Page 71 of Protecting My Nanny

And then I see her.

It's only a glimpse, but I know it's Nicole. Her dark hair, her walk—it's her. She's with two men, avoiding the center of the dance floor as they slip into a darkened corner just below the skybox, disappearing from view. My pulse races.

She's right below me, I think. If I move casually, I can get closer. Figure out a way to get her away from them without being seen. I leave the skybox, walking down the spiral stairs as calmly as I can. My heart pounds with every step. The bar below the skybox shelters a few booths tucked away, perfect for keeping out of sight.

As soon as I hit the bottom step, before I can even turn the corner where I'm sure Nicole is, a man grabs me from behind and slams me against the wall, pressing me into the shadows of the club.

"What are you doing, Shane?" His voice is a harsh whisper, his breath hot against my ear.

I turn, confused. "Who are you?"

The man quickly flashes a badge—just long enough for me to see, and then it's gone.

"Mike said you might try to do something stupid," the man says, his tone sharp. "Now listen, I'm only gonna say this once. We're trying to prevent any bullets from flying. You go around that corner and Raffaele recognizes you, that's exactly what's gonna happen. Now get your ass back to the skybox, and don't move until you're told."

Before I can respond, a shout rings out from around the corner, followed by a gunshot and a blood-curdling scream. The club erupts into chaos.

"Shit," the cop mutters. He pushes me down, forcing me to crouch against the wall. "Stay low!" he barks as people start rushing toward the exits, knocking into each other and pushing to escape. The beat of the music is still thumping, a disorienting soundtrack to the madness unfolding around us.

I spot a woman near the dance floor, falling to the ground, clutching her side. I can't tell if she's been shot or if she's just caught in the chaos. The cop rushes toward her, disappearing into the crowd, leaving me alone.

A small voice in the back of my mind tells me to leave. To run while I still can. But that's not happening. I've come too far. With the cop gone, I edge around the corner, pushing against the tide of people surging past me. Faces blur together—panicked, shouting, shoving. I search for Nicole in the chaos, but seeing through the mass of bodies is impossible.

"He shot him!" I hear a woman scream as she pushes through the crowd, her arm locked with another woman's, both of them frantic to get out.

Had Raffaele done it? Is this how it ends? I round the corner, and just as I'm about to lose hope, I crash into a tall figure dressed in black. Our eyes meet, locking for a split second. It's Raffaele.

And just behind him, her arm trapped in his grip, is Nicole.

"Shane," Raffaele spits, his face twisting in confusion and anger. "You did this?"

Before I can react, his hand reaches for the gun tucked under his jacket. I lunge forward, desperate to put myself between him and Nicole. I don't care about anything else now. All I want is to get her out of his grasp. I shove her away and try to push him back, but Raffaele is fast. Too fast.

He swings his fist hard, a punch that lands squarely on my jaw. Pain explodes through my head, and I stagger backward, my vision blurring. I hit the floor hard, the cold concrete knocking the wind out of me. My ears ring, and I can't focus on anything but the throbbing pain in my skull.

I feel hands pulling at me, lifting me up. Nicole's voice breaks through the chaos, urgent and panicked.

"Get up, Shane!" she screams, her hands gripping my arms, trying to pull me to my feet.

I push myself up, groaning in pain, and as I regain my balance, I see Raffaele standing in front of me, his gun drawn. He raises it, pointing it straight at my head.

This is it.

Chapter 32

Nicole

The tension in the van is obvious as we ride to the Velvet Mirage. I sit beside Raffaele in the back, his leg bouncing anxiously beside mine. Tom's at the wheel, quiet as ever. The van's side panels are windowless, leaving only the rear door and front windshield to give any hint of where we're heading. I don't bother to look. It doesn't matter which road we take; the destination is fixed, but my fate—and that of everyone involved—feels like it's hanging by a thread.

Raffaele's nerves don't help. He's sweating, his hands twitching, and the jittery way he keeps adjusting his collar makes it clear: he's on edge. And when he's like this, he's unpredictable. I've had enough bruises from testing that theory to know better than to push him when he's wound this tight.

"Remember, Nicola," he says, his voice strained. "All we have is each other in there. We're in this together. That means we leave together, because if they kill us, they leave no witnesses."

His attempt at reassurance feels hollow, his nervousness bleeding through every word. He's still suspicious of me. He knows I could betray him at any moment, and honestly, he's right to think so. Part of me almost admires his survival instincts. Dino's words echo in my head:He won't leave the Velvet. I wonder how much of what Dino said was true. Could he be setting me up as well? Or was Raffaele, for once, right about something—there won't be any witnesses left when this is over. Either way, if taking Raffaele down means everyone else, especially Shane and Jaime, will be safe, maybe that's a price I'm willing to pay. Even if it means going down with him.

"We're here," Tom announces as he pulls into the parking lot.

We jump out of the van quickly, our steps in sync as we approach the side entrance. Dino is already waiting by the door. He gives us a nod, opens it, and walks away without a word, disappearing down the alley between the Mirage and the building next door. We slip inside, Raffaele closing the door behind us.

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