☆Chapter 11: The Million-Dollar Bargain☆

Lorenzo De Luca prided himself on being untouchable.

A king who controlled everything from the shadows.

But even kings had enemies.

And Lorenzo's greatest enemies…

Lived under his own roof.

☆☆☆

"Checkmate."

Don De Luca's gaze narrowed as he stared at the chessboard.

Across from him, Seraphina, his tiny menace of a granddaughter, was grinning like the devil.

"Again."

Seraphina tilted her head, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Sir…" She dragged out the word, her lips curling into a sweet smile.

"You're losing."

Don De Luca froze.

Don Vincenzo's cold, unforgiving blood ran through Seraphina's veins…

But her mind?

That was all her.

"Best two out of three."

Seraphina blinked innocently.

"We've already played six rounds, sir."

"One more."

Seraphina's grin widened.

"For how much?"

Don De Luca paused.

"How much do you want?"

Seraphina's eyes gleamed.

And the bargain begins

"Ten million."

Don De Luca blinked.

"Lira?"

Seraphina tilted her head.

"Dollars."

Silence.

Don De Luca…

Laughed.

A deep, rich, belly laugh that echoed through the study.

"You drive a hard bargain, bambina."

Seraphina smiled sweetly.

"You taught me well."

"Hmm." Don De Luca stroked his chin. "And what do I get in return?"

Seraphina's grin widened.

"I'll call you Nonno."

Don De Luca froze.

Lorenzo had spent months trying to get Seraphina to stop calling him 'sir.'

And here she was—

Selling her approval for ten million dollars.

"Nonno."

Don De Luca repeated the word softly, as if savoring the sound.

"I like it."

Seraphina leaned back, her confidence practically radiating.

"Deal?"

Don De Luca's eyes gleamed.

"Deal."

☆☆☆

"You're serious?"

Lorenzo's cold voice echoed through the study as Don De Luca signed the transfer papers.

"Ten million dollars."

"She negotiated well."

Lorenzo's jaw clenched.

"For a name?"

"For family approval."

Lorenzo exhaled slowly.

"She extorted you."

"And I paid willingly." Don De Luca's grin was far too pleased.

"I finally have my Nonno."

Lorenzo's eye twitched violently.

"You're both insane."

☆☆☆

The next day, Seraphina was glued to Don De Luca's side.

"Nonno, what's that?"

"Poker."

"Teach me."

Don De Luca blinked.

"You want to learn?"

Seraphina nodded, her eyes gleaming with dangerous curiosity.

Don De Luca leaned back, his grin widening.

"Alright, bambina."

☆☆☆

Within two hours…

"Royal flush."

Don De Luca froze.

Again.

Seraphina's tiny hands revealed the perfect set of cards, her face a mask of innocence.

"You cheated."

Seraphina blinked.

"I didn't."

Don De Luca's lips twitched.

"Double or nothing."

Seraphina tilted her head.

"Make it twenty."

Don De Luca's eyes narrowed.

"You're learning too fast."

"You're teaching too well."

Don De Luca laughed again, his chest rumbling with pride.

"You really are a De Luca."

Seraphina beamed.

☆☆☆

By the end of the week…

Lorenzo was losing his mind.

"Royal flush."

Lorenzo stared.

Again.

Seraphina grinned sweetly from across the poker table.

Beside her, Don De Luca was beaming with pride.

"She's a natural, Lorenzo."

Lorenzo's jaw clenched.

"Where did she learn this?"

Seraphina's smile was far too innocent.

"Nonno taught me."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"Nonno."

Don De Luca smirked.

"Ten million well spent."

Lorenzo…

Was going to kill someone.

☆☆☆

Lorenzo's worst nightmare, and it got worse.

Seraphina and Don De Luca were now inseparable.

Poker.

Chess.

Roulette.

And somehow—

Gambling on who could make Lorenzo lose his mind faster.

☆☆☆

"What's next?"

Seraphina tilted her head, counting the poker chips in her hands.

"Horse racing?"

Don De Luca's grin widened.

"I like the way you think, bambina."

Lorenzo's cold gaze swept across the room.

"Enough."

Seraphina and Don De Luca froze.

Lorenzo's tone was deadly.

"You're both grounded."

Don De Luca blinked.

"I'm fifty-two."

"Grounded."

Seraphina's jaw dropped.

"Again?!"

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"Indefinitely."

Seraphina blinked once.

Then, her lips twitched.

"Double or nothing?"

Lorenzo's eye twitched violently.

"Out."

☆☆☆

As they left the room—laughing, no less—

Lorenzo pinched the bridge of his nose.

He was losing.

To a child.

And a senile old man.

"Damn them both."