SWNOVELS Nanny for the Don: Chapter 27
I’m seated at Il Vecchio’s, one of the many businesses my family owns. The place is shut down for the day—snowstorm’s got half the city on pause.
But snow doesn’t stop my work. It never does.
Sal steps out from the back, wiping his hands on a towel. “Everyone’s here,” he says.
I nod, taking a slow sip of wine. This meeting’s been weighing heavily on my mind. I know the stakes—this could tip everything into war. But I’m not worried. War doesn’t scare me; I’ve been trained for it; I’ve planned for it.
I stand, adjusting my suit jacket. With a glance at Sal, I head to the back meeting room.
Inside, fifteen men wait, their eyes locking on me the second I walk in. These aren’t just any men—they’re my lieutenants. The ones who execute my orders, handle my operations, and keep everything running smoothly. Through them, I control the empire. The restaurants, the clubs, the streets—they all answer to me through these men.
I take my time, making eye contact with each one of them. They’re all waiting for me to speak, to lead them.
I walk to the head of the table and take my place.
One of the lieutenants steps up and refills my wine. I take the glass, my eyes moving from face to face, reading each of them. Some are calm, others are trying to hide what’s really going on inside. I can feel the weight of what’s unsaid in the room.
I clear my throat and break the silence. “There are more than a few empty seats here today,” I start, my voice steady. “Men who were killed alongside my father.”
The room is still, no one daring to move. I let my gaze drift across the table. “And as I look around at the faces of my inner circle, my father’s inner circle, I can sense the tension. Maybe even some mistrust. Some of you might think you should be sitting in my chair right now. Running this empire. But let me make this clear—it’s not up for debate.”
My words cut through the room, the air thick with unspoken thoughts.. “I’m the boss, just as my father intended,” I continue, my tone harder now. “And I expect every one of you to fall in line. You don’t have to like me, but you will respect me.”
I pause, letting that sink in. “I might be new to my father’s seat, but I’m not new to this game. Anyone who thinks they can cross me, try their hand at taking control? Do so at your own peril.”
Silence. They understand what’s being said.
I lean back in my chair, my gaze steady as I address the room. “I assume Sal filled you in on the current situation. We’re doing everything we can to get to the bottom of who attacked the Conti family.”
Paolo Di Luca, one of my more seasoned lieutenants, speaks up. “It sounds like someone who knows something is on the run?”
I nod, my eyes locking on his. “That’s right. A man going by the name Jack. Then again, that might not even be his real name. Says he’s a money guy for the Rossis, but something doesn’t add up.” I pause, letting the weight of my words hang in the air. “But he’s the closest thing we’ve got to a lead.”
Before I can continue, Angelo Rosetti speaks up, his voice dripping with frustration. “We don’t need leads, boss. Let’s call it what it is—the Rossis are behind the hit. Everyone knows it.”
A murmur ripples through the room, and I catch a few nods from the other men. I narrow my eyes but keep my tone calm, controlled.
“You think I don’t know the Rossis are involved? Of course they’ve got their hands in this. But we’re not making any moves until we have every piece of the puzzle. I don’t do guesswork. We’re not going to act on assumptions and chase shadows.”
Angelo quiets down, but I lean forward. , making sure my next words hit hard. “We’ll strike when I say so. Not a second before. Do you all understand?”
The room falls into silence. They know exactly who’s calling the shots here..
“The top priority for all Conti operations right now is to find this prick, Jack. I don’t care how long it takes or where he’s hiding—we will get to the bottom of who the fuck killed my father and our men. And understand this: the life of anyone who stands in my way is forfeit. Even if they’re sitting in this room.”
The tension rises, but no one says a word. I ask again, my voice like steel. “Am I understood?”
There’s a chorus of nods and murmured agreements.
Paolo speaks up again, his voice cautious but steady. “We could use some of our contacts at the docks, shake a few trees down there. If Jack’s trying to disappear, he might look for a way out of the city by boat.”
Angelo, calmer now, adds, “I’ve got some connections in the clubs. Jack’s not a ghost. If he’s spending money, we’ll know.”
“Good,” I nod, appreciating the initiative. “Do it. Both of you. I want updates by the end of the week.”
Another lieutenant, Franco Moretti, speaks up. “We could hit up our street-level dealers. They hear everything. Junkies aren’t exactly known for their discretion.”
“Smart move,” I say. “Get on it.”
I dismiss the room, my gaze hard as the men file out. “Sal,” I say, holding him back. We’ve got more to discuss.
Sal starts off, apologetic. “I’m sorry again, boss, for letting Jack get the drop on me.”
I wave him off. “One fuck-up isn’t gonna ruin your reputation with me, Sal. Let it go.”
I lean in, lowering my voice. “You could sense it in the room, right?”
Sal nods, his expression darkening. “War.”
“That’s right,” I say. “Half the lieutenants in there walked out pissed because I didn’t give the green light. They’re itching for it.”
Sal leans back, crossing his arms. “Makes sense. The Rossis have been a pain in our ass for years. They want to end it.”
“Not to mention,” I continue, “war’s a chance for lieutenants to make their names. Get in good with the new boss.”
Sal smirks, nodding. “Ambition.”
“Or r,” I add, locking eyes with him, “a chance to take out the new boss.”
He falls silent for a moment. Then he nods slowly, understanding exactly what I’m saying. We both know the truth—when you’re in a seat of power, everyone’s got an angle. Some are loyal, but others? They’re just waiting for their shot.
Sal leans back, his eyes on me. “You’re the man in charge, boss. Whatever you say, goes.”
I raise an eyebrow. “But…”
“But,” Sal continues, “war might be on the horizon. There is a damn good chance the Rossis were behind the hit. If that’s true…”
I nod, cutting him off. “If that’s true, then we handle it. But I’m not jumping into all out bloodshed because a few lieutenants are itching to prove themselves.”
Sal nods, respecting the decision. “Still, we need to be ready.”
“Exactly. y,” I reply. “I won’t let them pressure me into anything, but we’re not going in blind either. We’ll have a battle plan in place, just in case.”
Sal’s eyes narrow. “That means we need another meeting. One where we lay out what each lieutenant’s gonna be responsible for when things go south.”
“I agree. But not here, not in the city. We need somewhere outside of town. No prying eyes. No ears listening in.”
Sal nods, understanding the need for discretion.
“I’ve got a place in mind,” I say, leaning forward. “One of our old warehouses in Yonkers.”
Sal smirks, nodding. “Perfect spot. Quiet, out of the way, and no one’s gonna poke their nose where it doesn’t belong.”
I nod, but my tone hardens. “And I don’t want any more business being handled at my home. Not after what happened last time.”
Sal nods in agreement. “If I find Jack, I’ll keep him on ice. Won’t bring him near your place, I promise.”
“Good,” I say, standing up. “Let the lieutenants know what’s on the docket. The meeting’s happening tomorrow. I’ll be in touch with the time, but I want everyone ready.”
Sal nods again, pulling out his phone. “I’ll take care of it.”
“And Sal,” I add, my voice firm, “I’ll be spending the night at the warehouse. I want eyes on the place to make sure we’re secure.”
“Got it, boss.”
As I turn to leave, the gravity of what’s coming settles in. We’re not at war yet, but the pieces are in motion. It’s only a matter of time.
I grab my glass of wine and sit at the empty bar, the events of the last few days playing on a loop in my head. There’s no escaping it—until my father’s killer is brought down, none of us are safe. Not me, not Willow, and definitely not my daughters.
The thought of something happening to any of them makes my blood run hot, rage boiling just beneath the surface. I take a long sip of wine, forcing myself to calm down. Losing my cool won’t get us anywhere.
I pull out my phone, ready to text Willow. I’ll let her know I’ll be away on business for the night, to keep an eye on the girls. The fact that I trust her to look after them gives me some peace. She’s become a part of my life now, whether I planned it or not.
And with that comes responsibility. Her safety is on me. She might not fully understand the world she’s stepped into, but I do.
I type out the message, keeping it short. I’ll be home in a bit. Something came up. We’ll discuss.
As I hit send, the weight of it all sinks in. I’ve got enemies circling, but as long as I’m breathing, I’ll make damn sure nothing touches Willow or the kids.
Willow texts back almost immediately. Is everything alright?
I look at the screen, the words staring back at me. For now, yes, I respond. We’ll talk when I get home.
After I send it, I think about how the hell I’m going to pull her deeper into this world without breaking her. She deserves to know the risks, the real danger she’s in just being around me. But at the same time, I can’t afford to scare her off—not now, not when things are this close to boiling over.
Tomorrow’s meeting with the lieutenants will be crucial. We’ll iron out the battle plan, prepare for whatever’s coming. If I need to, I’ll send Willow, Olivia, and the girls out of town—somewhere far from the bloodshed that’s about to rain down.