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The Mafia's Nanny 126
126Allesio’s POV Rosa sat across from me in the library, on the leather sofa, her legs curled under her, a glass of whiskey in her hand. The amber liquid caught the dim light, glowing faintly as she turned it in slow circles. Her hair was loose tonight, falling in soft waves over her shoulders, and the sharpness that usually defined her was muted. Relaxed. Open.Too open.“Do you know why my family has lasted this long?” she asked, her voice steady but low, as if she were letting me in on a secret she hadn’t fully decided I was worthy of yet.I tilted my head, playing the part of the attentive confidant. “I’d guess it has something to do with you.”She smiled, faint and fleeting, then shook her head. “My father, actually. He’s… ruthless in ways most people can’t even begin to understand.”It was the first time she’d spoken about him in such candid terms. Usually, she referenced him in passing, as a force to be respected and feared but rarely dissected. This was new, and I knew bette
Last Updated : 2025-01-14The Mafia's Nanny 127
127Matteo’s POV I laid on my bed, ignoring the fact that I had to be at work in about an hour and thirty minutes, and my boss wouldn’t take it easy on me if I come in even a minute late.Resting my legs on the wall, I picked up my phone and began dialing my big sister. While I waited for it to ring, I got up from the bed, slid my legs into my shoes and walked to the kitchen. The phone rang twice before Emilia picked up, her voice sharp and worried. “What’s going on, Matteo?”“Hello to you too, Em,” I said, leaning against the kitchen counter. My apartment was quiet, the kind of quiet that reminded me I lived alone and worked too much these days. “Can’t I just call my big sister to check in?”She snorted, loud enough for me to hear over the line. “Check in? You? You’re either calling because you’re bored or you need something. Which is it?”I smiled despite myself. She knew me too well. “You wound me. I was just calling to say hello.”“Sure, you were,” she said, dry as ever. “Alright
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Mafia's Nanny 128
128Gianna’s POVThe conference room was too quiet. The kind of quiet that didn’t suit Matteo Abramo. Normally, he’d be cracking a joke by now, leaning back in his chair as if the weight of the world—or the company’s reputation—was something he could charm his way out of.But this morning? Silence. It made me uneasy.I scanned the table where my team was seated. Reports spread out like a battlefield, coffee cups half-empty, and a faint tension lingering in the air. Matteo sat at the far end, fidgeting with his pen. He caught my glance and gave me a grin that was almost disarming. Almost.“Alright,” I said, clasping my hands together. “Let’s get started. Matteo, do you have the client brief ready?”He straightened up, pushing the pen aside, and reached for his laptop. “Yep. It’s all here.”“Good.” I didn’t miss the slight edge of uncertainty in his voice. “Let’s see it.”He projected his screen onto the conference room wall, and I stood, moving closer to the screen as he began his pres
Last Updated : 2025-01-15The Mafia's Nanny 129
129Matteo’s POV. The train rocked gently as it sped through the countryside, the rhythmic clatter of the wheels against the tracks almost soothing. Almost. If it weren’t for the looming pressure of the deal we were chasing, I might have actually enjoyed the ride.Gianna Lorenzo sat across from me, her laptop open, her eyes flicking between the screen and the papers she’d spread out like a fortress around her. She hadn’t said more than a handful of words since we boarded, and those were all business-related.I shifted in my seat, clearing my throat. “You know, I’ve read that working too hard can cause premature wrinkles.”Her eyes didn’t leave the screen. “I’ll take my chances, thanks.”I grinned, leaning back in my seat. “I’m just saying, a little small talk never hurt anyone. We’re going to be stuck together for two weeks. Might as well get comfortable.”Now she looked up, arching an eyebrow. “Comfortable? We’re not on a vacation, Matteo. This trip is about closing deals, not bondi
Last Updated : 2025-01-16The Mafia's Nanny 130
130Gianna’s POVBy the time we reached out hostel in Cleveland, I was more than ready to collapse. The day had been a whirlwind of planes, calls, and emails, and Matteo’s constant stream of chatter had frayed my patience. He wasn’t unpleasant, exactly. He just had this way of filling every silence with a comment, a joke, or a question. Charming, sure, but exhausting.The front desk was brightly lit, staffed by a young woman with a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Matteo lingered a step behind me, looking around the lobby as if he’d never seen one before.I approached the desk, pulling out my phone. “Hi, checking in. Reservation under Lorenzo.”The receptionist’s fingers clattered across the keyboard. “Lorenzo… let me see here.” Her smile faltered.“Something wrong?” I asked, already dreading her answer.“It seems there’s been a mistake,” she said hesitantly. “We only have one room available under your reservation. A single king bed.”I blinked. “What?”“I’m so sorry. Th
Last Updated : 2025-01-16The Mafia's Nanny 131
131Matteo’s POVWe walked into the hotel Gianna had booked for us here in Cleveland. It wasn’t particularly grand, but it was okay at least. Gianna looked obviously worn out, like she was about to faint or something like that. I stood next to her, leaning against the counter and looking around.The front desk was brightly lit, staffed by a young woman with a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Hi, checking in. Reservation under Lorenzo.” Gianna pulled out her phone, not bothering to even smile at the woman.The receptionist’s fingers clattered across the keyboard. “Lorenzo… let me see here.” Her smile faltered.“Something wrong?” Gianna asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.“It seems there’s been a mistake,” the receptionist said hesitantly. “We only have one room available under your reservation. A single king bed.”I scoffed.“What?” Gianna screeched.“I’m so sorry. The booking system must have—”“Fix it,” Gianna interrupted, her tone sharp. “We need two rooms.”“I unders
Last Updated : 2025-01-17The Mafia's Nanny 132
132Gianna’s POVThe first meeting of the day was supposed to be straightforward—key word: supposed. I’d reviewed the client file twice this morning, ensuring we were prepared for every potential question or snag. But as usual, things weren’t going as planned.“Ms. Lorenzo, I don’t think this partnership benefits us as much as it does you,” Mr. Caldwell, the regional director of our potential partner, said, leaning back in his chair. His tone was smug, almost amused, as if he’d been waiting to drop that line since we walked in.I resisted the urge to sigh. Of course, he wanted to play hardball. “Mr. Caldwell, I understand your concerns,” I said evenly. “But if you’ll review the projections we’ve provided, you’ll see that the growth opportunity is mutual. Our infrastructure would support your expansion plans—at no additional cost to you.”He glanced at the papers in front of him, not even bothering to hide his disinterest. “Projections are just numbers, Ms. Lorenzo. Numbers can be… man
Last Updated : 2025-01-17The Mafia's Nanny 133
133Matteo’s POVI leaned against the armrest of the couch in our hotel room, flipping through my phone without really paying attention to the screen. Gianna was at the desk, typing away on her laptop like the day hadn’t been a marathon of negotiations and mental gymnastics.I didn’t know how she did it. Most people would be sprawled out on the bed, face-planted into a pillow, or binge-watching a mindless show after the day we’d had. But Gianna? She was a machine. She hadn’t so much as kicked off her heels.“You ever stop working?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.She didn’t look up. “You ever stop talking?”I smirked. “Touché. But seriously, Gianna, it’s nine at night. Don’t you think you’ve earned a break?”“I’ll take a break when the work is done,” she said, her fingers not pausing for a second.I let out a low whistle. “You’re going to burn out at this rate.”“No one ever got ahead by taking it easy,” she shot back, her voice clipped but not harsh.I watched her for a moment
Last Updated : 2025-01-18
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The Mafia's Nanny 268
268Allesio’s POVI stood there, frozen in place, as Alaric’s anger washed over me like a tidal wave. His words hit hard, each one sinking deeper than the last. I had been trying so hard to keep my head above water, but now everything I had been avoiding came crashing down.He didn’t say anything right now, just stood there, his jaw clenched, eyes dark with frustration. He was waiting for me to speak, but I couldn’t. My mind was spinning, tangled in the web of lies and omissions I had spun.Finally, he broke the silence, his voice low but lethal. “So this whole time, you’ve been holding back? You’ve known what happened to Dominic, and you didn’t say a word?”I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Alaric, I—”“Don’t,” he cut me off sharply. “Don’t give me some excuse. I asked you to get close to Rosa and get information. You promised me you’d find the truth. And now you’re telling me you knew it all along and kept it from me?”I opened my mouth again, but the words caught in my throat. Ther
The Mafia's Nanny 267
267Allesio’s POVThe buzz of the conversation around me faded as I stared blankly ahead, the voices becoming a dull hum. Alaric was talking about something—some issue with the Cruz family, I think—but it didn’t matter. His words blurred into the background. My mind was somewhere else entirely, a place I didn’t want to go but couldn’t stop myself from falling into.I clenched my fists under the table, the memory creeping in like an unwelcome guest.“You’re awfully quiet,” Alaric said, glancing at me as he tried to balance Francesca on his lap. She was squirming, reaching for the pen he’d set down on the table a moment earlier.“I’m listening,” I replied, my voice rough as I dragged myself back to the present.“You don’t look like you are,” Alaric muttered, handing Francesca the pen in defeat. She giggled, immediately starting to scribble nonsense on the notepad in front of her.“Sorry,” I said, exhaling sharply. “What were you saying?”“The Cruz family,” Alaric said, his tone sharp, t
The Mafia's Nanny 266
266Allesio’s POVIt had been a week since I made that promise to Rosa. Since I promised her that I won’t tell Alaric. And each day felt like a weight pressing down harder on my chest. The guilt of keeping the secret, the guilt of betraying Alaric, was gnawing at me, and I couldn’t escape it. The promise I’d made to her—I won’t tell Alaric, I won’t tell anyone—had started to feel less like a vow and more like a cage I couldn’t break out of.I spent more time at the mansion than her condo now, hoping to bury my thoughts under the grind of work. I told myself that keeping my focus on Alaric, on what I owed him, would keep my head straight. But every time I looked at him, every time I saw his face, the guilt flared up again. It didn’t matter that Rosa was the one I loved. I had a duty to Alaric that I couldn’t ignore, no matter how much my heart pulled me in the other direction.This war with myself—loyalty versus love—was eating away at me.I had just stepped off the elevator when I bum
The Mafia's Nanny 265
265Rosa’s POVIt was late when Allesio finally came back into to the condo. The air between us wasn’t just tense—it felt fragile, like a glass already cracked and on the verge of shattering. But this time, it wasn’t about the Cruz family or Dominic’s death. Something else weighed on him.“Allesio?” I called softly, setting my book down on the nightstand. He paused in the doorway, his hand resting on the frame like it was the only thing holding him up.“Rosa.” His voice was low, almost hoarse, and I knew whatever he was carrying wasn’t just another argument waiting to happen.I stood, crossing the room until I was close enough to see the faint lines of worry etched on his face. “What is it?”He hesitated, his eyes searching mine. “There’s trouble at the docks.”My stomach clenched. “Again?” I breathed out.“Yes. Again,” he murmured in reply.“What happened?” I asked.“Alaric got word that a shipment went missing. Weapons, high-grade. Some of the guys think it’s a setup.” His jaw tight
The Mafia's Nanny 264
264Allesio’s POV.“You’re lying to yourself, Allesio. And it’s going to destroy you.”Rosa’s voice cut through the heavy silence like a blade, sharp and deliberate. I looked up from the glass in my hand, the amber liquid trembling slightly as I set it down. Her words hung in the air, daring me to respond, but for a moment, I didn’t. I couldn’t.Instead, I leaned back against the chair, exhaling slowly. “What am I supposed to say to that?” I muttered, my tone edged with exhaustion. “You want me to admit you’re right? That I’m falling apart? That I don’t have the first clue how to fix any of this?”“I want you to stop pretending you can carry all of it alone.” Rosa crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. “Because you can’t. And if you don’t realize that soon, it’ll cost us everything.”I ran a hand through my hair, the frustration boiling over. “And what exactly do you suggest, huh? Just tell Alaric the truth and hope he doesn’t tear the world apart looking for revenge? Because that’s exa
The Mafia's Nanny 263
263Allesio’s POVI felt like I was losing my grip on reality. Every time I saw Rosa, it was like the walls were closing in. Her confession still hung over me like a storm cloud, and no matter how much I tried to shake it, the weight wouldn’t lift. The guilt wasn’t just about keeping secrets from Alaric—it was the deeper betrayal I couldn’t even admit to myself. The tangled mess of Dominic’s death, the Cruz family, and Rosa’s insistence on her and her family’s innocence had my head spinning.The worst part? I wasn’t sure if Alaric had picked up on it yet. If he hadn’t picked up on it that I already knew and I was hiding it. He wasn’t blind, and he definitely wasn’t stupid. The man could read me like a book on my best day, and I wasn’t even pretending well anymore.I couldn’t avoid him forever, though. I was in his office, and the air felt even more suffocating than usual. He was flipping through some papers at the scattered on the table, his focus seemingly on anything but me.Meanwhi
The Mafia's Nanny 262
262Allesio’s POV“Do you ever think about how things might’ve been if Dominic were still alive?” I asked, my tone casual, though my heart thudded heavily in my chest. I was at Rosa’s condo today too. It was where I was spending most of my free time now. And I decided that I wanted to know everything today. Maybe, just maybe she doesn’t know anything and I don’t have to choose between her and Alaric.She raised a brow, giving me a somewhat confused look. “Dominic?”“Alaric’s brother. Do you think if Dominic was still alive, Alaric would have been a better man than he is now?” I asked her, observing her intently. “Do you ever think about how things might have been I’d Dominic were still alive?”Rosa froze for a moment, her glass hovering mid-air. “That’s a loaded question, Allesio.”I shrugged, keeping my gaze steady. “Is it? Alaric does. A lot. He doesn’t say it, but I know he’s still haunted by it.”Her eyes flicked to mine, wide and uncertain. “Haunted how?”“Like he’s carrying some
The Mafia's Nanny 261
261Allesio’s POVSecrets have a way of sinking into your bones, of twisting around your every thought like a barbed wire. No matter how much I tried to focus on the present, the weight of the decision I’d made not to share Rosa’s information with Alaric clawed at me.It wasn’t like I didn’t understand the stakes. Alaric and I had been through enough together for me to know how he operated. Loyalty wasn’t just a requirement in our world—it was the lifeline that kept you breathing. And yet, I chose Rosa.It wasn’t a decision I’d made lightly, but every time I thought about the way her eyes brightened whenever she saw me, I knew I couldn’t throw her into Alaric’s crosshairs. Not when she trusted me.Alaric was already seated in the dimly lit bar when I arrived, a whiskey glass in his hand and an air of impatience hovering around him.“You’re late,” he said, his eyes cutting toward me as I slid into the seat across from him.“Traffic,” I lied smoothly, signaling the bartender for a drink
The Mafia's Nanny 260
260Rosa’s POV.The afternoon sunlight was warm on my face as Allesio and I walked back to the apartment. The day had been full of small joys—ice cream, bookshops, and just the comfort of him being with me, but something was very off about him. It was just too obvious. And it had been for a few weeks now and I couldn’t figure out what the issue was.Allesio wasn’t himself.Sure, he laughed at my jokes and indulged me when I dragged him into yet another store to look at scarves or quirky trinkets. He held my hand and kissed my temple like always, but there was a distance in his eyes. It was like his mind was somewhere else, wrestling with something I couldn’t see.“Are you okay?” I asked again, keeping my tone light as we climbed into the elevator lifting us up to our apartment. I just couldn’t let it sit still, seeing him so obviously bothered.“Yeah,” he said quickly, a little too quickly.I let it slide, but my curiosity sharpened. This wasn’t the first time I’d felt him pulling awa
