Heir In The Shadows

EPISODE 35

The morning of the reunion came. Jax was ready first — crisp, dark suit, tie loose around his throat the way only he could make look powerful yet effortless. He stood by the window, watching as Luciano fussed over his own cufflinks.

“You’ll wear a hole in them if you keep adjusting,” Jax drawled.

Luciano shot him a glare but finally gave up, slipping on his coat. “Sorry if I want everything perfect. My grandfather is…particular.”

Jax smirked, stepping forward to fix the cuff himself with a deft twist of his fingers. “There. Done. Now stop worrying.”

They left the estate and slid into the back of the sleek black car, Vince taking the driver’s seat while Draco followed in another vehicle with the guards. As soon as the doors shut, the weight of where they were going settled over Luciano.

He sat stiffly, his fingers worrying the edge of his sleeve. Jax noticed.

“Nervous?” Jax asked, voice low.

Luciano gave a sharp laugh. “Nervous? More like dreading. My family…they’re not exactly easy. Especially when it comes to outsiders.” His eyes flicked to Jax. “They’ll judge you. And me. And us.”

“Let them.” Jax leaned back, his gaze steady, unreadable but warm underneath. “I’ve been judged by worse, Luc. And I don’t bend for anyone.”

Luciano sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t understand. They’ll test you, push at you, try to make you prove yourself. And if you don’t fit into their mold—”

“I’m not here to fit into their mold,” Jax cut in firmly. He reached out, taking Luciano’s restless hand and threading their fingers together. “I’m here because you want me there. Because you’re family. That’s all that matters.”

Luciano turned his face toward the window, but Jax felt the way his grip tightened. After a long silence, Luciano whispered, “You don’t know how much that means.”

Jax tilted his head, studying him. “I don’t need to know. I just need you to remember one thing, Luc.”

Luciano glanced back, their eyes locking.

“No matter what happens in there, no matter what they say or do…you’re mine,” Jax said, his tone low, unshakable, the kind of voice that could make kingdoms bow. “And I don’t let go of what’s mine.”

Something in Luciano’s chest unclenched. The nerves didn’t vanish, but the storm inside him quieted. He leaned into Jax’s shoulder, letting himself breathe.

“Fine,” he murmured, lips curving into a small smile. “But if my grandfather challenges you to a drinking contest, don’t you dare lose.”

Jax chuckled, brushing his lips over the top of Luciano’s head. “I don’t lose. Not at business. Not at fights. Not at drinking. And not at you.”

By the time the convoy of cars turned onto the long driveway of the De Luca estate, Luciano’s heart was still racing — but his hand was steady in Jax’s.

The car rolled to a slow stop at the gates of the De Luca estate.

Luciano had grown up here, but even now, returning as a man with Jax at his side, the sight was enough to twist his stomach into knots. Iron gates loomed, tall enough to dwarf the convoy of black cars waiting outside. Etched into their surface was the De Luca crest: a roaring lion with its paw crushing a serpent, the old family motto carved beneath in Latin — Strength Above All.

Jax’s sharp eyes swept over the security detail lined along the entrance. Dozens of men in black suits, armed but discreet, their posture as rigid as stone. The kind of presence that screamed power without needing to raise a voice.

----

As the gates opened, the car rolled forward. The gravel path stretched endlessly, lined with towering cypress trees. Beyond them, the De Luca mansion revealed itself — a sprawling Italian villa brought to life in steel and stone. Marble statues flanked the fountain at the center, its waters shimmering gold in the light. Balconies carved with lions overlooked the driveway, like watchful guardians.

It wasn’t just wealth. It was intimidation built into architecture. A message: You do not step here unless you are either family… or prey.

Luciano shifted slightly beside Jax, his fingers drumming against his thigh. He told himself he wasn’t nervous, but his body betrayed him. His grandfather’s disapproval still echoed from the last call, and now… everyone would be here. Watching. Judging.

Jax glanced at him, calm as ever. “You’re fidgeting.”

Luciano exhaled a shaky laugh. “Of course I am. This is the lion’s den, Jax. My family doesn’t exactly… welcome outsiders.” He hesitated. “And they already think you’re beneath me.”

Jax leaned back, his voice steady, grounding. “Let them think what they want. Their opinion doesn’t change what you and I have. Remember that.”

The car stopped at the foot of the wide staircase leading up to the double doors of the mansion. Already, shadows moved behind the tall windows. Waiting. Watching. The family was assembled.

Luciano swallowed hard, straightening his jacket. His pulse thundered, but he forced himself to breathe.

Jax’s hand brushed against his, a fleeting touch, a silent anchor. “We walk in together. Head high. No shame.”

The driver opened the door.

And just like that, the lion’s den awaited.

---

When Luciano and Jax made their entrance into the grand hall, all eyes turned. The chandeliers above sparkled like stars over the polished marble floor, highlighting the elegant tapestries and portraits that lined the walls—a clear testament to the De Luca legacy. Luciano’s parents moved swiftly toward him, enveloping their son in warm embraces. His sister, Isabella, and his two closest cousins, Marco and Antonio, stepped forward with wide smiles.

Jax hung back slightly, giving Luciano space to reconnect with the family he had missed.

Isabella leaned toward Luciano, her voice a whisper, just enough for him to hear.

“Is that… the guy you told us you’d bring along?” she asked, tilting her head toward Jax.

Luciano smiled, a quiet warmth in his eyes.

“Yeah,” he whispered back, nodding subtly. “This is him.”

His parents, sister, and cousins moved to greet Jax. Polite but curious eyes scanned him up and down, assessing the man their son had chosen. Jax returned their warmth with calm confidence, his aura of quiet strength undeniable. Luciano’s father, Enzo, nudged him lightly.

“Go greet your Nonno,” he murmured with a faint smile.

Luciano stepped ahead with Jax by his side toward the imposing figure of his grandfather, Don Vittorio De Luca. The old man’s gaze sharpened as he observed Jax—tall, confident, with that unmistakable edge that spoke of strength, yet he wasn’t used to seeing his grandson with someone from outside their world.

“Nonno,” Luciano said, bowing slightly in respect.

“Luciano,” Don Vittorio replied, his voice firm but controlled. His eyes lingered on Jax. “And this… is the man you brought?”

Luciano nodded.

“Yes, Nonno. This is Jax.”

Don Vittorio’s lips pressed into a thin line, studying him. Yes, he had looked into Jax’s background, and the truth stung—an underground fighter with no title, no family, no legacy. But he said nothing, keeping the thought locked behind his stoic expression.

After brief formal greetings, Luciano returned to his parents and siblings, smiling as he held his mother’s hand, embraced his father, and shared quiet laughter with Isabella and the cousins. Many family members couldn’t take their eyes off Jax, drawn to his sharp features and the aura of control he carried.

Finally, Don Vittorio’s deep voice echoed through the hall.

“Dinner,” he announced. “Everyone, please, take your seats.”

The family obeyed, and the room buzzed with polite chatter as everyone settled into their seats. Luciano and Jax found themselves side by side. True to form, Jax helped Luciano pick out the dishes he liked best, subtle and attentive as always.

But as the first course was served, the air shifted. Whispers curled into snide remarks.

From across the table, one of the elder cousins, Raffaele, leaned toward another.

“Luciano, upon all the people you could chose , it had to be a street fighter ?” he said, voice laced with incredulity.

Luciano didn’t flinch. He set down his fork and let a slight smile curve his lips.

“Anything wrong with that , Raffaele? He is the man I haven't chosen and I care for him so, I brought him.”

Raffaele snorted. “Care for him? Care for a man who probably spends his nights getting into fights for money? You’ve really changed, cousin.”

Jax’s gaze sharpened but he didn’t move, letting Luciano handle it.

Luciano leaned forward, his tone low and commanding, the subtle weight of the De Luca name coating his words.

“Raffaele, I’m glad you noticed. But let me make it very clear—Jax isn’t just any man. He’s someone who respects me, who protects me, and I expect you to show him the courtesy due to my guest.”

Another cousin, Giovanni, smirked. “Courtesy? Surely, Luciano, you wouldn’t place that… fighter above family tradition, would you?”

Luciano’s eyes narrowed, the dangerous undertone in his voice making the table quiet.

“Jax is family to me,” he said coldly. “And anyone who doubts my choices will soon learn just how serious I am about that. Respect him, or you will answer to me, not him.”

The hall fell silent for a moment, the weight of Luciano’s words pressing against the edges of polite conversation. Jax, sensing the tension, reached for Luciano’s hand under the table, giving a reassuring squeeze. Luciano’s lips curved into a small, private smile, appreciating the silent support.

Aunt Caterina, trying to smooth the tension, spoke up lightly.

“Well, everyone, let’s eat before we starve ourselves with arguments,” she said, though her eyes flicked at Jax with subtle curiosity.

Jax simply gave a nod and returned his attention to Luciano, feeding him a piece of bread, small gestures of intimacy that drew subtle, quiet glances from the table. The snide remarks had started a fire, but Luciano’s authority and Jax’s calm strength quelled it—at least for now.