Page 27 of Primal God

Her eyes widen. “Sir, you said I had free rein in dealing with the children.”

“I did,” I agree. “But I believe there’s a clause in your contract about punishing my children. Did you not read the contract, Mrs. Shockley?”

“I did! I?—”

“Then you know that putting your hands on any of my children is an instant termination.” I pause, willing my rage to settle. “I expect your room to be cleared out within the hour.”

“Yes, sir.” She hesitates. “Will I still get a recommendation from you?”

My anger is close to simmering again, but I say, “Of course.”

She’s visibly relieved, and tears fill her eyes. “Thank you, sir.”

She rushes past me, leaving Clara and Diego’s room. Closing my eyes, I have to inhale deeply to get my anger under control.

When I’m sure I won’t scare the children, I go to Isadora’s nursery, finding her asleep in her crib. I touch her soft curls before going to my room where Diego and Clara sit next to each other, watching TV.

“Can you tellPapaiwhat happened, Clara?”

Clara’s dark green gaze meets mine. “Nanny got mad at me because I wet the bed.” Her chin wobbles, but she doesn’t cry. “I didn’t mean to, but she wouldn’t let me go to the bathroom.”

“Wouldn’t let you?”

“She said I would get in trouble if I got out of bed, so I didn’t.”

“Did she hurt you?”

Clara’s chin wobbles even more. “A little.”

Her gaze goes to her arm, where I see several dark bruises that look like fingerprints.

“I’m sorry she hurt you, Clara.” I turn to Diego. “And I’m sorry she scared you, Diego. Neither of you did anything wrong, and Nanny Shockley won’t be back.”

Diego and Clara look at each other, as if they’re having a private conversation, before Clara says, “We’re glad,Papai.”

I say, “You two can stay in here and watch TV for a while. I’m going to make a phone call in my study.”

They nod, turning their attention back to their show, and I slip from my room. Mrs. Shockley is leaving the room she was staying in and dips her head at me before rushing down the stairs.

“You can run, bitch, but you cannot hide,” I mutter.

I wait a moment and then head downstairs to my office, where I pull out my phone.

Alessandro Moretti

Do you still handle the things that need to be cleaned up for Members?

Yes. Why do you ask?

I send a photo of the former nanny and a copy of her driver’s license.

She laid hands on my daughter. I want her dead and I want it to be painful.

Proof?

And before you get all shitty with me, I have to ask everyone for proof.

I sit at my desk, pulling the security feeds, where I get to see the scene play out just as Clara said. Fury makes it hard to breathe, but I manage to save the file and send it to Moretti.

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