Chapter 49

Niccolo," Valdo muttered.

I frowned and look at the man that entered the room. My eyes widen.

He was, without a doubt, one of the most appealing men I've ever seen. He had black hair and caramel brown eyes. He was tall, and his body was similar to that of an athlete. Everything about him screamed male model, but he gave off a dangerous vibe.

I shook my head. I should not be admiring another man in front of my husband.

Niccolo looked at Valdo, "Hello, old friend." He walked over to me and lifted my left hand and kissed it. "You must be Jakobia. Valdo and I go way back. I was sad when he didn't invite me to his wedding." he smiled, "Which is understandable, I would have stolen his wife, if he did." I recognised his voice immediately. His Italian accent was unmatched to any of the ones I've heard before.

Valdo sighed, "What are you doing here, Niccolo?" How did Valdo know this man? Based on the conversation I overheard in the car, he didn't seem like the type of person Valdo would know, but then again, Valdo's business made him interact with people of all sorts.

Niccolo removed his attention from me and looked at Valdo, "That silly boy almost killed two Giovannis. It's not something to take lightly. Speaking about Giovannis, where are they?"

"Zuria is getting stitched up, her foot was hurt, and Alessandro is down by the Children's Ward. They're both okay." I answered.

He tilted his head and smiled at me, "Thank you." This man was no doubt, a womaniser. He was the type of man who could have any girl he wanted because he was not only handsome but incredibly charming.

He looked at Valdo, "I respect you Valdo, always have. My sources say he's your wife's ex." he glanced at me, "I'd fight for a beauty like her too." he looked back at Valdo, "I know you won't hurt the boy, it's not who you are. I can't have him putting my family in danger again so I'll deal with him, but you'll owe me one." He never allowed Valdo to respond. He winked at me then left the room.

"Who is he?" I asked.

"That's Niccolo Giovanni. He's Zuria's brother-in-law."

That made sense, "But how do you know him?" Zuria barely spoke about her family.

"Remember the mafia group I told about?"

I nod.

"Niccolo's father is the leader." my eyes widen at his words. It all made sense now. Zuria's husband was apart of the mafia, and that's why he got shot fifteen times. That's why she thought that today's attack was meant for her. That's why she was so rich. She was a member of a mafia family.

"Do you think that he's going to kill William?" I asked after a few seconds of silence.

Valdo shrugged, "Niccolo is unpredictable. We'll just have to wait and see." He walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me. "As much as I can't stand Niccolo. I'd rather do him a favour rather than have William come after you again. William is a psychopath, and he needs to be stopped."

"What if he asks you to kill someone?" I asked worriedly.

"He won't. The Giovanni Family has hundreds of men who would willingly kill for them." he rubbed my back gently, "Don't worry. Niccolo won't ask me to do anything illegal." I'm not so sure. The man was apart is a member of a mafia family, nothing about him screamed legal. Yet again, Zuria was also apart of that family, and she was one of the sweetest people I've had the pleasure of meeting. She was angry when talking to Niccolo, which could mean that she had nothing to do with the illegal side of the family.

The door was pushed open. My mother, Hannah and Kevin, walked in.

"You're okay." my mom said weakly.

Valdo moved out of my arms and gave way to my mother. She wrapped her arms around me and started crying. "I can't lose you, not again." her voice trembling as she spoke.

"You won't lose me, ma." she pulled away and kissed my forehead.

"Alton was a toxic town, but we never had to worry about people trying to run us off the road." She muttered.

"Mom." She deserved to know that this wasn't an accident.

"Yes," she answered.

"It was William. He was trying to kill me." The more I repeated those words, the more I realised how crazy William was. I did nothing to him.

"What!" Kevin shook his head, "That boy is getting out of hand, we'll need to get a restraining order against him."

Hannah shook her head, "Restraining orders aren't always effective. Norma, a mom who was a regular at the Center, filed one against her ex. He killed her two days after."

My mom tensed in my arms, "He won't get to hurt me again." I assured her.

"How do you know that?" my mother asked.

"Zuria was the one driving the car. Her son was also in the car." Valdo replied, but It wasn't the answer my mom wanted, "Zuria was married to a Don. Her family is the biggest Italian mafia in New York. Her brother-in-law just left. He's going to make William pay for putting his nephew's life in danger."

"The Giovannis'?" Kevin questioned. Valdo responded with a nod. "He's dead meat. The Giovanni family is all about family, and they don't believe in hurting women and children." I looked at Kevin surprised that he would know about a mafia family. His other words started to register a few seconds after.

Giovanni

Protect Woman and Children.

The memory of the night in the park came back to me.

He lifted his gun and pointed it straight at my head as he did with the man in the hoody. It seemed like everything was happening in slow motion.

I started to whimper. "Please.." I begged with my eyes closed. But it was no use. He pushed the hammer down. Before he could pull the trigger, one of the other men spoke.

"She's just a child, and she's pregnant." he sighed. "If Don Giovanni hears about this, he will not be pleased. We don't kill women and children."

"The men who robbed me worked for The Giovannis." I voiced my thought.

"Huh?" Valdo asked with a frown.

"I remember, they only let me go because Don Giovanni doesn't believe in killing woman and children."

"Sounds about right," Kevin said.

Valdo look at me, "So we're together because some of Niccolo's gang members let you go?" Valdo chuckled, "I guess I should thank the bastard after all."

I smile at his words.

"So no more William?" my mother asked.

Valdo smiled at her, "No more William."

"What about his father?" she questioned.

Eric walked into the room, "He was arrested last week for fraud." he gave my mother a strange look before turning to me.

"How are you feeling?"

I smiled, "I'm okay. How did you find out about the attack?"

He looked at my mother, "A very concerned mother called saying you might need a lawyer."

"Not anymore. William caused the accident. Zuria was in the car." Valdo inserted.

Eric raised his brows, "Zuria Giovanni? Gabriele's wife?"

"That's the one."

"Well, your problem is solved. Zuria Giovanni is forbidden territory. Gabriele might be dead, but he's still protecting his wife. She's worth billions. Why do you think she's been single ever since his death? She's the one protecting all his wealth. She's the real criminal mastermind."

I frowned, "What do you mean?" Zuria was sweet and friendly.

"She's one of the best computer programmers in the world," he answered.

"How do you know all that?" Valdo asked.

"She was my foster sister for two years." The whole room went silent, and by the look on Valdo's face, he didn't know about their relationship either. "She was twelve when she moved in with us. We became friends in the two years, but after I left for college she had a massive argument with my parents, and she was transferred to somewhere else. Her new foster parents were dealing with some Russians, and they found out that she could program. She had to run away to protect herself. Too many people found out about her talent, and they wanted to exploit her. She had to be constantly moving until she met Gabriele. His was family was the only one powerful enough to protect her from the Russians."

"Wow, that's a handful," I whispered.

"She's been through a lot," he added.

"You seem close to her." my mother added. I could hear the jealously in her voice.

Eric looked at my mom, "She's my little sister, and I'm Alessandro's godfather."

"Wow, you just opened a whole closet of things I didn't know about Zuria," Hannah mumbled.

Eric turned to her, "She's still the same selfless Zuria. I shared her story because all of you deserve to know what she's gone through. Who she really is. She's no longer involved in the business affairs of the Giovanni Family. She got clean once Gabriele died."

"But they still protect her."

"Of course. She's produced an heir for their emperor. They'll always protect her."