Page 45 of The Mobster's Nanny

God, how much I wish I could hold Liss’s hand right now.

“Whatever they think they have, it’s nothing,” I say with all the confidence I have, looking at her through the mirror. “We’ll talk to Riccardo, we’ll figure it out but, Liss, you are safe with me. I’d rather die than let anything happen to you or Romeo.”

Liss nods, chewing her lips with a look of uncertainty, and casts her gaze down to her phone. “But what if something happens to you?”

Oh. I blink. Is she worried about me? The realization fills my heart with warmth and amusement, and I chuckle softly. She really doesn’t know my family, huh?

“I’m a Messina. They would need something more than empty threats to take me down.”

Chapter 16 - Liss

I can’t hear Matteo walking to the sofa over the sound of Romeo’s video game, so when he touches my shoulder I startle and immediately turn around. My body is still high on adrenaline from the events of the day, my mind is alert, and even though I’m back in Matteo’s house—the safest place in my life right now—I still can’t shake off the tension in my muscles.

“They’ll be here any minute now.” Matteo squeezes my shoulder, looking at me with a careful frown. “Are you sure you’re ready to do it now?”

I nod, frowning in determination. “Yes. I don’t want to wait until my memories get blurry. If I can be of any help, I want to give you all the information I have.”

“Alright. Just let me know if you need time.” He pats my shoulder before turning to Romeo who is snuggled between me and Dolce with a gaming console in his hands. “Romeo, when Uncle Riccardo arrives, you stop your game and go up to your room, understand?”

“But, Papa!” Romeo immediately pouts and, putting the game on pause, raises his head to look at Matteo over the back of the sofa. “I don’t want to go there. It’s my time to play!”

Matteo doesn’t give in, of course, and only puts his hands on the sofa with a stern look. “I’m not asking you, Romeo. We have serious things to discuss. You can always play later.”

“Does that mean Miss Liss will come with me?” Romeo’s face immediately lights up with a smile, but Matteo shakes his head.

“No, we need her here as well.”

“But, Papa!”

I can’t help but smile, watching them bicker as if the last week didn’t happen at all, and finally I decide to help Matteo. I reach out to put my hand on Romeo’s shoulder, and as soon as he turns to me I offer him a friendly smile.

“I’ll go up to your room as soon as I’m done, alright?” I squeeze his shoulder, watching the frustration in his eyes shift into a grumpy frown. “In the meantime, you can prepare the stage for a battle.”

After a moment of hesitance, Romeo looks up at me. “Ship battle?”

“Of course! If that’s what you want.”

I smile wider as Romeo’s expression finally softens, and he looks at me with more curiosity. “Can I use all the toys from the box?”

I chuckle. “Sure.”

“Yes! I’ll show you the one I won at school. It’s small but so cool!”

“Oh, you won it? Interesting.” I ruffle his hair with my heart warm and soft from affection when my eyes catch a flash of light behind his back.

There are three cars turning into our driveway. The heads of the Messina Clan are here.

I swallow, feeling my heart tighten with an uncomfortable feeling. I’m not sure what to expect from them—after all, I was the one to betray them and create this whole mess. No matter what Matteo says about them being his brothers and understanding my motives, I doubt they’re as willing to forgive me as he is. And I can’t blame them. If things went a little bit differently during the bust—that I helped the Mexicans with—some of them could be injured or even killed.

Shit. Is it actually a good idea for us to talk? But I take a deep breath and straighten my shoulders, pulling myself together. Instead of ruminating about my own mistakes, I better focus on making things right.

“Romeo, what did I tell you?” Matteo reminds him on the way to open the door. I sit up straight, unsure if I should stay with Romeo or go with Matteo to meet the guests. “Put your game on pause and go to your room.”

“Alright, alright,” Romeo grumbles under his breath and pauses the game before jumping off the couch. “Can I say hi at least?”

Dolce follows him, getting off the couch, and I have no choice but to stand up and walk to the door where Matteo is already greeting his brothers. I know only Louis from the couple of times I saw him picking up Misha after school, but the two others are unfamiliar to me.

“Hey, buddy, how are you doing?”

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