Page 2 of The Bratva Bosses' Nanny

“Alright,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “We keep her, but we do it right. Starting with finding a damn nanny.”

Nikolai taps his fingers on the table, an unusual display of impatience. “While you’re at it, make sure whoever you hire as ananny doesn’t have ties to any of our rivals. Last thing we need is another betrayal. Also, make sure she is hot or something.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Hot? You planning on seducing the nanny now?”

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t be an idiot. It’s just a preference. Helps with... morale.”

“Morale? Are we running a daycare or a brothel?” I smirk, but I get his point. Aesthetically pleasing faces do have their own brand of comfort.

“Daycare, brothel, it’s all the same shit. Both are chaotic and cost you in the end,” he says, leaning back in his chair.

I chuckle. “Alright, a hot, unaffiliated nanny it is. And if Aleksandr has a problem with it, he can go to hell.”

Nikolai looks up from his phone and catches my eye. “She shouldn’t learn anything about our business, Dmitri. We also need to make sure whoever we hire is loyal to us.”

I sigh. “How complicated could it be to hire a fucking nanny? We’re not recruiting for the CIA.”

Nikolai snorts. “Maybe we should be, considering our line of work.”

I pause, thinking. “We need someone innocent. Maybe someone fresh out of college, early twenties. Someone who wouldn’t suspect a thing.”

Nikolai grins, a rare sight. “Innocent and naïve, yet smart enough to take care of a kid. I like it. Makes it less likely she’ll poke around where she shouldn’t.”

“Exactly,” I agree. “But finding that perfect balance of innocence and competence won’t be easy. We’ll need to vet them carefully.”

He nods. “And fast. Time’s not on our side, especially with Aleksandr being a prick about the whole situation.”

“Trust me, I’m aware,” I say, feeling the weight of our ticking clock. “I’ll start looking tonight. Tomorrow at the latest.”

“Good,” Nikolai says, locking his phone and setting it aside. “Because whether we like it or not, we’re all this kid’s got.”

I nod. It’s a harsh truth, but a truth nonetheless. We’re her only option.

I lean forward, steepling my fingers. “Also, what the hell is up with Aleksandr? Why is he so disturbed by a three-year-old?”

Nikolai shakes his head. “Don’t act like you don’t fucking know. You’ve known him your whole life.”

“This about Sergey again?” I ask.

Nikolai sighs. “He still thinks Sergey was innocent or something.”

I chuckle, mocking the absurdity. “Oh, how touching. Stone-cold Aleksandr feeling bad for Sergey, right before he put a bullet through his head. Let me guess, he looked into his eyes as he pulled the trigger, soul-searching?”

Nikolai smirks. “Something like that. But don’t act like you’re surprised. Aleksandr may be cold, but he’s not completely devoid of emotion. He just hides it better than us.”

“True,” I admit. “But what’s his deal with the kid? Some misplaced guilt about Sergey, or is there more to it?”

Nikolai shrugs, his eyes darkening a bit. “Maybe it’s guilt. Or maybe the kid reminds him of vulnerabilities he doesn’t want to face. With Sergey, there was a choice. With this kid, there isn’t.”

I nod, pondering his words. Aleksandr’s hard exterior always had cracks, however small. “So, what? We just let him stew in his own emotional turmoil while we sort this out?”

Nikolai sighs. “We don’t have time to be his therapists. He’ll either get on board or he won’t. We’ve got bigger problems right now.”

I agree, but it’s unsettling. Aleksandr’s emotional state could be a liability, and the last thing we need is another complication. “Alright, let’s focus on finding that perfect nanny. And maybe keep an eye on Aleksandr, just in case.”

Nikolai picks up his phone, presumably to resume his endless stream of texts. “Agreed. We have to make this work, with or without Aleksandr.”

“Yeah,” I say, looking toward the area where the kid is now quietly watching TV. She’s lost in a world of cartoons, blissfully unaware of the mess around her. “We’re all she’s got. Let’s not fuck this up.”

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