Elias stood outside the Drago estate, his duffel bag slung over his bony shoulder, feeling like a mouse staring down at a castle. His legs wobbled from exhaustion, his body still aching from yesterday's final diner shift. The morning bus ride from his old apartment had been bumpy, and the bottle of suppressants in his bag rattled with every step. He was a beta to these people. He had to be.
Gerald met him at the gate, his black suit crisp despite the humid afternoon.
"Welcome, Mr. Kane," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Let's get you settled."
Elias nodded, his throat dry.
"Thanks, uh, Gerald. Just call me Elias, okay?"
Gerald's lips twitched, almost a smile.
"Very well, Elias. Follow me."
The mansion's halls were even grander in daylight, with chandeliers glinting and marble floors that made Elias's worn sneakers look pathetic. His arms shook as he carried his bag, his skinny frame barely holding up. He hadn't eaten since a stale bagel at dawn, and his cheap suppressants were making him dizzy again. The faint vanilla of his omega scent clung to him, and he prayed the twins and Gerald wouldn't notice.
Gerald led him up a wide staircase to a hallway lined with dark wooden doors.
"Your room," he said, opening one. Elias's jaw dropped. The room was huge... bigger than his entire apartment. A four-poster bed sat against one wall, with a desk, a wardrobe, and a window overlooking a garden. It felt like a dream.
"This is... wow," Elias said, setting his bag down. His voice was soft, almost lost in the room's echo. "Isn't it too big for me?"
"You'll need the space," Gerald said. "The twins are a handful. Their rooms are next door, so you're close if they need you."
Elias nodded, his stomach twisting.
"What do I do for them, exactly?"
Gerald handed him a folded paper.
"Their schedule. Pick them up from school at 3 PM with the driver. Help with homework, meals, and bedtime. Keep them out of trouble, though that's... challenging. Correct them if they misbehave, but don't be harsh. They're the master's sons, after all."
Elias swallowed. "The master?"
"Mr. Drago," Gerald said, his tone neutral. "He's often away on business, but he expects order. You'll meet him soon enough."
Elias's heart skipped. The Mafia Boss. He hoped "soon enough" was never. He unfolded the schedule... school pickup, dinner at 6, bedtime at 8. Simple enough, but the twins' smirks from yesterday lingered in his mind. They weren't going to make this easy. Not at all.
"I'll show you the kitchen later," Gerald said. "For now, unpack and rest. The twins get home in two hours. Oh, and here." He handed Elias a new brand flip phone. "The twins insisted. They said, and I quote, 'No one's so dumb they don't have a phone.'"
Elias blushed, taking the phone.
"Thanks. I'll, uh, figure out how to use it."
Gerald nodded and left, closing the door. Elias sank onto the bed, his body screaming for rest. But he couldn't relax... not yet. His suppressants were his lifeline. If anyone found them, or worse, if his scent slipped, he'd be out of a job. Or worse, in a mafia house. He unzipped his bag, pulling out the small orange bottle. The label was peeling, the pills inside barely enough for a month. He needed a safe spot to hide it.
He scanned the room, his eyes landing on the wardrobe. It was tall, with a top shelf he could barely reach. Perfect. He dragged the desk chair over, wincing as his weak arms strained to lift it. Standing on his toes, he tucked the bottle behind a dusty stack of linens, out of sight. His head spun from the effort, and he gripped the wardrobe to steady himself.
"You've got this," he whispered, thinking of Lila. "For her."
Suddenly, a loud thump came from the hallway, followed by giggles. Elias froze. The twins weren't supposed to be home yet. He crept to the door, peeking out. Dante and Dario stood there, identical except for Dario's red wristband. They held a bucket, and water sloshed onto the floor.
"Hey, nanny!" Dante called, grinning. "You done hiding in there?"
Elias stepped out, his heart pounding.
"Uh, you're early. School's not out yet."
Dario smirked. "The teacher got sick. We got a ride home from our classmate. You ready to work, or you gonna faint?"
Elias's face heated. He did feel faint, his knees shaky, but he forced a smile.
"I'm... ready. What's with the bucket?"
The twins exchanged a look, their grins widening. Before Elias could react, Dante tipped the bucket, and a wave of cold water hit him. He gasped, soaking wet, his hoodie clinging to his skinny frame. The twins burst out laughing, high-fiving each other.
"Got you!" Dario said, doubling over. "You look like a drowned rat!"
Elias shivered, wiping water from his eyes. His suppressants were safe, but his scent... God, what if the water washed it out? He sniffed himself, relieved to smell only soap and damp cloth.
"Real funny, Young Masters," he said, his voice trembling but firm. "You gonna help me clean this up?"
Dante snorted.
"You're the nanny. You clean it."
"Yeah," Dario added, crossing his arms. "What kind of nanny gets wet from a little water? Weak."
Elias's chest tightened. He was weak from birth... his body felt like it might collapse... but he couldn't let them see it. "I've handled worse," he murmured to himself, grabbing a towel from his room. He mopped the floor, his arms shaking with every swipe. The twins watched, whispering to each other, their eyes glinting like they were planning something worse.
"Bet you can't catch us Nanny," Dante said, bolting down the hall. Dario followed, their laughter echoing.
Elias groaned, dropping the towel.
"Young Masters, please wait! The floor is wet and slippery" He chased them, his wet clothes slowing him down. His legs burned, and his breath came in short gasps. The twins darted into a room, slamming the door. Elias reached it, panting, and pushed it open. Inside was a playroom, cluttered with toys and books. The twins were nowhere in sight.
"Ugh! Great," Elias muttered, his head spinning. He leaned against the wall, catching his breath. A rustling came from behind a couch. He crept over, peering behind it. Dante and Dario crouched there, holding a bag of marbles, ready to scatter them.
"Don't.. don't even think about it," Elias said, trying to sound stern. His voice cracked, and the twins laughed.
"You're slow," Dario said, tossing a marble at him. It hit Elias's shin, and he winced. "Can't even dodge that?"
"I'm not here to play dodgeball," Elias said, rubbing his leg. "Come on, let's do something else. Homework, maybe?"
Dante made a gagging sound. "Homework is boring. You're boring."
"Yeah," Dario said, standing up. "Bet you can't even lift a book. I've met a lot of weak people but you're, like, super weak."
Elias's face burned. They weren't wrong but he forced a grin.
"I don't need to lift books to outsmart you two. What's your favourite game? I bet I can beat you."
The twins paused, glancing at each other.
"You play video games?" Dante asked, sceptical.
"Sure," Elias lied. He'd never had time for games, but he'd say anything to keep them from dumping more water on him. "Show me what you got."
Dario smirked, pulling out a controller.
"Okay, nanny. But if you lose, you're cleaning our room."
"And if I win?" Elias asked, raising an eyebrow.
Dante laughed. "You won't. But fine... winner picks dinner."
Elias nodded, his stomach growling at the thought of food. He sat on the couch, the controller heavy in his shaky hands. The twins set up a racing game, and Elias fumbled through the controls, his vision blurring from exhaustion. The twins won every round, cackling as they lapped him on the screen.
"You're terrible," Dario said, tossing the controller down. "Hope you like scrubbing floors, nanny."
Elias forced a laugh.
"Give me time. I'll get better."
"Yeah, right," Dante said, nudging Dario. "Let's see how he does with dinner. Bet he burns it."
The twins ran off, leaving Elias slumped on the couch after beating him in the game. He rubbed his eyes getting tired already. It was just day one and he was thinking of quitting already. Gerald appeared at the door, his face unreadable. "Trouble already?" he asked.
"Just a little water," Elias said, managing a weak smile. "I can handle them."
Gerald nodded. "Good. The driver will take you to pick them up from school tomorrow. For now, dry off and prepare their dinner. The kitchen is downstairs."
Elias stood up, scratching the back of his head.
"Got it. Thanks, Gerald."
As Gerald left, Elias glanced at the playroom's mess... marbles, toys, and a suspicious puddle in the corner. The twins were testing him, and this was just the start. He thought of Lila, her still face in the hospital bed, and clenched his fists.
"If this is a test, I just need to pass it and gain the twins' trust. If that's what they want, I'll play with them all they want," he folded his fist, determined.