10
Moreno
“Boss,” Leone interrupts Dante and me as we’re discussing our latest shipment of weapons.
The goods are late again, and I’m beginning to suspect the DeLuca’s are interfering, but I don’t have proof of it yet.
“Come in.” Dante gestures him into his office.
I’m situated across from Dante as he’s seated behind his desk.
“What can we do for you?” Dante asks. “Did everything go smoothly today with the new nanny?”
“I wanted to speak with Moreno about what happened at the park.” Leone comes farther into the office and shuts the door behind him. The room is soundproof, offering absolute privacy.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Did Nova have a problem with one of the other kids?” She hasn’t been around too many children. If I didn’t count Luca, she hadn’t been around anyone else’s kids since the incident.
“It wasn’t Nova,” Leone says. “There was a woman with long dark hair. She was talking with the nanny for a few minutes. I didn’t recognize her, but I have the distinct impression that she knew who we were.”
“Good,” I say, and give a mere shrug.
We’ve worked hard to earn our reputation. As second to Dante, I’m proud of the Ricci Family and what we’ve managed to achieve over the last few years.
“Let’s listen to him,” Dante says, suggesting that I let the boss take the reins.
That’s fine with me.
He’s boss.
Leone shoves his hands into his pants pockets. “I don’t have anything further to report. They spoke for a few minutes, exchanged numbers, it appears, and then I approached the two of them, which ended anything more than chitchat.”
“I don’t see the problem,” I say and fold my hands behind my head.
Dante shoots me a glare. “The problem is that Serene used to take Nova to the park. The mothers are bound to gossip about why the chatty little tiger has suddenly lost her voice.”
I’m not an idiot. I realize it’s bound to come up with Paige, and I was just hoping it wouldn’t be the first week of her employment.
I didn’t even want to let her go to the park. Dante and Nikki had pushed the idea of Nova seeing a child psychologist, which encouraged me to give both girls more freedom.
That was a mistake.
I clear my throat and feel both of their harsh stares. “I’ll deal with it.”
“I’m sure you will,” Dante says with bemusement. “Might I suggest you have a talk with her someplace with a lot of room and wide-open space?”
“Why?” I don’t get where he’s going with this line of thinking.
“She’s going to feel trapped when she realizes the hit on our family. Take her someplace safe, remote, but romantic.”
I snort under my breath. “Are you trying to hook me up with the nanny?”
Dante gestures for Leone to leave us alone.
I’d rather Leone didn’t leave right now, but Dante is the boss. What he says goes.
Except I’m not going to fuck the nanny because Dante thinks I should.
“It’s been nearly a year since your wife died. I think you deserve a little happiness, and if it involves letting her drop down to her knees to blow you, then I don’t see the problem.”