31
Paige
“You can’t let me leave?” I scoff. “Or you won’t? How am I not being held captive if I can’t leave?”
“Didn’t you hear what I said happened to the last nanny? She was murdered.” Dante steps closer. “My job is to protect you. Your job is to look after my daughter. Let me do my job and I won’t interfere in yours.”
I laugh under my breath.
“Seriously?”
I don’t believe him.
The nerve of him to not let me leave the premises!
“You can’t keep me here, Moreno.”
“I’m trying to protect you. Remember Vance at the club? The fact that you work for me, the Ricci family, makes you a target.”
I purse my lips together. “What if I’m willing to take the risk?” Vance wouldn’t hurt me. If he wanted to kill me, he’d have done it when I walked into his agency and requested an application to become a nanny.
Right?
Except I didn’t mean a damned thing to the Ricci family before I became their nanny. Is that why now I’m a target?
Moreno has to be overreacting. Not that I blame him because I don’t. He has been through a lot with his wife having died and the previous nanny being murdered.
His tongue darts out along the side of his mouth for a second as he’s thinking about my proposition.
Will he let me leave?
“No.”
“Come on.” I’m trying not to whine, but he’s infuriating to be around. “You can’t keep me hostage.”
“You’re not a hostage. You’re an employee of the Ricci family. As far as I see it, you have a roof over your head, a warm bed, the entire house as your castle, and great company.” He smirks at me, and all I want to do is wipe that grin right from his face.
“Fine.”
If he doesn’t let me leave, then I’ll sneak out.
Or convince one of the guards that Moreno is letting me leave.
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled.” He seems mildly surprised that I give in to him.
“You can have the weekend off, but you’re not leaving the cabin unless I come with you or one of the guards accompanies you.”
There’s not a chance that he’d be on board with me hanging out with Ariella. It’s best if I keep the arrangement to myself.
“Fine.”
* * *
I text Ariella and make lunch plans for just the two of us at a small café in town. She gives me the address.
Glancing at my watch, if I leave now, I can make it a few minutes early.
There isn’t traffic to worry about, just interference from the guards.