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2025-02-03 12:29:17
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The Mafia's Nanny 167
167Gianna’s POVI wasn’t sure when the shift began—when Matteo’s steady presence stopped feeling like a burden I had to bear and started to feel like something I relied on. But as I sat in my office, staring at the flowers someone had sent over after a successful deal, the thought hit me like a punch to the chest.He’d been patient. Too patient, if I were honest.I pushed back my chair and stood, pacing the length of the office. The blooms on my desk taunted me, bright and celebratory. They were from a client, a token of gratitude for all the work I’d done to close a deal. But the truth was, Matteo had done just as much.More, maybe. Truth be told, he was the one who closed the deal. I was just the figurehead.A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, straightening my blazer as though that would help.Matteo stepped inside, a folder in his hand. His sleeves were rolled up, and his tie was just slightly askew, the kind of imperfection that felt deliberate.“B
Last Updated : 2025-02-04The Mafia's Nanny 168
168Gianna’s POVWorkplace events were always a mix of formal pleasantries and carefully managed chaos. I wasn’t a fan, but as the CEO, my presence was expected—necessary even. Tonight was no different. The annual awards gala was in full swing, and the ballroom buzzed with polite laughter, the clinking of glasses, and a low hum of music.I stood near the bar, a glass of champagne in my hand, scanning the room. My employees were mingling, laughing, and probably discussing things they thought I wouldn’t approve of. It was fine. They’d earned it anyways. If I was still working with them, I’d be doing the same.“Enjoying yourself?”The voice came from behind me, and I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Matteo. His voice always carried a certain calm confidence, like he belonged wherever he chose to stand. I rolled my eyes but smiled still. I was really getting comfortable with him appearing wherever I was these days.“Is anyone ever really enjoying themselves at these things?” I re
Last Updated : 2025-02-04The Mafia's Nanny 169
169 Gianna’s POV The noise of my heels echoed softly in the quiet hallway outside my office. It was late, past the time any sane person would still be at work, but here I was, clutching a folder like it was some kind of shield against what I was about to do. It was obvious I wasn’t a sane person, or I’d be at home right now, sleeping like I should. Good lord. It wasn’t like I wasn’t exhausted.I stopped in front of Matteo’s office door, staring at it like it might suddenly grow teeth and bite me. The soft glow of light seeped through the crack under the door, proof that he was still inside. Of course he was. Matteo was nothing if not relentless when it came to his work—or, as I was beginning to admit, when it came to me.I raised my hand to knock but hesitated. What was I even going to say? How did you casually admit to someone that they’d somehow taken up residence in your thoughts, dismantling all your carefully built defenses without permission?How do I admit to him that sometim
Last Updated : 2025-02-05The Mafia's Nanny 170
170Emilia’s POVThe early morning sunlight streamed through the bedroom windows, giving the room a beautiful golden hue. I blinked awake slowly, my eyes adjusting to the light, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. Then I turned my head and saw him. Alaric was still asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful in a way I didn’t often see.His hand rested just inches away from mine on the rumpled sheets, and I couldn’t resist the small smile tugging at my lips. I shifted slightly, trying not to disturb him, but the movement must have been enough because his eyes fluttered open.“Good morning,” he said, his voice husky and still thick with sleep.“Morning,” I replied softly, suddenly aware of how close we were.This felt different. Easier. There wasn’t the usual tension or hesitance that seemed to hover around us after nights like this. Now, lying here beside him, it felt natural, as though we belonged in this quiet moment.He propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze lingering on me like h
Last Updated : 2025-02-05The Mafia's Nanny 171
171Emilia’s POVThe soft crunch of gravel beneath our shoes seemed to be the only sound as we strolled through the quiet park. It was one of those rare, clear nights where the stars seemed to spill endlessly across the sky, their light reflecting in the calm water of the small lake nearby. Alaric walked beside me, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his posture relaxed in a way I wasn’t used to seeing.He wasn’t barking orders or strategizing with his men. There was no tension in his jaw, no furrow in his brow. Tonight, he wasn’t the commanding, calculating man I’d come to know. He was just Alaric.The realization made me smile softly to myself, though I quickly glanced away when he caught me looking at him.“What’s so amusing?” he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.“Nothing,” I said quickly, though I could feel the heat creeping up my neck.He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk. “You’re a terrible liar.”I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “Fine. I
Last Updated : 2025-02-06The Mafia's Nanny 172
172Alaric’s POVThe park was quiet except for the rhythmic crunch of leaves beneath our feet. The night wrapped around us, the cool air bristling against my skin as I walked beside her. Emilia. She’d said it moments ago—I love you—and the words had settled into my chest like stones in a still lake, rippling outward and disrupting everything I thought I understood.She walked a step ahead of me, her arms crossed as though bracing against the cold, or perhaps my sudden silence. Her confession had come so unexpectedly, it had left me reeling. I wasn’t a man who dealt in emotions; control was my currency. But this woman? She unraveled me in ways I didn’t have the words for.“You’re thinking too hard again,” she teased gently. “I can almost hear the wheels turning in your head.”I smirked, the heaviness in my chest lifting slightly. “Maybe I’m just trying to figure out how you can be so patient with me. I’m not exactly easy.”She tilted her head, pretending to consider. “Oh, you’re not. D
Last Updated : 2025-02-06The Mafia's Nanny 173
173Alaric’s POVThe coppery tang of blood filled the air, sharp and unrelenting. My head rested against the steering wheel, every breath labored, each second dragging me closer to unconsciousness. The dashboard lights blurred in and out of focus, but the only thing I could see was Emilia’s face—terrified, pleading—as they dragged her away. The way she screamed for me and tried to fight back, yet I couldn’t help her. I couldn’t fight for her. My barely beating heart shattered into a thousand and one pieces, molded itself back only to shatter again. And the cycle kept repeating itself.I barely heard the sound of pounding footsteps over the roaring in my ears. Then the driver’s side door wrenched open, and a voice cut through the haze.“Alaric! What the hell happened?” Allesio’s face swam into view, his usually calm expression replaced with panic.I tried to speak, but my mouth was dry, and my throat felt like it had been sandpapered. All I could manage was a croak: “Emilia.”“Shit,” A
Last Updated : 2025-02-07The Mafia's Nanny 174
174Emilia’s POVThe van’s interior smelled like sweat and stale cigarettes, an oppressive mix that churned my stomach. My hands, bound tightly behind me with rough rope, ached, and the gag they’d stuffed into my mouth earlier left my lips dry and cracked. They had removed it after they transferred me from the SUV into a van decided I was “safe enough” to keep quiet. Safe. I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.I shifted against the hard metal floor, the cold seeping through my clothes, and tried to steady my breath. My heart hammered in my chest, loud enough that I thought they might hear it over the growl of the engine. The men sat in the front seats, talking low enough that I could only catch snippets of their conversation. Fear bubbled up in my throat as I found my voice.“Please,” I said, my voice trembling. “Please, let me go. You’ve made a mistake—I’m no one important. You don’t need me.”The man in the passenger seat, a wiry guy with greasy hair who reeked of tobacco, glance
Last Updated : 2025-02-07
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The Mafia's Nanny 174
174Emilia’s POVThe van’s interior smelled like sweat and stale cigarettes, an oppressive mix that churned my stomach. My hands, bound tightly behind me with rough rope, ached, and the gag they’d stuffed into my mouth earlier left my lips dry and cracked. They had removed it after they transferred me from the SUV into a van decided I was “safe enough” to keep quiet. Safe. I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.I shifted against the hard metal floor, the cold seeping through my clothes, and tried to steady my breath. My heart hammered in my chest, loud enough that I thought they might hear it over the growl of the engine. The men sat in the front seats, talking low enough that I could only catch snippets of their conversation. Fear bubbled up in my throat as I found my voice.“Please,” I said, my voice trembling. “Please, let me go. You’ve made a mistake—I’m no one important. You don’t need me.”The man in the passenger seat, a wiry guy with greasy hair who reeked of tobacco, glance
The Mafia's Nanny 173
173Alaric’s POVThe coppery tang of blood filled the air, sharp and unrelenting. My head rested against the steering wheel, every breath labored, each second dragging me closer to unconsciousness. The dashboard lights blurred in and out of focus, but the only thing I could see was Emilia’s face—terrified, pleading—as they dragged her away. The way she screamed for me and tried to fight back, yet I couldn’t help her. I couldn’t fight for her. My barely beating heart shattered into a thousand and one pieces, molded itself back only to shatter again. And the cycle kept repeating itself.I barely heard the sound of pounding footsteps over the roaring in my ears. Then the driver’s side door wrenched open, and a voice cut through the haze.“Alaric! What the hell happened?” Allesio’s face swam into view, his usually calm expression replaced with panic.I tried to speak, but my mouth was dry, and my throat felt like it had been sandpapered. All I could manage was a croak: “Emilia.”“Shit,” A
The Mafia's Nanny 172
172Alaric’s POVThe park was quiet except for the rhythmic crunch of leaves beneath our feet. The night wrapped around us, the cool air bristling against my skin as I walked beside her. Emilia. She’d said it moments ago—I love you—and the words had settled into my chest like stones in a still lake, rippling outward and disrupting everything I thought I understood.She walked a step ahead of me, her arms crossed as though bracing against the cold, or perhaps my sudden silence. Her confession had come so unexpectedly, it had left me reeling. I wasn’t a man who dealt in emotions; control was my currency. But this woman? She unraveled me in ways I didn’t have the words for.“You’re thinking too hard again,” she teased gently. “I can almost hear the wheels turning in your head.”I smirked, the heaviness in my chest lifting slightly. “Maybe I’m just trying to figure out how you can be so patient with me. I’m not exactly easy.”She tilted her head, pretending to consider. “Oh, you’re not. D
The Mafia's Nanny 171
171Emilia’s POVThe soft crunch of gravel beneath our shoes seemed to be the only sound as we strolled through the quiet park. It was one of those rare, clear nights where the stars seemed to spill endlessly across the sky, their light reflecting in the calm water of the small lake nearby. Alaric walked beside me, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his posture relaxed in a way I wasn’t used to seeing.He wasn’t barking orders or strategizing with his men. There was no tension in his jaw, no furrow in his brow. Tonight, he wasn’t the commanding, calculating man I’d come to know. He was just Alaric.The realization made me smile softly to myself, though I quickly glanced away when he caught me looking at him.“What’s so amusing?” he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.“Nothing,” I said quickly, though I could feel the heat creeping up my neck.He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk. “You’re a terrible liar.”I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “Fine. I
The Mafia's Nanny 170
170Emilia’s POVThe early morning sunlight streamed through the bedroom windows, giving the room a beautiful golden hue. I blinked awake slowly, my eyes adjusting to the light, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. Then I turned my head and saw him. Alaric was still asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful in a way I didn’t often see.His hand rested just inches away from mine on the rumpled sheets, and I couldn’t resist the small smile tugging at my lips. I shifted slightly, trying not to disturb him, but the movement must have been enough because his eyes fluttered open.“Good morning,” he said, his voice husky and still thick with sleep.“Morning,” I replied softly, suddenly aware of how close we were.This felt different. Easier. There wasn’t the usual tension or hesitance that seemed to hover around us after nights like this. Now, lying here beside him, it felt natural, as though we belonged in this quiet moment.He propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze lingering on me like h
The Mafia's Nanny 169
169 Gianna’s POV The noise of my heels echoed softly in the quiet hallway outside my office. It was late, past the time any sane person would still be at work, but here I was, clutching a folder like it was some kind of shield against what I was about to do. It was obvious I wasn’t a sane person, or I’d be at home right now, sleeping like I should. Good lord. It wasn’t like I wasn’t exhausted.I stopped in front of Matteo’s office door, staring at it like it might suddenly grow teeth and bite me. The soft glow of light seeped through the crack under the door, proof that he was still inside. Of course he was. Matteo was nothing if not relentless when it came to his work—or, as I was beginning to admit, when it came to me.I raised my hand to knock but hesitated. What was I even going to say? How did you casually admit to someone that they’d somehow taken up residence in your thoughts, dismantling all your carefully built defenses without permission?How do I admit to him that sometim
The Mafia's Nanny 168
168Gianna’s POVWorkplace events were always a mix of formal pleasantries and carefully managed chaos. I wasn’t a fan, but as the CEO, my presence was expected—necessary even. Tonight was no different. The annual awards gala was in full swing, and the ballroom buzzed with polite laughter, the clinking of glasses, and a low hum of music.I stood near the bar, a glass of champagne in my hand, scanning the room. My employees were mingling, laughing, and probably discussing things they thought I wouldn’t approve of. It was fine. They’d earned it anyways. If I was still working with them, I’d be doing the same.“Enjoying yourself?”The voice came from behind me, and I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Matteo. His voice always carried a certain calm confidence, like he belonged wherever he chose to stand. I rolled my eyes but smiled still. I was really getting comfortable with him appearing wherever I was these days.“Is anyone ever really enjoying themselves at these things?” I re
The Mafia's Nanny 167
167Gianna’s POVI wasn’t sure when the shift began—when Matteo’s steady presence stopped feeling like a burden I had to bear and started to feel like something I relied on. But as I sat in my office, staring at the flowers someone had sent over after a successful deal, the thought hit me like a punch to the chest.He’d been patient. Too patient, if I were honest.I pushed back my chair and stood, pacing the length of the office. The blooms on my desk taunted me, bright and celebratory. They were from a client, a token of gratitude for all the work I’d done to close a deal. But the truth was, Matteo had done just as much.More, maybe. Truth be told, he was the one who closed the deal. I was just the figurehead.A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, straightening my blazer as though that would help.Matteo stepped inside, a folder in his hand. His sleeves were rolled up, and his tie was just slightly askew, the kind of imperfection that felt deliberate.“B
The Mafia's Nanny 166
166Gianna’s POVI thought space would help. I really really thought it would.When I noticed Matteo was keeping his distance again, I told myself it was what I needed. Time to clear my head, to focus on work, to push aside the ridiculous feelings that had been creeping in no matter how much I fought them. It was easier to breathe when he wasn’t hovering nearby, his presence a constant reminder of everything I wasn’t ready to deal with.But space didn’t help.Instead, it felt like something vital had been ripped away.I didn’t notice it right away. The first day, I told myself it was a relief when he didn’t come by my office with his usual wry remarks about my overpacked schedule. The second day, I convinced myself it was just coincidence that he hadn’t found a reason to stop by my desk.By the end of the week, I couldn’t deny it anymore. Matteo was pulling back.And I hated it.It wasn’t obvious, not to anyone else. He was still professional, still efficient, still the Matteo who cou
