Not everyone gets a happy ending, Volkov. Some of us are just meant to be alone."

Damien's lips curled into a smirk. "Is that so? Because from what I saw, my dear sister-in-law seems to be changing that."

Sebastian's jaw clenched. His grip on his arms tightened slightly, but his face remained carefully neutral. "Valarie is... stubborn," he said after a long pause. "She doesn't trust me."

Damien chuckled. "Of course, she doesn't. She's an Ivanov. But that doesn't mean she's blind." His gaze darkened with something knowing. "You're obsessed with her, aren't you?"

Sebastian remained silent, his lips pressing into a thin line.

Damien tilted his head. "You have no idea what to do with her, do you?"

Sebastian's hands flexed at his sides, his usual cold demeanor slipping for just a second. "She's... different," he admitted. "She doesn't fear me. Doesn't bow to me. She fights me, pushes me." A slow, humorless smirk curled at his lips. "It's infuriating."

Damien chuckled, shaking his head. "And yet, you don't want to let her go."

Sebastian exhaled, rubbing his temple. "You sound just like Elijah."

Damien's amusement faded slightly at the mention of Elijah. The man had died protecting Valarie, leaving behind a last wish that still lingered in the air. Take care of her.

Damien's gaze sharpened. "Then listen to him."

Sebastian's smirk twitched, but it didn't last. His eyes drifted back to where Valarie was, still inside, talking to Luca.