The Name That Changed Everything

Diana's POV

“It belonged to Mr. Francesco Marino.”

The breath caught in my throat. Wait, what? Francesco Marino?!

For a wild, desperate second, I prayed there was another man in Milan with that exact same name. Maybe a wealthy baker. A retired footballer. An eccentric tech mogul. Anyone else…

"Papa..." I started, my voice trembling as I gripped the edge of the kitchen counter. "What... What exactly did he look like?"

Papa rubbed his stubbled chin, staring up at the yellow ceiling light as he recalled the encounter. "Well, he was massive. Built like a brick wall, tailored suit, piercing blue eyes that looked right through you. And he didn't smile once. Not even a polite nod. Cold as ice."

Bingo!

My stomach plummeted straight into my shoes. It was him. THE Francesco Marino. The figure whose very surname made street gangs vanish and powerful businessmen break into cold sweats.

I was currently on his payroll.

"Diana?" Mom dropped her dish rag, her sharp eyes scanning my face. "You look like you've seen a ghost. What is wrong?"

"Mom... Papa..." I swallowed hard, trying to clear the sudden dryness in my throat. "I didn't tell you the name of my new employer earlier."

Papa sat up straight at the small wooden table, forcing a warm, encouraging smile. "Go on, fetița mea. Tell us who this generous man is so we can thank him in our prayers."

"He... he is Francesco Marino."

The silence that followed was wild…

Papa's chest rose and fell as he coughed violently, nearly choking on his own breath. Mom froze mid-step, her face draining of color so fast I thought she was going to faint right onto the floor.

"What?!" Mom gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. "Diana, how?! How did you end up in that man's house?!"

"Mom, let me explain!" I pleaded, holding my hands up. "I registered with the Nurture Line Agency last week—Sofia recommended them! I had no idea that I would be working for the Marino household! If I had known on time, I would have run in the opposite direction!"

Papa buried his face in his grease-stained hands, letting out a loud groan. Whenever Papa took that position, it meant the situation was utterly disastrous. He had spent his entire life warning us to stay clear of the city's dark secrets, and here I was, walking straight into the lion's den with a smile.

"Diana, those people are bad news!" Mom cried, tears spilling over her lashes as she grabbed my hands. "You quit right now! Call them and resign! We will figure out the money somehow. I don't care about the gas or the bills—I want you alive, fiica mea!"

Her words hit me like a physical blow. What if I failed at my duties? What if Lucia was targeted by rival syndicates while I was on watch? What if I mistakenly overheard something I wasn't supposed to?

I opened my mouth to tell her I would quit, but Papa suddenly lifted his head.

"I don't think she should quit, my love," Papa said softly.

Mom spun around, her eyes wide with shock and fury. "Are you insane, Ștefan?! That is the Mafia! I am not letting our daughter be collateral damage!"

"Mom, please, don't cry," I rushed over, wrapping my arms around her trembling shoulders. In the corner of the room, Vlad and Matei hovered by the doorway, their large eyes darting between us in utter confusion. They didn't understand the shadows that governed the city yet…

"Listen to me," Papa said firmly, standing up and placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Men like Marino don't waste time on ordinary people unless you cross them. Did he threaten you, Diana? Did he treat you poorly?"

"No," I admitted quietly. "He was cold, paranoid, and intense... but he was fiercely protective of his niece. He didn't act like a monster toward me."

"Then you keep your head down," Papa insisted, looking me dead in the eye. "You do your job, you collect your wages, and you do not ask questions about his business. Make sure you never get negatively involved with the Marinos, Diana. I beg you."

My head was spinning violently.

Why would a powerful crime syndicate boss hire a nanny through a standard agency?

Is there no family left to help raise that little girl?

What if Lucia sets another trap for me tomorrow?

Why did he hire me on the spot after only two hours?

Above all those frantic questions, a quiet memory surfaced: Lucia's small hand wrapping around my thumb, her defensive walls crumbling for just a fraction of a second when I hugged her. I had promised her I wouldn't run away like the rest.

"Diana, honey," Mom whispered, reaching up to gently pat my cheek, snapping me out of my trance. "I know you always put this family's survival before your own safety. I won't force you. The choice is yours to make."

"Your mother is right," Papa added, his gaze brimming with quiet pride. "You didn't step into that world out of greed. You took this job to give your brothers a future. I respect you for that."

Hot tears slipped down my cheeks. Having their trust was the only anchor holding me together. I wiped my face with the back of my sleeve, taking a deep, steadying breath…

"I've made my decision," I declared softly. "I'm going back tomorrow."

Mom managed a tearful, supportive smile, while Papa gave me a solemn nod.

The ground rules were clear in my mind:

 * Do the job, get paid, go home.

 * Zero unnecessary interactions with Francesco, no matter how ridiculously handsome he was.

 * No prying into the Marino empire.

 * Focus entirely on protecting and caring for Lucia.

So help me God…

After eating dinner in the quiet sanctuary of my bedroom, ignoring the curious, pouting glances from my brothers, I collapsed onto my bed and grabbed my phone. It was 11:50 PM, but I needed to vent before my brain exploded.

I dialed Sofia's number. She picked up on the third ring.

"Babe, what's wrong? It's almost midnight," Sofia groaned sleepily into the speaker.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry," I sighed, pulling the blanket up to my chest. "I just... I needed to talk to you."

"Wait..." Sofia's voice instantly rose up, the sleepiness vanishing. "Did you get the nanny position?! Tell me you got it!"

"Yeah, I got it," I replied.

Sofia let out an ear-piercing scream that nearly shattered my eardrums. "Eeeek! I knew it! You're brilliant! You're going to be rich!"

I pulled the phone six inches away from my ear until the ringing stopped, then brought it back. "Sofia, shut up for a second and listen to me."

"What? Why do you sound like you're attending a funeral?"

"Because," I whispered, staring up at my ceiling as my heart beat against my ribs. "You are never going to believe who my new boss actually is…”