Page 5 of The DeLuca Crime Family: Vol. 1

“Maybe you can help with the kitten? Daddy said you’re moving in with us.” Sophia’s angelic voice held the slightest note of uncertainty.

“Your daddy thought it would be easier for me to help take care of you if I did, but only if you’re okay with me living here,” I reassured her.

“Oh, I am!” she blurted out. “But I didn’t know if you had a little girl like me at home who would miss you.”

I moved out of my chair and dropped to my knees in front of her, taking her hands into mine. “No little girls or boys for me yet. If I did, then I wouldn’t be able to move in with you. I graduated from high school a year ago, but I still live with my mom and dad. I’m sure they’ll miss me, but they know it’s about time for me to leave home anyway.”

“My daddy had me when he was in high school when he lived atNonnoandNonna’sold house.” Her admission confirmed my earlier assumption about Nic’s age. “But we moved out when I was two because Daddy wanted us to have a house all to ourselves. Then whenNonnodied, he toldNonnahe was willing to share me with her, and she moved in upstairs and we got an elevator.”

That was a lot of information out of such a little mouth. I wasn’t sure what to tackle first, so I went with the safest subject. “An elevator, huh? I’d love for you to show it to me. My mom and dad’s house doesn’t have one of those.”

She cocked her head at me. “I don’t have a mom, just a Daddy andNonna.”

“I’m working on it, mypreziosa.”

I jumped to my feet and whirled around, startled by the sound of Nic’s voice. For a big guy, he sure was light on his feet. I hadn’t heard him return, but surely he hadn’t said what I thought. The rich, hot, single dad falling head over heels for the nanny, at first sight, was something that only happened inromance novels, not real life. Even if it did, it certainly wouldn’t happen to me. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and stepped away from Sophia, who was staring at both of us, her gaze swiveling back and forth while she had a big grin on her face as she took in the determined look on his.

“I’m sorry to say I need to cut our meeting short. I have business matters which need my attention, and my mother is waiting for Sophia to join her upstairs before I leave.”

Sophia scrambled from her chair and flung herself at Nic’s legs, giving him a quick hug. “Bye, Daddy.”

He bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Bye, mypreziosa. I won’t be too long.”

“Okay,” she answered happily. She pulled away from him and before I knew it, she was hurtling towards me. Her skinny arms wrapped around my waist as she pressed her cheek against me in a quick hug. “Bye, Anna. It was nice meeting you.”

“It was nice to meet you, too, sweetie.”

She was gone in a flash, racing away, presumably to the elevator she’d told me about earlier.

“That went well,” Nic murmured, twining my hand in his once again.

“It did,” I agreed as he led me down the hallway and to the door. My gaze landed on the wall where he’d kissed me and I almost missed what he was saying as I remembered the feel of his lips on mine.

“I’ve reviewed your background check and references from the agency, as you instructed me to do,” he said wryly. “Judging from the hug she just gave you, you have Sophia’s stamp of approval, too. There’s nothing stopping you from moving in this weekend. Will Saturday morning work for you?”

“What about our kiss?” It certainly seemed like something which might stop me from moving in. Didn’t it?

He glanced at the black and silver Rolex watch strapped to his wrist. “Any conversation about the kiss will have to wait because I can’t be late to this meeting. I can send a car and men to help you with your possessions. Saturday morning at nine o’clock?”

“A car?”

“Yes, Gianna. A car,” he repeated. “In fact, use mine now to go home so my driver will know where to pick you up, and I’ll have an associate of mine fetch me on his way to our meeting.”

Before I knew what was happening, I’d been bundled into the back seat of a gleaming, black town car. When the driver pulled up in front of my parent’s house, I realized I hadn’t even given him the address. He already knew how to find the house. Which meant there really hadn’t been any need for him to drive me home, and Nic had darn well known it. Sneaky man.

Chapter Four

NIC

“Brandon. Wait a second.” My best friend since childhood turned from where he’d been headed toward the door and walked back over to me. He was also the man who would step in as my number two when I eventually took over. He stopped by the table and ran his hands over his buzzed, black hair, the short sleeves on his t-shirt displaying his many tattoos. He definitely looked the part of the enforcer, and we used it to our advantage often.

“What’s up, Nic?”

I waved for him to take a seat and waited until it was only he and my uncle left in the room with me.

“There’s been movement in the O’Reilly organization. Word is, someone is trying to move up in the ranks by taking on the DeLucas.”

Brandon ran frustrated hands over his head and blew out a breath. “You getting this from Silas?”

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