Page 7 of Stolen By the Devil

“And what do you want from me?” she asked again, more firmly this time.

A slow smile spread across my lips. “You’ll take care of my children. You’ll be their nanny. Liliana is six, Marco is four. They’ve gone through more nannies than I care to count. None of them lasted, but I think you’ll be different.”

Her eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting that response. “Your children?” she echoed, her voice filled with confusion.

I nodded, leaning forward. “My children…they’ve been through enough. They need someone like you, someone who can care for them properly without fear.”

Angel blinked, processing my words, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders as though she had come to terms with her new reality. “I’ll do it,” she said quietly. “If it keeps my mother safe.”

Satisfied with her response, I summoned the servants once more. “Bring the children down,” I ordered.

A few moments later, Liliana and Marco entered the room. As always, my staff ensured they were impeccably dressed, and their dark eyes watched me with silent respect. Liliana, ever the serious one, held her little brother’s hand as they stood before me.

“Children,” I said, gesturing toward Angel, “this is your new nanny. I expect you to behave and make sure this one lasts. I don’t want to have to step in again.”

Liliana’s eyes flicked to Angel, taking her in with the same sharp scrutiny she used on every new nanny. Marco, on theother hand, shifted nervously behind his sister, his gaze flitting back and forth from me to Angel and back again.

Liliana spoke first, her voice quiet but clear. “We’ll be good, Papa.”

Marco nodded quickly, following his sister’s lead as he always did.

Angel rose from her chair and knelt in front of them, her blue eyes softening instantly as she spoke. “Have you had breakfast yet?” she asked gently. They shook their heads in unison, and I watched as Angel’s demeanor shifted. The tension she had carried all morning seemed to melt away in the presence of my children. She was a natural, I realized. She had a gift for caring for others, one that even I could see from this brief interaction.

“I’ll see to them,” she said quietly, rising and turning her attention back to me.

I nodded, satisfied. “Good. My home is fully staffed. The servants are at your disposal for whatever you and the children need. You are free to roam the property, but you will not leave without permission. Understood?”

She nodded in return, her focus entirely on Liliana and Marco now.

With that, I rose from the table, glad to have solved two problems at once. My children were in good hands, and Angel would do exactly what I needed her to do. I had made the right choice. The girl would be perfect for my children, and whether she realized it or not, she had just become an essential piece in the life I was building for them.

The Devil’s deal had been struck, and time would tell if Angel would rise to the challenge or break under the weight of my world.

Chapter Three

Angel

As the door closed behind Drago, I was left standing alone with his children—two sets of wide, dark eyes staring up at me with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. The room was quiet, but there was a tension hanging in the air that I couldn’t ignore. Liliana, the older one, stood straight with her hands folded in front of her, her expression sharp and serious for one so young. Marco clung to her side, his small hands gripping the edge of her bright red dress, his face peeking out from behind her.

I took a slow breath and softened my expression as I knelt down, trying to meet them at eye level. “Hi, Liliana…Marco…I’m Angel,” I said, offering them a small smile. “I know this must be strange for you, having a new nanny, but I’m here to help. Whatever you need, I’ll be there.”

Liliana narrowed her eyes at me, her lips curling into a slight smirk. She didn’t say anything, but I could feel her sizing me up, trying to figure out what kind of person I was. Marco stayed silent, his gaze darting between me and his sister, as if waiting for her to make the first move.

I reached out my hand, hoping to break the ice. “Would you like some breakfast? I know you didn’t eat earlier.”

Liliana didn’t respond. Instead, she moved quickly, stepping to the side and sticking out her foot just as I started to rise. I didn’t see it in time. My legs tangled, and I stumbled, falling hard onto my knee. Pain shot through me, sharp and immediate, but I bit back a gasp.

Marco let out a small giggle, and I could hear Liliana’s stifled laughter behind him.

I looked down at my knee, already swelling and throbbing from the impact against the stone tile, and for a brief moment, anger flashed through me. But just as quickly as it came, I forced it away. These children were testing me, just like they had tested every other nanny who had come through here. They weren’t bad—just hurt, just lost.

I took a deep breath, letting the gentle warmth of my inner fire light up inside me. I wasn’t going to respond with anger or harsh words. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. Breaking was not in my nature.

Instead, I stood slowly, brushing off my dress as I looked them both in the eye. “That wasn’t very kind,” I said, keeping myvoice calm but firm. “It’s important to care about other people’s feelings. Hurting someone doesn’t make you stronger; it makes them sad. I’m here to take care of you, but I need you to be kind in return. Can you do that for me?”

The room went quiet again, and I could see the confusion flicker across Liliana’s face. Marco’s smile faltered. It was clear they weren’t used to this way of dealing with their misbehavior. They were used to fear, to nannies who scolded them and cried in frustration when things got tough. But I wasn’t going to be one of those nannies. Emotions may run through me, but I know how to keep them locked inside.

Liliana folded her arms across her chest, her sharp gaze softening just a fraction. “No one’s ever talked to us like that,” she muttered under her breath.

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