My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss

Ellie

Ivy’s joyful cry echoed through the room as she threw her arms around me, squeezing tightly. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement and happiness. "Oh, Ellie, I am beyond thrilled for you!" she exclaimed. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

A small smile tugged at my lips. "You are?"

"Of course! You’re getting married! We should have a double wedding," she suggested cheerfully.

My laughter rang out, replacing the knot of nerves that had been twisting in my stomach. "I wouldn’t want to take any attention away from you on your special day. And I think Giovanni and I would prefer a more intimate ceremony," I replied fondly.

The warmth of Ivy’s embrace and her genuine enthusiasm made me feel less anxious about the whole thing.

"Wait until Aidan hears about it," Ivy said.

And...just like that, my anxiety was back.

Ivy frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t tell me you are worried about Aidan knowing."

"Aidan knowing what?"

A deep voice made us both jump. "A-Aidan, hi," I said nervously.

"What’s going on? Why is Ellie here?" Aidan asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Can’t a sister visit her brother?" I pouted.

Aidan smirked. "Of course she can," he said and came forward to hug me.

Aidan’s embrace was warm and reassuring, but I couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety. His protective nature always made him wary of any changes, especially when it involved me.

Ivy, ever the enthusiastic one, jumped in to diffuse the tension. "Aidan, you won’t believe the news!" she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Ellie and Giovanni are getting married!"

Aidan’s hug froze for a second before he pulled back, his eyes narrowing as he looked between Ivy and me. "Married? Since when?"

My heart hammered against my chest, threatening to burst through as I swallowed hard. "It...it just happened, Aidan," my voice trembled as I spoke. "His grandmother...she asked us to."

Aidan’s brows furrowed in confusion and concern as he processed the information. His gaze softened slightly as he looked at me. "His grandmother’s dying wish was for you to marry Giovanni?"

My response came out like a desperate plea for reassurance. "Yes?"

His lips curled into a slight smirk as he scoffed, "I don’t blame her. If she didn’t do that, Giovanni could never find a wife. Because who would willingly marry that insufferable asshole?" His words were laced with contempt and his tone held no sympathy for Giovanni.

Ivy chimed in, playfully punching Aidan’s arm while laughing. "Aidan!" She scolded but couldn’t contain her own amusement at his blunt honesty.

I couldn’t help but giggle. "He is not so bad, you know. He loves my kids, oddly enough."

Aidan raised an eyebrow, his smirk softening into a more thoughtful expression. "He does, huh?" he said, his tone shifting slightly. "Well, that’s something, I suppose. He was awfully happy about accidentally signing Elora’s birth certificate."

Ivy linked her arm with mine, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "See, Aidan? There’s more to Giovanni than meets the eye. Besides, he’s good for Ellie and the kids. That’s all that matters."

Aidan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "And does he love you?"

I looked down. "I don’t know," I whispered.

Aidan’s eyes softened further, and he took a step closer to me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Ellie, you deserve someone who loves you wholeheartedly. If Giovanni isn’t that person, then this marriage... it shouldn’t be forced."

I nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. "I know it’s not a conventional love story, but his grandmother’s wish and his care for my children... it means something. And I...I don’t hate the idea of being his wife."

Aidan smiled. "Alright, Ellie. Just promise me you’ll always put yourself and the kids first. If things ever feel wrong, you come to me, okay?"

"I promise," I said, my voice steadier now. "Thank you, Aidan. Your support means the world to me."

He pulled me into a tight hug, and for a moment, all the uncertainty faded away. When he finally released me, Ivy took my hand again, her excitement bubbling over.

"So," she said, grinning, "how about we start planning this wedding? It doesn’t have to be huge, but it should be special."

Aidan chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Yeah, and you know what that means, Ivy? You’ll get to be the maid of honor."

Ivy’s eyes sparkled with joy. "Really, Ellie? Can I?"

I smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and hope. "Of course, Ivy. I’d love for you to be my maid of honor."

She squealed with excitement, pulling me into another hug. "This is going to be amazing, Ellie! We’re going to make sure your wedding is perfect."

"But wait...shouldn’t we plan your wedding first?" I asked.

"Ivy insists on getting married after the baby is born," Aidan said.

Ivy smiled, placing a hand on her growing belly. "I want our little one to be there, even if they won’t remember it. Plus, it gives us more time to plan everything perfectly."

I nodded. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and I was starting to allow myself to feel happy for once.

A small part of me was scared, though. Giovanni told me he would protect us from the men who attacked the house, but what if more came back?

"Aidan, don’t freak out, but I need to tell you something," I said.

Ivy’s beaming expression faltered as Aidan’s eyes narrowed in concern. "What is it, Ellie? What happened?" His voice was sharp, instantly on high alert.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady my voice. "There was an attack on Giovanni’s house. His men managed to fight them off, and we weren’t hurt, but I thought you should know."

Aidan’s jaw clenched. "He should’ve told me. I’ll make some calls and ensure you have extra security around the house. You and the kids need to be safe, Ellie."

"Giovanni won’t like that," I reminded him. I knew he wouldn’t like Aidan’s interference in his territory. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

Aidan’s expression hardened, his eyes glinting with determination. "I don’t care what Giovanni likes or doesn’t like. Your safety and the kids’ safety come first, Ellie. I promised to protect you, and that’s what I intend to do."

Ivy stood by my side, her hand squeezing mine in silent support. "He’s right, Ellie. Don’t worry about Giovanni. Aidan will handle this."

I felt a surge of gratitude for their unwavering loyalty and care. Despite the complications of my situation, having Aidan and Ivy by my side made me feel stronger than I ever thought possible.

Aidan turned to me, his voice firm yet reassuring. "I’ll talk to Giovanni. You just worry about yourself and focus on being his wife."

I raised my eyebrow. "You are being a little too cool about this marriage. Should I be worried?"

Aidan chuckled, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Don’t get me wrong, Ellie. I may seem calm, but I’m watching Giovanni closely. If he ever steps out of line or puts you or the kids in danger, he’ll have me to answer to." His tone was sharp, emphasizing his words.

Ivy nodded in agreement, her gaze unwavering. "Aidan’s not one to make idle threats, Ellie. We’ve got your back, no matter what."

I had no doubt about that.

I called Giovanni to pick me up when I was ready to go back.

As Giovanni’s car pulled up, I couldn’t shake the tension gripping my chest. The recent attacks had put me on edge, and I knew Giovanni was equally unsettled by the threats to our family.

"How did Blackwood take the news?" Giovanni’s voice was low, concern etched in his features as he glanced at me. His eyes searched mine for any sign of distress.

I smiled. "A lot better than expected."

He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Good," he said.

A surge of emotion rippled through me, and I had the sudden urge to kiss him.

I leaned into Giovanni’s touch, feeling his warmth seep into my skin. As his hand lingered on my cheek, I met his gaze, the intensity in his eyes mirroring the storm of emotions swirling within me.

Without a word, I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips to his. Giovanni’s arms encircled me, pulling me closer as if he never wanted to let go.

For a heartbeat, the world fell away, leaving only the two of us suspended in time. His lips moved against mine with a tenderness that made my head spin.

As we finally pulled away, Giovanni looked at me with his dark eyes, and in that moment, everything felt right.