Page 98 of His to Destroy

"Hey, sweetheart," I say, trying to sound composed. "Ready for your fencing lesson?"

Luca huffs and rolls his eyes. "I was ready ten minutes ago. But you two are too busy being gross."

Gaspare lifts his head and tries to look stern, but the twitch at the corners of his mouth betrays him.

"We weren’t being gross," he says, deadpan. "I was... appreciating your mother."

"That's even worse," Luca declares dramatically, dumping his fencing bag by the door with a heavy sigh. "First I get grilled cheese sandwiches with the crusts still on, and now this?"

I bite back a laugh, while Gaspare crosses the kitchen and ruffles Luca’s hair despite the boy’s half-hearted attempt to dodge him.

"You’re not even supposed to like girls yet," Gaspare teases. "You’re still in the phase where they have cooties, remember?"

Luca grabs his fencing foil from his bag, brandishing it at Gaspare with all the fierce seriousness of a knight defending his honor.

"Well," he says grandly, "when I like someone, I won’t do all that gross stuff where everyone can see."

Gaspare smirks and puts his hands up in surrender.

"Fair enough."

I walk over and crouch slightly to zip up Luca’s practice bag, adjusting the strap so it fits more comfortably on his shoulder.

As I do, I catch the fond, exasperated glance he sneaks at Gaspare, like he’s pretending to be annoyed but really loving the attention.

It warms me from the inside out.

This is what normal feels like.

Messy, chaotic, hilarious normal.

"Alright, kiddo," Gaspare says, clapping his hands together. "You ready to go win your fencing lesson?"

Luca puffs up proudly, slinging the bag over his shoulder with exaggerated swagger.

"Always."

As he marches toward the door, I catch Gaspare watching him—something soft and powerful moving across his face.

And when he glances at me, it's there too.

A silent promise.

A life he intends to guard with everything he has.

Once Luca is ready for his lesson, Gaspare grabs his keys from the counter.

"I’ll take him," he says, his eyes warm as he ruffles Luca’s hair again. "You rest."

I smile gratefully, brushing a kiss across Luca’s forehead and smoothing a wrinkle from his fencing jacket.

"Win big today, champ."

"I will!" Luca promises, practically bouncing on his toes.

Gaspare throws an arm around his small shoulders and together they head out the door, laughing about some inside joke I don’t catch.

I stand in the doorway long after they disappear, staring after them, a bittersweet ache blooming in my chest.

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