Page 55 of The Bratva Bosses' Nanny

I make my way upstairs, where the administrative offices are tucked away from the lively salon floor. I feel like I’m about to have a heart attack. The second floor is quieter, the hustle of the business muted by the thick carpet beneath my feet.

In the subtle quiet of the salon, I adjust the small earpiece hidden beneath my hair, the faint static reminding me Aleksandr and the others are listening to every word.

There she is, Kate, her dark hair falling straight down her back. She turns, her face lighting up when she sees me.

“Emma!” she exclaims, and in an instant, I’m wrapped in her arms. It’s been too long since I’ve felt the comfort of my sister’s embrace. For a moment, I allow myself to forget why I’m here, to forget the wire concealed beneath my clothes, to forget the listening ears of the men who have become an inextricable part of my life.

I hug her back, fiercely, a part of me not wanting to let go, afraid of what might happen when I do.

Kate’s concern is palpable as she holds my hands, her brows knitting together. “Emma, you’re sweating. What’s wrong?”

I try to keep my voice steady. “Nothing, really. I think I might have caught a cold or something.”

I lied. I lied to my sister.

Her face softens with sympathy. “Oh, honey.”

She signals to her assistant, a woman with an efficient air about her, and instructs her briskly. “Can you please bring us some hot tea? For three.”

I blink, confused. “Three?”

Kate nods, her expression brightening. “Yes, remember? My stepmother Maria is coming. She wanted to see you, too.”

Right, Maria. I force a smile. “Of course, I can’t wait to see her.”

As the assistant nods and leaves to prepare the tea, a pit forms in my stomach, not just from the nerves but also from the knowledge that the simple family visit I had once longed for now feels like walking through a minefield.

“So, how are things going with your new job?” she asks.

“It’s going well,” I manage to say, feeling my pulse race. I can sense Aleksandr’s presence in my ear, a silent guardian angel.

Aleksandr’s voice comes through the earpiece, calm and measured, “Just stick to generalities. You’re doing fine.”

Kate leans forward, her concern etched into her elegant features. “You seem a bit off, Emma. Is everything okay at work?”

I nod, forcing a reassuring smile onto my lips. “Yes, just the usual new job adjustment phase, you know?”

What am I saying? It’s been months.

Before I can gather my thoughts, the room’s atmosphere shifts as the woman Kate calls Maria enters. Her elegance is effortless, her demeanor confident, yet there’s a softness in her greeting that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Sorry, just lost my train of thought for a moment,” I manage to stammer out, avoiding Kate’s probing gaze.

Maria turns her attention to me, her smile polite but distant. “And you must be Emma. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Kate nudges the conversation along, seemingly unaware of the undercurrents at play. “Emma was just about to tell me something. Weren’t you, Emma?”

I nod, my throat tight. “It was nothing important, just some work stuff. It can wait.”

Aleksandr’s voice is a silent anchor in my ear. “Good save. Keep listening. We need to find out if they say anything about Frostbite or Grace.”

Kate’s eyes are still on me, searching, but she lets the topic of my job slide away with an uncertain nod. She’s always been sharp; I can tell she suspects something is amiss.

Maria gracefully guides the conversation to lighter topics, chatting about a recent vacation, the salon’s success, and the city’s social scene. She’s adept at small talk, her words flowing effortlessly.

Aleksandr’s voice buzzes in my ear, “Stay sharp, Emma. We need to know if they slip up, mention anything about their operations.”

I nod subtly, as if agreeing with something Maria says, but really I’m acknowledging Aleksandr’s instruction. I try to relax my features, to look engaged and not alarmed as I sip the tea the assistant brought.

---