Page 23 of The Bratva Bosses' Nanny

Her words sting a bit, but I know she’s right. “I know, I’m normal. Normal for them, I guess. But there’s something about them, something beneath all that intensity that’s just so...”

“Hot?” Zoe offers with a wink.

I laugh, blushing. “I was going to say ‘compelling’, but sure, let’s go with ‘hot’.”

Then suddenly my phone vibrates against the tabletop. I glance down, and there it is, a message from Nikolai. Of all the three, he’s the last I’d expect to reach out directly.

Zoe’s eyes are on me, “What?” she asks, her head tilting to one side.

I don’t answer, just stare at the screen. The message is curt, typical Nikolai:We have a problem. Text me your location, I’ll pick you up

“Emma? Who is it?”

I shake my head slightly, thumb hovering over the keyboard. “It’s Nikolai. He says there’s a problem.”

“Problem? What kind of problem?”

I’m already typing my response, the instinct to protect Alina and figure out what’s wrong overtaking any personal trepidation. “I don’t know, but Nikolai will pick me up.”

I quickly punch in my location and send it off to Nikolai. Zoe and I sit in a silence for a couple of minutes, until I spot the car through the cafe window. It’s impossible to miss, a sleek, predatory thing that seems out of place on these ordinary streets.

“Just how did Kate find you this job? And how rich are these guys? You never mentioned—” Zoe’s curiosity bubbles over.

But I’m already gathering my things, cutting her off mid-sentence. “I gotta go, Zoe. I’ll text you later, okay?”

She reads the urgency in my stance, in the sudden tightness of my face. With a knowing nod, she raises her hands in a mock surrender. “Go, go. But let me know when you arrive. I get worried, you know! And you owe me another coffee later!”

I manage a half-smile, “Deal.”

Then I’m out the door, moving toward the car that signals my return to a world which is anything but normal.

Nikolai is already at the curb when I step out, holding the door open for me. I pause for just a fraction of a second to take in the sight of him. Today, he’s the epitome of a man who knows his power and wears it as easily as the tailored clothes which fit him like a second skin.

The afternoon light catches on his hair, giving it a warm, golden hue, and the way his jacket stretches over his shoulders speaks of strength.

He is looking down at me, licking his lips. And damn, even worried about whatever this ‘problem’ is, I can’t help but acknowledge that he looks good. Too good.

And hot, like Zoe said.

“Emma,” he greets, with a nod that’s all business today.

But oh, do I like him saying my name.

Sitting next to Nikolai, I feel like I’m in one of those before-and-after makeover shows—before the glam squad hits. Here I am in my autumn layers and warm fuzzy socks, the ones with Hello Kitty faces smiling up at me. Sure, they’re not high fashion, but they’re comfy, and after all, who chooses heels when you can have warm toes?

He slides into the driver’s seat, and it’s suddenly very real that I’ve never been this close to him in his own space. I don’t know much about cars but this interior, it’s straight out of a movie.

But the luxury surroundings don’t soften my irritation. I’m still annoyed with him, especially because he looks infuriatingly handsome today. And it irks me even more that he hasn’t apologized.

I mean, come on. Even Aleksandr apologized.

This whole thing was probably Nikolai’s idea, the whole kidnapping charade, and here he is, acting like he’s done nothing wrong.

I tug at the hem of my sweater, taking a quiet breath. Despite my doubts about Nikolai, I have to believe in the promises Aleksandr and Dmitri made. They said they’d keep me safe, that the nightmare of being ‘kidnapped’ wouldn’t happen again.

Then he breaks the silence. “Have you eaten today?”

I’m caught off guard, my gaze snapping to him. “Why do you care?” It comes out more defensive than I intend.

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