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2025-03-20 12:19:03
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The Mafia's Nanny 242
242Alaric’s POVEmilia was pacing again. I’d seen her do it countless times in the past two days, wearing a path into the floor whenever something gnawed at her. Tonight, it was Matteo. Again. Like the past two days.I leaned back in my chair, glass of bourbon in hand, and watched her. She didn’t notice—or maybe she didn’t care—that I was sitting there quietly, letting her run herself into the ground with her frustration. She was muttering under her breath, no doubt rehearsing the same arguments she’d been making to me for days now.“Emilia,” I said finally, breaking the silence. “Do you think Matteo’s life will implode if you don’t fix it for him?”She stopped, mid-step, and turned to glare at me. “This isn’t about fixing his life, Alaric. This is about fixing what I broke.”“Then apologize and move on,” I said simply, taking a slow sip of my drink. “It’s not that complicated.”Her eyes narrowed. “It’s complicated when he won’t even pick up the phone.”“That sounds like a him proble
Last Updated : 2025-03-20The Mafia's Nanny 243
243Emilia’s POVI sat across from Alaric in the study, my palms damp against the smooth arms of the leather chair. His cold, calculating demeanor was as familiar as ever, but tonight, it only bothered me more than it really should. I’ve been rehearsing this conversation in my head for days, but now that I was here, all the confidence I had gathered up was gone.“I’ve been thinking,” I started, my voice quieter than I wanted it to. I cleared my throat and sat up straighter, trying to meet his sharp gaze. “About Alonso.”Alaric’s jaw tightened almost immediately, but his expression didn’t change. “What about him?” he asked, his voice low and steady, the warning clear.I swallowed hard, knowing this wasn’t going to be easy. I already knew the outcome of this conversation, but still I had to try. “I think we should try to talk to him. Maybe… mend things.”His laugh was short and humorless. It was a bitter sound that reminded me of the stone cold, bloody side of Alaric. I hated it. “Mend
Last Updated : 2025-03-21The Mafia's Nanny 243
243Emilia’s POVI sat across from Alaric in the study, my palms damp against the smooth arms of the leather chair. His cold, calculating demeanor was as familiar as ever, but tonight, it only bothered me more than it really should. I’ve been rehearsing this conversation in my head for days, but now that I was here, all the confidence I had gathered up was gone.“I’ve been thinking,” I started, my voice quieter than I wanted it to. I cleared my throat and sat up straighter, trying to meet his sharp gaze. “About Alonso.”Alaric’s jaw tightened almost immediately, but his expression didn’t change. “What about him?” he asked, his voice low and steady, the warning clear.I swallowed hard, knowing this wasn’t going to be easy. I already knew the outcome of this conversation, but still I had to try. “I think we should try to talk to him. Maybe… mend things.”His laugh was short and humorless. It was a bitter sound that reminded me of the stone cold, bloody side of Alaric. I hated it. “Mend
Last Updated : 2025-03-21The Mafia's Nanny 245
245Alaric’s POVI’d spent the day running interference with business dealings, and now I was dealing with the far more personal issue of Alonso.The man who’d been a constant thorn in my side for as long as I could remember. And now, more than ever, his antics were threatening to ruin everything. I needed information—specific information—and Rosa was the one who had it. The problem was, getting it from her wasn’t going to be easy. It never was. And the man who was supposed to be getting the words out of her was slacking.“Allesio,” I called, breaking the silence as I turned my chair towards the door. I didn’t have to wait long before he entered. He didn’t have his usual smug smile on his face and I had a feeling he knew what I was about to ask. He was standing still as he looked af me.He was always cautious. Too cautious, sometimes. Maybe that’s why I kept him close even though he was slacking too much these days. Besides, if I didn’t keep him close, who would I keep close?“Boss,”
Last Updated : 2025-03-22The Mafia's Nanny 246
246Emilia’s POVThe phone buzzed over and over again, its incessant vibration making my stomach tighten. I glanced at the screen—“Alonso Cruz” flashed ominously in the dim light. For a moment, I debated ignoring it. I didn’t want to hear more from him, especially not after everything that had happened. But the curiosity, or perhaps a fleeting hope, got the better of me. I swiped to answer.“Hello?”“Emilia,” Alonso’s voice slid through the phone, smooth and calm, like he was speaking from a distant, controlled place. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”I sat up straighter. “No, it’s fine. What’s going on?”“I’d like to invite you and Alaric to dinner,” he said, almost too casually.I froze. Dinner? With Alonso? The man who seemed to be the very embodiment of everything Alaric despised? The man who’d caused so much turmoil in our lives? It felt like a trap. But the calm in Alonso’s voice—measured, even cordial—gave me pause.“Dinner?” I repeated, buying myself a moment to think.“
Last Updated : 2025-03-22The Mafia's Nanny 247
247Alaric’s POVThe moment Emilia walked my office with that innocent look she always had whenever she was about to request for something I wouldn’t like, I instantly knew what she wanted to talk about.Alonso.“We’ve been through this before Emilia. And my answer remains the same.” I said flatly, cutting her off before she could say anything at all. “No.”Her brows knit together, her lips pressing into a thin line. “You didn’t even hear me out.”“I don’t need to,” I said, pushing back from the table and standing. “Anything involving Alonso is a bad idea. The man’s a snake. End of discussion.”“Alaric, please,” Emilia said, following me as I paced toward the window. “He wants to meet for dinner. To talk. That’s all.”I turned sharply, facing her. “And you believe him? After everything he’s done?”Her gaze didn’t waver, her stubbornness shining through like it always did when she thought she was right. “I think it’s worth a try. If there’s even a chance we can stop all this fighting,
Last Updated : 2025-03-23The Mafia's Nanny 248
248Emilia’s POVThe restaurant was beautiful in a way that felt calculated. Warm golden lights spilled across polished wood tables, soft music hummed in the background, and the aroma of roasted herbs and garlic drifted through the air. But none of it could mask the suffocating tension hanging over our table.Alonso Cruz, my father, sat across from me, his smile too polite, his manner too smooth. He wore his charm like armor, but I wasn’t fooled. He was watching us closely, waiting for cracks to show. Beside me, Alaric was a coil wound so tight I worried he’d snap at the slightest provocation.“Alessandra,” Alonso began.“Emili,” Alaric growled, his eyes narrowed at Alonso. I held his hand, rubbing it in slow circles.I forced a polite smile, though my stomach churned. “Let’s just go straight to the point,” I murmured.Alonso leaned back in his chair, studying me with an air of practiced ease. “You know, I’ve always admired people who can keep their heads in chaotic situations. It’s a
Last Updated : 2025-03-23The Mafia's Nanny 249
249Alaric’s POVThe moment Alonso let his smile fade, I knew the conversation was about to turn. His charm was thin, like the slick veneer on cheap furniture, cracking at the first sign of pressure. And I had no interest in giving him the satisfaction of thinking he could control the room.I knew he knew Emilia and I were engaged. Word travels fast in the mafia world. I was just waiting for when he’d mention it. But Emilia beat him to it.He swirled his glass of red wine, watching the liquid as though it held the secrets of the universe. “You know, Emilia,” he continued, his voice smooth as silk, “there are certain… expectations for someone in your position. Responsibilities.”I felt Emilia stiffen beside me, her back straightening as her fingers hovered near her glass. I knew that tone of his. The carefully crafted words designed to put her on edge.“Responsibilities?” she echoed, keeping her voice polite. Always the peacemaker. I wondered how she was able to keep up with the façade
Last Updated : 2025-03-24
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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
