ARIELLA
But Leon didn’t seem to understand what Luca said.
He didn’t look shocked or confused by Luca's words. If anything, he simply looked annoyed.
“My father doesn’t kill people, Uncle Luca,” he said confidently before returning to his food.
The dining room went silent. My gaze shifted towards Asher who was looking at Luca.
Luca shrugged. “What?” he said casually.
“He’s five.” I couldn’t help it.
"Six."
“Luca,” I snapped.
That was when he seemed to realise what he had said.
“Oh… sorry,” he said quickly. “I thought his dad was already teaching him about the family.”
“He's a child for Christ's sake!” I bit back.
Luca raised his hands in surrender.
“Sorry.”
“We’re eating,” I added sharply.
“I said I was sorry, Ariella,” he added.
I didn’t reply. Instead, I returned to my food.
Leon kept talking, asking questions about random things, completely unaware of the tension that had just passed over the table.
Thank God he didn’t ask about killing people.
Luca had really made me angry by bringing that kind of subject up here, especially when we had been having such a lovely dinner.
Yes, I knew Asher was a killer. He was. And Luca was one too. We all knew it. But Leon didn’t grow up in this world. He adored his father and the two of them were still building their relationship. The last thing I wanted was for that image to be planted in his head.
Dinner eventually ended. Thankfully. Before anyone said anything or the plates had been cleared from the table, Luca stood up first.
“I’m going outside for a smoke,” he said.
Maria also stood.
“I’m going upstairs. I think I’ll get some sleep.”
Since I usually helped Leon get to bed, I let her go. Besides, she didn’t look well. Something was clearly bothering her, and I didn’t want to pressure her further into doing something she didn't want to do.
So Asher, Leon, and I went to the movie room. We put on a movie, Leon sitting between us. Asher and I held hands behind Leon’s head where he couldn’t see. A few minutes into the movie, Leon was already asleep.
“I’ll carry him to bed,” Asher said quietly.
He gently picked him up and carried him upstairs. I turned off the screen and was on my way upstairs to our bedroom when I suddenly remembered that I wanted a bottle of water. So I went down to the kitchen.
The house was quiet now. Too quiet. I grabbed the water and started walking back toward the stairs. That’s when I saw Luca.
He was coming down the stairs from upstairs, looking a little troubled.
I froze on my steps.
It wasn’t unusual for Luca to visit the house, but he usually roamed the ground floor. Mainly, he would stayn Asher’s office downstairs when they were working. I had never seen him coming from upstairs before though.

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