She shook her head, still processing what she'd just blurted out.“No.I just… wasn’t ever allowed to have a puppy.Or a cat.No pets.”She paused, her voice softening as she allowed herself to be more vulnerable.“We couldn’t...afford a pet when I was a kid.”
Luca’s expression softened, his earlier amusement fading into something more thoughtful.“Okay.We’ll get a dog.”
Ava nodded, the longing she hadn’t realized was there now washing over her in full force.The thought of a puppy, of caring for something that would be her own, was an unexpected but welcome idea.She hadn’t had the luxury of that as a child.Her mother had been too unreliable, too consumed with her own issues to care for anything beyond her own fleeting whims.The idea of a pet, something that needed attention and nurturing, had been out of the question.More often than not, Ava hadn’t been sure if there would even be food for her that week, much less for an animal.
But now, the idea of a puppy was tied to something deeper—a sense of stability she craved.A sense of care that went beyond the material.A dog would be a living thing to love and be loved by in return.It represented the kind of home she’d always wanted but never had.A pet that wasn’t just a luxury, but a sign that things could be different—safer, more nurturing.
She swallowed hard, unsure how to follow up.The admission had slipped out before she realized it, and now she wasn’t sure if she should have said anything.Should she really want to raise a child and a puppy in such an uncertain world?Wouldn’t it be better to keep things simple and focus on their future without adding to the complexity?But she knew deep down that she wanted something more—a family with the possibility of giving love in a way she’d never received.
“I should go,” she blurted, trying to regain some semblance of control.“I have meetings this afternoon.”
Ava turned quickly toward the sofa where she’d left her purse, grabbing it and pressing it to her chest as if it could shield her from the overwhelming wash of emotions swirling inside her.She turned halfway back to him.Luca stood by the desk, his hands relaxed by his sides.But there was something different in his eyes now.Something that wasn’t the usual calculating coldness.It was… tenderness?Could it be?The mafia king showing tenderness?
Ridiculous.Ava shook her head slightly, pushing the thought aside as she left his office, unaware that her head was slightly bowed, as if carrying a weight she hadn’t expected.The idea of a puppy, of a family, felt like a heavy thing to ask for—too much to hope for, too much to trust in.
But maybe, just maybe, it was the beginning of something new.
Chapter 8
LucawatchedAvawalkdown the hallway toward the elevator.Every muscle in his body screamed to call out to her, to pull her back into his arms.But his desire for Ava wasn’t physical.Well, it was.Absolutely!The thought of all of those lush curves, his hands exploring all those warm, soft places…his mind and body burned with need!
But it was more than just sex.Although, sex with Ava would never be “just” sex.Ava was so much more than the women he’d been with in the past.
After their negotiations, Luca lingered on her words, unsettled by the weight behind them.There was something about Ava’s demands—something that felt less like bargaining and more like revelation.He couldn’t quite name it, but the odd feeling tugged at him, as if her terms weren’t just conditions for an agreement…they were glimpses into who she really was.
Luca wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her.He wanted to reassure her, to somehow promise her that their future life together would be fine.Better than fine!Wonderful even!
He wasn’t an ogre, despite how people saw him.He wasn’t just some power-hungry ruler who controlled everything with brute force.Luca could give Ava what she needed.He could provide for her.Financially, of course—but it was more than that.Couldn’t she see it?She had to know that he would do anything to take care of her.
Ava had made it clear with her words, with the depth of her convictions.It wasn’t about the lavish gifts, the bank accounts, or even a house.What she wanted went far beyond that.She needed presence.Luca suspected that Ava longed for someone who would hold her when she was vulnerable, who would listen, who would share the responsibility of raising their children instead of leaving it all on her shoulders.
Luca felt the weight of those unspoken expectations press down on him, heavier than any business deal he’d ever negotiated.He knew he could provide for her—money, security, a fortress against the world.That was second nature to him.But this… this was different.Emotional support wasn’t something he could throw money at or delegate to a trusted lieutenant.
For the first time, his thoughts drifted away from contracts and strategies toward something far more fragile.He’d have to protect her heart.
That was going to take some time to learn.In the meantime, Luca turned and dialed his banker.“Mark, set up an account for Ava Santos.She’ll need monthly transfers into the account,” he instructed, naming a sum that was more than most people earned in a year.“She’ll also need a credit card.No, no limit,” Luca added, voice firm.“Have that couriered over to her this afternoon.”
He hung up and immediately called his lawyer.“What’s up?”Bill asked moments later, walking into Luca’s office.
Luca was still seated, having just finished writing down the terms he and Ava had discussed.He handed the page to Bill.“I need a marriage contract written up with these terms.”
Bill skimmed the details, his eyebrows lifting at several of the conditions.When he reached the last one, he burst out laughing.“Are you serious?”
Luca didn’t even flinch.He nodded.“Absolutely.I need a contract written up with those terms.Get it back to me tomorrow and I’ll have her sign it.”
Bill nodded, though he still looked amused.“I’ll add prenup terms as well.Any amount you’d like to offer in the event of a termination of the marriage?”
Luca thought for a moment.His initial instinct was to tell Bill that he and Ava would never divorce, that he wouldn’t allow it to happen.But that wasn’t realistic.He was smart enough to know that life didn’t work on idealistic terms.People changed.Relationships changed.
“Make sure she’s set for life,” he decided after a long pause, his voice low and serious.“And she inherits everything if anything happens to me.”
Bill blinked in surprise, but he shrugged it off and nodded.“Got it, boss.”They discussed a few more issues before Bill left to write up the contract.
Luca was left alone in his office, the weight of the decisions he’d made settling in.His gaze wandered to the desk, the papers in front of him, the contracts and plans that would secure their future—herfuture.
But it wasn’t just about the material things.This morning’s conversation had made that crystal clear.With Ava, it had never been about gifts or money.What she wanted—what she needed—was deeper.She needed to feel cared for, emotionally supported, truly loved.And Luca finally understood that being there for her meant more than buying her whatever she wanted or surrounding her with protection.He had to show her that she mattered more than his power, more than his wealth, more than the empire he ruled.
There was something else he had to do now—something personal.He rose from his chair, the weight of the decision steadying him rather than dragging him down.Ava had let him glimpse her vulnerability this morning—in her hesitations, her silences, the fears she didn’t dare put into words.
