Protecting What’s Mine: Chapter 9

CRISTIAN

“Go, Sloane, go!” Elio shouts, jumping up and down as Sloane maneuvers around Umberto, heading toward the net. Her moves are sharp but elegant, and she dances around my teammate with effortless skill. Her aim is true, and Elio shrieks in excitement when the ball drops through the net, and Clint declares Team Rudolph the winners.

Elio races toward Sloane, and she kneels, opening her arms wide for him. Elio flings himself at her, almost causing her to lose her balance. “That was awesome! I’m so happy you’re my nanny. Will you always be on my team?”

“Always, buddy.” She raises her palm for a high five. “Teammates forever.”

He slaps his tiny hand against hers. “Yay!” His fingers curl around Sloane’s as she stands.

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, boss,” Umberto remarks as he materializes at my side, holding the ball tucked under one arm. “She’s a natural with him, and he already loves her.”

“I’m relieved. It’s more than I hoped for.”

“Don’t be sad, Daddy,” Elio says, approaching with his hand firmly enclosed in Sloane’s. “You can’t always be the champ.”

I muss up his hair. “I’m winning every day I have you in my life, bud. I can handle losing this time.” I smirk at Sloane. “Next time, we won’t go so easy on you.”

“Yeah, right.” She snorts. “Bring it, dude. We’ll rise to the challenge every time. Right, Rudolph?”

“Yes! Let’s go again now!”

Laughter tumbles from my chest. Elio is always full of energy and so enthusiastic about life, and it’s infectious.

Mom says Cruz and I were both live wires when we were kids, so I guess it runs in his genes. I hope that’s all he’s inherited from his bio dad. That he’s more like his mother. Bettina made bad choices in life, but she was a good person. Isa said she never forgave herself for hurting Joshua the way she did, and she fully believes my brother groomed Bettina from a young age and bewitched her.

I don’t have much difficulty believing it. Cruz deliberately caused pain and suffering to others with no regrets or remorse. People were pawns to him. Tools to use to achieve his agenda, and he didn’t care who he hurt. In fact, from what Valentina has told me, he got off on hurting others, especially women. I shudder as I consider how many women could be out there with kids fathered by my brother as part of his nefarious breeding plan to infiltrate La Cosa Nostra. I used to think there was some goodness in Cruz, but by the end, he was evil to his core. I don’t think my parents will ever recover from the legacy he left behind. In particular, my father has taken it hard.

“Daddy?” Elio tugs on my pant leg. “Can we play another game? Puh-lease.”

I cup his handsome little face. “It’s getting dark, son, and I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry for some pizza.”

“And garlic balls and ice cream!” Elio shrieks. “I want everything! Can I, Daddy? Puh-lease?”

My heart mushrooms with love for my son. “Sure thing, bud.” I lean down and kiss his brow. “It’s a special occasion, and we can’t take Sloane to Mr. Papas and not have garlic balls and ice cream.”


“This isn’t Mr. Papas,” Elio proclaims as Clint pulls the SUV in front of Saks Fifth Avenue.

“We’re making a quick pitstop, but you can stay in the car. Continue watching your movie, and before you know it, Sloane and I will be back.”

His lip juts out. “I want to come too.”

I press a kiss to his soft cheek. “Next time, buddy.”

“It’s not fair.” He plants his hands on his hips and scowls at me. “I wanna go to the kids’ floor and get a toy.”

“It’s not your birthday or Christmas, and you have tons of new toys. Be a good boy for Umberto and Clint, and I’ll let you get the ice cream sundae at Mr. Papas.”

His brow furrows in concentration before smoothing out. “Okay, deal!”

I trade a smile with Umberto as I kiss my son on the head. “Behave. We’ll see you in a bit.” Clint will drive around while we’re shopping.

“What’s going on?” Sloane asks, looking confused.

“You’ll see.” I gesture toward the door as Umberto swings it open. He steps back to let Sloane hop down, and I slide out behind her.

She blows Elio a kiss. “See you soon, my little prince.”

Elio blows her a kiss in return, and it’s super sweet.

“I think you’ll have quite the little charmer on your hands when he grows up,” she says, waving as Umberto closes the door.

“Don’t I know it.” My hand winds around Sloane’s back as I escort her toward the entrance, my gaze scanning our surroundings as we walk. I keep my hand on her slender waist until we enter the elevator and separate.

“I still have no clue why we are here,” she says in a low voice, keeping our conversation away from prying ears.

“You need a warmer coat.”

Her face drops. “My budget doesn’t stretch to a new coat, and this one is fine,” she says, glancing at the thin woolen coat she’s wearing.

“I’m issuing you a clothing allowance, and this coat is on me.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I insist,” I say, moving my arm around her back again when the elevator opens on our floor. I steer her out toward the section where Kate is hopefully waiting. “You’ll be outside daily with Elio, and the weather won’t warm up for some time. Consider this part of your work uniform.”

She opens her mouth, about to protest again, but she must think better of it. Her slender frame feels fragile against me, and I wonder if she’s this slim because she hasn’t had enough money for food. Spotting Kate up ahead, I walk us speedily in that direction.

“Mr. DiPietro, how lovely to see you. It’s been a while.” The older woman smiles as she extends her arm.

I shake her hand. “It’s great to see you, too, Kate. This is Sloane.”

“It’s lovely to meet you, Sloane.” Her assessing gaze rakes over my nanny from head to toe. “You have exquisite skin and a gorgeous figure. There are a few pieces I’ve chosen that I think will look stunning on you.”

“Thank you.” Sloane bites down on her lip. “This is all new to me, and I’m not sure what to expect. Cristian just sprung it on me.”

“Mr. DiPietro is one of the good guys. He knows how to treat his lady friends, and don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll take good care of you.”

“Sloane is my son’s new nanny,” I confirm in a sharp tone, pissed at the insinuation and her indiscretion. She makes it sound like I’ve taken tons of women here when that’s not the case. I hadn’t mentioned who the clothes were for when I called Kate earlier to make an appointment, and I shouldn’t have to.

“I’m so sorry. I only assumed…” Her cheeks stain red, and panic widens her eyes. “Please forgive me, Mr. DiPietro. That was most unprofessional.” She turns to Sloane. “I apologize for jumping to conclusions.”

“It’s fine, Kate,” I say, not wanting to make a bigger deal out of it even if I am annoyed. Perhaps I should’ve gone elsewhere, but it was a last-minute decision. I used to take Aliya here for clothes, and she was always delighted with the items Kate chose for her. “Do you have a dressing room set up? We’re taking Elio for pizza, and he’s not known for his patience when it comes to his favorite food.”

“Say no more. We wouldn’t want to keep the little cutie from his pizza. Come with me, Sloane. I have a suite all ready, and I’ll show you the things I’ve picked out, though I may need to revise the sizes.” She gestures for Sloane to follow her, but my nanny looks uncertainly at me.

“Go on. It’s okay. I’ll stay right here until you’re done.”

While I wait for Sloane, I take a seat on one of the couches and check emails on my phone.

“Mr. DiPietro.” Kate drags me away from my screen. “We’re done, but the young lady is insistent she doesn’t need anything. I thought you might like to talk with her.”

“Of course.” I put my phone away and stand.

“She noticed the prices, and I think it shocked her,” Kate explains as she leads me to the dressing room where Sloane is.

“I’ll handle it.” Walking into the large space, I find Sloane standing in front of the large mirror wearing a pastel pink short puffer jacket with a belt and a fake-fur-trimmed hood. “That looks lovely and warm.”

“It’s gorgeous,” she admits, pulling the hood down and turning to face me. “But it’s too expensive. I don’t need a Moncler jacket for work, Cristian.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it, but⁠—”

“We’ll take it,” I tell Kate before refocusing on Sloane. “You need a full-length coat too. Did you pick out something else?”

“What about this one?” Kate says, holding up a hanger containing a long black wrap wool coat. “You liked it, and it looks fabulous on you. Plus, it’s fifty percent off today.”

“It’s still far too much money.”

“We’ll take that one too, and can you add matching scarves and gloves for both coats, please?”

Kate’s warm smile radiates relief. “I’ll get everything together and meet you at the register.” She moves to help Sloane out of the jacket she’s still wearing.

“Could I keep this on?” Sloane asks, glimpsing herself in the mirror. “It’s so warm I don’t want to part with it.”

“Of course, dear. I’ll just take the tag to ring it up.”

Kate hurries away, leaving Sloane and me alone.

“This truly is too much, but thank you, Cristian. No one has ever done anything so nice for me before.”

“Please tell me that isn’t true.”

She shrugs. “I’ve never had much luck with men. Most of the guys I dated were poor students or too self-obsessed to even consider doing anything nice for me.”

“I want names,” I growl, flexing my knuckles, as irrational anger surges through my veins.

“What?” she whispers, and I silently curse myself for acting like a jealous boyfriend or husband.

“What about the guy you’re seeing now? Doesn’t he do nice things for you?”

Her eyes lower to the floor. “It’s, ah, super casual with him. And not exclusive,” she blurts, lifting her gaze to meet mine. “It’s not serious at all.”

“Does he treat you right? Take you out to nice places and pay? Send you flowers and gifts? Run you hot baths? Cook you dinner? Give you a massage when you’ve had a bad day? Listen to you when you’re stressed or upset, and do everything and anything to cheer you up? Does he make you laugh and give you multiple orgasms while worshipping every inch of your beautiful body?”

Sloane’s eyes widen, and I drag a hand through my hair, shocked at my outburst. What. The. Actual. Fuck, Cristian?? I guess I haven’t let go of all my bitterness toward Aliya. I treated her like a fucking queen, and she threw it all back in my face.

“Pretty sure what you’ve just described is pure fantasy. Maybe if I was dating a book boyfriend,” she teases.

“I’ve done all that,” I blurt, because it seems I’m not done with the verbal diarrhea. “Not that it was appreciated.”

“Wow.” She walks slowly toward me. “I didn’t think guys like you existed in real life, and whoever the woman was, she clearly didn’t deserve you.”

“She left two months after I adopted Elio. Said she couldn’t be a mother to another couple’s child.”

Sloane’s nostrils flare, and fire flashes in her eyes. “What a bitch. Anyone who gets to be a mother to that little boy is the luckiest woman alive. How could she not want him? That hurts me so much.”

“My sentiments exactly.” I rub a hand along the back of my neck.

“Like I said, she didn’t deserve you, and it sounds to me like you and Elio had a narrow escape.”

I bob my head. “I’m glad Aliya showed her true colors when she did. Saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life. I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason.”

“I used to believe that, but now I think things happen with and without reason. There are some things that happen that make no sense. You can be a good person, live a good life, and bad shit happens for no fucking reason.”

“You’re thinking about your mom.”

She nods, gulping audibly. Pain mixed with sadness washes over her face. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her.”

“It’s hard to make sense of illness, especially losing one who is so young.”

“Yeah.” I watch as a mask shrouds her pretty face, and she shrugs it off. “We should go. Elio is waiting.”

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