“Bye, champ. Love you,” Isa says, her voice filtering into the kitchen from the hallway.
“Bye, Auntie Isa. Love you to the moon and back. Thanks for taking me to see Nonno and Nonna and my cousins.”
“I’ll see you next week, cutie, for your final suit fitting.”
“Ugh. Do I have to?” Elio complains, raising a smile to my face.
“It won’t take long,” Cristian says. “Being a ring bearer is a big honor and a serious responsibility. You need to look your best.”
“All right, I suppose.”
I quietly chuckle to myself. Good luck to whoever the tailor is. Getting Elio to stay still for any length of time is a challenge. Today is my sixth official day as his nanny, and it’s safe to say I’m worn out. Elio keeps me on my toes every day, but I welcome it. Pablo is sending me daily pics and videos reminding me my first deadline is approaching, and I’ve still got fuck all to offer him. I’m hoping I might get an opportunity to do some snooping this weekend, but I’m not overly hopeful. I have barely slept a wink all week worrying about the consequences for Mom if I don’t produce something.
“Sloane. Did you hear me?”
Cristian’s deep, sultry voice drags me from my head. I didn’t even hear them come in or Isa leaving. “Sorry, I was daydreaming. What did you say?” I try my best not to ogle him, but it’s hard when he looks so delicious. Today, he’s wearing an expensive-looking black woolen sweater over ripped black jeans and boots. It makes him look younger and hot as hell.
“We’re leaving in five minutes, Sleepyhead Sloane.” Elio wraps his arms around my legs. “I missed you.”
Crouching down, I pull him into my arms. Tears prick my eyes. I’m already so in love with this little boy. “I missed you too, my little prince.” I dot kisses into his hair before clasping his face in my hands. “Did you have fun at your grandparents’ house?”
He nods vigorously. “I played on the trampoline with my cousins, and Nonna made me apple cake.” He rubs his belly, thrusting it out. “Look how big my belly is ’cause I ate so much cake.”
I chuckle, mussing up his hair as I stand.
“Go to the bathroom before we leave,” Cristian tells his son. “And wash your hands after!” he calls out as Elio races out of the kitchen.
“There are a few things I want to run through before we leave,” Cristian explains, rounding the other side of the island unit.
I’m not sure if he’s putting a physical barrier between us on purpose or not. He’s been more guarded since Tuesday, and I’m guessing he regrets telling me so much personal stuff. He’s worked in his home office after Elio is in bed every night since, and it’s given me next to no time to work on my seduction plan.
“Okay.” I lean back against the kitchen counter.
“Firstly, you’re technically not on duty on the weekend, and you’re not obligated to come with us. I should have asked instead of assuming you were okay with it. I’d like you to see the new build and to meet my friends, as you’ll be spending time with them in the future, but if you have plans with your boyfriend, it’s fine for you to stay behind.”
I don’t have to consider it. There is nothing to be gained from staying behind. I can’t go snooping with all the cameras, and Cristian keeps his home office securely locked when he’s not in there. I have more of a chance of getting intel if I’m with him. And more of a chance to get to know him on a personal level if I’m with him as often as possible. Separating myself from him will not support my goal.
“I have no plans, and I want to come with. I’m excited to see the house and meet your friends, and I don’t think I should be apart from Elio during these important early stages.”
“Okay, great.” Stress visibly leaves his shoulders. “Just know you aren’t tied to us for the weekend. The grounds are vast, and you are free to go walking, running, swimming, or biking, or to do your own thing while we’re there.”
“It’s fine, Cristian. Spending time with Elio and you isn’t a chore.” I peer up at him with doe eyes before shyly averting my gaze.
“There’s one other thing.” The dark, decadent quality of his tone sends shivers racing up and down my spine. I love the sound of his voice. It constantly does wicked things to my insides I shouldn’t be keen to encourage. “Once we leave the city, you’ll have to wear this.” He holds out a black eye mask, looking a little sheepish. “My friends have gone to a lot of trouble to protect the location of their property.”
“I understand.” He explained a bit before.
“They are very protective of their wives and kids and have made an enormous effort to keep their property secure. All visitors who aren’t family are required to wear a blindfold. It’s nothing personal.”
“It’s fine, Cristian. I get it. I can’t fault anyone for going to such lengths to protect their loved ones.” The words imprint on my heart as they leave my mouth, and a sour taste crawls up my throat.
“Elio’s father wasn’t a good man, and he pissed a lot of people off before he died. The consequences of his actions are far-reaching. His enemies may target Elio. I will die before I’ll let anything happen to my son, and I won’t apologize for the measures I take that may seem unnecessary and an overreaction. I won’t take any chances with that little boy.”
His words are like a dagger slowly driving into my heart. Cristian doesn’t know he’s already opened his door to the enemy. Nausea swims up my throat, and I couldn’t hate myself any more than I do in this moment. “You don’t need to explain it, Cristian. I get it. Elio is so lucky to have you in his life.” Tears prick the backs of my eyes, and I’m seconds from losing it again. I can’t fall apart before my boss a second time. “If that’s all, I’ll just finish packing my weekend bag.”
Cristian’s eyes bore into mine, and I hope he doesn’t see the truth behind the veil I wear. “That’s all. I’ll grab Elio and meet you at the front door.”
Pressure settles on my chest to the point of pain as I walk to my bedroom to get my bag. As soon as the door is closed, I race to the bathroom and divest the measly contents of my stomach. I’m an awful person. This entire situation is my fault, and I’m only in this mess because I trusted the wrong person. If it’d resolve things, I’d put a bullet in my skull right now.
Slumped on the floor of the bathroom, I rub at the pain spreading across my chest. Inside, I’m waging a silent war. How am I going to do this? How can I sign this man’s death warrant? I don’t want to, but it’s him or Mom, and there really isn’t a choice.
But there is a choice when it comes to Elio. I’m going to protect that kid with my life. Which means I can’t bring my cartel cell with me this weekend. Pablo can’t know the location because he could target Elio or Cristian’s friends. It’s bad enough I’m living with the knowledge they are going to come for Cristian. I couldn’t bear it if they went after his son or his friends too.
However, if I don’t take it, Pablo will punish my mother. That’s the simple hard truth, and I hate I have to hurt my mother to protect the little boy who already means so much to me.
Scrambling to my feet, I brush my teeth and wash my hands before sitting on the bed. As I hold the cell in my hand, it feels like a ticking bomb while I wrestle with my conscience. I’m still mulling it all over when Elio calls out for me. “Come on, Slowpoke Sloane. It’s time to go!”
Mom’s students spring to mind suddenly. They all adore her, and she adores them. She’s a natural with kids, and I think that’s where I get it from. Her disappearance must have hurt them so much. My heart aches with a fresh wave of pain.
I know what Mom would want me to do.
She wouldn’t want me to place any kids in harm’s way for her.
Her instinct would be to protect them, and that’s what I need to do, so I slip the cartel cell in the hidden pocket of my black purse and leave it in the closet. Then I grab my weekend bag and my spare purse and exit the bedroom.
“Wakey, wakey, Sleepyhead Sloane.” Elio’s teasing little voice rouses me from sleep, and I blink my eyes open, my lashes brushing against soft black silk. Pulling the eye mask off, I rub my sore neck as I push my head off the window and straighten up.
A pool of dried drool stubbornly clings to the window I was sleeping against. It’s gross and highly embarrassing. “We’re here already?” I ask in a sleep-drenched tone, smothering a yawn. My eyes meet Cristian’s amused gaze through the mirror. He drove today, and the bodyguards are following us in the SUV. Glancing over my shoulder, I spot the vehicle trailing us along the winding, seemingly endless driveway. Tall trees loom over us like otherworldly guardians as we maneuver past expansive empty fields on both sides of the road.
“Yes, we’re here.” He looks apologetic. “You’ll need to keep the mask on for a little longer.”
“Oh, sorry. No problem.” I slide it back over my eyes, wondering when he put it on me in the first place.
“You were asleep the whole time,” Elio proclaims. “And you were snoring!” He giggles, and my cheeks heat with mortification. I’m actually glad I can’t see Cristian right now.
“Oh my god.” I lean my head back and silently berate myself. “That’s so embarrassing.”
Cristian chuckles. “It was cute.”
“Don’t lie; it only makes it worse.”
“You haven’t been sleeping since you moved in, have you?”
“It’s that obvious?” I subtly rub at my mouth, hoping there is no dried drool clinging to the corners.
“Not really, but I’m observant. I’ve noticed.”
Well, that’s not good. I can’t have him being too observant. If he figures out my agenda, Mom and I are both finished.
“I’ve had trouble sleeping my entire life,” I say, but it’s completely untrue. I’m the type who conks out the second her head hits the pillow. I sleep like the dead usually, but that was before. Now, sleep is an illusion as much as this new life is. “Even as a baby, Mom said I never slept for more than a couple hours at a time.” The mask makes it easier to deceive him because I don’t have to look him in the face while I spin a web of lies.
“That’s not good. It’s hard to function if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep. Have you seen a doctor?”
“I don’t want to take sleeping pills, and that’s what they’ll push on me.”
The car slows down, and the engine idles. A soft whirring sound tickles my eardrums, and a cold breeze lifts strands of my hair. A beeping sound rings out as Cristian punches in a five-digit code. I’m glad I can’t see shit through the eye mask. I don’t want to know the entry code. I want to know as little as possible so it can’t be tortured out of me at a later stage.
“You can remove the mask now,” Cristian confirms as a little hand tugs on my arm.
“Quick, Slowpoke Sloane. You gotta see the playground.”
I whip the blindfold off in time to see the large play area off to the side, equipped with an obstacle course, climbing frame, swings, slides, and a zipwire that runs from the playground into the woods that seem to border the rear part of the property. “Wow, that’s amazing. You’re a lucky little boy.” What I wouldn’t have given for something like that when I was a kid.
“Daddy says that all the time too. Will you push me on the swings?”
“Absolutely. We’ll have lots of fun this weekend for sure.” Removing a wipe from my bag, I scrub at the patch of drool on the window of Cristian’s expensive sports car.
“That is Caleb and Elisa’s home on the right,” Cristian supplies as we drive toward two impressive properties.
“That is a stunning home.” My gaze skates over the ranch-style house with greed. This truly is how the other half lives. The gorgeous home has a variety of different peaked roofs and an abundance of gray-framed windows, some arched and some rectangular. A few balconies abut the windows on either side. At first sight, it looks like the house is only on one level, but that’s because the ground level is almost hidden by the front pathway and gardens stretching majestically on either side of the wide property. Manicured hedges border pristine flower beds, and the small water feature in the center of the front path is also bordered by hedges. “It’s exquisite.”
“The twins have great taste, albeit very different.” He swings past that house to a more industrial-type modern build beside it. “That is Gia and Joshua’s home.”
“It’s equally stunning in a more simplistic way.” The two-story building has flat roofs and wide rectangular windows on all sides. The structure is propped up by several tall, wide white pillars, and the gardens at the front adjoin the other house.
“That’s my house!” Elio points excitedly out the window as Cristian drives farther along the road in the direction of the construction up ahead. “Can I show her my bedroom, Daddy?”
“Not today, bud. We can’t enter the house without the foreman.” Cristian’s eyes dart to mine again through the mirror. “I’ll bring you back sometime when the crew is here. Although they are mostly working on the interiors now, it’s still considered a construction site and not safe to go inside without hard hats.”
I nod as I drink it all in while the car slows down on our approach. A pang of longing hits me square in the chest. “It’s beautiful, Cristian. It has a real Mediterranean feel about it.” The two-story mansion is painted a muted terracotta color, and the dark wooden door and window frames perfectly complement it. A few double doors on the second level open to high balconies with wrought-iron railings. Archways wrap around the ground level, offering enclosed seating areas for cover during the warmer weather and providing an unparalleled view of the front gardens. I look behind me, and you can see the playground in the distance from here.
Cristian stops the car, and we climb out onto a beige paved driveway. “That will be a six-car garage,” Cristian explains, jerking his head to the half-built structure on the left, while he takes a firm hold of his son’s hand. “No running off, Elio. It’s dangerous.” His son pouts but stops wriggling under his father’s stern gaze.
Cristian appears to have struck a good balance between setting boundaries and allowing Elio’s spirit to blossom. The more I’m around the man, the more impressed I am, and the harder my task seems. Cristian DiPietro is a good man. A good father. I’m more convinced than ever that he’s done nothing to earn the wrath of the cartel. I’m certain their beef was with his brother. Why should the good brother be punished for the sins of the bad one?
“All those dug-out sections will be flower beds,” he explains, yanking me out of my inner thoughts. Cristian jerks his head toward various-sized and shaped areas that have been carved out in the ground in front of the house.
Walking along the short path toward the house, I imagine what it would be like to live somewhere like this. Pain fills my heart knowing I won’t make it that far. I won’t ever get to experience the joy of living in this Wonderland, and it saddens me. If things were different, I would be very happy with this life. Content caring for the most amazing little boy, and maybe falling in love with his father. I can see it. But it’s out of reach, and daydreaming will only add to my suffering. So, I try to harden my heart and shut down my feelings as Cristian and Elio proudly show off their new home.
