Chapter 7

Aria's POV

"I told the police everything," I said, staring at the thick file on my bed. "I hit a guy who put his hands on his girlfriend."

I refused to let Dominic dig into my past. A year ago, I walked into my cramped apartment after that dark alley encounter.

I found Daniel pushing Jasmine against a wall. He tried to force a kiss. I swung hard and broke his nose.

Jasmine panicked and kicked him in the ribs. Daniel ended up in the hospital. Jasmine was still in college.

I took the blame so her record stayed clean.

Dominic watched me. His dark blue eyes gave nothing away.

"The sleeping pill investigation is paused," he said with a flat voice. "I hired a team to recover the wiped camera data. The lab is pulling fingerprints off the plastic bottle."

My chest tightened. "You still think I did it."

"You are a suspect. But Luca screams if anyone else holds him." He tapped the folder against his leg. "You keep your job, Aria. For now."

He turned and walked out.

I stared at the closed door.

Why did he explain his plan to me?

A brutal mafia boss would just lock me in a basement and throw away the key.

Dominic Valentino used logic. He relied on evidence.

I realized he was not a cruel monster. He was just a man protecting his son.

The next few days fell into a strange routine.

Jasmine stayed away from the estate. She spent her hours buying designer clothes and getting spa treatments.

With me and Luca out of her sight, Jasmine felt safe.

I learned the layout of the massive house. I also noticed a glaring detail.

Jasmine's bedroom was down the hall from the nursery. Dominic slept in the master suite on the opposite side of the estate. They did not share a bed.

A heavy knot in my stomach loosened at that thought. I pushed the feeling away and focused on Luca.

Thursday afternoon brought warm sunlight. I sat on a blanket in the manicured garden, letting Luca grab at the green grass. He giggled. The bright sound made me smile.

"Well, this is a beautiful sight."

I looked up. A man leaned against the stone fountain.

He had messy brown hair, an expensive linen suit, and a lazy grin. He shared Dominic's sharp jawline, but his energy was loose and playful.

"Are you lost?" I asked, pulling Luca closer to my chest.

The man laughed. He walked over and sat on the grass right next to me.

"I live here. Sometimes. I am Marco. Dominic's cousin." He leaned in, his blue eyes dropping to my lips. "And who is the stunning woman holding my little nephew?"

"I am the nanny," I said, ignoring his charm.

"A tragedy," Marco sighed, touching a lock of my hair. "A face like yours belongs on a magazine cover, not hidden in a nursery."

I slapped his hand away. Marco just laughed harder.

That night, the house filled with people. Dominic hosted a welcome-back dinner for Marco.

The dining room glowed with crystal chandeliers. I stayed near the back hallway, keeping a sleepy Luca quiet in my arms.

Marco drank wine and told loud stories about his trip to Europe. Jasmine sat near Dominic. She tried to hold his hand. Dominic kept his hands flat on the table.

After dinner, a string quartet started playing in the grand hall. Guests moved to the dance floor.

Marco spotted me by the stairs. He set his drink down and walked over.

"Give the baby to a maid," Marco said, holding out his hand. "Dance with me."

"I am working, Marco," I said.

Jasmine appeared out of the crowd. Her eyes sparkled with malice. She wanted me gone. A rich, playboy cousin was the perfect distraction.

"Oh, Aria, go ahead," Jasmine said with a sweet smile. "You work too hard. Marco is a great catch. You're my cousin. He's Dom's cousin. Maybe you two will fall in love and get married. I will watch Luca."

She reached for the baby. Luca whimpered and turned his face into my neck. He gripped my shirt tight.

Marco grinned. "See? The baby is fine. My future bride needs a dance."

He grabbed my free hand. He pulled me toward the center of the hall. The music swelled. I tried to pull back, but Marco spun me around.

A large hand clamped over Marco's wrist.

The movement was so fast I gasped. Dominic stood between us. His face was carved from stone. The air around him felt heavy and cold.

He shoved Marco's hand away. Dominic wrapped his arm around my waist. He pulled me flush against his side.

"She has to take care of Luca tonight," Dominic said, his voice a low, vibrating threat. "She is going nowhere."

The music played, but the room went still.

Marco lowered his hands. His lazy smile vanished. He stared at Dominic's arm wrapped tight around my waist.

Marco's eyes flicked to my face, then back to his cousin.

"Dom," Marco said. "Is that how you look at a nanny?"