What the fuck? Did she say my name? I quickly dropped into a crouch to catch the bundle of energy and got a wet, sloppy kiss on the cheek as my reward. Funny how it no longer made me cringe.
I stood with Zaza on my hip as a volunteer stood, hands clasped, waiting patiently to apparently give me a summary of the baby’s day.
She played. She ate. Shat. Napped. Played some more. Sounded like a great day.
While the daycare didn’t expect payment, I knew donations were welcome, so I handed over a tithe to a volunteer who beamed and gushed her thanks.
It took me but a second to buckle Zaza into her seat and then we headed to the resort. We parked and waited, my mind whirring as Zaza sang in the back and clapped her hands.
I lost some of my hearing when she shrieked at the sight of her mother.
“Mamma!”
Nicky slid into the car, face slightly sweaty, her ponytail losing wisps, but smiling. “Hello, you two.”
“Mamma!” Zaza squealed, winking her chubby hands in Nicky’s direction.
Nicky reached between the seats to grab sticky fingers and murmur in Italian which led to Zaza chortling.
When Nicky turned back around and buckled in, I pulled out of the parking spot. “How was your day?”
“Good. Busy,” she added with a laugh. “Yours?”
“Fine.” I wasn’t about to tell her what I’d discovered and stress her out.
However, Percy had no such qualms.
The moment we walked in, the dragon popped out of a cupboard and yelled, “The intruders returned!”
Chapter Fifteen
Perhaps I should have been more discreet in my announcement because Nicky wavered on her feet. Bruce’s expression went stiff. The only one who didn’t care? Zaza. She toddled for me crooning, “Mio, drago.”
I suffered the neck-crushing hug as Bruce led Nicky to a chair and fetched her a glass of water.
Once she’d taken a sip, Bruce leaned against the counter. “Okay, Percy, tell us what happened.”
“The intruders from the other night returned. One of them at least.”
“How do you know it was them and not someone else?”
I almost rolled my eyes. “Because she drove the same vehicle.”
“She?” Bruce questioned. “What was she wearing?”
“White parka. She peeked inside all the windows.”
At my news, Nicky suddenly bent over and put her head between her knees. It led to Bruce rubbing her back.
“It’s okay,” he murmured. “They’re not after you.”
“Who else?” Nicky whispered.
As Bruce’s gaze veered my way, I expected his next words. “They saw a picture of Percy online and have been asking in town about her.”
“They’re after Percy?” Nicky sat upright, confusion creasing her brow.
“So it seems,” Bruce stated. “Enzo at the grocery store says they’ve been by twice asking questions.”
