Page 78 of Nanny for the Don

Lucia looks up with a grin. “How was yoga, Mommy?”

Mommy. I didn’t even ask them to start calling me that – they did it all on their own.

“It was great! We had people fromallover the world today,” I say, grabbing a quick sip of coffee.

“Can we see the baby?” Giulia pipes up, her little voice full of excitement.

I smile at her. “I’m going to feed him first, then you can cuddle him, okay?”

Giulia nods, satisfied. “Can we start decorating for Christmas after?”

“Oh, for sure. Let’s deck this place out,” I reply with a wink.

I head upstairs, coffee in hand, feeling that familiar warmth of holiday cheer as I peek into the nursery. And there he is—Nico, already up with our baby boy, Luca.He’s cradling him in his strong arms, softly bouncing and humming, while Luca’s little fingers clutch at his shirt.

I stop in the doorway, my heart swelling. It never gets old seeing Nico—this big, strong man—being so tender with our son. The contrast is always a little mind-blowing. For someone who’s all muscle and testosterone, he’s an absolute softie when it comes to Luca.

I stand in the doorway for a moment, just watching them, feeling like the luckiest person in the world.

As I watch Nico with Luca, my mind drifts to the life he’s tied to—the mob life he works so hard to keep me and the kids out of. The last time we really talked about it was a little less than a year ago, right after the treaty between the families was signed.

He’d said there should be peace for a while, and he’d seemed so sure. But I know better. There’s always a darker side, always something lurking beneath the surface. That world never reallygoes away, but I have to admit—he’s made good on his promise to keep us safe.

I walk over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing his cheek. He smiles, that soft look he always gets when he’s with Luca.

"Morning, Mama,” he says, his voice low and warm.

I look down at our baby boy with my nose and Nico’s intense gray eyes. He’s already such a heartbreaker.

“He’s too handsome for his own good.”

Nico chuckles, his thumb brushing over Luca’s cheek. “Takes after his old man.”

I roll my eyes, smirking. “And a bit of his mom, thank you very much.”

Nico grins, his eyes softening as he looks at me. “Yeah, definitely got the best of both of us.”

I smile, feeling the familiar warmth bloom in my chest as I take our son from him and cuddle him close.

Nico walks over to the window and pushes it open. The crisp air sweeps in, and I’m hit with the sight of a perfect, snowy day outside—everything is blanketed in fresh, untouched white. It’s like something out of a postcard, so perfectly Christmas-y I almost laugh. But then, I catch the strange look on Nico’s face.

“What is it?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

He sighs, turning to me with a serious expression that always makes my stomach flip. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

My heart skips a beat, and a wave of worry washes over me. “Nico, what’s going on?”

He shakes his head quickly. “No, nothing bad, I promise. I wanted to wait until Christmas, but… I just can’t wait anymore.”

Before I can say anything, he reaches into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulls out a small box. My breath catches, and I gasp, eyes widening when I realize what’s happening.No way.

Nico looks at me with those stormy gray eyes, his voice soft but steady. “Willow, you’ve brought more joy to my life than I ever thought possible. You’ve made this house a home, not just for me, but for the girls too. You’ve completed our little family.”

He opens the box, and there it is—a ring. My heart just about bursts.

“Willow,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “Will you marry me?”

Tears fill my eyes as I look at him, then down at Luca, then back at him. “Yes,” I whisper, barely able to get the word out. “Yes, of course.”

He pulls me in, kissing me deeply, and it feels like our own little happily ever after.

The End