"Daddy! Papa keeps on cheating. He's so unfair." Little Alessandra complains with a huff. "I was not cheating. You're really just too small to reach it." Valentino teased the little girl. Luke rolled his eyes at the commotion happening behind him as he cooked dinner. Luke placed the food in serving platters before placing them down on the table. "Dinner's ready." He calls out. Valentino carried his little girl in his arms before placing her down on one of the chairs. He took a seat beside his girl and helped her put her on her plate. The little girl chatted away as they ate. She doesn't seem to run out of stories. Her parents watch her eagerly as she animatedly tells her stories. There was no dull dinner when Little Alessandra was around. "Is Papa staying here tonight?" Alessandra asked. "No." Luke quickly answered. Disappointment dawned on the little girl's face. Valentino can only comfort her. Luke didn't give him a chance to answer, he knows it for the best. He can't just m
It was the next day and the little girl looked glum despite the smile on her face. Luke knew that his daughter missed her father, but Luke was too afraid to give Valentino more time with Alessandra. Luke helped get ready for the day. It was also her first day of preschool. Luke was scared to send his kid off to school, but he knew she needed to socialize more and he could only teach her so much at home. Luke tied Alessandra's hair into a bun before tying a ribbon around it. He helped the girl put on her backpack before ushering her to the door. Luke made sure everything that his daughter needed was in her bag, including her lunch box. He carried the girl in his arms before exiting the apartment. Luckily the school was only walking distance from their apartment so he had no trouble sending the girl to school. "Have fun, my darling. Try and make friends today, okay?" Luke said to Alessandra as he put her down. "Yes, daddy. I'll do my best today." She said before running off inside t
Valentino walked Luke and Alessandra home. Alessandra never ran out of stories from her first day of school. Valentino loved hearing his little girl's stories. He was glad that his daughter had a good day. Luke barely glanced his way and would only do so if he was talking to their daughter. They finally reached home and the little girl is still not done with her stories. Valentino put her down and Alessandra dragged him to the living room to continue her stories.Luke plated the pastries from earlier and grabbed some fresh strawberry milk from the refrigerator. He placed them on a tray before bringing it over and putting it down on the coffee table. Valentino cut up the pastries into pieces for Alessandra. "Mr. Haru was the best teacher today! He gave us all these star stamps whenever we answered correctly. I really had fun in his class today." Alessandra told her parents while bouncing in her seat.Luke was looking at his little girl with such admiration. He was anxious that his dau
"Why does Papa go home every night? Can't he just stay here?" Alessandra asked her father as he placed down her breakfast on the table."I'm sorry, he can't stay here. Not now at least?" Luke replied."Why? All my other classmates said that both their parents live together." Alessandra asked again, her face showing disappointment. Luke couldn't help but sigh. He doesn't know how he should explain this to his daughter. "There were a lot of things that happened between me and your Papa before you were born." Luke paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to say. "It's just that, your Papa did some things that hurt me and I can't forgive him, yet," Luke said, hoping that would daughter would understand.Alessandra didn't reply. Luke sighed as she started to eat her breakfast her gaze kept low. Luke can sense his daughter's disappointment. It hurts for him to see his daughter this way, but he can't fix his and Valentino's relationship in a snap just because of their daughter.
"I really didn't mean to interrupt your work, Luke. I'm sorry." Valentino apologized as they walked to Alessandra's school."It's fine. Forget about it. Just avoid it next time." Luke replied. "You know you're off schedule this week. I told you you're only allowed to see her on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday but here you are again. Three days in a fucking row."Valentino sighed but decided to just keep quiet. He knew trying to argue with Luke would only end badly and would probably lead to him seeing his daughter less. Luke walked a few steps in front of him and every time they would be side by side, Luke would quicken his pace so that he would be in front of Valentino. They soon reached the school where Alessandra was waiting for her parents with Mr. Haru on her side. Luke quickly noticed the bandage on Alessandra's knees. He quickly ran to his daughter's side and knelt in front of her."What happened to your knee?" Luke worriedly asked. "I fell off the swing." The little girl tells
Alessandra was peacefully eating breakfast as her father was desperately trying to hide the bruise on his arm. He was lucky enough that his daughter believed that it was just from a fall, but he knows well enough that adults will see it differently. He tried covering it with makeup, but it was too obvious. He tried wrapping it in some bandage gauze, but it would only draw attention to it. He could wear a long-sleeved shirt, but the weather was too hot. He suddenly remembered that he had menthol patches for muscle pain so he grabbed one from the drawers and found one that was big enough to cover the bruise. He carefully placed it over the bruise and it was wrapped perfectly. His excuse that he just fell would probably be more believable. Alessandra finished her breakfast so Luke cleaned after his daughter as she got herself ready for school. Luke then packed her lunch and snacks and put them in the lunch box. He made sure everything that his daughter needs is set before helping her d
Valentino followed Luke around like a lost puppy as they waited for Alessandra's school day to end. Luke ran his errands as usual, the only difference was that he had Valentino to boss around. Valentino never complained. He followed whatever Luke told him to do. Luke didn't feel impressed by this, he thought that Valentino was trying too hard. They brought the bags of groceries inside the apartment. Luke checked his watch and saw that it was already time to pick up Alessandra. Luke told Valentino to leave the groceries alone since it was time to pick their daughter up. As they walked, Luke maintained his distance as always. Valentino wanted to hold Luke's hand in his, but he knew he'd just get pushed away.Alessandra was waiting by the gate beside Mr. Haru once again. She seems to be quite fond of the teacher. Alessandra ran towards them as soon as she spotted her parents. She was excited to spend the rest of the day with them. Luke opened his arms for a hug, but Alessandra went stra
Luke was awoken by a flash suddenly going off. Luke groaned in annoyance and pulled the blanket over his head."Don't hog the blanket." Valentino groaned half asleep as he pulled Luke closer to him.Suddenly, Luke was wide awake upon hearing Valentino's. He tried to sit up and get away from him, but Valentino's arm was wrapped tightly around him. Luke heard giggles behind him and saw Alessandra with his phone. He tried to calm himself so that he wouldn't end up upsetting his daughter. "Give me the phone, Alessandra," Luke said with a firm tone.Alessandra dejectedly handed her dad the phone. He unlocked it and found pictures of him and Valentino cuddling in the gallery. Luke checked behind him to see if Alessandra was there, but she was already in her room. Luke sighed in relief and deleted the pictures of him and Valentino. He put down the phone before trying to get off of Valentino once again. Valentino wouldn't budge, but Luke didn't want him to wake up and see them in this positi
It's been two months since the incident and peace has been maintained since then. The Japanese mafia moved their main house to a gated community near the city after it was destroyed. Luke has fully recovered from his gunshot wound and Romero was granted citizenship, or faked rather, by Haru so he can stay in Japan without hiding anymore. He has also become Alessandra's personal bodyguard or babysitter.Luke and Alessandra are now living in Haru's personal home. Luke has also decided to homeschool Alessandra for now. Valentino remained true to his words and remained in contact with Luke for the sake of Alessandra. Alessandra seemed to have recovered well from the past events, seeing how she was bubbly and full of life. "Valentino's going to be here in a few hours," Luke said, worry evident in his voice. "How's Alessandra?" Haru asked."She's fine. She's actually quite excited to see him. It surprised me," Luke said. "I guess she still sees him as her father."Haru pulled Luke close a
"I want you to promise me something," Luke said as he wrapped his hand around the knife. "What are you doing?" Valentino said, barely above a whisper."Promise me something Valentino, please," Luke pleaded. "I don't want you to die, I can't. Because for some fucked up reason, part of me still loves you."Valentino weakly grabbed Luke's free hand. "That's a good thing to hear before I die," Valentino weakly chuckled, blood spurting out of his mouth."Valentino, please, promise me, you'll let me and Alessandra stay here. Please, I just want a normal life. As normal as I can have it, please let me stay," Luke said.Valentino didn't answer, he didn't know what to say. He could only let the tears flow down his face. When he still didn't answer, Luke slowly moved the knife and Valentino quickly grabbed his hand to stop him from moving it further. "I'll let you stay. I promise. I'll let you stay. As long as you won't keep Alessandra from me. I still want to see her from time to time," Vale
Haru was rounding up his men in the main house as they anticipated the attack of the Italians. As Haru was distributing the firearms among his men, an explosion sounded from the left side of the main house, shaking the grounds of the mansion. Haru cursed under his breath as he and his men split to search for more explosives planted around the house. The others went to search for wounded men.Haru pulled out his gun as he entered the living room. One of the men was holding a detonator. Haru aimed his gun at the man and warned him to put the detonator down."Put the detonator down!" Haru shouted at the man in front of him. The man only gave him a sinister smile before pressing the button, detonating the bomb. The explosion sent Haru flying across the room as rubble fell from the ceiling. Haru groaned in pain as he tried to stand up from the ground. He tried calling for his men, but another explosion shook the house. "Shit!" Haru cursed.Haru then ran to the exit as the ground shook ar
"Buenos dias, Valeria. I see you finally take over again. I'm surprised you even let your son rule for that long," Damaso said as he took a long drag from his cigar."So you're the only one who showed up huh," Valeria said as she leaned back on her chair."Yes. The British could not give a shit about this. The Greeks are probably siding with the Japanese. I don't understand why they would do that. They're both weak. Even if you combine both their manpower," Damaso exclaimed."We need firepower. We'll give them back and grab some from the Japanese once we defeat them," Valeria said."So what's your plan?" he asked."Simple, I have moles in their mafia for a long fucking time now. I'm telling you, I thought I was going to get nothing out of it, but now I've proven that I didn't waste my time on planting them," Valeria said with pride in her voice."What are the moles going to do then?" Damaso asked."Plant some bombs and once they're detonated, we'll sweep out the rest. It wouldn't be t
"What is happening?" A little voice said while looking at the gun pointed at her dad's head.Luke could no longer hold back the tears from running down his face. He desperately tried to cover his sobs. Valeria didn't bother to put her gun down as she faced the little girl."Hey, sweetheart. We're just sending your daddy back where he belongs," she said."Mother put the gun down. Alessandra could see it," Valentino said to his mother through gritted teeth."Oh shush. You saw a gun when you were three and killed someone when you were six. She'll be fine," Valeria said.Alessandra then realized what was happening and ran to her dad. Haru took this opportunity to grab both Luke and Alessandra and hid them behind his back."Don't let them hurt us, please," Alessandra cried.Valentino cursed under his breath and glared at his mother. Valeria only rolled her eyes. Valentino slowly approached Alessandra and crouched in front of her. Alessandra hid further behind Haru."Come to me, Alessandra.
"We had a truce, Valentino. For decades no one dared to turn their back on that truce. Not even you. I was wondering why all of a sudden you do something that you know will initiate a war," Haru said while maintaining a calm composure."I didn't like how she was pushing Luke away from me," Valentino said."Luke's not your property. He's an adult who can decide for himself which is something your small little brain apparently can't comprehend," Haru mocked.Valentino clenched his fists beside him. He wanted to punch Haru in the face, but they were in public and if he did, any talk of reforming the truce would be nonexistent."Why don't we have lunch together? It seems like you have already started so let me just join you," Haru said, walking past Valentino.He took the seat between Luke and Alessandra and gave Alessandra a small smile."I'm sorry for hurting you last time," Alessandra apologized."It's okay. I understand you were going through some big emotions. We can always learn how
Valentino rushed inside the house and immediately went to check on Luke. He walked into the dining area where Luke was helping Alessandra eat her breakfast."Luke," Valentino called out as he approached Luke.Luke looked up at him as Valentino inspected the wound on his neck."Are you feeling okay?" Valentino asked.Luke pulled Valentino near him to whisper in his ear. "We'll talk later," he said and then pointed his eyes over at Alessandra. Valentino nodded before taking a seat beside Alessandra. Alessandra cut her pancakes and offered them to Valentino. He graciously took the piece into his mouth and Alessandra gave him a delighted smile."You like your breakfast?" Valentino asked."Yes, but I would prefer more strawberries," Alessandra replied.Luke smiled at his little girl. He was glad she hadn't noticed the wound on his neck despite the visible bandage on it and he plans to keep it that way. Once Alessandra was done, Elisse came into the room and took her dishes away."Elisse,
Luke woke up the next day with sensations along his neck. He opened his eyes and saw Valentino on top of him, kissing and sucking the skin on his neck. Luke froze as he realized what Valentino was doing. Valentino noticed this so he lifted up his head and smiled down at Luke."Good morning," he greeted before kissing Luke on the lips. Luke kept his gaze away from Valentino as he caressed his cheek with his thumb. Valentino leaned down and kissed Luke on the cheek before going down on his neck again. Valentino left one last mark on his neck before getting off of Luke."You look even more beautiful in that gown in the daylight," Valentino said.Luke slowly sat up on the bed before getting off, but Valentino grabbed his arm. "Let's shower together. I want to see you again," Valentino said.Luke didn't answer but it was enough for a yes for Valentino. He got off the bed and pulled Luke to the bathroom. Luke stood with his back to Valentino as he took off his clothes. Valentino then wen
Night came and Romero was being prepared to leave. Two men were assisting him, running him through his papers and where his family is currently located. Romero sighed in nervousness as he took the papers and the bag filled with clothes and money. They also showed him that his records are now finally clean and the mafia will no longer come after him. Romero can't do anything else but trust Valentino in this.They walk up the stairs out of the basement with the two men guarding Romero. Once they reach the upper floor, Romero is met with Luke. Luke was carrying Alessandra in his arms and once he turned, his eyes met with Romero. Romero gave him a reassuring smile, telling him that he was going to be okay before being dragged off. Luke tried following him, but Valentino grabbed his arm to stop him. "Romero!" Luke called out."I'll be fine, Luke. Goodbye," Romero said as he was being escorted out."What are you going to do to him?" Luke asked Valentino."He's going home to his family," Va