My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 115

Giovanni

All eyes were fixed on Aidan and Ivy, lost in the excitement of their engagement. But my gaze was drawn to my beloved Ellie, standing beside me with a radiance that outshone even the sparkling diamond ring on Ivy’s finger.

Her smile was like sunshine, warming my heart. She had tears in her eyes, but they were tears of joy. It was then that I made a silent promise to myself - to make Ellie feel the same happiness that Ivy and Aidan shared.

But I knew I couldn’t rush it. I wanted Ellie to come to me willingly, to surrender herself completely to me. I could see her longing in every glance, hear it in the unspoken words between us. And when the time was right, I would propose and she would accept without hesitation.

And in that moment, we would become more than just two strangers brought together by fate. We would be a true family.

I reached over and touched her hand. I half expected her to push me away, but instead, she intertwined her fingers with mine.

"Isn’t this great?" she breathed. "Aidan finally gets to be with the one he loves."

"It’s great, indeed," I said plainly, squeezing her hand.

"He lost her once before, you know. Back when we were teenagers. And it was partially my fault," Ellie said, frowning.

I looked at her curiously. "How so?" I asked.

Ellie looked at me now. "I caused misunderstanding between them. Ivy came to my door, and I told her Aidan didn’t love her. And she..." Ellie paused. "It’s a long story and doesn’t matter now, I guess. I was a dumb teenage girl back then. And I guess evil."

I raised an eyebrow. "You? Evil? I don’t believe that for one second, cara mia."

She pouted. "That’s because you don’t really know me, Giovanni."

I chuckled at her words. "Oh believe me, Ellie, I plan on changing that," I said with a smirk, making her blush slightly. It was moments like these that made my heart race - the banter, the teasing, the unspoken connection between us. And if she only knew how deeply I cared for her, how much I longed to make her mine.

"I’ve done some more bad things. I helped Slava kidnap Ivy. I tried to get her killed and I..."

I put my finger on her lip. "Hush, my love. I don’t care how terrible you think you are. In my eyes you are perfect," I said in a low and husky voice.

Ellie rolled her eyes. "You are full of it, Giovanni."

"I am speaking the truth," I conceded with a smile.

Ellie shook her head as if disagreeing with me, but she sank closer to me. Warmth spread through my body as she leaned on me, our hands still clasped together.

"I think you are growing on me, Giovanni," she whispered.

"I hope so," I replied softly, my voice filled with sincerity. "Because you’ve already become a part of me, Ellie."

Her eyes met mine, and in that moment, I saw a flicker of something deep and genuine—a connection that went beyond words. We stood there, surrounded by the lively chatter and laughter of the engagement party, yet it felt like we were in our own world.

"Alright. Who’s ready for cake!" Ivy chirped, breaking the spell.

Ellie released my hand quickly, her eyes widening.

I sensed her sudden shift in demeanor, a subtle withdrawal that left me yearning for the warmth of her touch once more. But just as quickly as it had come, the moment passed, and she plastered on a smile for Ivy’s benefit.

We followed the crowd toward the birthday cake that awaited us.

As the evening wore on, Aidan approached me. "Can I speak to you, Giovanni? In private," he said, his expression unreadable.

"Sure," I replied, nodding towards a quieter corner of the room. Ellie’s gaze followed us as we walked away, a mixture of curiosity and concern in her eyes.

Once we were alone, Aidan cleared his throat. "I know you care about Ellie," he began, his voice low and serious.

I raised an eyebrow. "Then you aren’t as stupid as I thought, Blackwood."

Aidan glared at me. "Don’t push me, Leones."

I grinned. "My apologies. Please continue."

"I can see that you care for her and the kids. My question is, why do you care? What do you get out of this?" Aidan asked.

"I care because she deserves to be cared for," I replied, my voice steady and determined. "Ellie is a strong woman and a good mother. Anyone with a brain could see that. But no matter how strong she is, she and the kids need someone who will stand by them, protect them, love them. And I want to be that person for them."

Aidan’s eyes searched mine as if looking for any hint of deceit. "You’ve been through your fair share of darkness too, Giovanni. What assurance do I have that you won’t lead Ellie into more danger?"

I held his gaze, unwavering. "I would never do anything to harm Ellie or the kids. My past may be checkered, but my intentions towards them are pure. You have my word on that."

Aidan nodded slowly, seeming to weigh my words carefully. "Alright, Giovanni. I’ll trust you... for now."

"Good. If only your sister could see what you saw." I chuckled.

Aidan smirked. "She doesn’t trust you yet, huh? I don’t blame here. Ellie had been through a lot in life."

"Care to elaborate?"

A dark shadow loomed over his face then. "Now is not the time or place to discuss that. And I am sure Ellie wouldn’t like me to spill her secrets. I am sure she will tell you when she is ready. Just know that she had been broken once so you better make sure it doesn’t happen again."

"I understand," I replied, my tone solemn. "I promise I will do everything in my power to make sure Ellie never has to endure pain like that again."

Aidan studied me for a moment longer, then nodded. "Good. That’s all I needed to hear."

As we rejoined the group, I couldn’t help but notice Ellie watching us from across the room. She gave me a small, hesitant smile, and I returned it, feeling a surge of determination to earn her trust completely.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter, toasts, and shared memories. As the night drew to a close, I approached her quietly and placed a hand on her back. "Ready to go home, Bella?"

She looked at me and smiled. "Yes," she replied softly.

We gathered the kids, who were already drowsy from the excitement of the evening, and made our way to the car. The drive home was peaceful, the city lights blurring into a comforting glow outside the windows. Ellie leaned her head against the window, lost in thought, while the kids slept soundly in their car seats.

When we arrived home, I carefully lifted Lucas from his seat, cradling him in my arms. Ellie did the same with Elora, and together, we carried them inside, tucking them into their beds.

Once the kids were settled, Ellie and I found ourselves alone in the quiet of the living room.

"Tonight was wonderful," Ellie said, breaking the silence. She looked at me, her eyes reflecting the softness of her words.

"It was," I agreed, stepping closer. "And you looked ravishing. Seeing you so happy... it made me realize just how much I want to see that smile on your face every day."

She blushed, looking down at her hands. "You’ve already done so much for me and the kids, Giovanni. I don’t know how to thank you."

I reached out, lifting her chin so our eyes met. "You don’t need to thank me, Ellie. I am doing this for myself too."

For a moment, we stood there, the intensity of our connection palpable. Then, I leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. She closed her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips as she leaned into the touch.

"Goodnight, Bella," I replied softly. "Sweet dreams."

With that, I headed to my own room, feeling a newfound sense of hope. Ellie had begun to let me in, and I was determined to prove to her that I was worthy of her trust. One step at a time, we would build a life together.

~-~

I woke to the sound of muffled sobs, piercing the stillness of the night. My heart clenched as I recognized the familiar sound of Ellie crying in her sleep again.

Pushing off the covers, I quietly made my way to her room. The door was slightly ajar, and through the sliver of space, I could see her silhouette trembling under the blankets. Her soft cries were heart-wrenching, and I knew I couldn’t just stand by.

I gently pushed the door open and approached her bed, careful not to startle her. "Ellie," I whispered softly, touching her shoulder. "It’s okay, Bella. I’m here."

"Go away," she breathed, sounding a lot like a young girl. "Please..."

"Ellie," I whispered again, my voice gentle yet firm. "Who are you talking to?"

Ellie’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused and filled with fear. "Please, just leave me alone," she pleaded, her voice trembling as if she were still caught in the grip of her nightmare. "Can’t you just leave? Just for tonight?"

"Ellie," I said a bit louder this time. "Who are you talking to?"

Her breathing hitched, and she blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the remnants of her dream. "Giovanni?" she murmured, recognition slowly dawning in her eyes.

"Yes, it’s me," I confirmed, hovering over her.

Ellie sat up, hugging her knees to her chest, her eyes darting around the dimly lit room as if checking for threats. "It felt so real," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I was back there, with him... I couldn’t get away."

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "You’re here now, Ellie. You’re safe with me."

She looked down at our joined hands, her fingers trembling. "I am sorry."

"Don’t apologize, mio amore," I said, my voice firm but gentle. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"You can leave now. I am fine," she said, her voice barely audible.

"I’m not going anywhere," I stated firmly, refusing to budge.

Ellie’s eyes met mine. She seemed torn between wanting to push me away and desperately needing the comfort I offered.