The Mafia King's Virgin Healer

No child

From the window of his study, Pedro watched as the sleek sports car disappeared down the long driveway, followed by a strange hollowness which had absolutely nothing to do with the curse, expanding in his chest. It seemed that his years of wallowing in agony might be coming to an end. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he could see light at the end of the tunnel.

'Strange,' he thought, pressing a hand to his chest. The effect from her presence was more soothing than any of the medicinal concoctions Alex had prepared for him over the years.

He had climbed to the second floor specifically to test how far he could be from her and still feel the effect. The moment he'd reached the landing, he'd noticed the relief beginning to wane. Now, with her completely off the premises, the familiar pain was creeping back like an unwelcome houseguest.

"Should I just go with them?" Pedro wondered aloud, beginning to pace the expanse of his study like a caged animal. "But that might seem suspicious."

He paused, caressing his lips with his index finger before resuming his restless movement. He felt like a child who had just tasted a lollipop for the first time, only to have it snatched away before he could fully savor its sweetness. Impatience gnawed at him. He couldn't wait to experience again the absolute peace her presence had granted his tortured body.

But who would think he was suspicious? He was Pedro Delgado, feared Mafia King. No one would dare to question his actions or motives, right?

"Ahhh... Alex!" Pedro supplied the answer to his own question as he paused once again, his reflection frowning back at him from the window. "Alex would definitely suspect that I followed them because of some... lollipop."

Pedro flinched at what he had just called her. Well, she surely looked like one with her different shades of color and apparent touch of healing magic. The sunset hair, those blue eyes that somehow reminded him of clear skies he hadn't appreciated in years, and those ridiculous tattoos that both repulsed and intrigued him.

"I will just hide somewhere close, so they don't notice," Pedro concluded, already turning toward the door, his decision made with childlike impulsiveness rarely seen in the calculated crime lord. He would just see her briefly and return.

But upon reaching the ground floor, Pedro saw Rico standing at attention like a soldier.

Pedro instantly frowned, remembering the important meeting he was supposed to attend. His features hardened back into the mask of the ruthless boss his men knew and feared.

"Is it time, Rico?" he asked, his voice laced with uncharacteristic hesitation.

"Everyone is set, and we are waiting for you, Boss." Rico nodded.

"Mm..." Pedro nodded reluctantly as he headed for the door with one hand in his pocket. He would just have to taste that lollipop later.

He thought of something and paused, turning to look at Rico, his green eyes sharpening with renewed focus.

"Find out every connection between Maya and Ethan. I need details—where they met, how they met, and anything at all." His voice had returned to its usual commanding tone.

Even though Maya appeared to be the remedy for his pain, Pedro still needed to keep his guard up. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford, especially not with someone who had crossed paths with a known traitor to his organization.

"Yes, Boss." Rico nodded as they left the house, the matter of the mysterious Maya Miller filed away as top priority.

*************

Maya's fingers danced excitedly on the steering wheel as she navigated the winding roads leading away from Pedro's mansion. She was still in her euphoric and adventurous mode as she enjoyed riding the sports car.

Alex was smiling as she watched Maya enjoy her first time riding in a sports car. The more Alex saw Maya's carefree spirit and positive energy, the more she was convinced that Maya was truly the one for Pedro. However, she was more curious to know the type of power Maya had.

It was obvious Maya didn't know she had witch blood flowing in her.

Maya felt the disturbing gaze from Alex's eyes on her and lowered her energy as she thought she was being too overboard with her admiration. The car wasn't even hers. The scrutiny was making her increasingly self-conscious until she finally broke the silence.

"What?" she asked, darting a quick glance at her passenger.

Alex didn't hesitate. "Why the tattoos on both arms?"

Maya instinctively flexed her fingers against the steering wheel, the intricate designs on her forearms shifting with the movement of her muscles. "They make me feel safe. Stronger." She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the personal nature of the question.

"That's bad," Alex mused, more to herself than to Maya. "Pedro doesn't like tattoos."

Maya furrowed her brows, still focusing on the road ahead. "Why do you care so much about what Pedro thinks?"

Alex was quiet for a while, her eyes burning into the distance like she was relinquishing a memory.

"Pedro saved my life," she said quietly. "Even though he hated my kind."

"Your kind?" Maya asked, curiosity momentarily overshadowing her apprehension.

Alex drew a deep breath. "Witches."

Maya nearly swerved, quickly correcting her grip on the wheel. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I was being tortured, used as a plaything because of what I am," Alex continued, her voice steady despite the horror of her words. "Pedro bought me. Rescued me. Gave me a purpose beyond being someone's mystical experiment."

She paused, a conflicted expression crossing her face. "Sometimes I think he only saved me because I convinced him I could help with the curs—" Alex abruptly cut herself off, before she could mention the word 'curse'.

Clearly, Maya was better off not knowing about it for the time being.

"What are you mumbling about?" Maya asked, trying to catch the words Alex had swallowed back.

"Nothing," Alex replied, her composure quickly returning. "You'll find out in due time."

Maya's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but she decided not to press further, feeling there was no way Alex was being serious. Alex could only be messing with her. Instead, she shifted to another question nagging at her. "So is that why you married him? Because he saved you?"

Alex's laughter filled the car, light and genuinely amused. "Pedro is not my husband, Maya. He is my boss and friend."

"What?" The revelation shocked Maya so thoroughly that she slammed on the brakes, sending them both lurching forward. Alex barely managed to brace herself against the dashboard, shooting Maya a glare.

"S-sorry," Maya stammered, quickly easing back onto the gas pedal. Despite her apology, her eyes kept darting toward Alex as she resumed driving, burning with unanswered questions.

"What are you so curious about?" Alex asked, clearly enjoying Maya's confusion.

"Who's the mother of his child, then? Is he divorced?" The questions tumbled out before Maya could stop them.

A knowing smirk curved Alex's lips as she studied Maya with renewed interest. "Why are you so interested in your boss's love life?"

Heat rushed to Maya's cheeks. "I'm only trying to know more about the family I'm involved with," she defended, her voice rising to an unconvincing pitch.

"How cute," Alex replied, her smile widening. "Well, your boss is as single as the... sun!"

Maya tried to keep her expression neutral, suppressing the strange flutter in her chest. "Then who gave birth to his child?" she pressed.

"Nobody," Alex said simply. "There's no child in the picture. He lost his wife five years ago, and ever since then, he's been single."

Maya's brow furrowed deeply. "So what am I here to do? What exactly is the work of the live-in nanny I applied for?"

Alex's eyes danced with amusement. "You're Pedro's personal nanny. How about that?"

The statement was so unexpected, so utterly bewildering, that Maya completely lost focus on the road. But then she saw a blur of movement appearing in her peripheral vision, causing her to jerk the wheel instinctively. Despite her quick reaction, she felt a sickening thump beneath the wheels as the car swerved sharply. She slammed on the brakes, sending them both pitching forward against their seatbelts.

For a terrifying moment, the world seemed to spin around them, time stretching like taffy before snapping back into place with a jolt as the car finally came to a stop.

Maya's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps as she stared wide-eyed through the windshield.