Entangled With The Mafia

Episode2

Chapter 02

A few days had passed since I’d applied to the nanny agency, and though I’d been put on a waiting list, nothing seemed to be moving fast enough. Georgie had finally woken up, his eyes fluttering open as he adjusted to the sterile white light above him. I’d been by his side every moment, trying to reassure him, even though inside, I was falling apart.

Georgie, my baby brother. The one who used to run around, full of energy and mischief, now lying in a hospital bed, barely able to move. His legs, once so strong, were now fragile and weak. The doctors had told us the ceiling had collapsed on him during the earthquake, and while they couldn’t guarantee he’d never walk again, they advised us to try physiotherapy. But the costs were outrageous, and we didn’t have that kind of money.

Kelly came by every day after work, her usual cheerfulness tempered by the sadness that seemed to hang over all of us. My grandparents tried to console Georgie, but I could see the worry in their eyes. They didn’t know what to do either, and I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I had no idea how we were going to afford his treatment. I had to keep it together. For Georgie. For them. For me.

The days blurred together in a haze of worry and uncertainty. The waiting list for the nanny agency didn’t seem to be moving fast enough, and every moment that passed without any progress made me feel like I was running out of time. Georgie needed treatment, and I couldn’t let him down.

After another disappointing interview with a fast food joint owner who treated me like I was invisible, I needed a break. I was exhausted, physically and emotionally. The idea of another rejection, another dead-end, felt too much to bear. So, I decided to take a walk. The park wasn’t far, and maybe a few minutes of fresh air would help me clear my head.

The park was quiet, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the grass. The leaves rustled gently in the breeze, and for a moment, I almost felt like everything might be okay. But it didn’t last long.

I was lost in thought when I heard the unmistakable sound of children’s laughter. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But then the sound grew louder, and suddenly, I realized I wasn’t hearing laughter at all. It was a shrill scream, a cry of terror.

My heart raced as I turned toward the road. Three small figures, no older than four, were playing in the middle of the street, completely oblivious to the speeding black car headed straight for them. My blood ran cold.

Without thinking, I rushed forward, my feet moving faster than my mind could catch up. “Hey! Get out of the street!” I screamed, my voice hoarse with panic. But they didn’t hear me.

The car was getting closer, the engine roaring as it barreled toward the children. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached them just in time. I grabbed the closest child—a little boy with messy brown hair—and yanked him out of the way. He cried out in surprise, but I didn’t have time to check if he was hurt. I reached for the others, pulling them away from the oncoming car with all the strength I could muster.

We tumbled to the ground, my knees scraping the pavement as I shielded them. The car screeched to a halt just inches away from us. My breath came in ragged gasps, my heart still racing in my chest. I could feel the children’s tiny hands gripping my arms, their sobs echoing in my ears.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice trembling. I glanced down at them, my mind still trying to process what had just happened. The little boy I had grabbed was shaking, his wide eyes filled with fear. He had a tear-streaked face, his cheeks flushed from crying. The little girl, no older than him, was clinging to my side, her tiny fingers curled around my sleeve. She had blonde hair, almost white in the sunlight, and her big blue eyes were filled with confusion. The other boy, with curly black hair, was crying, too, his little face contorted in fear.

I didn’t know what to do. All I could think about was getting them to safety. “It’s okay. You’re safe now,” I said, trying to calm them down. I didn’t know what kind of danger they were in, but I couldn’t just leave them there.

The sound of a car door slamming shut brought me back to reality. I turned, my breath catching in my throat as a man stepped out of the black car.

He was tall, sharply dressed in an expensive suit, and the look on his face made my stomach drop. He was angry, his jaw clenched tightly, his eyes flashing with irritation. But then, as if sensing the children were in danger, his expression softened just a fraction.

“Daddy!” the little girl cried, her voice trembling as she reached out toward him.

I blinked, taken aback. “Daddy?” I muttered under my breath, my mind racing.

The man didn’t even glance at me as the children ran toward him, their cries of relief echoing in the air. They rushed into his arms, and he lifted them up with a swift motion, holding them close as if trying to shield them from the world.

He looked down at them, his face hardening again. “Where is your nanny?” he asked sharply, his voice cold.

The children clung to him, still crying, but they didn’t respond. The man’s eyes flicked to me for a moment, but there was no recognition in his gaze. His expression didn’t change, and before I could say anything, he turned away and walked toward the car.

I stood there, frozen, watching as the children were ushered into the back seat. “Hey, wait a second!” I called, frustration bubbling up inside me. “You can’t just drive off without even thanking me. I just saved your kids!”

But the man didn’t even flinch. He didn’t look back, didn’t say a word. The car doors slammed shut, and the engine roared to life as the car sped off down the street.

I stood there for a long moment, staring after them, my chest tight with a mix of confusion and anger.

What the hell just happened?

I had just saved those kids from certain danger, and not only did their father not thank me, but he didn’t even acknowledge what I’d done.

I could feel my hands trembling as I ran them through my hair, my mind still reeling. I didn’t know what to make of it.

“Hey, Eliza, what happened?”

I turned to see Kelly approaching, her brow furrowed with concern. She had been waiting for me to get back from my walk.

“I—” I started, but my voice faltered. I didn’t know where to begin. “There were these kids—triplets—and I saved them from getting hit by a car. But their dad—”

I stopped myself, shaking my head. “Never mind. I don’t know. It’s just... weird.”

Kelly looked at me, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What do you mean, weird?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered. “I saved them, and their dad didn’t even thank me. He just—he just took them and left without a word.”

Kelly raised an eyebrow. “That’s... odd.”

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of frustration and confusion.

“Are you okay?” Kelly asked, her voice softening.

“Yeah,” I replied, though I wasn’t sure if I was lying to her or to myself. “I’ll be fine. Just... just a weird day.”

We walked in silence for a moment, the weight of the encounter settling on my shoulders.

I didn’t know who that man was, but I knew one thing for sure: I hadn’t expected that kind of response. And I certainly hadn’t expected to feel so... insignificant after something like that.

But no matter what, I was still going to find a way to get Georgie the treatment he needed. I didn’t care who that man was or what kind of world he lived in. I had my own fight to wi

n.

And I wasn’t going to let anything—especially a rude crazy man—stop me.