My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 101

Ellie

Heat pooled in my stomach and then it spread through my body. His eyes, his words, and even his simple request were affecting me deeply, whether I wanted to admit it or not.

" What?" I whispered.

"Kiss me, and I’ll let you go," he promised.

"You can’t make me kiss you," I retorted, my attempt at firmness betraying my inner turmoil.

He shrugged. "I am not making you. I am requesting you to pay up."

I was torn, my thoughts in a frenzy. Something inside me was curious about this man, and for some reason, I was having a hard time refusing him outright.

Giovanni took a lock of my hair and twisted it around his finger. "It’s a simple kiss, Ellie. Nothing more, nothing less."

His nearness was a sensory overload, clouding my thoughts. I could sense his breath on my skin, and the heat radiating from his body was a gravitational force. I was torn between the urge to run and an unexplainable compulsion to bridge the gap between us.

Before I could fully process my actions, I found myself leaning in, closing the gap between us. His eyes flickered with a mix of triumph and something else I couldn’t quite figure out.

As our lips met, a rush of heat surged through me, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

His lips pressed against mine in a jolt of electricity, setting off a blazing fire inside me. Giovanni’s hand gently caressed my cheek, his touch simultaneously tender and possessive. The raw intensity of the moment consumed me, pulling me deeper and deeper into its passionate embrace.

It has been so long...too long since I’d been kissed like this.

This wasn’t fair. Why did he have to be such a good kisser? Why did he, of all people, have to make my body feel like this?

I could feel my body melting into his as our lips moved in perfect sync, every nerve ending alive with desire. It was a kiss that ignited all my senses, leaving me breathless and wanting more. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

He pulled away first and grinned, his eyes never leaving mine. "Goodnight, my love." He turned to his heels and left the room, but not before ruffling Lucas’s hair on his way out.

Damn him.

I stood there for a moment, trying to catch my breath.

"Mommy!"

I snapped my attention back to Lucas. "What is it, honey?"

"I am hungry. Can I get a snack?" he asked, his innocent eyes looking up at me expectantly.

I smiled, grateful for the distraction. "Of course, sweetie. Let’s go find something yummy."

As I led Lucas to the kitchen, I couldn’t help but replay the kiss in my mind. The way Giovanni’s lips had moved against mine, the way his hand had cradled my face—it was all so intoxicating and confusing. I tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the here and now with my son.

In the kitchen, I found an elderly woman by the stove. She looked at me questioningly.

I smiled nervously. "Um...my son, Lucas. He is hungry. Do you think we can get something to eat for him?" I asked her.

The woman’s expression softened as she glanced at Lucas. "Of course, dear. I’m Maria, the cook. What would Lucas like to eat?"

Lucas, clutching my hand, looked up at Maria with wide eyes. "Do you have any cookies?" he asked hopefully.

"Or something healthier for little boys," I interjected.

Maria chuckled softly. "I think we can manage a balance, dear. How about some fresh fruit and a couple of cookies as a treat?"

Lucas’s eyes lit up. "Yes, please!"

"Perfect," Maria said with a warm smile. "Why don’t you two sit at the table while I prepare something?"

I led Lucas to the kitchen table, and we sat down. Maria moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, gathering fresh fruit and a few cookies. The comforting aroma of baked goods filled the air, and I felt a small sense of normalcy settle over me.

As Maria placed a plate of sliced apples and a few cookies in front of Lucas, he beamed up at her. "Yay!"

"Lucas, what do you say to someone who gives you something nice?" I reminded him.

"Thank you!" he chirped.

"You’re very welcome, young man," Maria replied, her eyes twinkling with warmth.

Lucas eagerly bit into an apple slice, happily munching away. I watched him, feeling a mixture of relief and gratitude. The kiss with Giovanni still lingered in my mind, but for now, I focused on my son and the small moments of peace.

Maria sat down across from me, her gaze gentle. "Miss Ellie, isn’t it?" she asked. "Signor Leones mentioned you."

I nodded, feeling a slight blush creep up my cheeks. "Yes, that’s me. Please just call me by my first name."

Maria smiled kindly. "It’s good to see children in the house again. It brings a special kind of warmth."

I nodded, returning her smile. "Thank you, Maria. Your kindness means a lot."

As Lucas finished his snack, I felt a sense of comfort knowing there were caring people like Maria around. It made the complicated feelings about Giovanni and our situation a little easier to bear.

I looked at my phone to check the baby monitor and found that Elora was still sleeping in her crib peacefully. "How long have you been working here, Maria?" I asked the older woman.

Maria’s smile widened as she reminisced. "Oh, I’ve been with the Leones family for nearly thirty years now. I started when Giovanni was just a little boy himself. It’s been quite a journey."

Her words carried a sense of history, and I found myself curious about Giovanni’s past. "That must have been quite an experience. Was he always...the way he is now?"

Maria chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with fond memories. "Giovanni has always had a strong will and a fierce sense of loyalty. He can be tough, but there’s a heart underneath all that strength. He cares deeply for those he loves, even if he doesn’t always show it in the gentlest of ways."

"Had he always been...um...in the Italian Mafia?" I asked.

Maria’s smile softened as she considered my question. "Giovanni was born into this life, Ellie. It’s the family business, so to speak. His father and grandfather were both involved. It’s a world that can be hard to escape from, even if you want to."

I nodded slowly, trying to piece together what I knew about Giovanni. "So he’s always been surrounded by it?"

Maria sighed, her expression thoughtful. "Yes, from a very young age."

I glanced at Lucas, who was now playing with a small toy car on the table. I was no stranger to this kind of life since I lived with Slava and my own brother was in the Mafia, but for some reason, I had a hard time comparing Giovanni to them. He just seemed so...different.

I looked back at Maria, curiosity getting the better of me. "What was he like as a child?"

Maria’s face lit up with a nostalgic smile. "Oh, he was a spirited boy. Always getting into some kind of trouble, but his heart was always in the right place. He was fiercely protective even back then, especially of his family."

I listened to her intently. I didn’t know why I was so eager to learn more about Giovanni, even though I wanted nothing to do with him.

Or maybe I was lying to myself, and I did want to know more about him.