“Jesus Christ,” I snap, stopping him short. “Since when did it become a crime for a man to catch up on some sleep?”
He raises his hands in supplication. “Alright, don’t get so bent out of shape. I guess it happens to all of us, eventually. You’re not so young anymore.”
“What?” I bark.
“Nothing,” he says, then adds, “old man.”
I raise a fist and feint at him mockingly. He ducks and bobs out of range, laughing.Insolent shit.At 33, he’s only three years younger than me, but some days I feel like I’m talking to a fucking teenager. And he’s due for a beating.
“Let’s take that attitude to the mat,piccolo,” I taunt. It’s a low blow – Raoul’s only an inch shorter than I am. But he was a late bloomer, and it took a while for him to top out at 6’3”. Added to his issues of growing up as my father’s illegitimate son, the kid carries a cross that he’ll probably never let go of.
“Just fine with me,maggiore,” he replies. And now I know the game is on. Probably not the smartest move I’ve made today. My half-brother will never take a seat at the head of the Caraldi table, but that doesn’t mean he won’t do his best to kick my ass at every opportunity. Particularly when I’m clearly not on form.
“Showtime,” chuckles Mateo, who’s remained silent till now. Raoul muscles his way past me to get out of the door, determination in the set of his jaw.
“Ah, fuck,” I mutter. This is gonna hurt.
I’m halfway down the hall when brisk footsteps come up behind me.
“A word please, Senor Caraldi,” a female voice says. I turn to look into the pleasant features of Ana Martinez, Daniele’s nanny.
“Ana, can this wait?” I ask. “I’m about to get busy.”
She shifts a glance down the hall to where the other men are heading and shakes her head.
Fuck it, what now?
“Someplace private, please?” she asks. I frown through my nod and push open the nearest door. It leads to the kitchen, which is thankfully empty. As we walk in, I turn to her with my arms folded over my chest.
“What’s this about, Ana?”
“I- I’m leaving, Senor,” she says quickly. I feel my eyes widen. Before I can respond, she goes on. “I have taken another position. Out of town. I leave at the end of the week.”
“Are you kidding me?” I say sharply. She can’t leave me in the lurch like this. “What the hell happened? Was it Daniele?” I know he can be precocious, but he’s a good kid. “Or money? Do you need an increase?”
She shakes her head. “It is…a personal matter,” she murmurs eventually. She can’t meet my eye as she says it, and understanding dawns.
Fucking Raoul.The fucker just can’t keep his cock in his pants. I should have seen the signs earlier. I know he loves Dani, but he’s spent too much time here these past couple of weeks. Time with Ana. I rub a hand over my face.
“And I can’t change your mind?” I try one last time. I need her here. It’s a condition of Daniele living with me – he needs a steady female influence. It’s not just the court’s decision. I know he needs it, too.Goddammit.
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry,” she says softly, then turns and leaves the room.
Motherfucker. I’m going to kill him!
Chapter 5
Nikki Love
Isit silently, staring at the screen of my phone. Re-reading the text for the hundredth time since it arrived early this morning.
Mr. Caraldi will see you at 10 a.m.
It’s sent by someone called Mateo Ricci and has an address attached.
This is it. My fate has been sealed. Thankfully, the message has arrived on a day between my regular shifts. I don’t think I could function at the hospital today.
It’s already 8 a.m., and I pull myself together and head to the shower to get ready. Whatever that means. What do you wear to a meeting with the man who holds your life in his hands? What will he expect from me?
