My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 120

Ellie

The morning sun invaded the room, assaulting my closed eyelids. I stirred, groggy and disoriented, only to find that I couldn’t move my body. Panic bubbled inside me as I tried to wiggle free, but it was no use.

But as soon as I opened my eyes, my tension released.

I was trapped in Giovanni’s tight embrace. "Giovanni," I whispered."

"Hmm," he murmured, his grip unwavering.

"It’s morning," I said, my voice barely audible. His arms remained steadfast, keeping me pinned to him.

I suddenly realized something: there were no nightmares haunting my sleep this time. It was a strange relief, but I needed to focus on the fact that I was captive in his strong arms.

"Are you going to let me go?" I asked, attempting to sound assertive, but my voice came out shaky.

"Too early," he mumbled.

Jeez...

I inhaled deeply, taking in the familiar scent of Giovanni. He smelled like sandalwood and...man.

I felt his breath tickle the nape of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. His chest rose and fell with each steady breath, pressing me back against his firm body.

As I shifted slightly, I became acutely aware of his stiff cock pressing against me. A wave of heat rushed through me, flushing my cheeks as a soft giggle escaped my lips. Giovanni stirred at the sound, his grip tightening around me possessively.

"Ticklish, are we?" he murmured huskily, his warm breath fanning over my ear.

I could feel a blush creeping down my neck as I squirmed against him, trying to suppress another giggle threatening to bubble up.

"Giovanni, come on. We need to get up," I tried again.

"It’s not time yet," he growled, his voice low and rumbling. "Just a few more minutes, Bella."

I tried to reason with him, but there was something about his tone that made me reluctant to argue. Instead, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to enjoy the warmth of his body against mine, his scent surrounding me.

Suddenly, his phone started ringing, the sound jarring my senses back. Giovanni muttered a curse and shifted beneath me, his hand tightening around my waist as he reached for his phone.

"What?" he barked as an answer.

The conversation on the phone seemed to be brief, but Giovanni’s demeanor changed as he hung up. "I have to go," he said, tension creeping into his voice.

"Is everything alright?" I asked, my voice gentle.

He ran a hand through his unruly hair. "Just business stuff. I might be gone all day, but I’ll leave some of my men here to keep watch."

My heart sank. He may leave some men for protection, but it’s not the same as having him by my side all day long. The thought made my bones ache with longing.

God, I felt like a lovestruck teenage girl just now!

He hesitated before speaking again. "Would you mind doing me a favor?"

"What’s that?" I asked.

"Would you mind spending some time with Nonna? I hadn’t been able to spend much time with the old lady and she has not been feeling well," Giovanni asked, looking at me expectantly.

"Of course," I replied softly.

Giovanni nodded, his expression softening. "Good."

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

Giovanni pulled back and gave me a reassuring smile. "I’ll be back. We’ll have dinner together tonight, just like promised."

All I could do was nod.

As he left the room, I watched him walk away. Then, with a sigh, I forced myself out of bed and started my day.

I fed Elora and Lucas, and their little faces lit up with delight when they saw me. They clung to me like little limpets, and I couldn’t help but smile.

After a while, I took them to see Nonna in her room. She was thrilled to see them, her eyes twinkling with joy.

"Oh, it’s you Ellie. And you brought your kids!" she said.

I looked down. "I am sorry I hadn’t come to see you. I was just..."

"Oh, sweetie. No need to apologize," she said, waving her hands in dismissal. "Now, let me hold the baby."

Nonna took Elora from my arms and cradled her gently, cooing and whispering in Italian as she stroked her soft black hair. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for not having visited sooner, but I knew she understood.

"And you, mio amore. Come sit by me," Nonna said to Lucas.

He settled down next to her, looking up at her with his big blue eyes. Nonna ruffled his hair with affection.

"Ah, the child didn’t inherit your beautiful red hair, but he sure is beautiful," Nonna said.

I laughed softly. As I sat there, watching Nonna interact with the children, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. It was in these moments that I truly felt like part of the family - Giovanni’s family.

"Elora may have my hair," I said. "I used to have blonde hair as a young girl until it turned this fiery red."

Nonna chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with a warmth that made me feel instantly welcome. "Ah, she will be a beautiful girl, just like her mamma," she said, gently rocking Elora. The baby cooed, her tiny hand reaching up to grasp Nonna’s finger.

I settled into a chair across from them, feeling the weight of the morning’s events slowly lift. Lucas was chatting animatedly with Nonna, who listened with rapt attention, her laughter filling the room. It was a rare moment of tranquility, a pause in the whirlwind of our new lives.

"Nonna, how have you been feeling?" I asked gently, watching the way her eyes crinkled with amusement at Lucas’s tales.

Nonna’s expression turned more serious, though her smile never completely faded. "Oh, you know, my dear. The usual aches and pains of old age. But having you all here brings me such joy. It’s the best medicine."

I reached out to squeeze her hand. "I’m glad we can be here with you. Giovanni mentioned you haven’t been feeling well, and I wanted to make sure you were alright."

She patted my hand affectionately. "Giovanni worries too much. But I appreciate his concern. But this family has needed a bit of sunshine, and you and the children have brought that."

I felt that familiar heat pool in my stomach at the mention of him. "Will you tell me more about Giovanni? His childhood?"

Her expression darkened at that. "I suppose I could tell you now that you’ve become part of the family." She paused to take a deep breath.

"Giovanni’s upbringing was fraught with challenges," she began, her voice becoming more somber. "He was born into a life he did not choose, a life dictated by circumstance and the expectations of his father."

"His childhood was one of constant tension and fear. He carried the weight of his father’s legacy on his shoulders, knowing the expectations that came with it. But he never let it show. Giovanni always held his head high, a resilient young boy with a sense of duty and honor that never faltered." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

As she spoke, I could almost see the young Giovanni, a boy with a bright future before him, but his path was already set. The harsh reality of his environment weighed down on him, shaping him into the man he is today.

"His mother, my dear, she tried to protect him from the darkness that surrounded them. But even her love couldn’t shield him from the harsh realities of the life he was born into."

Nonna’s eyes welled up with tears as she spoke of her daughter-in-law.

"What was she like?" I asked quietly.

"Sweet Elizabeth, she was a kind and loving soul," Nonna said, her voice trembling with emotion. "She was always full of life, with a smile that could light up a room. She loved Giovanni deeply, and she tried her best to give him the life he deserved."

"Giovanni was always a good boy," Nonna continued, wiping away a tear. "But sometimes, life is cruel, and it tests even the strongest of spirits. He had to grow up fast, and he had to learn to deal with a world that wasn’t always fair."

Elora gurgled, drawing our attention back to her. Nonna kissed her cheek, and the baby cooed, content in her arms.

"How did someone like his mother end up with a man like Giovanni’s father?" I asked, my curiosity growing.

Nonna sighed, her face a mix of sadness and pride. "Giovanni’s father, Alexander, was a powerful man in the city. He was a man of influence and wealth, but his heart was as black as the night."

I held my breath, listening to the story. "Did...did he force Elizabeth?"

Nonna’s eyes drooped for a moment before regaining focus. "No, not quite like that. You see, their love was genuine, but circumstance played a cruel hand. Alexander was ruthless in his pursuit of power, and Elizabeth, with her gentle heart, was an obstacle he could not bear."

I felt a chill run down my spine, thinking about the kind, gentle Elizabeth caught in such a predicament. "What happened to her?"

Nonna’s face twisted with pain as she remembered her dear daughter-in-law. "Elizabeth, she couldn’t take the pressure anymore. She had tried to leave Alexander, but the city was his playground, and he would not let her go easily."

"Why did she want to leave her husband?" I asked, fearing the answer.

"It was because of the way he treated Giovanni. He didn’t only want a son; he wanted a son who could rule his empire. And in order to ensure that, he put Giovanni through torture," Nonna said, shaking her head.

I couldn’t breathe. My heart was racing, and a knot formed in my throat as I tried to swallow the lump that had appeared there. "What kind of torture?" It was hard to speak, but I needed to know.

Nonna sighed, the pain in her eyes was palpable. "It was physical, emotional, and psychological. Alexander would do anything to make sure his son would never fall short of his expectations. He would beat Giovanni and make him endure endless humiliation, all in the name of preparing him for his future role."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This was the man who had raised Giovanni, who had shaped him into the man he was today? "So, this...this violence is the reason behind his anger and the scars on his body?"

Nonna nodded, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Yes, my dear. And to make matters worse, Elizabeth couldn’t bear to see her son suffer. She tried to protect him, but that only made things worse for both of them. It was a vicious cycle."

My heart ached for the young Giovanni, for his dear mother, and for what they must have gone through. "How did Elizabeth die?"

Nonna closed her eyes and breathed slowly. "Alexander had sent Giovanni on a mission when he was merely sixteen. Elizabeth cried and pleaded, but he never listened. The mission went wrong, and a lot of Alexander’s men ended up killed. When Elizabeth heard, she was in hysterics. And she had completely lost it when Giovanni didn’t return home."

Nonna continued, her voice choked with emotion, "Alexander was furious. He looked for Giovanni, but he was nowhere to be found. He was missing. He returned home after a week. But at that time, it was too late because Elizabeth took her own life thinking her son was dead. It was a tragic end to a desperate situation."

My stomach twisted in knots as I listened to the story. "What happened to Alexander after that?"

Nonna finally looked up, her eyes clear and determined. "Alexander went on to rise to the top of his empire, but he never found happiness."

I was silent for a moment, throat constricted with the enormity of the story I had just heard. "What about Giovanni? How did he survive all that?"

Nonna’s eyes softened, and her lips curled into a warm smile. "Giovanni, he was a survivor. He rose to the top like his father and took over his business, but he never lost his humanity like Alexander did."

I nodded. "He is...kind to my children. But what if..." I stopped, unable to think what to say next.

"I know what you are thinking, dear. Will Giovanni treat your son like how his father treated him? I can assure you he won’t," Nonna said, smiling.

"But how can you be sure?" I asked.

"Giovanni is not his father," Nonna replied, her voice firm and resolute. "He’s a man who’s been through hell and back but has held on to his humanity. He understands pain, and he won’t inflict it upon others. Giovanni will love your children and you."

I couldn’t help but blush at that.

"In fact," she continued. "I believe he already loves you," she declared.

I bit my lip and proceeded to argue but stopped myself. "But what about you, Nonna?" I asked instead. "How did you survive all that?"

Nonna smiled and patted my hand gently. "I survived because I chose to. I raised Giovanni alongside Elizabeth. She was my daughter in law, and I loved her dearly, and I could not give up on her. I had to be strong for her, and I believed in her. It wasn’t easy, but it was what I needed to do."

I couldn’t help but smile at her determination, and I realized that, in a way, I was starting to understand Giovanni more and why he was so desperate to have a loving family.

"Sometimes, life can be cruel, my dear," she said, her face etched with lines of wisdom and experience. "But it’s the choices we make that determine how we handle it. Give my boy a chance to prove to you that he can be a better man."

I didn’t know what else to say after that.