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Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Mafia's Nanny : Kabanata 351 - Kabanata 360

402 Kabanata

351

351Rosa’s POV For a moment, I let myself be.The warmth of the sun. The hum of the wind through the trees. The way Alessio looked at me, like he still saw something worth fighting for.I had spent so long convincing myself I was immune to him now. That no matter what he did, no matter how much he proved he’d changed, I wouldn’t fall for it.And yet…I was here. Again.Letting my guard slip, inch by inch.Letting him matter again.Then, just as quickly, the past came crashing down on me.A memory. Sharp, unrelenting.“You’re the only person I trust,” I had told him once.And he had kissed me, murmuring against my lips, “I will never betray you.”Liar.The old wound cracked open, raw and stinging.I pulled back before I even realized it, my body reacting before my mind could catch up.Alessio noticed immediately. His easy expression hardened into something cautious. “Rosa.”I shook my head, getting to my feet. “I should go.”His brows furrowed. “What? Why?”“This—” I gestured around m

352

352Rosa’s POV I was tired of fighting myself. Tired of pretending I didn’t care when the truth was, I cared too damn much. So, for once, I was going to stop thinking and just try. When I called Alessio and told him I was saying yes—to a real date, not another test, not another way to prove a point—he went quiet for so long I thought the call had dropped.Then, in a voice that was rough and careful at the same time, he asked, “Are you sure?”“No,” I admitted, because I wasn’t. “But I want to try.”I heard his sharp inhale. “Then I’ll make it worth it.”And just like that, we were doing this.I wasn’t sure what that meant for us. If I’d wake up tomorrow and regret this. If I’d spend the whole night overthinking and talking myself out of it.But for now, I wasn’t backing out.I spent two hours trying to pick out an outfit, which was stupid because it was just Alessio.Except it wasn’t just Alessio. At least, not anymore.I wasn’t dressing to impress him. I wasn’t trying to seduce him o

353

353Rosa’s POV. The morning air was crisp as I stepped outside, the faint scent of rain still clinging to the air. I pulled my coat tighter around me, ignoring the small, unwelcome flutter in my stomach.This was just another day. That’s what I told myself. Another day where I was stupid enough to agree to spend time with Alessio again. It was happening more often than I cared to admit.Today wasn’t supposed to be different. But it felt different.Because I wasn’t seeing him out of obligation. Not because I felt I owed him anything. Not even because I was trying to prove to myself that I was over him.I was seeing him because I wanted to.I shook off the thought as I spotted Alessio waiting for me by his car. He looked up at the sound of my footsteps, and when his eyes met mine, that stupid flutter in my stomach turned into something warmer.“Morning, Rosa.” His voice was soft, like he knew I was still getting used to this. To him.I nodded, keeping my face neutral. “Morning.”He open

354

354Rosa’s POV The night air was thick with the scent of rain with the pavement still damp from an earlier shower. I walked, my boots clicking against the sidewalk, my hands stuffed deep into my coat pockets. My mind was a mess.I shouldn’t be out here. I was supposed to be at home, asleep, not wandering aimlessly through the quiet streets like some lovesick idiot.But I wasn’t lovesick. I was terrified.Things with Alessio had been good. Too good. That was the issue.I let my guard down. I let him in. I held his hand. I laughed. I let myself believe—just a little—that maybe we could be something again.And that scared the hell out of me.Because what if I was wrong?What if I was just setting myself up for more pain?A cold gust of wind blew through me, but it wasn’t the chill that made me wrap my arms around myself. It was the realization curling in my stomach.I needed to get out. I needed space.I wasn’t ready.I turned down a side street, my breaths coming faster. I didn’t know w

355

355Rosa’s POV I should’ve walked away.I should’ve stepped back, turned around, done anything but stand there, letting the moment stretch between us like something fragile and inevitable.But I didn’t.Alessio was close enough that I could feel his warmth, close enough that I could see the way his chest rose and fell like he was steadying himself, like he was giving me one last chance to stop this.I didn’t stop it.His fingers grazed my jaw—gentle, hesitant.I tilted my head ever so slightly. That was all he needed.He leaned in, and I let him.His lips brushed against mine, soft at first, like he was afraid I’d pull away. Like he thought I’d come to my senses and shove him back.I should have.I didn’t.Instead, I melted into it.And God, it was slow. Not rushed, not desperate, just slow. I moaned, melting into his arms and wondering how I’d survived months without him.I had spent so long convincing myself that I didn’t need this. That I didn’t miss him.But now, with his lips mo

356

356Rosa’s POV I should’ve known peace was temporary.The past had a way of creeping up on you, waiting for just the right moment to strike. And tonight, rather than creeping, it crashed right into me.A simple ding from my phone had me looking at, a notification from an unknown number. I almost ignored it, thinking it was spam, but curiosity got the better of me.I wish it hadn’t.You really think he’s changed?There was no name, no explanation. Just that single line, sitting there like a loaded gun.For a second, my heart stopped. Then it started racing.I looked at the screen again, my fingers tightening around the phone.I shouldn’t let it get to me. It was probably nothing. Some pathetic attempt at stirring up doubt. But the problem was, doubt didn’t need much of an invitation. It was already there, lurking in the back of my mind, waiting for an excuse to take over.I sucked in a breath, forcing my thoughts to slow down. There was no proof this had anything to do with Alessio. N

357

357Rosa’s POVI sat on my couch, staring at the wall like it held all the answers to my life’s problems. It didn’t. Obviously.I couldn’t stop replying Allesio’s words in my head.“Then let me prove to you that it won’t.”I wanted to believe him.And maybe, for the first time, I actually did.The thought sent a nervous energy through me, making my stomach flip. For months, I had convinced myself that keeping Alessio at arm’s length was the only way to protect myself. That running was easier than facing the possibility of getting hurt again.But it wasn’t.Running never made me feel safe. It had only made me feel alone.I sucked in a breath, my decision solidifying.Enough.Enough of hiding behind my fear. Enough of waiting for the perfect moment when I felt ready—because that moment might never come.I grabbed my phone before I could talk myself out of it.Me: Are you still awake?The response came faster than I expected.Alessio: Yeah. Are you okay?My fingers hovered over the keybo

358

358Rosa’s POV “You’re staring.”Alessio didn’t even have the decency to look embarrassed. “Can you blame me?”I rolled my eyes but felt my lips twitching. We were sitting on the patio of a small café, the morning sun casting a golden glow over the quiet street. The smell of fresh bread and coffee filled the air, and for the first time in a long time, I felt… at peace.It was unsettling.I took a sip of my cappuccino. “If you keep looking at me like that, people are going to think I have something on my face.”“You do.”I froze. “What?”Alessio leaned forward, smirking. “Beauty.”I groaned. “That was awful.”He chuckled, completely unbothered. “You smiled, though.”I sighed, shaking my head. “What am I going to do with you?”His expression softened. “Hopefully, keep me around.”Something in my chest squeezed.I could still hear the doubt in my own heart, the voice that whispered What if this doesn’t last? What if he hurts you again?But then I looked at him—the way he watched me, the

359

359Rosa’s POVThe sun was warm on my skin as I stepped out of my car, stretching like a cat as I took in the sight of Emilia’s house.I barely had time to knock before the door swung open.“You’re late.”I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t aware we were on a schedule.”Emilia smirked, stepping aside so I could walk in. “We weren’t. But I still like to give you a hard time.”“Charming.”She closed the door behind me, then turned, hands on her hips. “Well? Are you going to keep me in suspense, or are you going to tell me why you texted me last night saying, and I quote, ‘I have updates and you need to be sitting down for them.’”I grinned. “Oh, I intend to tell you everything. But first, where’s my goddaughter?”“Throwing a tantrum upstairs because she can’t have cake for breakfast,” Emilia said, shaking her head. “Alaric tried to reason with her, but she told him he’s the meanest daddy in the world and locked herself in her room.”I snorted. “Sounds about right.”We made our way to the kitche

360

360Allesio’s POV I never thought I’d be the kind of guy to ask for permission to marry a woman.Not because I lacked respect. No, I had plenty of that. But because I was a man who took what he wanted, fought for what he claimed, and never needed approval from anyone.And yet, here I was, standing in Alaric’s office, my hands shoved into my pockets, debating the best way to tell my boss, who was he most feared man in our world, that I was about to put a ring on Rosa Smith’s finger.Alaric glanced up from his glass of whiskey, his sharp eyes assessing me. He leaned back in his chair, amusement flickering across his face like he already knew why I was here.“Alright,” he said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “Let’s hear it.”I exhaled, letting the words roll off my tongue before I lost my nerve. “I’m going to propose to Rosa.”His brow lifted. Not in surprise—no, nothing ever surprised Alaric. It was just mild curiosity, maybe even a little satisfaction.“You’re going to, or yo

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