Isabella Lopez thought she was escaping her past when she took a job as a nanny for the quiet, reserved Matteo Romano. What she didn't expect was his father. Lorenzo Romano is powerful, dangerous, and feared by everyone who knows his name. A man with blood on his hands and enemies at every turn. But when Isabella enters his world, she does something no one else has, she stands her ground. She protects his son. And she makes him feel something he swore he was incapable of. But Lorenzo isn't the only one keeping secrets. When a bounty is placed on both of their heads, Isabella realizes the danger surrounding them isn't just because of Lorenzo's past, it's because of hers. The shadows she ran from have finally caught up, and now, the only way to survive is to trust the one man she should fear the most. With enemies closing in and betrayal lurking in the dark, Isabella and Lorenzo must fight not only for their lives, but for the chance at something neither of them ever thought possible. Lies will be exposed. Blood will be spilled. And in the end, love may not be enough to save them
Isabella's pov
I pulled my coat tighter around my body as the cool autumn breeze swept through the busy streets of New York. The city never slept, but at this hour, as the sun began its descent, it seemed to take a breath.
I exhaled slowly, checking the address on the crumpled piece of paper in her hand.
I saw the ad two days ago-Nanny Needed for Private Household. High Pay. Discretion Required. The vague wording had intrigued her. After months of struggling with dead-end jobs and barely scraping by, I needed this.
My best friend, Camila, had warned her.
"It sounds sketchy, Isa. What kind of 'private household' needs that much discretion?"
But I didn't have the luxury to be picky. I had rent due, student loans piling up, and a sick mother back in Miami who needed medical care. High pay? That was exactly what I needed.
Now, standing in front of an elegant brownstone in an upscale neighbourhood, I hesitated. It wasn't what I expected. The place screamed money, but not in a flashy, modern way. It was old wealth, the kind that carried secrets.
I pressed the doorbell, my pulse quickening.
A moment later, the heavy wooden door swung open, revealing a tall man in a black suit. He looked her over, his expression unreadable.
The man at the door had the kind of presence that made people stop and reconsider their choices. Tall, broad-shouldered, calculating eyes, he studied me like i was an unexpected problem.
"You're here for the nanny position?" His voice was deep and smooth but held a slight edge-like he was testing her
I straightened my spine"Yes. Isabella Lopez
The man didn't introduce himself. Instead, he stepped aside, silently inviting her in. I hesitated for only a second before stepping across the threshold.
The inside of the house was even grander than I expected. High ceilings, dark wood floors,expensive furniture-everything screamed wealth and power. But there was something else, too. A heaviness in the air, as if the house itself held secrets.
"Wait here", the man instructed before disappearing down a hallway.
I exhaled slowly, glancing around. A few framed photos lined the fireplace mantel. One in particular caught her eye-a little boy, maybe four or five, with dark curls and big, expressive eyes. His face was serious, almost too serious for a child.
Before i could think too much about it, footsteps echoed through the hall.
And then he walked in.
Lorenzo Romano.
Even if I hadn't done a quick internet search. I would have known who he was. The Romano family was one of the most powerful names in New York. Business? Real estate? That was the official story. But behind closed doors, the whispers said otherwise.
He was taller than I expected, dressed in an expensive black button-down and slacks. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his chiselled jawline held a hint of stubble. But it was his eyes that stopped me. Cold. Piercing. As if he could see straight through me.
"You're the nanny?" His tone was sceptical.
I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze. "I am if you hire me."
Something flickered in his eyes, amusement maybe, but it was gone before I could be sure.
"My son, Matteo, needs structure and discipline," Lorenzo said,from across the room. "I don't want someone who's just here for the paycheck.He's been through a lot."
I softened at the mention of his son 'i have experience with kids. I worked in early childhood education before moving here. I can handle discipIine, but children also need patience and kindness."
Lorenzo's expression didn't change, but I sensed he was assessing me, weighing something in his mind.
Then he spoke.
"Do you know who I am, Miss Lopez?"
My heartbeat quickened, but I kept my face neutral "I have an idea."
"And yet, you still applied?"
I met his gaze head-on. "I need the job. And your son need a nanny."
Silence stretched between them. Then, unexpectedly, Lorenzo smirked. It wasn't friendly-it was the kind of smirk that hinted at danger.
"You're either brave or stupid," he murmured.
"Maybe a little of both."
A beat of silence. Then he nodded.
"You start tomorrow."
Chapter 1 The Job Offer
30/03/2025
Chapter 2 The new nanny
30/03/2025
Chapter 3 Lines That Shouldn't Be Crossed
30/03/2025
Chapter 4 Broken Pieces
30/03/2025
Chapter 5 A Storm Brewing
30/03/2025
Chapter 6 The Game Changes
30/03/2025
Chapter 7 The Lies We Tell
30/03/2025
Chapter 8 Shadows of the Past
31/03/2025
Chapter 9 Breaking point
09/04/2025
Chapter 10 Blood ties
09/04/2025
Chapter 11 Ghost of the past
09/04/2025
Chapter 12 Secrets in the smoke
09/04/2025
Chapter 13 Knife behind the smile
09/04/2025
Chapter 14 Truth in the shadows
09/04/2025
Chapter 15 Mirror of the devil
09/04/2025
Chapter 16 Lines in the sands
09/04/2025
Chapter 17 Blood, Bound and Broken
09/04/2025
Chapter 18 A mother's Lie
28/04/2025
Chapter 19 Fire and Ashes
28/04/2025
Chapter 20 Ghosts in the Walls
28/04/2025
Chapter 21 King's Gambit
28/04/2025
Chapter 22 New Enemies, Old blood
28/04/2025
Chapter 23 Blood and Fire
28/04/2025
Chapter 24 Sister's betrayal
20/05/2025
Chapter 25 Buried secrets
20/05/2025
Chapter 26 Tethered by blood
20/05/2025
Chapter 27 The Eye of the Storm
20/05/2025
Chapter 28 House of Ghosts
20/05/2025
Chapter 29 Blood in the Snow
20/05/2025
Chapter 30 Ashes and Echoes
20/05/2025
Chapter 31 Into the Lion's Den
20/05/2025
Chapter 32 Ghosts Never Stay Buried
20/05/2025
Chapter 33 The Devil's Blueprint
20/05/2025
Chapter 34 What Remains of Him
20/05/2025
Chapter 35 Kill Code
20/05/2025
Chapter 36 The Silence After
20/05/2025
Chapter 37 Shadow Protocol
20/05/2025
Chapter 38 Mirror Eyes
20/05/2025
Chapter 39 The Devil wears My Son's Face
20/05/2025
Chapter 40 Ghost Code
20/05/2025