Page 50 of Protecting My Nanny

Nicole looks up at me then, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She reaches up and touches my face, her fingers trembling. "Shane, it really means so much to me… you mean somuch to me," she says, her voice thick with emotion. "But I just need to take care of this myself for now."

She leans in and kisses me—a slow, tender kiss that feels like both a goodbye and an apology. When she pulls back, she looks me in the eyes and says, "I'm sorry."

And with that, she turns and walks away, leaving me standing alone on the terrace, the cool night air swirling around me. I watch her go, a sinking feeling in my chest. As I take another sip of my drink, I realize just how impossible holding us together might be.

I stand there for a long time, staring out at the dark, still water of the pool below, the reflection of the moon rippling across its surface. The weight of what just happened presses down on me, and I can't shake the feeling that I'm losing her—that I've already lost her. The life I've been trying so hard to build with Nicole and Jaime feels like it's slipping through my fingers, and I don't know how to hold on.

When I finally pull myself away from the terrace, I walk back through the silent house, every step feeling heavier than the last. I pass by Jaime's room again, pausing for a moment to listen to the sound of his gentle breathing. It's a small comfort, but it does little to ease the turmoil in my mind.

I head to my room, but sleep eludes me. The bed feels too big, too empty without Nicole beside me. I toss and turn, replaying the conversation on the terrace over and over in my mind, trying to make sense of it, trying to find some way to fix whatever'sbroken between us. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that this isn't something I can fix with words or money. Whatever's going on with Nicole is deeper than that—something that she feels she has to face alone. And that thought terrifies me.

I close my eyes, willing myself to sleep, but all I can see is the look in Nicole's eyes as she walks away from me—the look that says she is already gone.

Chapter 22

Nicole

"I've waited a week, Raffaele, and I've done everything you asked," I whisper, my voice filled with frustration. Showing annoyance only fuels him, but I can't help it anymore.

"Relax, Nicola. Your brother isn't going anywhere." There's a smugness in his voice that's sickening. He loves hearing me this way. "Let us catch up a bit before you start expecting favors from me."

"Just tell me what you need. If it's money, I can get you more. Just let me talk to Gio." My patience is running out, and every second with this man on the phone tightens the knot in my stomach.

He lets out a slow, condescending laugh. "You throw money around so freely these days. How much extra does your billionaire boss pay you to sleep in his bed?"

My teeth clench tightly, and I fight the urge to scream.Don't let him get to you, I remind myself.He wants to provoke you. He feeds off your reactions.

"Tell me what I need to do to talk to Gio, Raffaele," I demand, voice sharp, no longer hiding my impatience. "Enough games. I won't let you keep doing this."

"Do you think of me when you're lying with your boss?" His voice turns sinister, dripping with jealousy and bitterness. "Do you remember all the nights we spent at the compound? Me protecting you, taking care of you? I guess you've found yourself a new man now, someone to fix all your problems."

"You locked us away. Youusedme, beat me—don't you dare twist this," I snap, my voice shaking with anger.

"I loved you," he counters, as though his version of love could ever excuse what he did to me.

"You loved control, Raffaele. Playing with people like they were pieces on a chessboard, just to satisfy your sick mind." My voice grows bolder with each word, the years of pent-up resentment bubbling to the surface. "All because you never got the respect you craved. You didn't have what it took to climb the ranks of Avvoltoi. And now look at you. Still the same petty thug, angry atthe world because of your own failures. You've become a twisted, manipulative—"

"Watch how you speak to me!" Raffaele roars through the receiver, his tone dripping with venom. The sudden outburst catches me off guard, and I instantly regret pushing him too far. Angering him isn't the plan—it could put all of us at risk. But deep down, there's a small, twisted satisfaction in knowing I've hit a nerve.

There's a pause, and I can hear his breathing, heavy and uneven. "I still hold all the cards, Nicola. I have the means to reach out and touch Gio. And you, your billionaire boyfriend... and that cute little—what was his name? Ah, yes. Jaime."

A cold wave of terror washes over me, tightening around my chest like a vice.Jaime. He knows about Jaime. My hands tremble as I grip the phone tighter, trying to keep my composure. My heart pounds in my ears, drowning out everything else.

"Your boyfriend has caused me trouble before," Raffaele continues, his tone casual, almost bored. "I'd be more than happy to leave him in a ditch somewhere. Or maybe I'll just come visit you in the middle of the night while you sleep. Remember that feeling? Waking up to find everyone you love dead beside you?"

"Stop!" My voice is louder than I intend, almost a shout. "This is between us, Raffaele. I just want to speak with Gio. There's no need to drag anyone else into this."

"Fine," he says coolly. "If you really want to help your brother, come back to me. Leave behind this little fantasy life you're living—this new family of yours. They're only in danger because you're around. Come back, and nobody gets hurt. Together, we'll get Gio out of the mess you left him in."

"I'm not doing that," I say through gritted teeth, refusing to let him manipulate me again. "You don't control me anymore, Raffaele."

"No," he says, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper, "but I can make your life hell."

"I have protection. My deal with the Avvoltoi is still valid." The words come out rushed, desperate. My hands are shaking now, and I can feel the walls closing in around me.

Raffaele's laughter echoes through the line, sending another cold rush of dread down my spine. "As far as you're concerned, Nicola, Iamthe Avvoltoi. And I don't remember making any deals with Shane or Jaime. Wouldn't want them to just... disappear, would you?"

"You think there would be no consequences for that? A missing billionaire and his child?" I work up the nerve to say. "I doubt your bosses would authorize something that brings that much attention. You're just trying to scare me."

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