Chapter 7

• Aria's POV
• "I told the police everything," I said, staring at the thick file on my bed. "I hit a guy who put his hands on his girlfriend."
• I refused to let Dominic dig into my past. A year ago, I walked into my cramped apartment after that dark alley encounter.
• I found Daniel pushing Jasmine against a wall. He tried to force a kiss. I swung hard and broke his nose.
• Jasmine panicked and kicked him in the ribs. Daniel ended up in the hospital. Jasmine was still in college.
• I took the blame so her record stayed clean.
• Dominic watched me. His dark blue eyes gave nothing away.
• "The sleeping pill investigation is paused," he said with a flat voice. "I hired a team to recover the wiped camera data. The lab is pulling fingerprints off the plastic bottle."
• My chest tightened. "You still think I did it."
• "You are a suspect. But Luca screams if anyone else holds him." He tapped the folder against his leg. "You keep your job, Aria. For now."
• He turned and walked out.
• I stared at the closed door.
• Why did he explain his plan to me?
• A brutal mafia boss would just lock me in a basement and throw away the key.
• Dominic Valentino used logic. He relied on evidence.
• I realized he was not a cruel monster. He was just a man protecting his son.
• The next few days fell into a strange routine.
• Jasmine stayed away from the estate. She spent her hours buying designer clothes and getting spa treatments.
• With me and Luca out of her sight, Jasmine felt safe.
• I learned the layout of the massive house. I also noticed a glaring detail.
• Jasmine's bedroom was down the hall from the nursery. Dominic slept in the master suite on the opposite side of the estate. They did not share a bed.
• A heavy knot in my stomach loosened at that thought. I pushed the feeling away and focused on Luca.
• Thursday afternoon brought warm sunlight. I sat on a blanket in the manicured garden, letting Luca grab at the green grass. He giggled. The bright sound made me smile.
• "Well, this is a beautiful sight."
• I looked up. A man leaned against the stone fountain.
• He had messy brown hair, an expensive linen suit, and a lazy grin. He shared Dominic's sharp jawline, but his energy was loose and playful.
• "Are you lost?" I asked, pulling Luca closer to my chest.
• The man laughed. He walked over and sat on the grass right next to me.
• "I live here. Sometimes. I am Marco. Dominic's cousin." He leaned in, his blue eyes dropping to my lips. "And who is the stunning woman holding my little nephew?"
• "I am the nanny," I said, ignoring his charm.
• "A tragedy," Marco sighed, touching a lock of my hair. "A face like yours belongs on a magazine cover, not hidden in a nursery."
• I slapped his hand away. Marco just laughed harder.
• That night, the house filled with people. Dominic hosted a welcome-back dinner for Marco.
• The dining room glowed with crystal chandeliers. I stayed near the back hallway, keeping a sleepy Luca quiet in my arms.
• Marco drank wine and told loud stories about his trip to Europe. Jasmine sat near Dominic. She tried to hold his hand. Dominic kept his hands flat on the table.
• After dinner, a string quartet started playing in the grand hall. Guests moved to the dance floor.
• Marco spotted me by the stairs. He set his drink down and walked over.
• "Give the baby to a maid," Marco said, holding out his hand. "Dance with me."
• "I am working, Marco," I said.
• Jasmine appeared out of the crowd. Her eyes sparkled with malice. She wanted me gone. A rich, playboy cousin was the perfect distraction.
• "Oh, Aria, go ahead," Jasmine said with a sweet smile. "You work too hard. Marco is a great catch. You're my cousin. He's Dom's cousin. Maybe you two will fall in love and get married. I will watch Luca."
• She reached for the baby. Luca whimpered and turned his face into my neck. He gripped my shirt tight.
• Marco grinned. "See? The baby is fine. My future bride needs a dance."
• He grabbed my free hand. He pulled me toward the center of the hall. The music swelled. I tried to pull back, but Marco spun me around.
• A large hand clamped over Marco's wrist.
• The movement was so fast I gasped. Dominic stood between us. His face was carved from stone. The air around him felt heavy and cold.
• He shoved Marco's hand away. Dominic wrapped his arm around my waist. He pulled me flush against his side.
• "She has to take care of Luca tonight," Dominic said, his voice a low, vibrating threat. "She is going nowhere."
• The music played, but the room went still.
• Marco lowered his hands. His lazy smile vanished. He stared at Dominic's arm wrapped tight around my waist.
• Marco's eyes flicked to my face, then back to his cousin.
• "Dom," Marco said. "Is that how you look at a nanny?"