Bound To The Devil

Chapter: Dinner with the Devil's In-Laws

( They're still at their parents home , her mother stops them for dinner soooo , here we go )  :)

The dining table groaned under the weight of carefully prepared dishes—each one seasoned with love and a pinch of mischief. The aroma of spiced meats, creamy potatoes, and rich desserts filled the house like a nostalgic lullaby.

Luca walked in first, his brows lifting. “You made roasted rosemary lamb?”

Their mother, Elena Ivanov, turned from the kitchen with a cheeky grin. “For Damien. That grumpy bastard eats like a wild animal but still prefers French herbs.”

Damien blinked. “You remembered that?”

“I made mental notes the first time you visited. You practically inhaled my roast.”

He cleared his throat, face uncharacteristically warm. “…It was good.”

Valarie strolled in next, adjusting the collar of her oversized leather jacket. “And let me guess—the saffron rice and spiced duck is for Mr. Gold Standard?”

Sebastian Vasillev, already seated, crossed his legs with casual arrogance. “She understands me.”

“Unfortunately,” their father grumbled from the head of the table, inspecting a bowl of mashed potatoes like it might bite him.

Elena swatted his arm. “Oh hush, Misha. You're outnumbered. Accept it.”

Everyone finally gathered around the long table—an odd, volatile mix of two mafia lords, a sassy detective daughter, her dramatic brother, and two parents who somehow hadn’t committed arson yet.

“Damien,where's my little princess , Ava?” Elena asked as she passed him a warm bread roll.

"She should’ve been here tonight. I had little bunny-shaped cookies just for her.”

Sebastian raised a brow and teased to cut the tension because valarie's father was glaring him constantly. “Did I not get bunny-shaped cookies?”

Elena smirked. “No. But you got an entire cake shaped like a gun. Happy?”

“I’m touched.”

Meanwhile, Valarie leaned close to Luca and whispered, “Mom’s treating them like adopted strays.”

“I know. It’s weirdly adorable.”

Their father, sipping water like it was vodka, finally muttered, “Soo , Why isn’t the child here?”

Damien glanced at him. “She’s with her nanny tonight. I didn’t think it’d be… appropriate to bring her until things were calmer.”

Andre grunted. “She probably has more sense than the two of you.”

Elena ignored him and began piling more duck onto Sebastian’s plate. “Eat, eat. You're too thin. You look like a haunted Victorian husband.”

Sebastian deadpanned, “I’m sure that’s exactly what Valarie wants.”

Valarie gave a slow, pleased smirk. “Absolutely.”

The conversation spiraled.

Damien complimented the lamb.

Sebastian insulted Damien’s table manners.

Luca choked on wine when his mom said, “You boys should start planning weddings soon.”

“Mom—!”

“Oh come on. You’re living together, emotionally attached, violently protective—sounds like marriage with bonus gunfire.”