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The 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 : 2025-01-20The Mafia's Nanny 138
138Gianna’s POVThe sound of Matteo’s laugh lingered in the air, softer now that the rain had eased up. I wasn’t sure how we’d gone from an awkward check-in mix-up to this—sitting cross-legged on the carpet in a hotel room, laughing over a game of cards like old friends. It felt…unusual. Disarming.I leaned back against the couch, watching as Matteo shuffled the deck with a confidence that bordered on cocky. The guy had been full of surprises this entire trip. He wasn’t just quick on his feet in meetings; he was adaptable in ways I hadn’t expected. That resourcefulness, paired with his natural charisma, made him someone you couldn’t easily ignore. Not that I’d admit that out loud.“Ready for another round?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.“You’ve won the last three. I’m starting to think you rigged this game.”He gasped, clutching his chest like I’d just accused him of a mortal sin. “Rigged? Me? Gianna, you wound me.”“Don’t be so dramatic.”“I’m Italian. Drama is in my blood.”I rolle
Last Updated : 2025-01-20The Mafia's Nanny 139
139Matteo’s POVThe sound of clinking glasses and soft jazz filled the quiet corner of the hotel bar. It had been another long day, but a good one. The deal had gone through smoothly, thanks in no small part to Gianna’s relentless determination. She had been on fire during the meeting, handling every curveball with grace and authority. Watching her work was like watching a maestro conduct an orchestra—it was hard not to be impressed.Now, sitting across from her, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. The usual edge in her posture was gone, her shoulders relaxed as she swirled the wine in her glass. She wasn’t smiling exactly, but her expression was softer, almost…peaceful.“To a successful meeting,” I said, raising my glass.Gianna hesitated for a moment before lifting hers. “To teamwork,” she replied, her lips curving into a faint smile.We clinked glasses, and I took a sip, savoring the warmth of the whiskey as it slid down my throat.“You know,” I said, leaning back in my cha
Last Updated : 2025-01-21The Mafia's Nanny 140
140Gianna’s POVThe morning sunlight filtering through the hotel curtains was entirely too bright, and for the first time in years, I regretted not packing an eye mask. My head throbbed faintly, and my body felt heavier than usual, like I hadn’t fully come back to myself yet.I shifted under the covers and froze.The sheets smelled faintly of Matteo’s cologne. My chest tightened as the memories of last night surged forward in a wave I couldn’t stop. The warmth of his hands on my skin. The way his lips had found mine like they’d belonged there all along. The soft rasp of his voice when he’d said my name like it meant something.Oh, God.I sat up quickly, clutching the sheet to my chest even though I was alone in the bed. Matteo wasn’t in the room, but the faint sound of water running told me he was in the shower.I pressed my palms to my face, trying to push away the flood of emotion. This couldn’t have happened. It shouldn’t have happened. Matteo was my employee. A colleague. Younger
Last Updated : 2025-01-21The Mafia's Nanny 141
141Matteo’s POVThe car ride to our next stop was the quietest it had been since we left the city. Usually, Gianna would have her tablet open, firing off quick questions or reminders about the day’s meetings, and I’d be making sarcastic comments just to see how far I could push her before she sighed in frustration.Today, though, she was quiet. Too quiet. She sat rigid in her seat, her focus glued to the tablet in her lap, even though she hadn’t scrolled through it in at least ten minutes.I tried not to take it personally, but I wasn’t an idiot. The icy wall she’d thrown up after that night in the hotel room was impossible to ignore. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Her face was calm, composed, like nothing could touch her.If only I could get her to look at me the way she had that night. Just once.“So,” I said, breaking the silence, “do you think the clients today will be as charming as yesterday’s?”She didn’t look up. “Unlikely,” she said flatly.I waited for more,
Last Updated : 2025-01-22The Mafia's Nanny 142
142Gianna’s POVI hated team-building exercises. They always felt like a waste of time—forced fun designed to foster camaraderie between people who would rather just get on with their jobs. Still, our client insisted, so there I was, sitting in a circle of chairs in the middle of a conference room with Matteo beside me, his usual smirk firmly in place.“So, we’re doing trust falls now?” Matteo leaned toward me, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “What’s next, singing campfire songs?”I shot him a look that could’ve withered a plant. “This is important to them,” I hissed. “Try to take it seriously.”He held up his hands in mock surrender, his smirk deepening. “I’m always serious. You just can’t tell because I hide it so well.”I shook my head, fighting the urge to smile. Matteo’s charm was relentless, and lately, I’d found it harder to stay immune to it. But I wasn’t about to let my guard down, not here, not now. Not anymore.The activity leader clapped their hands to get ev
Last Updated : 2025-01-22The Mafia's Nanny 143
143Matteo’s POVThe room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, save for the sound of Mr. Cavanaugh drumming his fingers against the polished conference table. His sour expression matched the tension in the air. The deal was slipping through our fingers, and Gianna was doing her best to salvage it, but even she seemed to be hitting a wall.“This wasn’t what we agreed upon,” Cavanaugh said, his tone clipped. “These terms are a joke, Miss Lorenzo.”Gianna, seated across from him, maintained her composure. “Mr. Cavanaugh, I assure you, the terms haven’t changed. We simply clarified the delivery schedule to ensure you’re not left waiting on product—”“That’s irrelevant,” he snapped, cutting her off. “What’s relevant is that your team didn’t communicate these ‘clarifications’ until now. It feels… slippery.”I glanced at Gianna, whose jaw tightened slightly, like a small crack in her otherwise impenetrable armor.“Mr. Cavanaugh,” I said, leaning forward slightly, “if I may?”Gianna shot m
Last Updated : 2025-01-23The Mafia's Nanny 144
144Gianna’s POV.I didn’t intend to be cold, just distant. The kind of distance that says, I’m over it without having to say it. That’s what I’d been aiming for with Matteo. Professional, cordial, efficient—nothing more.But Matteo has always had this infuriating way of slipping past boundaries every damn time, even when I set them with the precision of an architect. And today, apparently, he’d decided to bulldoze right through them.I eyed the cup of coffee that appeared in front of me. A cappuccino, just how I liked it—extra foam, light sprinkle of cocoa powder. I looked up, startled.Matteo was already settling into the chair across from me, his expression annoyingly unreadable.“Don’t look at me like I poisoned it,” he said, not even glancing my way as he pulled out his laptop.“I wasn’t—”“You were.” He finally looked up, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It’s coffee, Gianna. Not a bribe. Just… a gesture.”I frowned, unsure whether to thank him or call him out f
Last Updated : 2025-01-23
Latest chapter
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
