Chapter 2

A car door opened, and a butler-looking man helped a little girl out.

The girl I'd rescued yesterday.

When she saw me, she froze for a few seconds before pulling free of the butler's hand and running toward me.

I crouched down.

"Hey, sweetheart. Remember me?"

Her eyes filled with tears, and she finally threw herself into my arms.

"Mister..."

I patted her back.

"What are you doing here?"

She buried her face in my shoulder and whispered,

"Why didn't you come back?"

I hadn't promised her I would.

But looking into those hopeful, nervous eyes, I couldn't bring myself to explain.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I had something to take care of."

She immediately clutched my shirt tighter.

"Can you come with me now, please?"

I looked at her helplessly.

Sweetheart, I had no job, no money, and nowhere to sleep if I didn't find work soon.

Just then, I heard the sound of a wheelchair rolling up behind her.

A beautiful woman in a tailored suit sat in a wheelchair, her expression cold, a thin blanket covering her legs.

The butler introduced her.

"This is Miss Lily's mother, Ms. Vittoria Bellandi."

Vittoria Bellandi. The most powerful Mafia Donna in the city.

Anyone who crossed her vanished without a trace.

Six months ago, a car bomb paralyzed her legs.

She stopped in front of me.

"You're the one who saved my daughter yesterday?"

I nodded. "I just happened to be there."

A bodyguard handed me a check.

"That's your thank-you. Take it."

One glance at all those zeroes, and I nearly choked on my own spit.

I immediately waved my hands.

"I can't accept this."

Vittoria raised an eyebrow.

"Not enough?"

"No, that's not it."

I pointed at the little girl.

"I didn't save her for money."

"Yesterday, I would've done the same for any child in her situation."

Vittoria studied me for a few seconds before taking back the check.

Suddenly, the little girl clutched her stomach.

"Mommy, I'm hungry."

The butler propped open a warmer.

Fancy pastries, fruit I didn't recognize, the kind of breakfast that cost more than my rent.

Lily took one look and immediately shrank back behind me.

The butler coaxed her gently.

"Miss Lily, please try to eat a little."

She shook her head.

"No."

The butler grew anxious.

"Miss Lily hasn't eaten anything since last night. We've tried several different chefs."

Vittoria softened her voice.

"Lily, sweetheart, please eat something."

Lily's eyes reddened. She pressed against my back and whispered,

"I want the hot dog. The one he made me."

Everyone turned to look at me.

I had the butler get some sausages and buns.

Ten minutes later, a hot dog was served.

Lily didn't touch it. She just looked up at me.

I sat down beside her.

"Go ahead. I'm not going anywhere."

Only then did she lower her head and start eating, one small bite at a time.

Vittoria's expression finally softened.

"Something happened to Lily when she was three. She's been terrified of strangers ever since."

"Yesterday's kidnapping brought back that trauma. Now you're the only person she'll go near."

She paused.

"Would you be willing to move into the Bellandi estate and take care of her until she's better?"

"Name your price."

Wait, wasn't that basically a live-in nanny?

Free room and board, plus a salary? That was way better than working odd jobs!

I nervously held up five fingers.

"Would five thousand dollars a month be okay?"

Vittoria replied without hesitation,

"I'll give you fifty thousand."

I shot to my feet, my mind made up.

"Deal!"