Page 24 of The Bratva Bosses' Nanny

“Because I’m taking you somewhere.” What?

“Where?” I ask, my confusion surely written all over my face.

“To eat,” he says simply, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Since when does he care about what I’ve eaten? Or about me?

“What about this emergency thing?” I prod, needing to understand.

“We’re handling it,” he responds. “Meanwhile, I’ll make sure that you’re safe.”

Me? Safe? I can’t help the skepticism that seeps into my voice. “I thought you didn’t care about me being safe.”

“Emma, I may not do a good job of showing it, but you being safe is important to me. You’re,” he hesitates before finishing with, “valuable.”

I blink, taken aback by the intensity of his gaze, the sincerity in his voice. “Valuable, huh?”

Nikolai nods, his eyes locking onto mine. “Yes, valuable. And not just in the literal sense, although that’s part of it. But you’re also important. To me.”

I can feel my cheeks flushing under his stare.

“You have a funny way of showing it,” I say softly.

“How else would you like me to show it?” He smirks. He knows what he’s doing to me. And what I want him to do to me.

I unintentionally bite my lip in response to his question.

“I don’t know,” I say, “maybe you could start by apologizing for what you did. It wasn’t right.”

Nikolai’s expression softens, “Emma, I know it wasn’t right. That’s why I’m taking you out to eat, to make it up to you.”

He turns his attention back to the road.

“I am your nanny one minute, then a spy in your eyes, and now I’m suddenly a girl you take out to eat?” My words tumble out. “You can’t just switch roles for me whenever it’s convenient.”

Nikolai’s grip on the steering wheel tightens as he glances at me with a guarded expression. “I’m not trying to switch roles, Emma. I just want to make things right between us.”

“But it’s not that simple,” I argue, the frustration evident in my tone. “You kidnapped me, Nikolai. You made me feel like I was in danger and then you acted like it was all a game.”

“I know,” he admits, his voice low and serious. “And I’m sorry for that. But there’s more to it than you realize.”

“More to what?”

He hesitates for a moment. “There are people after us, Emma. Dangerous people who would do anything to get their hands on us or the information we possess.”

“What kind of information?”

“Information that is a matter of life or death in our world.”

I swallow hard, the seriousness of his tone sinking in. The cozy café with Zoe feels worlds away now. “And you think I’m mixed up in this. How?”

“You’re not,” he says quickly, almost too quickly. “But Alina is.”

I sit back, trying to process it all. “So, this meal, it’s what? A peace offering? A way to keep me close for my protection?”

He nods slightly. “Both. I want to set things right, and yes, keep you safe. You’re part of this now, Emma.”

Part of this. The weight of his words settle over me like a shroud. “Okay, Nikolai,” I say, not fully understanding what I’m agreeing to. “Let’s eat.”

---