Page 20 of Nanny's Baby for the Italian Mafia Boss

“No,” I say in a tone that leaves no room for argument. I take Ella’s hand in mine and Gianni surveys the surroundings, watching for anything out of the ordinary.

“I can empty the mall so it’s just us, Matias. You know they won’t mind. Not for you,” he reminds.

“No. I like it when people are here. It’s fine, Gianni.” I squat in front of Ella, my knees cracking and reminding me of my old age.

I hold in a grunt, hoping I’ll be able to stand without a problem. I’m young, newly forty years old, but this life is rough on the body. I’ve been shot, stabbed, had both my legs broken, and a dozen other things happen. I’m lucky I’m in one piece.

She hops on my back, knocking the wind out of me when a sick thought twists my mind.

What if something happens to me and she’s left all alone? What if she goes into the system again. It only solidifies the fact that I need to marry Sophie. She’d take care of Ella. I know she would. Even though she’s only been here a day, she belongs.

We have plenty to learn about one another, but something about my life feels complete now, and I know it has everything to do with Sophie.

“Will they allow me in looking like this?” she points to her outfit.

I turn, lifting a brow as I look her up and down. “There’s nothing wrong with what you’re wearing.”

“I’m wearing a fifteen-dollar shirt and jeans. You’re wearing a thousand-dollar suit.”

It was much more than that, but she doesn’t need to know.

“It doesn’t matter. Once they see me, they wouldn’t care if you were wearing a plastic bag.” I wait for her to catch up and when she’s next to me, I lean down. “And what did I say about talking about yourself like that? I don’t like it.”

“I wasn’t talking bad,” she argues, but still sounds sweet. “I was stating a fact. Some places have dress codes.”

“And if they did, I’d handle it.” My tone is dark, a tone she hasn’t heard before, and she gasps.

“How?”

“That’s for me to worry about. Not you.”

Gianni opens the door, and two police officers are on either side of the entrance, giving us a firm nod.

Unlike Carmine and Ari, I made it clear I don’t want a chummy relationship with cops. They are on the payroll. That’s it. This is a working relationship, but I know the two cops. The officer on the left needed cancer treatment for his wife, so I fronted bill because he’s been loyal.

I take care of them. They take care of me.

But the moment they don’t have my back, I won’t be afraid to kill them and get them off my payroll.

I’m not afraid to kill to prove a point and even worse, I’ll be quiet about it. No one would understand what happened to the cop. He would just go missing one day. No note, no outside circumstance to make them question if he’d ever abandoned his job or family.

He simply wouldn’t exist anymore.

“Wow.” Sophie glances around the luxury mall and I have to say, it is impressive. It’s two floors of pure marble with name-brand designer stores on either side. Above us, a marvelous chandelier that is easily the size of my foyer.

If it fell, we’d be dead.

“Why don’t we start on the right and work our way to the left side?” I offer, heading to the first store I see. I turn around to see Sophie at the entrance but she is not going inside. “Sophie, come on.”

“I can’t have you do this.”

“You won’t be able to stop me, so get in here now before you do something as silly as upsetting me by not spending my money,” I command, trying to keep the infliction in my voice light.

I’m serious but I don’t want her to know that. I want her to have anything she wants and if she won’t allow me to give it to her, how will I get her to stay?

“Nothing too flashy.” She points a finger at me.

“I’m not the one picking out the product. You are.”

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