Page 6 of The Bratva Bosses' Nanny

I roll my eyes internally, irritated Grace gave me zero heads-up on how to communicate with Alina. Great, just great.

I sit cross-legged on the floor of this grand room, still trying to wrap my head around the enormity of this mansion. It’s a different world, one that feels disconnected from the cramped apartment I grew up in.

I reach into my bag and pull out a small stuffed bear I had brought along, hoping it might serve as an ice-breaker. I hold it out toward Alina. “This is Mr. Bear. He’s friendly, see?” I make the bear dance a little in the air.

Alina’s eyes widen and she slowly emerges from her blanket cocoon to take the bear from my hand. She hugs it tightly, a small smile appearing on her face.

“See? Friends,” I say, miming the word by linking my own fingers together.

She looks at her fingers, then mimics the gesture back at me, linking her tiny fingers together.

Feeling encouraged, I try a little more. “What’s your favorite color, Alina?” I point to my shirt, then to different items around the room, trying to illustrate my question.

She looks puzzled for a moment, but then points to a small, blue trinket on her dresser.

“Blue, huh? That’s a pretty color,” I nod and smile, delighted to be making some headway. Even if we don’t share a language, there are still ways to communicate.

And just like that, the invisible wall between us starts to crumble, bit by bit. I can tell we’re going to get along just fine.

I unzip my bag again, digging around until I find the small set of colorful blocks I’d brought with me. “Look, Alina, more toys.” I pull them out and scatter them lightly on the floor between us.

Her eyes flicker to the blocks, then to me, a trace of uncertainty in her gaze.

“It’s okay, they’re for playing. Watch.” I stack a few blocks on top of each other, creating a tiny tower.

She hesitates, her gaze darting between the blocks and my face. I can tell she’s not used to this—playing, having toys, or perhaps, the simple act of someone trying to reach out to her.

“See? Like this.” I gently knock the tower over and laugh softly, aiming to show her there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Slowly, she reaches out and stacks a couple of blocks together, her small fingers wobbling a bit as she places one atop the other.

There we go. One small step closer to tearing down that wall between us.

“Okay, sweetie, do you know what this is?” I hold up a colorful block, praying for a sign of recognition.

Her eyes flicker, but she shakes her head, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear. It’s painfully clear she doesn’t understand much English.

“Just say ‘block,’ easy-peasy.” I smile, trying to make it a game.

She scrunches her face, then finally mutters something that almost resembles “block,” and I can’t help but laugh.

I hear the distinct sound of footsteps approaching. The heavy, measured gait is different from the almost inaudible tread of Grace.

Just then, Dmitri walks in, and my heart does a weird little flip. Unlike his rougher, more intimidating friends, Dmitri exudes a quiet kindness. I don’t know him well, but there’s something in his blue eyes that makes me feel... safer. His short hair and tattoos give him a tough look, but it’s balanced by a strong jawline that softens when he smiles. Which he isn’t doing right now.

“Hey,” he murmurs, catching my gaze for just a moment. “I was just checking if you needed anything,” he says.

“No, thank you.” I smile.

“Alright,” Dmitri nods, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer before sweeping over to Alina. “If you need anything, just ask.”

Then, almost as silently as he appeared, he leaves the room. The door clicks softly behind him, and it’s like he was never there.

I look back at the child, Alina, and then my mind drifts to the vastness of this mansion. The towering ceilings, the sprawling rooms filled with furnishings that probably cost more than my college tuition. These men—this family—they’re a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and I’m right in the middle of it.

I ponder my decision to accept this job. Is it safe here? Probably safer than struggling to pay rent in a sketchy neighborhood, I rationalize. Besides, there are other staff members, not just these three.

And Dmitri—well, he seems like the closest thing to an ally in this convoluted situation. Maybe he could help me bridgethe language gap with Alina or give me some context about her background. Because the way everyone tiptoes around her, there’s clearly more to the story.

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