Semua Bab The Mafia's Nanny : Bab 211 - Bab 220

212Alaric’s POVWork never ends in this life. The early morning hours, the quiet hum of the house, none of it gave me peace anymore. Not with everything we were juggling—alliances, threats, Alonso. It was like balancing on a knife’s edge, and if I tipped too far in any direction, the whole operation would come crashing down.I stood by the window in my study, a glass of whiskey in hand. It was too early for this, but it was the only thing keeping me from grinding my teeth down to dust. Allesio had been quiet for the last ten minutes, flipping through reports at my desk. His silence was unusual, but I didn’t press. Not yet.“You going to keep brooding, or are we going to talk about the shipment?” he finally asked, not looking up.I sighed, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. “We lost three trucks last week. Three. Do you understand how much that sets us back?”“Of course, I do. I’m the one cleaning up your mess.”I shot him a look, but he smirked like he wasn’t intimidated in the s

214Alaric’s POVThe house was unusually quiet for a change, the kind of quiet that settled deep into your bones and made everything feel more significant. Francesca had just gone to bed after an exhausting day at the park with Emilia and Rosa, and though she’d promised to stay put, I could hear the occasional muffled giggle from her room. She wasn’t asleep yet, but I didn’t mind. Tonight wasn’t about perfection—it was about sincerity.I sat in the living room, the small velvet box burning a hole in my pocket. Emilia was curled up on the couch, a book in her lap, her hair falling in loose waves over her shoulder. She looked so at ease, so present, that it almost made me second-guess the timing. But then she glanced up at me, her eyes soft, and I knew.There would be no better timing than this. I had to do it now, before some shit goes down in our lives once again and steals the moment from us.“Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked with a raised brow, setting the book down w

216Matteo’s POVThe phone rang once, twice, then a third time. I paced the length of my living room, gripping my phone very tightly. Every second that she didn’t pick up stretched unbearably long. My frustration boiled just beneath the surface. I’d been trying to reach Emilia for days—no, weeks—and it felt like I was shouting into the void.“Come on, pick up,” I muttered under my breath.And then, finally, the click of the call connecting.“Hello?” Her voice was soft and hesitant as if she wasn’t sure if she should answer.“Emilia!” I nearly yelled into the phone, relief washing over me. “Finally. Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? I thought something happened to you!”There was a pause, and my heart was beating wildly in my chest. I could hear her breathing on the other end, and I could hear the faintest tremor in the sound.“Matteo…” she started, her voice breaking slightly. “I—there’s so much to explain.”I stopped pacing and sat down heavily on the couch. “You better sta

218Gianna’s POVI had just settled onto the couch with a steaming mug of tea when I heard a knock at the door. My heart did a little flip. I could already tell who it was without checking. Not many people knew my residence, and the people who did wouldn’t just come here unannounced. Only he would.Matteo wasn’t supposed to visit tonight, but then again, Matteo rarely followed plans. I set the mug down and went to open the door.There he was, leaning casually against the doorframe, his dark hair slightly tousled, a sheepish grin on his face.“Surprise,” he said, holding up a bag of takeout like a peace offering.“Matteo,” I said with a smile, stepping aside to let him in. “You know you don’t have to bribe me to let you in, right?”“Bribe?” he repeated, walking past me. “This is just me being thoughtful.”“Uh-huh,” I said, closing the door behind him.He kicked off his shoes and made his way to the couch like he owned the place. I followed, plopping down next to him. He opened the bag

220Matteo’s POVI leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Emilia stir something on the stove. The rich aroma of whatever she was making filled the air, but I barely noticed. My mind was elsewhere, buzzing with anticipation. I couldn’t help the grin that kept creeping onto my face.“You’re awfully chipper today,” Emilia said, glancing over her shoulder at me. “What’s up with you?”“Nothing,” I said, trying to sound casual.She rolled her eyes. “Don’t ‘nothing’ me, Matteo. You’re practically vibrating with excitement. Spill.”I pushed off the counter and grabbed a bottle of water, taking a slow sip just to mess with her. Her glare deepened, and I laughed, holding up a hand in surrender.“Alright, alright. It’s about Gianna,” I said, watching her expression carefully.Emilia turned off the stove and faced me, crossing her arms. “Okay, what about her?”“We finalized the plans for you two to meet,” I said, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.Her brows lifted slightly, and