Taken By The Mafia Lord

"It's good to finally have you back," Marcel welcomed her.

Winters opened an eye at a time, staring at Marcel who stood over her, the sun casting a shadow on him in that position.

"I never thought I would say this but I kind of missed your annoying face. You never know what you have until you lose it, I finally understood that saying after days of being stuck with those little imps." Winters breathed, sitting up on her lounge chair.

The first thing Winters did after returning to the base was to catch up on the luxuries she had missed while nannying those kids. And that included relaxing on the poolside.

Marcel had a pool in the back yard and with the landscaping and patio furniture, the pool area was ripe for relaxing. He called it his personal oasis, not that it was personal anymore with Arianna and Mimi's arrival. Winters came to know about it thanks to them and today she just felt like luxuriating for once without her computers.

If there was anything she learned from her part-time work as a nanny, it was the fact that she had to get out and have some more fun. Hacking was fun to Winters, but it turns out that living was much more fun. So here she was in her bikini with a book in hand - which she couldn't read without an image of a half-naked Akim coming to mind - until Marcel decided to track her down and ruin the moment.

"I'm flattered that you even missed me," Marcel took the lounge chair beside Winters and sat down, "You don't exactly show it."

He took off his shoe, feeling the green, soft grass beneath his feet. The lounge chair was an elevated, upholstered chaise lounge with cushions that are three inches thick, and several positions for reclining so one could stretch out comfortably. But before Marcel had the chance to do so, his cousin, Victor made his appearance.

"And I'm sure that you didn't miss me,"

Victor said and instead of choosing the other vacant lounge seat beside Winters since there were three of them in total, he chose to walk over to Marcel, pulling his legs up and sitting down, before placing his cousin's legs back on his thighs while Marcel watched dumbfoundedly.

Marcel chose not to say anything knowing his cousin was only drunk on happiness. Knowing he was about to become a father put him in a good mood throughout the day.

Victor placed his hand on his chest dramatically, "Little Winters, It's kind of heartbreaking that you never once thought of me even while I kept praying for your safety," He pouted.

Winters gave him a long look then turned to Marcel, asking,

"What's wrong with him?"

Marcel shrugged, "Mimi is pregnant for him. Apparently, being a father is enough to put him on cloud nine for the rest of the day." there was a hint of jealousy in Marcel's tone.

"You say that now, but wait till nine months later, when I have my little Poo in my hands, you'd love her as much as I love her," Victor said dreamily.

"You'd name your child, Poo?" Winters frowned.

"Don't worry, Mimi would never let him name their child," Marcel said.

"As if you're any better at naming," She snorted.

Marcel scowled at her.

"You named a snow white chihuahua, redhead, no offense to your naming deficiency," Winters said defensively.

"Well, I wouldn't mind seeing your naming prowess when you have a child with your prince charming Akim," Marcel sassed.

Winters stiffened at once, then her hands clenched, Mimi!

Of course!

What had she expected from that loudmouth? She would tell everyone!

"Don't you think you're far ahead with your thoughts? We're just getting to know each other." Winters found it ridiculous that Marcel thought they would last. Because they wouldn't. Winter was sure of that.

"A little piece of advice from someone who has far more dating experience than you, be sure to tell him the truth after you're done with this. Even if the both of you don't last, he deserves to know that what he had with you was real. That's the least you owe him." Marcel told her and because he was holding her gaze, she couldn't look away.

Winters saw the sincerity in those words and it was weird seeing Marcel care about her. Not that he never cared, but lately, he was becoming quite protective of her as if she was family or something. But that was not the case, they were merely business associates.

She cleared her throat and looked away, "Stop acting like you're my elder brother?" She muttered.

"Do you want me to be your elder brother?" Marcel asked her seriously as if her answer would change everything.

And again, Winters found herself dumbfounded and at a crossroads.

Does she want Marcel to be her elder brother even if her name doesn't get to be in the family registry? Unless Marcel decided to adopt her legally?

It was a very appealing offer, but Nah, she wanted nothing to do with a psychopathic Daniel and an overprotective Marcel. Winters wanted to spread her wings high and fly away and being held down by the Luciano family was not on the list.

She appreciated Marcel extending his protection towards her considering the number of enemies she had made in the course of her work. But anything beyond that, she wanted out.

Winters still stands by her decision of having a small family where one knows her and being part of Luciano's family was putting a target on her head. It was enough running from the law, she didn't want gangsters coming after her too just because she has the Luciano family name.

"That was a magnanimous offer, but no, thank you." She refused it bluntly

But Marcel persisted, "We are not like your previous family, Winters. Once you're one of us, no one would lay a hand on you."

"Yeah, just the way your father didn't lay a hand on Chloe," She reminded him of his inability to protect his sister.

Daniel was only able to treat Chloe that way because she didn't have Luciano's blood running in her veins; she was adopted.

Winters didn't have Luciano blood and she wasn't about to become a card to be played in the hands of Daniel.