My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 87

Ellie

Giovanni’s smirk faltered for a moment, and he glanced at Aidan. "Well, cara," he began, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

At that moment, with that stupid expression on his face, he almost looked like a little boy who did something bad.

"What is it?" I asked. I felt dread pulling in my stomach as I imagined the worst. Why did he look so guilty?

"There was a bit of a mix-up with the paperwork when you were rushed in. A... uh... misunderstanding." He hesitated.

I frowned, my gaze shifting between the two men. "What kind of misunderstanding?"

Aidan took a deep breath, stepping forward. "Giovanni... signed the birth certificate as the baby’s father."

I stared at them, uncomprehending. "He...WHAT?" I cried and then lowered my voice when I remembered I was at the hospital. "I don’t understand," I hissed.

"By accident," Giovanni interjected quickly. "There was confusion, and the nurses needed the forms filled out. So, I may have signed my name where Slava’s should have been. You know...on those dotted lines where it says father’s signature?" He explained like I was a five year old.

I blinked. "You signed as her father?"

"Si. But I mean, he couldn’t have signed anyway since he is dead," Giovanni reminded me.

My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of anger and bewilderment surging through me. "You signed the birth certificate? My daughter’s birth certificate?" I repeated, unable to believe what I was hearing.

"Si," he said again without a hint of guilt on his face.

Was this some kind of a sick joke?

"Ellie," Aidan said softly, stepping closer. "I know this is a lot to take in, but right now, the most important thing is that you and Elora are both safe and healthy. We’ll sort out the paperwork. I promise."

But I wasn’t paying any attention to Aidan. "Y-you...are you an idiot!?"

"Oh, come on, Bella. You don’t need to be rude," Giovanni almost looked sad. He scratched the side of his face where his scar is.

If I wasn’t holding a newborn, I probably would’ve jumped out of the bed and kicked him on his family jewels.

I couldn’t believe how dismissive he was being about something so important. This wasn’t just some random mistake – it involved my daughter’s legal identity.

"Fix it right now!" I said through gritted teeth.

Giovanni raised an eyebrow. "Fix it? I don’t know if I could."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because I find that I rather like being Elora’s accidental father," Giovanni declared.

Ehh?

"Giovanni, this is not a joke," I snapped, my hands tightening around Elora.

"I’m not joking, mia cara," he replied, his dark eyes locked on mine. "I may have signed the birth certificate by accident, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am now Elora’s father in the eyes of the law. And honestly, I don’t hate it." He smiled innocently.

Well...as innocent as he could with that face of his.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was Giovanni actually serious? Did he think this was some kind of game?

"I don’t want you to be her father!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with anger and disbelief.

"Ellie, calm down," Ivy said soothingly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You are still weak."

"The girl doesn’t have a real father," Giovanni stated the obvious.

"That’s because YOU killed her real father, jackass," I hissed.

Giovanni waived his hand dismissively. "I didn’t kill Morozov with my own hands. One of my men got overexcited. Anyway, it’s neither here nor there. What’s important now is that Elora needs a father, and I’m available. I have no children and my name is attached to her now."

"Hang on a moment. Are you trying to adopt my niece, Giovanni? You got to be fucking kidding me," Aidan growled.

Oh, thank god. At least Aidan was still thinking clearly.

"I’m not joking," Giovanni repeated, crossing his arms over his chest. "I can be a good father to Elora."

Aidan snorted in disbelief. "You think being a kingpin makes you father material?"

"I have resources. I can offer her protection that no one else can," Giovanni shot back. "And you are no better than me, Blackwood. So are you saying you won’t be a good father either?"

Aidan opened his mouth and then closed it.

"That’s beside the point!" I screamed, finally finding my voice again. "I am her mother! I get to decide who gets to be a part of her life!"

"Why, of course, amore," Giovanni nodded. "No one is trying to take your baby from you. What I am suggesting is that..." He paused and smiled at me sheepishly.

Something told me he was up to no good. "What are you suggesting?" I breathed.

His smirk widened. "I am suggesting that we get married."

For a moment, all I could do was stare at him, my anger replaced by sheer disbelief. Then I did the only thing that seemed logical at the time - I burst into laughter. And I couldn’t stop laughing. My sides hurt, my vision blurred with tears and there were spots in front of my eyes. What a crazy, outrageous proposition!

"Are you serious?" Ivy asked, as shocked as I was.

"Yes," Giovanni answered, his smirk never wavering. "I am very serious."

"Have you lost your mind?!" Aidan exploded and made a grab for Giovanni’s collar but Ivy held him back.

"You can’t ask her to marry you," Ivy stated harshly, her eyes narrowed at Giovanni.

"And why not?" Giovanni retorted. "I mean, I suppose she could just come and live with me but I’m a traditional man with traditional family values. If I am to make the girl my adoptive daughter, her mom should be my wife."

This man was insane.

"I won’t let you marry my sister," Aidan growled.

"Why ever not?" Giovanni raised an eyebrow.

"Because you’re my enemy!" Aidan bellowed. "You’re not fit to be a dog’s parent, let alone a human’s!"

"Oh, come on, Blackwood, you make it sound like I’m some kind of monster," Giovanni chuckled darkly. He looked at me. "How about you tell me your answer, yeah?"

"I...I..." My mind was spinning, and I felt dizzy with everything that was happening, but one thing was clear - there was no way in hell that I was marrying Giovanni Leones.