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The Mafia's Nanny 36
36Alaric’s POV My office was silent, broken only by the occasional shuffle of papers or the ticking of the clock on the wall. Allesio sat across from me, sorting through the information we’d managed to piece together from the ambush. He had stacks of shipping manifests, receipts, and contact notes spread out between us on the desk. But nothing added up the way it should.I picked up one of the documents, the supposed shipping manifest for Guiseppe’s cargo that night. It looked official enough on the surface, stamped and signed, but something was wrong. The scheduled time didn’t line up; the seal on the bottom corner seemed off, almost too perfect, as if someone had gone through the trouble to make it look unremarkable.“Here.” I slid the manifest over to Allesio, tapping a finger over the time. “Does that seem right to you?”Allesio squinted, eyes narrowing as he read over the time. “It doesn’t. The ship wasn’t even scheduled to be at the port by that time of the night. Whoever orga
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Mafia's Nanny 35
Alaric’s POV Francesca was bouncing around with excitement, her little voice full of determination as she clutched Emilia’s hand. I hadn’t planned on anyone else joining us for this trip to the park, but once Francesca had her mind set, it was near impossible to talk her out of it. She’d insisted that Emilia come along, pulling on her hand with wide, pleading eyes that somehow even I wasn’t immune to. I didn’t love it, but I wasn’t about to turn the day into an argument. If Francesca wanted Emilia there, then that was the way it was going to be.Emilia stayed quiet, seeming to be just as uncomfortable as I was. It was as if we had both came to an agreement to keep our distance from each other, but we tried as much as we can to act normal in front of Francesca. And while our distance bothered me at first, it didn’t anymore. She was Francesca’s nanny, nothing more, and it was about time I set some boundaries with myself. Distractions will only cost me more than necessary.Once we reach
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Mafia's Nanny 37
37Emilia’s POV I turned around on my bed, blinking open one eye and wincing et the ray of sunlight that threatened to blind me. I closed my eyes and turned away from the window, then opened it and stared at the alarm clock on my night stand. It was almost ten in the morning, and there was that urge that always tugged at me every morning—an instinctive urge to check on Francesca. Maybe it was the way she looked at me, or how she’d laugh like she’d known me her whole life. Whatever it was, it had a hold on me, something fierce and protective.I pulled on a robe and padded quietly down the hall, heading to her room. I could hear faint voices as I neared, a woman’s gentle tone and Francesca’s soft giggles. Confusion and a little bit of panic washed over me. Alaric wouldn’t just allow any woman in this house, much less near Francesca’s room. He was Intensely private, and I doubted he’d invite anyone without good reason.My steps slowed, and I hesitated outside her door, feeling my pulse
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Mafia's Nanny 38
38Alaric’s POV Driving through the city streets late at night, the tension inside the car was as thick as fog. Allesio sat beside me, eyes focused on the road ahead but occasionally darting toward me, waiting for my reaction each time we hit another dead end or picked up a new thread of evidence that led us in directions I didn’t want to consider. We’d been chasing this ambush for days now, and the pieces were falling together into a picture that was almost too twisted to believe.I slid my car into an old garage downtown. The owner, an older man named Rico, had been at the port the night of the ambush, keeping an eye on the shipments for Guiseppe’s team. He’d heard rumors floating around the neighborhood that something was off with the Cruz family’s involvement. I wanted to press him for more, see if he’d noticed anything else out of place, anyone unfamiliar lurking around.I stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut and walking straight into the garage without waiting for All
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Mafia's Nanny 39
39Emilia’s POV I spent the rest of the morning trying to shake off the awkwardness of the encounter. My mind kept replaying the scene—Francesca running up to me, calling me “mommy” with all the innocence in the world, and the shocked look on the woman’s face. I couldn’t quite get a read on her reaction, but it was enough to rattle me. The idea that she could’ve been Francesca’s mother, even if it made no logical sense, had settled into my thoughts like a splinter.I hadn’t seen the woman since she left the room. Alaric hadn’t mentioned her either during breakfast, and I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up. Instead, I tried to busy myself with small tasks around the house, staying close to Francesca, who seemed blissfully unaware of any discomfort. It was just another morning for her—drawing pictures in the living room, her favorite stuffed bear by her side.By mid-morning, I decided to head to the kitchen. If nothing else, I could make myself a cup of coffee and try to clear my
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Mafia's Nanny 40
40Alaric’s POV My meeting today was set to be the kind that would shake the ground beneath any man’s feet—just not mine. I’d built my life around avoiding these traps, these landmines of misplaced trust. Yet here I was, facing the reality that one of my own allies had potentially turned on us. I’d spent the past few hours steeling myself, sharpening the edge that would get me through this conversation.A few minutes later, Allesio joined me, a grim look in his eyes that mirrored my own.“Ready?” he asked.I nodded, reaching for my coat. “Let’s go.”I walked out of the house briskly, ignoring Irene who was just setting the table for breakfast. Allesio followed behind me and soon we were inside the dar, Allesio behind the wheels, and speeding out of the compound.The drive was silent. Allesio was as focused as I was, his gaze fixed on the road, hands steady on the wheel. He knew the stakes just as well as I did—if I was right about this betrayal, then everything we’d worked to build
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Mafia's Nanny 41
41Emilia’s POV I walked out of the room, a frown forming on my face as I made my way to the stairs. Irene had called my phone a few minutes ago. She’d asked me to meet her in the main living room. Her tone had been light casual but it had seemed like she was holding back a smile.Finally, I got to the living room and halted, my eyes going wide. The room was filled with people I didn’t know, men and women. At least a dozen. And they were all dressed in crisp uniforms, standing in a neat line. I hesistated. They were not part of Alaric’s men that were always in the shadows of the house.Irene caught my eye and waved me over, her face warm with a welcoming smile. “Come on in, Emilia,” she said, gesturing for me to stand beside her. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet—or rather, someones.”I stepped closer, almost shrinking under the dozen curious eyes on me. It was strange; I had been living here for weeks now and had never seen any of these people before. I recognized the occasional
Last Updated : 2024-12-07The Mafia's Nanny 42
42Alaric’s POV I sighed a document and pushed it to the side, wanting to dive straight into another document when my phone vibrated with a tone that I had set specifically for Allesio’s texts.“Meet me at the hideout. Now.”I read it once again before dropping my pen and puttimg my phone into my pants pocket as I got up from my chair. I didn’t waste time I heading out of the house at all.I got to Allesio’s hideout barely thirty minutes later. It was a small building tucking into a quiet, dark part of the city. It wasn’t the sort of place anyone would think to look for me, which was the point. Stepping inside, the faint smell of dust and old leather filled my nose and clouded over my senses. Allesio was standing before a table, a grim look on his face as he stared at the stack of papers spread across the table.“Boss,” he greeted, nodding as I approached. “I’ve been following Ferraro as you requested, and I’ve got everything here. And what I have here…I think it’s evidence enough. W
Last Updated : 2024-12-07
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
