The Maid: Mafia Romance (Series)

Dreaming of You

“Gio, you came.” Jennifer’s face brightened as soon as she saw him.

“Yeah. I came.” Giovanni smiled, shifting to sit beside her against that tall beech tree.

He didn’t know why he came, though. He should have stayed home, but it was so bothersome. There was too much commotion, too many headaches to deal with. Right here, underneath this beech tree, was where he felt most at ease. And also being with his new little friend, Jennifer.

He sometimes questioned why he preferred her company over other people his own age. Jennifer was eight years his junior, but the age difference was of no importance. He found when he hung out with her, he could be himself.

“Licorice?” she asked, handing him some black ones.

“Thanks.” He took it from her and started chewing. “Not bad.”

“Coffee?” she asked again, handing him a small foamy cup.

“What have you got for me this time?” He shifted toward her, fingers peeling under the lid for a little sniff.

She slapped him on the hand and scolded, “No peeking. It’s a surprise.”

Giovanni laughed. “Come on. I don’t like surprises. Tell me.”

“Flat white.” She grinned, handing him the foamy beverage again.

“How do you know all these coffee names?” he queried, stretching his long legs. For a kid who was still in primary school, she sure knew a lot about coffee making.

“My ma owns a shop,” she answered enthusiastically. “She said I can’t drink coffee just yet, but I can practice making them, since I’ll own it when I grow older. Do you like it?”

Jennifer was a robust child. She was also very considerate, always bringing him gifts. Namely coffee. But Giovanni sometimes thought he was just a test subject for her coffee-making skills.

Giovanni took a sip and nodded, giving his honest opinion. “Yeah. You’re improving.”

“You really think so?” She was literally beaming.

“Yeah.”

“So… will you marry me, then?”

Giovanni almost choked on his flat white. So, she was still at it. Here he’d almost forgotten about that weird comment from her. He’d thought it was just a childish thing.

“I…” How could he respond to that? Her eyes were liquid green, begging for the answer. And to his surprise, he did answer her. “How about I make you my lover instead… when you grow up, of course?”

His face went bright red as soon as he spouted that sentence. Although, Jennifer didn’t look the least fazed by that outburst. In fact, she was looking up at him in awe, not thinking for one second he might be some pedo out to seduce a little girl like her.

But that wasn’t his intention. Not one bit. In all the time he’d come to know Jennifer, she was the most honest girl he’d ever met. Yeah sure, she was a kid, but she wouldn’t stay a kid forever. If he were to have a lifelong partner, it would have to be her; someone he was comfortable with, someone who’d make him smile. And Jennifer made him smile on countless occasions.

Giovanni knew all along that a person like him would never succumb to the idea of marriage. His blood was too soiled, too black, like his hair and eyes, a curse for generations, a child of the mafia. Taking a lover would be ideal for him.

“Lover. Really?” Jennifer’s voice dragged him out of his thoughts. “You think I’m beautiful? My pa says I’m not a beautiful child, so no one wants to marry me like they want my sister, but you’re the first one who says I’m beautiful.”

Suddenly, she jumped onto his lap and clenched his shirt collar, gazing up at his large form with a worried look on her face.

“He says boys only want to marry girls who are beautiful. I’m not beautiful, though. Are you really sure you want to make me your wife? I won’t be upset at you if you refuse.”

He wanted to tell her there was a difference between a lover and a wife, but he didn’t have the heart. At that moment, she was chewing her bottom lip, and it kind of hurt him a bit.

“Hey, you’re beautiful, Jennifer. Very beautiful. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” He patted her head like a big brother would a little sister.

“Even with the freckles on my nose?” She shoved her face right in his again.

Giovanni blinked, flicking his eyes about and looking at those freckles scattered on her nose and cheeks. She was a small kid, but she was so cute with her big green goggle eyes staring back at him. He found himself thinking what she might look like when she grew up. “Yeah. Even with the freckles.”

“Then I’ll be your lover. We’ll marry and live happily ever after, like Cinderella and her prince.” She nodded, as if it were an easy decision.

Did she not understand the enormity of his suggestion? Was he really willing to wait for a little girl like her? He had a choice to make regarding his future. He accepted his fate, with Jennifer and his family. But one thing his family didn’t know was he’d come out on top. He’d change history and define his own rules. They wanted him to be the next heir. Then so be it. He’d accept it with both hands.

Giovanni took another sip of the flat white and found himself smiling, anticipating his future with the little girl beside him. “So…” He turned to Jennifer. “For now, let’s be friends. Then, when you turn nineteen, I’ll make you my lover.”

“Really?” she asked, eyes round as marbles.

“Yeah. But only if you agree when I ask you. You may change your mind when you grow older.”

“No. No, I won’t. I like you, Gio. A lot.” She sounded so sure of herself, as if she’d already had her future planned out, with him in the picture. What would she do if she found out he was the son of a mafia boss?

Giovanni didn’t want to think about this notion. Not yet anyway. When the time came for her to understand they came from different worlds, he’d tackle the issue. For now, though, he’d enjoy her company until she decided she’d had enough.

Giovanni smiled, taking her little hand within his. “Then let’s be friends, okay?”

“Okay, let’s be friends, then.” She nodded, and then beamed up at him again, showing her small white teeth. “But I can’t wait to grow up so I can be your wife.”

Giovanni chuckled. Yeah, he couldn’t wait until then either. Then he wouldn’t have to bother with his family again.

With the warm spring sun shining on them, hands still entwined, and the wind singing a lovely melody in the leaves, Giovanni slowly closed his eyes and gently drifted off to sleep-

Poke.

Fuck! Someone was jabbing his forehead.

Giovanni blinked, opening his eyes. Suddenly, right in front of him was the image of Jennifer, the grown-up version.

Giovanni’s heart raced. Adrenaline fueled his actions. He swung his arm forward on autopilot and grasped her neck until he could see her clear emerald pupils dilate, just like his little friend Jennifer.

“What’s your name?” he growled into her ear.

When the young woman didn’t answer, he tugged her forward until his face was just a breath from hers. He hissed, “I said, what’s your name? Answer me.”

The young woman looked flustered and blinked in confusion. “My name… my name is Jenny. Jenny Stone.”

“Where do you live?” he growled, frustration ripping his gut.

“Brooklyn, before coming here to live with you.”

“Have you ever been to Central Park?” he fired.

“Yes, just a minute ago. I was cycling through there.”

Giovanni gritted his teeth. “No. When you were younger.”

“No. Never been there. As I said, only a minute ago. Hey, you’re scaring me. Are you okay? Concussion? Bad dream? What’s wrong? You’re hurting my neck.”

“Fuck!” Giovanni let Jenny go and ruffled his hair in frustration. This was Jenny, his maid, not his little friend Jennifer. And he was in his office, not outside in Central Park.

What was wrong with him? A mere memory from ages ago had made him lose his mind.

“Boss, what is it? Want me to get you a cold towel?” Jenny asked, face literally in his personal space, palm resting on his forehead, gently checking his temperature.

Giovanni shoved her hand away and tossed a deadly glare at his maid, backing up against his couch.

Bad dream, huh? He wouldn’t say bad, more like a memory. The only bright memory in his dull and dark past.

Giovanni shook his head to rid himself of his gloomy past, then flicked his eyes at the grandfather clock standing by the wall… and glowered at Jenny.

“You’re late, Jay,” he immediately growled, venting his turmoil toward his maid. “Late. I can’t forgive you for that.”

“But…” She gasped suddenly, clasping at her chest as if she were about to die. Giovanni knew she was playacting again. That girl was as sly as a fox. “I cycled here. I ran and cycled here. My knees. My legs. I’m still puffing as we speak. I’m about to die here. I swear. And I did arrive. But you were sleeping.” She clung to his arm for support, acting as if she were about to lose her balance for real.

Giovanni didn’t like her touch at all. Not one bit. He felt a shiver akin to lust spreading right through his groin. And my God, that pissed him off. Like hell.

Giovanni lashed out at her, or more himself, since he couldn’t control the lust coursing down to his manhood. “That’s because I said to arrive here in ten minutes. You took more than an hour. What were you using for transport? The snail rail?”

“I took my bike. And clearly, asking me to arrive in ten minutes was a bit too much.” She stood up to him, wriggling her nose in disapproval. “Now, if I puff out my lungs, you won’t get your three million, let alone my delicious, addictive coffee.”

“Shut up, Jay,” he barked, rather annoyed with her chitchat. “You’re lucky I let you attend school as part of our contract. Now get me my coffee!”

“Right away, boss. Right away.” Jenny pretended to puff one last time, then ran off to the kitchen to prepare his drink.

Giovanni trembled but somehow managed to settle in his chair. He ran his fingers through his hair in agitation and sighed, closing his eyes.

Fuck! What the fuck was wrong with him. Why did he suddenly think Jenny was his Jennifer? Yeah, they might resemble each other, but his Jennifer would never act like that brainless twitting maid of his.

But fucking God! What got him frustratingly mad was her touch. She got under his skin. All the areas she’d touched were still sensitive, making him tingle with want.

Want? For fuck’s sake! Giovanni shivered at the thought. He really needed to get laid, call up one of his mistresses. That should tame his body.

After a small time of meditation, Giovanni slammed his fist on the desk with a big bang.

What the fuck is taking that girl so long? He must have been waiting for a million and one years, but still he hadn’t seen her head through his doorway yet.

Giovanni began to wonder what the hell she was up to. Getting up without even realizing what he was planning to do, he stormed to the vicinity of the kitchen, determined to find out.