Page 176 of Nanny and the Beast

“That’s kind of you to offer, but it’s not necessary, Klaus,” she says.

She gets inside the driver’s seat. It’s a new car for her, so I show her where everything is.

We look at each other for a moment. I still have my hand on the door, reluctant to shut it. Reluctant to let her go.

This isn’t about tonight.

I don’t understand why, but this moment between us feels significant somehow.

It feels like the calm before a storm.

“Drive safe,” I say, taking a deep breath.

“I will,” she replies.

There’s something heavy in her gaze too, like she can feel everything I’m feeling. This unwelcome feeling climbs up my throat, wrapping around it like a vise until I know I can’t be trusted to say another word.

I close the car door. Emma stares at me for another moment before starting the engine.

Everything about this feels wrong. This restlessness inside me feels like it will stay with me forever now. It’s going to become a part of my being.

I watch her pull out of the circular driveway. I watch until the taillights of the car look as distant as the stars above.

My hands curl into fists, trying to put a name on this emotion coursing through me. It feels like a warning of what’s to come. I want to deny it, but it only grows stronger, making a chasm form in the center of my chest.

I head back inside the mansion.

The house feels empty without her, as if a vital piece of the foundation is missing. I go to my bedroom and get dressed for the night.

As expected, there are roughly about a dozen missed calls from Alaric.

I make my way to the garage and grab the keys for the McLaren Speedtail. The color of it matches my mood for the night. It’s black and blue, darkness swallowing the night.

I drive in complete silence.

Thoughts of her echo in my head like a song only I can hear.

She has no clue how obsessed I am with her.

She’s still under the impression that I let her go out on her own tonight. But I’m not a man who likes leaving things up to chance.

Unbeknownst to her, my security team will be keeping an eye on her the entire night. The car she’s driving is also bulletproof and has built-in GPS that will let me track it in real time.

It’s a little extreme, but I did warn her that I would do everything necessary to protect her.

The streets are nearly empty at this time, so I push down on the accelerator. The streetlights turn into a golden blur as the car leaps forward like a predator. The twin-turbo V8 roars as I shift gears. The rush of speed is intoxicating, but it’s nothing compared to the high I get whenever I think about Emma.

I don’t return Alaric’s call until the gates of Elysium come into view.

“I thought you died or something,” he says. “Where the hell are you?”

“I’m pulling up in front of the club as we speak,” I say.

“Good. Meet me at the usual spot,” he says.

I hand my keys to the valet and head inside.The club is the same as always, but the glamour seems to have faded. Now that I’ve experienced true paradise, everything else dulls incomparison.

Alaric stands to greet me.He looks a little pissed off that I’m late, but he’s still happy to see me.

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