“The adrenaline is about as strong as four cups of coffee,” Moreno says, and smiles down at his mug.
“If that’s the case, then I’ll take this off your hands.” I reach for his cup of coffee, but he snatches it away first.
Moreno offers a wry grin. “Nice try.” His gaze falls back to his steaming hot drink. “Listen, I know you want to take Nova to the park and go out for adventures, but I can’t let that continue anymore.”
It was one outing.
I sip my drink. The liquid burns the roof of my mouth, and I wince.
“Is this because of Ariella or the guy at the club?” I’m not sure whether he’s overprotective or controlling. I haven’t gotten to know Moreno long enough to decipher between the two options yet.
Vance rates high on the creepy factor. I felt that way when I first met him, but I don’t know if Moreno is overreacting or he’s right.
Moreno places his mug down forcefully on the table.
It clanks, and I shiver involuntarily.
“Does it matter?” he asks.
It matters to me, but I don’t think he’ll give an the honest answer.
“You can’t keep Nova locked up inside this place.”
His eyes tighten, and there’s a darkness that settles over him as he speaks. “It’s her home.”
“She’s not a prisoner. She’s a child.”
Moreno huffs loudly under his breath. “You can’t leave either.”
“What?”
He can’t be serious.
“Do you think it’s safe for you out there? Vance knows you work for me. You’re a target.”
I open my mouth to tell him that Vance is the one running the nanny agency, but think better of it. Next, he’ll no longer trust me and think that I work for Vance.
“We’ll be fine. I’ll bring Leone with me.”
“You’re not taking it seriously enough,” Moreno says. His jaw is tight, and he steps away from the kitchen table and pours a second cup of coffee. “Exactly why you can’t leave and certainly not with my daughter.”
Another cup of coffee.
Yeah, that’s exactly what he needs.
He’s already wired.
“Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?” I glance back at him over my shoulder. He’s studying his phone. Something pissed him off, and this time, it wasn’t me.