---

A knock on the door echoed through the quiet house. Luca, still sore and wrapped in a soft robe, blinked in surprise. Ava, perched beside him on the couch, perked up instantly.

“Who could that be?” Luca mumbled, pushing himself up.

Before he could reach the door, one of Damien’s men opened it, revealing Valarie standing there, arms full of flowers and a small bag of wrapped gifts.

“Val!” Luca gasped, his eyes lighting up.

Ava squealed, immediately jumping off the couch and running toward her. “Auntie Val!”

Valarie laughed, crouching down to hug Ava tightly before stepping inside. Her sharp gaze flickered over Luca, scanning him for injuries. “You look better than I expected,” she muttered. Then her gaze shifted past him—to Damien, who stood near the back of the room, arms crossed.

Damien arched a brow. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Valarie scoffed, tossing the flowers onto the table. “I wouldn’t be if I didn’t have a reason.”

Luca glanced between them, sensing the tension. Ava, however, clapped her hands excitedly. “Did you bring presents?”

Valarie smirked and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box. “Of course. I know how much you love surprises.” She handed it to Ava, who squealed in delight. Then, her expression softened slightly as she turned to Damien. “And this… is for you.”

She pulled out another box—smaller, simpler—and placed it on the table beside him.

Damien eyed it warily. “What is this?”

Valarie sighed, folding her arms. “A thank-you gift. And the flowers? They’re for taking that damn bullet for me and saving my little brother.” She glanced away, as if embarrassed. “I don’t say this often, but… I appreciate what you did.”

Luca blinked in shock.

Damien, too, seemed momentarily surprised before a small smirk tugged at his lips. “Didn’t think you had it in you to thank me.”

Valarie rolled her eyes. “Don’t get used to it.”

Before Damien could tease her further, Luca and Ava suddenly exchanged glances. Then, in perfect sync, they both gasped dramatically and clutched each other.

“Are we seeing things?” Luca whispered.

Ava nodded with wide eyes. “Are Papa and Auntie Val actually bonding?”

Damien groaned. “Oh, for the love of—”

Valarie smacked Luca’s arm playfully. “Shut up.”

Ava giggled and turned to Valarie, hugging her arm. “Thank you for saving my Luca,” she said sweetly.

Valarie softened, ruffling her hair. “You don’t have to thank me, kid. He’s my brother. I’d do anything for him.”

Luca’s heart clenched, warmth spreading through his chest.

Damien, though still his usual brooding self, let out a small, amused huff. “Guess that makes two of us.”

Valarie arched a brow at him before nodding slightly. “Guess it does.”

Luca and Ava exchanged another knowing glance before bursting into laughter, making both Damien and Valarie groan in unison.

Maybe this unexpected alliance wasn’t so bad after all.

--- ---

The atmosphere in the room was… strange. Not tense, not hostile—just unusual.

Luca and Ava were giggling uncontrollably, clutching each other as they watched Damien and Valarie sit across from one another, both wearing matching expressions of mild irritation.

“Two cold, ruthless people in one room,” Luca teased, grinning. “It’s like watching a mafia horror movie unfold.”

Ava nodded dramatically. “What if they join forces and take over the world?” She gasped. “Papa, does this mean Auntie Val is your evil sidekick now?”

Valarie shot Luca a glare. “Control your child.”

“She’s your niece,” Luca reminded her, smirking.

Damien leaned back in his chair, sipping his whiskey. “Evil sidekick? No, I think she’s the one pulling the strings. She’s too bossy.”

Valarie huffed. “Look who’s talking.”

Luca gasped, nudging Ava. “Did you hear that? They sound like two annoying siblings fighting .”

Ava giggled, clapping her hands. “They do!”

Valarie groaned, rubbing her temples. “I came here to talk strategy, not get bullied.”

Damien chuckled darkly. “You walked right into it.”

For the next hour, the teasing continued—Luca and Ava relentlessly pointing out every small interaction between Damien and Valarie, exaggerating their ‘bond’ like mischievous little devils. Even Damien, for all his usual coldness, seemed to find some amusement in it.

But eventually, the mood shifted.

After Ava and Luca were distracted by a new board game, Damien and Valarie moved to the side of the room, their playful banter replaced by sharp focus.

“We need to talk about Mikhail,” Valarie said quietly.

Damien’s gaze darkened. “I’m already making my move.”

Valarie crossed her arms. “You’ve already killed most of his men. But he’s still out there, Damien. And the fact that he hasn’t made a move yet means he’s planning something worse.”

Damien’s jaw clenched. “I know.”

Valarie sighed. “my department don’t like working with you, but for Luca’s sake, we need to stay ahead of this. Mikhail isn’t just some lowlife thug. He has deep connections—ones that even my people can’t easily track.”

Damien’s fingers tapped against his glass. “Then we cut through those connections. Burn everything down.”

Valarie smirked. “For once, we agree.”

They stared at each other for a long moment, two ruthless forces of nature silently acknowledging the war ahead.

Then, from across the room, Luca and Ava suddenly called out in unison—

“We heard that! You are bonding!”

Valarie groaned. Damien smirked.

This was going to be interesting.

---