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The 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 : 2025-01-18The Mafia's Nanny 134
134Gianna’s POVThe day had been exhausting. Every meeting had been a test of patience and diplomacy, and the last client of the evening had pushed my composure to the brink with his endless demands and passive-aggressive remarks. By the time Matteo and I returned to the hotel, all I wanted was silence and a good glass of wine.I set my bag down on the desk with a heavy sigh, kicking off my heels. My toes throbbed in relief as I sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the back of my neck. Matteo, as usual, looked infuriatingly unfazed by the day. He leaned casually against the doorway, his tie slightly loosened but still in place, and his hair somehow managing to look better disheveled than it did neatly styled.“Tough crowd,” he said, his tone light but not mocking.“That’s one way to put it,” I replied, not looking up.He walked further into the room, his footsteps quiet on the carpet. “You’ve been carrying that tension all day. When’s the last time you had a real break?”I gave him a
Last Updated : 2025-01-18The Mafia's Nanny 135
135Matteo’s POVThe hum of Gianna’s laptop was the only sound in the room, save for the occasional rustle of papers as I flipped through reports. We’d agreed to use the evening to finalize everything for tomorrow’s meetings, but the silence between us was almost suffocating. Not awkward—Gianna was too self-assured for that—but dense, like the quiet demanded my respect.She sat cross-legged on the bed, her blazer discarded on the chair, leaving her in a crisp white shirt with sleeves rolled to her elbows. Her focus was absolute, her fingers flying across the keyboard as if her life depended on it. I, on the other hand, had finished my share of the work ten minutes ago and was trying to resist the urge to interrupt her.“Are you always this intense when you work?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.She didn’t look up. “Intense gets results.”“Fair enough. But do results always mean sacrificing your sense of humor?”That earned me a flick of her gaze. “My sense of humor is intact, t
Last Updated : 2025-01-19The Mafia's Nanny 136
136Gianna’s POVThe room buzzed with tension. The clients were seated around the long conference table, their expressions a mix of curiosity and expectation. I stood near the head of the table, trying to conceal my irritation. A last-minute technical hiccup had derailed our carefully crafted presentation slides, and the clock was ticking.Behind me, Matteo was hunched over the laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard as he tried to salvage the files. I had to admit, the fact that he was even attempting to fix it without panicking was impressive. Most people his age—or at his level—would’ve been floundering by now.“Any luck?” I whispered, keeping my voice low so the clients wouldn’t overhear.He didn’t look up. “Almost there. Give me two more minutes.”Two minutes. In business terms, that might as well have been two hours. I glanced at the clients again, offering a tight smile. “We appreciate your patience. Technology isn’t always our friend, but Matteo is working on it as we speak
Last Updated : 2025-01-19The Mafia's Nanny 137
137Matteo’s POVThe rain started as a drizzle, soft taps on the hotel window that I almost didn’t notice at first. But by the time I got back to our shared room, it had turned into a full-blown storm, complete with howling winds and the occasional flash of lightning. I shut the door behind me, brushing the water droplets off my jacket.“Well,” I said, glancing at Gianna, who was seated at the desk typing away on her laptop. “Looks like our dinner plans are out the window.”She didn’t even look up. “You could try ordering room service.”“I could,” I said, crossing the room and flopping onto the couch. “But where’s the fun in that? Half the point of this trip is exploring the local cuisine. I thought you’d be more upset.”“Rain happens,” she replied, her tone brisk and matter-of-fact. “No use sulking over it.”I stared at her, incredulous. “You can’t seriously tell me you’re content sitting in this room all evening.”She finally glanced up, arching an eyebrow. “And what would you sugge
Last Updated : 2025-01-20
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The Mafia's Nanny 208
208Emilia’s POVThe package sat on the dining table, wrapped in elegant gold paper and tied with a satin bow. Francesca bounced on her toes, her small frame radiating excitement.“Can I open it now, Emilia? Please?”I hesitated, glancing at the doorway where I knew Alaric would appear any moment. My stomach twisted at the thought of his reaction. This wasn’t just any gift—it was from Alonso.“Go ahead, sweetheart,” I said softly, smoothing down her curls. Francesca’s joy was infectious, and I couldn’t bear to ruin it for her.Her tiny fingers worked quickly to tear the paper, revealing a sleek black box. She opened it with a gasp, pulling out a beautiful, hand-carved wooden horse. The craftsmanship was impeccable, every detail perfect, from the delicate reins to the smooth finish of the wood.“It’s so pretty!” Francesca exclaimed, holding it up for me to see. “Look, Emilia! It’s like the ponies in my storybook!”I forced a smile, though my chest felt tight. “It’s beautiful, love. Do
The Mafia's Nanny 207
207Emilia’s POVAlaric paced the living room like a caged tiger, his hand raking through his hair as he muttered under his breath. I sat on the couch, my arms folded, trying to keep my own emotions in check. This had become a familiar scene since I’d returned from seeing Alonso, the air between us heavy with tension neither of us seemed willing—or able—to break.Finally, he stopped and turned to face me, his dark eyes blazing. “I don’t understand how you can even consider letting that man into your life after everything he’s done.”I took a deep breath, bracing myself. “It’s not about letting him in, Alaric. It’s about understanding where I came from, about finding some kind of peace with it.”“Peace?” he repeated, his voice sharp. “You think you’re going to find peace with a man like Alonso? He’s a manipulator, Emilia. He’ll say whatever he thinks you want to hear to worm his way into your good graces.”I stood, my frustration bubbling over. “Do you think I don’t know that? Do you t
The Mafia's Nanny 206
206Emilia’s POVI was seated across from Alonso in the dimly lit study of his villa, the journal clutched tightly in my hands. It felt strange to be here again, to look into the eyes of a man who had caused me so much pain and confusion, yet who claimed to have loved my birth mother more than life itself. He looked different today—not the powerful, untouchable mafia king, but a man weighed down by his own ghosts.“I found this,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt as I placed the journal on the polished wooden table between us. “It was my mother’s.”Alonso’s face softened, his gaze dropping to the worn leather cover. He didn’t reach for it. Instead, he leaned back, his expression shadowed with something I couldn’t quite name. Guilt? Pain? Regret?“She kept it hidden,” I continued. “But it paints a picture I’m not sure I can reconcile. She loved you, Alonso. That much is clear. But she was also afraid of you, afraid of what this life would do to her—and to me.”His shoulders sagged,
The Mafia's Nanny 205
205Emilia’s POVI sat at the edge of the couch, clutching my mother’s journal like it was my lifeline. It had this emotional weight to it that I hated, pressing against my chest like a phantom ache and making me feel suffocated. Alaric paced the room, his sharp movements punctuated by the occasional clenched fist. I’d just finished reading him the most damning entries, and the fire in his eyes made me question whether I should’ve shared them at all.“She loved him,” I said quietly, breaking the tense silence. “That much is clear. But she was scared, too. Scared of what his world meant for her—and for me.”Alaric stopped mid-step, turning to face me. His jaw tightened, and his eyes were colder than I’d seen them in a long time. “She was scared because Alonso dragged her into hell. He promised her safety, and instead, he handed her over to a life she couldn’t escape.”His words cut deep, and not because they were wrong. The journal painted a picture of a man who loved my mother but cou
The Mafia's Nanny 204
204Emilia’s POVThe late afternoon sunlight filtered through the wide windows of the library, casting golden patterns across the polished wood floor. My fingers brushed against the spine of an ancient leather-bound journal, its surface cracked and worn with time. I had found it tucked away in a small wooden chest Alonso had left in the room I was temporarily staying in—a chest I wasn’t supposed to open but couldn’t resist. I hadn’t even remembered about it until now.The name Inscribed on the cover made my breath catch. Isabella. My mother.I hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. I had spent weeks trying to piece together who she really was, struggling to separate the idyllic image I had as a child from the fragmented truth Alonso had given me. And now, here in my hands, was her voice—her thoughts, her fears, her love—all bound in a fragile relic of the past.My heart pounded as I flipped open the cover. The pages were filled with a delicate script, the ink faded b
The Mafia's Nanny 203
203Alaric’s POVThe meeting room was quiet except for the low hum of voices as my men debated logistics. Allesio stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed, the tension in his posture mirroring my own. I sat back in my chair, listening but not speaking, my fingers steepled as I processed the information.“They’ve been hitting our distribution routes near the docks,” Allesio said, his tone clipped. “Two shipments delayed this week alone. It’s not coincidence, Alaric.”My jaw tightened. “And you’re sure it’s the Santoros?”Allesio nodded. “As sure as I can be. The timing, the method—it fits their MO. They’re small-time, but they’re not stupid. They see the tension with Alonso and think it’s their chance to play kingmaker.”“Idiots,” I muttered, leaning forward. “They won’t survive stepping into this war.”“We could let them,” Allesio suggested. “Let them hit Alonso’s operations, stir up trouble on his end. It might even work in our favor.”“No,” I snapped, the finality in my voic
The Mafia's Nanny 202
202Alaric’s POVThe house was quiet, too quiet, as I sat in my office with a glass of whiskey that I hadn’t touched in over an hour. The amber liquid caught the dim light of the desk lamp, swirling lazily as if mocking my restless mind. Emilia was in the next room, probably pacing, possibly crying, but definitely not telling me everything she was thinking. That was the problem with her. She’d shoulder a world of burdens without letting anyone else carry even a fraction of the weight.And it was killing me.I heard the soft creak of the door opening, and when I looked up, there she was. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her face weary, but there was something very dull in her expression. She didn’t wait for me to invite her in—she rarely did these days. Instead, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.“Are you going to stand there all night?” I asked, my voice rougher than I intended.She crossed the room and sat in the chair ac
The Mafia's Nanny 201
201Emilia’s POVThe house was unusually quiet when I stepped through the front door, the familiar scent of leather and polished wood greeting me like an old friend. My body ached from the stress of the day, and my mind was still reeling from everything Alonso had said. But as my gaze swept the empty entryway, I felt a pang of longing—for the comfort of this home, for Francesca’s sweet voice, and, yes, even for Alaric’s brooding presence.I hadn’t even taken a step toward the living room when I heard the unmistakable sound of Francesca’s laughter floating down the hallway. It was light and unburdened, and it felt like a balm on my frayed nerves.I followed it, my footsteps soft against the tiled floor, and found them in the sunroom. Francesca was perched on Alaric’s lap, her tiny hands clutching one of his much larger ones as she giggled at something he’d said. Alaric, for his part, looked almost relaxed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.The sight made my heart twist
The Mafia's Nanny 200
200Emilia’s POVThe air inside the car felt heavy and suffocating as though the stupidity of my decision pressed down on every passenger. The convoy surrounding us—a caravan of SUVs loaded with Alaric’s men—only heightened my anxiety. Outside the tinted windows, the world passed by in muted colors, but my focus was on the knot in my stomach that tightened with every passing second.“I still think this is a mistake,” Alaric’s voice crackled through the small earpiece I wore, his tone as sharp as the blade he always carried.“I know,” I replied quietly, glancing at the driver, who kept his eyes locked on the road. “But I need to do this.”He sighed audibly. “We’ll be right outside. If anything feels wrong, anything at all—”“I know,” I interrupted. “You’ll storm the place. Just… trust me, Alaric.”The line went quiet, but I could sense his frustration. He hated this, hated the idea of me walking into Alonso’s villa even with his men stationed at every entrance and exit. Still, he’d agr
