AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Nine
Lira
Being the live-in nanny for a fearsome mafia boss isn’t all that TV makes it out to be. I have been in the Cammareri compound for over a week. During that time, I have been introduced to all the Cammareri brothers, including Alceu, who is the head of the family. I have met made men and other staff members, and have even been assigned a bodyguard.
I thought I would spend more time taking care of Jennifer, but I spend three hours at the most with her every day. My bedroom is beside her nursery, but every time I get up in the night to check on her, one of her parents is already there.
Severu had everything from my apartment moved into the house. It was only a rental, so there wasn’t much, but I was glad when Manson, my black tabby cat, arrived in a crate. I’m given as much free rein as I want, but I’m not allowed to leave the compound or make any phone calls.
“Morning, Lira,” Mancuso greets as he enters the kitchen where I am giving Jennifer her breakfast.
“Good morning,” I mumble in reply.
This whole week, I haven’t even laid eyes on Severu. I feel like I’m going through withdrawal. Maybe I have Stockholm syndrome? Doesn’t that take longer to manifest?
“Will you be joining us this afternoon?” Mancuso asks as he moves past us toward the fridge to pour some milk into his coffee.
“I don’t know. No one mentioned anything to me.”
“Oh, they probably just all assume you already know. On Saturdays, we all get together out by the pool, have a barbeque, and just spend time together as a family,” he explains.
“I’m not part of the family. I’m the nanny.”
“Damn girl.” He smiles widely. “Don’t let Guilia hear that. She already sees you as Jennifer’s Aunty Lira.”
I feel my eyes grow big.
Mancuso laughs at my expression. “Yes sir,” he says sarcastically. “Guilia is not the typical woman. She wants to fill this house with family. And seeing that none of us are in a rush to find a woman or get married, she has started pseudo-adopting other people. It seems you’re the next in line.”
“What do you mean, next in line?” I wipe at the bit of food that hasn’t made it into Jennifer’s mouth.
“Well, except for the fact that she loves all the Cammareri men like brothers except for her husband. We now have her sister Andrea living here because their father is an abusive asshole. And Allegra is like the little sister we never had.” He takes a sip of his coffee. “She ran away from home and almost ended up being trafficked. When we found her, it wasn’t pretty.”
The memory seems to make Mancuso uncomfortable, and by the murderous look on his face, a whole lot of pissed off. I want to ask more questions, but he continues speaking.
“And now you.” He gestures toward me after taking a calming breath. “Enough people are living in this house to raise ten kids. Guilia doesn’t need a live-in nanny. You’re just the newest addition to our little dysfunctional family.”
“Wow,” I mutter. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or offended.”
“Probably a bit of both.” Mancuso laughs while putting his mug in the sink. “Welcome to the family.”
With that, he leaves the kitchen, not knowing that he just dropped a bomb on my entire life. Every day that I spend here with these people makes me realize not everything is black and white. Not everything is good or bad.
Maybe the Cammareris aren’t the bad guys, after all. They just do dreadful things sometimes.
****
When Jennifer wakes up from her nap and I hear her soft gurgling laughter over the monitor, I head to her room and dress her in the cutest yellow dress-type swimsuit. She is utterly adorable.
I have chosen to wear a black bikini with a purple coverup over it. I don’t know what today is going to be like, but I am not prancing around in my bikini for everyone to see. When I reach the deck beside the pool, I see that everyone is already there. From where I’m standing, they look like a perfectly normal family, simply enjoying a sunny Saturday.
“There you are!” Guilia exclaims as we come into view.
Jennifer immediately starts wiggling in my arms, trying to get to her mother. I hand her over as soon as I’m close enough, and the little girl giggles as soon as Guilia starts kissing her all over her face.
“Sit down.” Alceu motions to the chair beside him. “Can I get you some wine?”
I must pull my face because both Alceu and Stefano burst out laughing. “Not a fan, I assume?” Stefano asks.
