Page 47 of Ruthless Daddies

I clench my fists, leaning back in my chair as the screen flickers. It’s maddening—watching, knowing, not doing anything about it. But I can’t stop myself. I’ve tried. Tried to ignore it, to let it go, but the obsession has rooted itself deep, burrowing into me until it’s all I can think about.

I rewind the footage, watching the moment again. Alice, slipping through her door, a fleeting glance over her shoulder. Nikolai close behind, his hand brushing her back, followed by Dmitri with that damn smug look on his face. I feel my teeth grind as the screen goes dark once more, signaling the end of the clip.

They’re all together in there. For hours. Sometimes the entire night. My brothers, with her.

The thought alone makes me want to punch something. Or someone.

I know what they’re doing. I’m not naive, and I’m certainly not blind. Both of them touching her, kissing her, taking what should never have been theirs to take.

I tell myself not to care. It’s none of my business. She’s just the nanny. But I can’t stop myself from watching.

I slam my fist against the desk, the sound reverberating through the room. It doesn’t help. The fire inside me only grows hotter, more consuming.

She’s mine.

The thought is irrational, dangerous, but it pulses through me with every beat of my heart. I’ve been careful to keep my distance, to maintain control, but Alice makes that impossible. Every time she enters the room, her presence fills the space, her scent lingering long after she’s gone.

I can’t get her out of my head.

It’s maddening.

I run a hand over my face, trying to push the image away, but it lingers. I close the laptop with a snap and push back from the desk, pacing the room.

This is ridiculous. I’m acting like a jealous fool, obsessing over something that doesn’t belong to me. Something that can’t belong to me.

But that’s the problem, isn’t it?

Sheshouldbelong to me.

The thought hits me hard, and I stop pacing, my hands gripping the edge of the desk as I stare at the blank wall. I’ve spent my life mastering control—of my emotions, my actions, my entire world. But Alice is chaos. She’s everything I can’t have, and yet she’s the only thing I want.

The door creaks open behind me, and I turn sharply, my heart pounding. But it’s not Alice—it’s Alexei.

“You look like hell,” he says, his voice dry.

“Thanks,” I mutter, sinking back into my chair.

Alexei’s eyes flick to the closed laptop, his expression unreadable. “What’s gotten into you?”

“I said I’m fine.”

“You’re lying,” my uncle replies. He knows me inside and out. It’s a blessing and it’s a curse.

“You want my advice?” Alexei continues, leaning against the desk. “Either let her go or claim her. But this?” He gestures to me. “This isn’t sustainable. Not for you. And definitely not for her.”

“You’re imagining things, old man,” I say coldly, standing and crossing my arms over my chest. “There’s nothing to claim. She’s the nanny, Alexei. That’s all.”

He smirks, shaking his head. “You can tell yourself that if it helps you sleep at night, but I’ve seen the way you look at her. You’re not as subtle as you think, Ivan.”

I turn back to him, my frustration flaring. “I don’t know what you’re trying to imply?—”

“I’m not implying anything,” he interrupts, his voice calm but pointed. “I’m stating facts. You’re distracted, you’re angry, and it’s all because of her. You might not admit it, but I’ve known you long enough to see it.”

His words hit harder than I want to admit, and for a moment, I wonder just how much he’s figured out. Does he know about Alice and Dmitri? About Nikolai?

But Alexei doesn’t bring it up, and neither do I.

The morning iscool and quiet, sunlight streaming through the windows and spilling over the polished floors. I’m in the dining room, my coffee untouched in front of me as I sift through the latest security reports. It’s routine, something I do every morning, but today my mind isn’t on the papers in my hands.

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