Page 3 of Devil Seeks Nanny

I can see that for myself without Leo repeating all of the information spread out in front of me like he’s memorized it. It seems as though Diana has all of the credentials I want in a nanny, and is trained to be a teacher as well, which is exactly what I’m looking for for my five-year-old twins. The background check has already been done, informing me that Diana Elliott is as good as they come, with not so much as a parking ticket in her file. There are also plenty of letters of recommendation as well, her past employers praising her and raving about her ability to connect with their children, how well she takes care of them, how she’s the best of the best.

She’s perfect, and I tell myself I come to that conclusion based on the report on her, and not just the photograph that’s attached to it.

I close the file before my gaze lingers too long on her picture, my eyes flickering up to meet Leo. He looks satisfied like he already knows what I’m going to say before I say it. It wouldn’t be surprising—there’s a reason why he’s the underboss. “Track her down,” I tell him. “I want to meet with her.”

Let’s see if she accepts or gets too scared and refuses.

*****

“Daddy’s home!”

The door shuts behind me, and as soon as it does, I feel the tension of the day melting off my shoulders and a smile easily curving at my lips at the sound of my daughter’s cheer. I barely make it two more steps further into the foyer of my home when two pairs of feet are padding on the hardwood floors, and two five-year-olds are launching themselves at me.

I set the bag that contains a box from the bakery down on the ground as I crouch to my knees, accepting the hugs from my children. Monica and Matteo’s arms wrap around my neck, and I find comfort in their embraces, giving them a content squeeze before pulling back.

“Did you bring us cookies from the bakery, Daddy?” Monica asks, excitedly bouncing on the heels of her feet. Her grin is wide, and I can tell she lost the bottom front tooth that had been loose for days. She’s too excited about the cookies to inform me of this new development.

I grin, a smile only my kids can pull from me. It’s Saturday, which means I have one of my men head down to Slice of Life—the bakery that the pretty and potential future nanny’s father runs—to get a box full of cookies my kids devour during the weekend. Unfortunately, Victor, the soldier who made the run, had gone to the bakery before I found out about Diana. But when I’d questioned him later on today, he had said that Benny wasn’t at the bakery, and neither was a new blonde girl.

“What do you think?” I ask, lifting the bag up and watching both of their eyes widen with delight. “In the kitchen we go.”

We walk down the hallway, past the living room, and into the kitchen, where my current and soon-to-be-retiring nanny, Gloria, is already waiting. “Welcome home, Mr. Cataldi,” she greets, and we do our regular exchange of her taking the bakery box while handing me a glass of water. That’s always been something she does—makes sure I’m hydrated as soon as I get home, and not with alcohol. I’d forget to drink water if it wasn’t for Gloria.

She opens the box and puts two cookies each on two plates for the kids before handing them off. Monica and Matteo sit down at a small round table in the kitchen, and I watch them as I lean against the counter, sipping my water. Next to me, Gloria gives me the quick rundown of the day, telling me what the kids got up to today.

“Oh, and Monica lost a tooth, as you can tell,” Gloria says quietly, making sure the kids can’t hear us. They’re too busy munching on the cookies and talking amongst themselves to listen in. Gloria throws me a smile. “So, she’s expecting the Tooth Fairy to make a visit.”

The corner of my mouth quirks up as I take another sip of the water. Growing up, I didn’t believe in fairy tales such as the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, or even Santa Clause. My parents weren’t the heartwarming, keeping-up-silly-pretenses type to let me believe in such things. But my kids do—because it’s what their mother would have wanted. Their mother, who did grow up believing in such things, had always told me she wanted our kids to believe in them as well. Just because she was gone, didn’t mean her wishes would go unfulfilled. So, I do it for her, and for Monica and Matteo.

I nod at Gloria. “The Tooth Fairy will make a visit.”

If anyone outside of the secure and private walls of my home heard me speaking about such things, their view of me would change drastically. No one needs to know that Bruno Cataldi plays the role of the Tooth Fairy from time to time. I’d put a bullet in them before they could ever utter a word about it.

“Have you had any success in finding a replacement for me?” Gloria asks.

I glance at her. She’s older than me, shorter in stature, and has the features of a devoted, loving grandmother. That’s how Monica and Matteo see her, and I know it will be an adjustment for them once Gloria leaves. We already informed them that it will be happening so they’re better prepared, but I don’t think they’ll truly grasp it until it happens and someone else takes Gloria’s place.

Blue eyes, blonde hair, and a bright smile flash across my mind, but I shove the image back.

“I have a potential candidate,” I answer vaguely. “We’ll see how it plays out.”

“I hope it does,” Gloria says, and I see her wringing her fingers before her concerned gaze slips over to me. “If you need me to stay on a little longer until you find someone permanently, let me know. I’ll be happy to—”

“No,” I cut Gloria off sternly, making her purse her lips. “You’ve taken care of my kids all of their lives, Gloria, but now it’s time you take care of yourself.” As much as I love my kids, as much as they are my number one priority, I don’t want Gloria to put her health at risk to take care of Monica and Matteo. She’s family, and she needs to take care of herself. “They’ll be fine. I’ll find someone for them. Don’t worry.”

She sighs and nods, accepting my words, just as Matteo calls out, “Daddy, have a cookie!”

I smile slightly, pushing myself away from the counter and grabbing a chocolate chip cookie from the box, before walking over and sitting on the empty chair next to the twins. They both grin at me, crumbs of cookies stuck around their mouths, and my chest swells as it always does whenever I’m in their presence.

They deserve the best care, and I have a feeling that after Gloria, Diana Elliott is the only one who can step up to the role. It’s in everyone’s best interest that she accepts it.

Chapter 3

DIANA

“Alright, I’ll see you later, okay?” My old friend from high school, Cathy, says as we both exit the quaint little restaurant down the street from Slice of Life. “Tell your dad I said hi!”

I grin, waving her off as she gets into her car. “I will.”

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