My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 108

Giovanni

The moment I stepped out of the tub, cool air hit my skin, causing droplets of water to shiver along my arms. As I patted my skin dry with a towel, the fabric absorbed the remnants of warmth from the bathwater, and I welcomed the clean, relaxed feeling that started to replace the tension in my muscles.

Ellie... what she did, the way her hand moved over my cock, it meant more than just an act. It was her surrender, a giving in, a silent whisper of trust. I could still feel the ghost of her touch, sparking joy and satisfaction deep within me.

Drying my chest, I stopped for a heartbeat, allowing myself to relish the thought that Ellie was yielding, bit by bit, tearing down the walls she’d so fiercely built around herself.

"Opening up," I muttered to myself. "Finally."

I threw the towel aside, conviction hardening like steel in my chest. Ellie’s act wasn’t just intimate; it was a declaration, whether she intended it or not. And I, Giovanni Leones, was never one to shy away from a challenge—I would have her heart just as surely as she had unknowingly claimed mine.

I pulled up my pajama pants, the fabric cool against my skin, still warm from the bath. I glanced at the mirror, catching the tail end of a grin that wouldn’t fade. Ellie’s face danced behind my eyelids, her cheeks tinged with rose, eyes wide with something similar to wonder and embarrassment.

I made my way to the bedroom, my mind replaying every second of our last exchange. A yawn cracked my jaw as I pushed open the door to my room.

"Goodnight, Ellie," I murmured into the dark, letting her name settle in the space around me. I closed my eyes and sleep took me then.

Something woke me up in the middle of the night.

A faint cry, muffled through walls, pricked my consciousness, dragging me from the depths of sleep. My heart clenched tight—a fist of worry.

I shot up. I couldn’t ignore the sound, not when it might be my doing. Had our encounter pushed her too far? Was she drowning in regret?

"Damn," I muttered, throwing off the sheets. My feet hit the cold floor, urgency fueling my movements. There was no time for slippers, no patience for hesitation. I needed to reach her, to reassure her that whatever this was, it wasn’t a mistake.

I was quickly at her door. My hand closed around the knob, turned it with care. The hinges gave a soft creak as I stepped inside, and there she was—Ellie—lying in her bed.

She was tossing and turning in her sleep, clearly having a nightmare

"Ellie," I called out, my voice sharper than intended.

"No..." she said, her voice sounding tormented. "Please don’t. I don’t want to."

I reached her bed in strides. My hand hovered for a moment before I let it fall gently upon her shoulder. Ellie’s skin was warm under my touch, the tremor of her nightmares vibrating against my fingertips.

Her body jerked slightly at my touch, and then those deep green eyes fluttered open, glazed with the remnants of terror. They searched the shadows until they found mine, locking in a silent battle of fear against reality.

"Shh, it’s just a dream," I murmured, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. "You’re safe, Ellie. I’m here."

Tears streaked her cheeks, glistening trails of vulnerability that tugged at my core. It was a sight that clawed at my insides.

"Stay back," she rasped, a feeble attempt at defiance that crumbled with her words.

"I won’t let anyone hurt you," I countered, my resolve an unspoken vow. "Not now, not ever."

I held her gaze. It wasn’t a moment of lust, but it was filled with an emotion stronger than any fleeting desire.

"What...what are you doing here?" she whimpered.

"It’s okay, Ellie. I heard you crying and I had to make sure you were alright," I said in a soft voice, trying to reassure her.

I reached out and gently wiped away a tear from her cheek, feeling her flesh tremble beneath my touch.

"I am fine. You can leave now. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me," she said curtly. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

I lay down next to her and pulled her to my chest, hugging her tightly despite her protests. "Do I seem like the kind of man who would feel sorry for anyone?" I asked.

She struggled against my embrace. "Get off me! Let me go."

I held her tighter, unable to resist the urge to comfort her. "Ellie, listen to me. You’re not alone. I’m here for you, and I won’t let anyone hurt you."

Her body went limp, her sobs consumed by my chest. I could feel her heartbeat racing against mine, matching mine in tempo.

"I had a nightmare," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I stroked her hair, trying to calm her down. "I know, sweetheart."

The night grew quiet. Her breathing slowed down, and finally, she drifted back to sleep, her body still trembling slightly. I continued holding her close, every inch of her warmth seeping into my skin.

Ellie’s breathing deepened, and I fell asleep, my arms wrapped protectively around her.

~-~

I woke to the sound of soft cooing near me.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw Ellie playing with baby Elora next to me. Ellie was hovering over her, talking to her and giggling. Elora’s chubby hands reached out to Ellie, trying to catch her nose.

As I watched them, I felt my heart filled with warmth.

It was a strange scene to wake up to - Ellie, a new mom with her whole world turned upside down, and me, trying to find my place in this.

"Good morning," I said gently so I didn’t startle her.

She looked at me and smiled slightly. "Sorry. Did we disturb you?" she asked.

I shook my head, still taking in the scene before me. "Not at all. It’s a lovely sight to wake up to," I said, grinning.

Ellie’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, the corners of her mouth twitched into a small smile. Her arms cradled Elora protectively as she looked at me.

"Don’t get used to it," she said.

I raised my eyebrow. "Oh no? What if I am already used to it?"

Ellie rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile playing at her lips. She shifted Elora in her arms, the baby cooing happily, oblivious to the subtle tension between us.

"I mean it, Giovanni. Don’t start thinking this is some kind of routine," she said, her tone firm but softened by the early morning light streaming through the window.

I propped myself up on one elbow, my gaze fixed on her. "Why not? I like this—waking up to you and Elora. It feels...right."

Ellie sighed, looking down at Elora with a mixture of love and worry. "Because things aren’t that simple," she replied. "You can’t just waltz into our lives and expect everything to fall into place."

I didn’t respond. Instead, I reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"Thank you for last night," she said quietly. "For comforting me."

I could feel the warmth of her skin under my fingers as I traced her smooth cheek.

"Don’t thank me. I wasn’t doing you any favors. Everything I do for you is for selfish reasons," I said, my voice sounding raspy in my own ears.

Ellie bit her lower lip, her eyes meeting mine. "Selfish reasons?"

"Most definitely. I am trying to win your heart," I said.

Ellie’s eyes widened, and a flicker of concern crossed her face. "Is that all this is to you? A game?"

I shook my head, my eyes never leaving hers. "I want you to be mine, that’s all."

She sighed, her arms tightening around Elora. "And what if I don’t want you?"

Her words cut me deep, but I remained steady. "You will."

A small, hesitant smile graced her lips. "You know, you’re stubborn."

"And you’re beautiful," I replied smoothly. "But I’ll be the first one to admit that I can’t win this game without your help."

There was a moment of silence between us, and then Ellie finally spoke. "I have them."

I blinked, not understanding what she was talking about. "Have what?"

"What you were looking for," she said. "I have the codes."