My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 119

Ellie

I sat at the dinner table, my eyes moving between Giovanni, Elora in her stroller beside me, and Lucas sitting on a chair next to Giovanni. The aroma from the steaming plates of pasta filled the room as we prepared to eat together.

"Ellie," Giovanni said firmly, his gaze meeting mine. "I would like us to have dinner together every night. Family time is important."

"Okay," I agreed, my voice catching in my throat.

Giovanni looked down at the food, then back up at me. "Promise me, Ellie. Promise this will be our routine."

"Promise," I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

The steam from the plate of vegetables rose, filling the air with a comforting warmth. Giovanni glanced over at Lucas, who was attempting to hide a grimace as he poked at his broccoli.

"Lucas," Giovanni said, his tone firm but kind. "Vegetables are important for you to grow big and strong. You can’t just eat pasta every day."

Lucas sighed, looking down at his plate. I could see the reluctance on his face, but there was also an underlying respect for Giovanni.

"But they are gross," Lucas grumbled.

Giovanni let out a hearty laugh and flexed his arm muscles playfully. "But don’t you want these arms one day?" he asked.

Lucas’s eyes widened in amazement. "Yes!"

"And that’s how you get it," Giovanni said, grinning.

"Really?" Lucas asked, doubt lining his young voice.

"Absolutely!" Giovanni replied with enthusiasm. "Just look at Popeye, the sailor man! He eats spinach, and he’s super strong."

"Okay, I’ll try," Lucas hesitated before taking a small bite of broccoli. As he chewed, his face brightened. "Hey, that’s not bad!"

"See? I told you!" Giovanni grinned, ruffling Lucas’s hair affectionately. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

I could feel my heart swell as I watched them together, the bond between them deepening with each playful exchange. It was a sight I never thought I’d see, and it filled me with an indescribable warmth.

"Good job, buddy," Giovanni praised Lucas when he finished his plate, earning a proud smile from the young boy.

While the atmosphere was light and full of laughter, my thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. The happiness I felt was tainted with the fear of losing this newfound stability we had created. The stakes felt higher than ever, and I struggled to find a balance between my attachment to Giovanni and the ever-present risk of heartache.

"Ellie, are you okay?" Giovanni’s question snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Y-yes, sorry," I stammered, trying to mask the uncertainty that plagued me.

"Elora has been keeping you up?" he inquired gently, knowing full well the toll my infant daughter took on my sleep.

"Something like that," I said with a forced chuckle, not quite ready to admit my inner turmoil.

He narrowed his eyes but didn’t push me to say more.

After I excused myself from the dinner table, I took Elora and Lucas away to give them their nightly bath.

As I carried Elora in my arms and led Lucas upstairs, the lingering scent of dinner trailed behind us. Lucas skipped ahead, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. "I’ll get the towels, Mommy!" he called back.

"Thanks, sweetie," I replied, adjusting Elora on my hip as we made our way to the bathroom.

The bathroom was already filled with the soft, ambient light from the nightlight shaped like a friendly starfish. Lucas had taken to leaving it on after his first bath in this house, saying it made him feel like he was underwater with the fishes.

"Mom, can we use the bubbles tonight?" Lucas asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Sure, but just a little, okay?" I responded, setting Elora down gently on the changing table to get her out of her onesie.

Lucas nodded eagerly and climbed into the tub, turning on the water and pouring a small capful of bubble bath into the stream. Soon, the tub was filled with foamy bubbles, and Lucas was giggling as he swirled them around.

I placed Elora into a small baby tub beside the main bathtub, her little feet kicking in delight as the warm water enveloped her. Lucas leaned over, carefully scooping some bubbles and placing them gently on her tiny hands.

"Look, Elora, bubbles!" Lucas said, his voice full of wonder. Elora cooed in response, her wide eyes fixed on her big brother.

As I washed Elora, I found myself watching Lucas, my heart swelling with love and pride. Despite the challenges we faced, moments like this reminded me of the beauty in our day-to-day life.

"Mommy," Lucas began after a while, his voice softer now. "Do you think Giovanni will always be with us?"

The question caught me off guard. I paused, rinsing Elora’s tiny toes before answering. "I hope so, Lucas. He seems to really care about us, doesn’t he?"

"Yeah," Lucas agreed, his eyes thoughtful. "He’s like a superhero. He makes me feel safe."

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes at Lucas’s innocent words. "He makes me feel safe too," I admitted, my voice almost a whisper.

The bath continued in a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional splash and giggle. After getting both kids dried and into their pajamas, I tucked Lucas into his bed, his eyes drooping with exhaustion.

"Goodnight, Mommy," he mumbled, snuggling into his pillow.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," I replied, kissing his forehead. "Sweet dreams."

With Lucas settled, I took Elora to her crib. She fussed a little, but soon, her eyelids began to droop, and she drifted off to sleep.

As I closed the door to Elora’s room, I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me. Giovanni’s words echoed in my mind, and I found myself hoping more than ever that this new routine could last. I returned downstairs to find Giovanni still at the table, his expression thoughtful.

"Kids all settled?" he asked, his eyes meeting mine with concern.

"Yes, both are asleep," I replied.

"Ellie," Giovanni began, reaching out to take my hand. "Are you going to tell me what’s wrong now?"

"Nothing is wr-.." Before I could finish, Giovanni covered my mouth with his.

His kiss was unexpected, fierce and unyielding. It sent my heart racing and my mind reeling as I struggled to keep up with the overwhelming rush of emotions—relief at finally being touched, warmth from his desperate lips, and a lingering fear of what would come next. As Giovanni pulled back slightly, his intense gaze bore into mine.

"Don’t lie to me, mia cara," he growled.

"I-I’m just scared," I managed to whisper, my voice trembling under his intense gaze that seemed to see right through me.

Giovanni’s expression softened ever so slightly, his thumb gently tracing the line of my jaw. "Scared of what, Ellie?"

"Of getting used to this... to us," I admitted, the words feeling heavy as they left my lips. "I don’t want to get too comfortable and then have it all taken away."

His eyes searched mine for a moment before a determined look crossed his face. "You won’t lose me, Ellie. I promise you that."

I wanted to believe him, to let myself be swept away by his assurance, but the fear lingered at the back of my mind like a shadow.

"I’ll always protect you and the kids," Giovanni said firmly, his voice unwavering. "You will not leave my side. I won’t allow it."

I stared at him. The back of my eyelids burned, but I refused to cry.

"And you will be sleeping in my bed from now on," he added.

I blinked. "What?"

"You heard me, my love. I want you to move into my bedroom," he said.

I swallowed hard, trying to process Giovanni’s sudden declaration. My mind raced with conflicting emotions - fear, doubt, but also a flicker of hope that maybe this could be a new beginning for us.

"I...why would you..." I stammered.

"Hush," he scolded me. "I won’t hear any arguments."

I wrinkled my forehead and frowned. "You can’t just order me around, Giovanni. And you can’t make me move into your bedroom. I won’t..." I yelped as he suddenly bent down and picked me up in his arms.

I squirmed in his grasp, my protests falling on deaf ears as Giovanni effortlessly carried me to his bedroom.

Giovanni gently lowered me onto the edge of his bed before stepping back, his intense gaze never leaving mine. I sat there, feeling small and vulnerable under his scrutiny.

"You will sleep here tonight," Giovanni stated firmly, his voice brooking no argument.

I opened my mouth to protest again, but the look in his eyes silenced me. "But why do you want me to sleep here?" I asked.

"So I can hold you at night, of course," he said nonchalantly.

"Who do you think I am? Your side pillow?" I pouted.

Giovanni chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down my spine every time. "Something like that. And besides, with those nightmares you’ve been having, I ended up sleeping in your bed most times anyway," he shrugged.

"So what? You will become my hero and save me from my nightmares?" I retorted.

"Maybe I will," Giovanni replied, his tone teasing but with an underlying seriousness that sent a chill down my spine. "Maybe I’ll chase away all your demons and make sure you sleep peacefully."

I stared at him, uncertain whether to be annoyed by his presumptuousness or touched by his concern. Giovanni’s gaze softened as he took a step closer, his hand reaching out to gently tuck a lock of hair behind my ear.

"You don’t have to be strong all the time, Ellie," he murmured, his thumb brushing against my cheek.

His words struck a chord deep within me, a longing for someone to share the burden of my fears and insecurities. But could I trust him with my vulnerabilities? Could I let myself depend on Giovanni when the walls I had built around my heart were so fragile?

Before I could voice my doubts, Giovanni leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, his touch gentle yet reassuring. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to bask in the warmth of his embrace, the scent of his cologne wrapped around me like a comforting blanket.

With a sigh, I whispered softly, "Okay, Giovanni. I’ll stay."

A smile curved his lips as he pulled me closer, enfolding me in his arms as if promising to shield me from all harm. "Don’t make me regret this," I mumbled against his chest.

"Wouldn’t dream of it," he said.