Page 54 of Bully Wolf's Nanny
“Orwould you try and sort it out yourself?”
Daisy chewed her lip, mulling over Amelia’s words. True, even if Nicolas didn’t come back, if he’d heard what Francesca did, how she acted, she would have expected him to at least have messaged by now.
But it had been radio silence.
And then there was Felix and Rick’s half-conversation about e-mails and plans in motion. She still didn’t understand fully what they had been talking about, but…it definitely seemed like they were plotting something. Something to do with Francesca.
She shook her head. No, no she couldn’t go there. She wouldn’t let herself hope.
“It doesn’t matter,” Daisy said. “Yes, Francesca’s words were hurtful. But I’ve had worse. Nicolas himself was ten times worse to me at school—" Her eyes widened as she realized hermistake, but it was too late. Amelia’s eyes had gone as wide as saucers, her mouth falling open in shock.
“Wait a minute,Nicolaswas the guy who bullied you at school? The one who you ended up…ohmy God!!!”
“Please keep your voice down,” Daisy begged, whipping her head around to make sure nobody was listening, “shifters have superior hearing—"
“Oh my actual fucking God, Daisy!”
“Please, shhh,” Daisy grasped Amelia’s hands, squeezing them tight, “please, please, please! You can’t tell anyone!”
“He’s Thea’sfather?”
“Amelia, I am begging you, if you have any love for me whatsoever, you’ll pleasebe quiet—"
“Oh, it all makes so much sense now,” Amelia interrupted, “why you’re so torn up over him! Why you agonized over sleeping with him! It wasn’t because he’s your boss, it’s because the two of you—"
Daisy couldn’t stop herself. She reached forward, clapping her hand over Amelia’s mouth. Gracie gurgled in delight, laughing uproariously at their actions.
“Yes, okay? Yes, it’s him. No, he doesn’t know. No, I’m not going to tell him. And neither are you!”
Amelia shoved Daisy’s hands away, her face the very picture of incredulity. “Daisy, you can’t be serious! Youhaveto tell him!”
“No, I really don’t.”
“Yes, you really do! What are you going to do when he finds out, when someone else tells him?”
“Nobody’s going to tell him!”
“Then he’ll work it out! It’s only going to get more obvious!”
“Which is precisely why I have to leave.”
Amelia groaned, raking her fingers through her hair, shaking her head slightly as she searched for whatever words she thought might change Daisy’s mind. But it was no use. Daisy loved Amelia like a sister, she really did. But nothing Amelia could say would make her change her decision.
With a sharp exhale through her nose, Amelia nodded once, stabbing her spoon back into her ice cream with slightly more force than was necessary.
“For the record, I think you’re making a mistake. I think you should tell him about Thea.”
“If he reacts badly,” Daisy said, her voice miserable, “he might try and take her from me. And what hope would I have? He has billions, not to mention a whole pack behind him. I would lose her.”
Amelia’s eyes softened, and she reached forward to take Daisy’s hand. “I can see why you’re scared. I would be, too. But this kind of secret doesn’t stay buried, and I don’t think Nicolas will just let you go. Better you tell him on your terms. And if it goes wrong, you can always come to me. Nobody’s getting to you or Thea in my house. Not even a bloody werewolf.”
Daisy laughed, but it turned into a sob, and Amelia sighed and reached forward to wipe away her tears.
“We’re not werewolves,” Daisy said through a sniffle, “that’s a reductive stereotype pedaled by—"
“D-list screenwriters for crappy Netflix shows. Yes, I know. Now come on, I’ve got to get back to work, but let’s finish this ice cream first, okay?”
“Okay,” Daisy offered her a watery smile. “Thank you so much for coming to visit me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
