Captive vow, p.9
Captive Vow, page 9
Her eyes fall to the ground, and she wiggles again to get away from me.
“I’m not mad,” I say in a soft and soothing voice. Scaring her isn’t going to help. Neither is berating her.
“Your daddy is sad that the ring is gone. He misses your mom very much. I’ll bet you miss her too.”
Nova slowly glances up at me with bright eyes and gives a brief nod.
“Do you know where the ring is?” I ask.
Her lips are pressed tight together.
Moreno will never let me leave.
20
MORENO
Wordlessly, she carries Nova down the hallway, farther into the house for the garden outside. I don’t want them wandering away from the property, and I can’t be too cautious with the DeLucas out there, still hunting down my family.
Nikki and Luca head out the front door, with Leone escorting them out for the afternoon.
The guards continue to open windows to clear out the remainder of the smoke. We head into the library and do the same, opening the window, which peeks out into the garden.
I catch a glimpse of Nova and Paige sitting on a bench together.
“You’re back for five minutes and the place practically is up in flames,” Dante says.
“What can I say? I’m irresistible.”
Dante gives a loud snort. “Keep it in your pants. I don’t need you burning down the compound from the heat you two give off.”
I roll my eyes. “Funny. Nothing’s happening between us.” Doesn’t he realize that?
Of course, how could he? He doesn’t know Paige stole from me.
Do I tell him?
If I do, he’s going to expect retribution. I don’t blame him. He’s don. No one steals from our family, ever.
If I don’t, then I’m protecting her, and why should I do that? She betrayed me. I owe her nothing.
“Right,” Dante says and quirks a sideways grin. “Nothing so hot that you didn’t notice Nova playing with the lighter and starting a fire?”
“We were having a disagreement,” I say.
It’s not a lie.
Dante snorts under his breath. “Ordinarily, I’d tell you to get laid, fuck the nanny, and get rid of the sexual tension, but shit. If your kid is starting fires to get your attention, maybe you need to keep it in your pants, Moreno.”
That wasn’t what happened.
But I saw his point.
“It won’t happen again.”
Paige should have been watching Nova, and she wasn’t because I’d cornered her in the hallway. I didn’t want to admit that having her pressed up against the wall made my cock twitch in my pants.
She had that effect on me.
Why?
“I think you should fuck her,” Dante says.
“You’re not serious.” He may have liked to play the field before settling down with Nikki, but that wasn’t me.
Dante doesn’t so much as smile. “I’m dead serious. Your wife is gone, and you deserve to be happy. She seems to be good with Nova, and it’s clear you have the hots for her.”
“I don’t.”
“Liar,” Dante says.
“Shut up.” There aren’t too many people who can get away with talking to their boss like that. “I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to fuck her.”
He laughs under his breath. “I’d take you to the bar as your wingman, but I don’t see you picking up a girl for sex. That’s not your style. The nanny, though, she’s hot. It’s a good thing I’m already taken. Unless, of course, she’s interested in threesomes. I could ask Nikki—”
“Don’t you dare!”
A grin cracks across his face.
He knows just what to say to get to me, and it worked.
“It wouldn’t bother you if you didn’t find her attractive.”
That was never the problem. Paige is very attractive. Countless times, I’ve mentally undressed her and imagined driving my cock inside her warmth.
“Attraction isn’t the issue. She’s my daughter’s nanny.”
Dante shrugs. “Where’s the problem? If it doesn’t work out, she’ll quit. Paige isn’t going to stick around after you stick it to her. So, you’ll have to find new help, but in the meantime, you can move on and maybe not be so damned grumpy all the time.”
“I’m not grumpy.”
“Right, and the sun doesn’t rise every damn day. You’re Oscar the Grouch. Just ask Nova.”
My eyes twitch.
Nova doesn’t speak. At least not anymore.
He knows that.
But she used to speak all the time, and he’s not ignorant of the fact that she’s clammed up since her mother died.
Serene isn’t the only one who died that day.
Nova’s nanny was murdered, too. I can’t help but wonder if Nova witnessed it, and that’s why she’s become mute.
21
PAIGE
Nova and I spend most of the afternoon in the garden. It would be easy to climb the small white fence, but how far would we get? The perimeter is guarded.
While Moreno threatened that I couldn’t leave the premises until the ring was returned, I haven’t tried to leave yet.
It has only been a few hours.
But the suffocating feeling of being held against my will is enough to make me antsy.
I need out.
Nova is my priority during the day, though, and while she is awake, I won’t let her out of my sight. Especially after the fire.
We play outside for several hours. Leone brings us lunch while workers are being shuffled in and out of the house, making repairs to the playroom.
Thankfully, there wasn’t any structural damage, according to Leone. As dinner nears, we are brought inside to eat in the kitchen.
I haven’t spoken with Moreno, let alone seen him. He hasn’t so much as acknowledged Nova’s or my existence.
Is he angry that Nova stared the fire? She couldn’t have known what she was doing was dangerous.
The lighter hadn’t taken much to trigger the flame, just a flip of the lid back. No safety. No child-proof lock.
It was a disaster waiting to happen.
Who the hell brought it to a children’s camp? Had it been another kid?
There isn’t much I can do. Luca isn’t my responsibility, and I’m confident that Dante and Nikki will handle the situation.
After dinner, Rhys ushers us upstairs, ensuring we are kept away from the playroom while the repairs continue.
The lock clicks into place the moment the door is shut behind us.
“Seriously?” I mutter.
Why is Moreno having us locked in our room?
What if there is another fire?
Is he worried that I’m going to try to escape, or about the workers downstairs?
“How about we get you cleaned up in a nice warm bath and then read a story before bed?”
Nova scrunches her nose. She doesn’t like my suggestion. I’m guessing it’s the part involving going to bed. I don’t know any child who enjoys bedtime.
As an adult, I look forward to crashing for the night.
“Come on. I’ll let you pick out two books tonight.”
The smile widens on her face as she follows me into her bathroom.
There’s already a fresh towel laid out, and I draw her bath water while she strips down for me without any help.
Bathing her is a priority. I didn’t realize how much her clothes reek of smoke, but as I grab them to throw in the hamper, I get an extra whiff and clear my throat, trying not to cough.
My throat feels parched and raspy.
She plays with her rubber ducky in the bath while I wash her hair and get her nice and squeaky clean.
I still want to find the ring that she swiped before she forgets where she hid it.
She finishes in her bath, and I dry her off and help her get into her pajamas. “Do you remember the ring you borrowed from your daddy?” I ask.
I don’t want to accuse her of stealing, but she looked extremely guilty earlier when it had been brought up.
She purses her lips together but doesn’t answer verbally.
Not that I expect her to tell me where it is.
But she turns her head and her eyes glance at her stuffed giraffe. She pokes at the butt of the giraffe, tapping it and pulling the flap down. There is a secret compartment in her toy.
Nova reveals the sparkling diamond ring.
I hold out my hand for her to place it in my palm.
She’s tentative at first before she deposits the ring into my hand and wordlessly climbs beneath the covers on the bed.
“Thank you.” I kiss her cheek and place the ring on my finger so that I don’t lose it. I’d never forgive myself if something were to happen to the band, and I know that Moreno wouldn’t either.
I read her two bedtime stories as promised before tucking her in and slipping out of her bedroom. I close the adjoining door most of the way. If she needs me, I hope that she’ll come find me during the night.
Until now, she’s been a sound sleeper, but after the fire today, I can’t help but worry about her.
I shower, cleansing myself from the smell of smoke that permeates my skin. I can smell it on my dirty clothes and shove the linens into the hamper.
I slip on an oversized t-shirt and panties and climb under the covers with my eReader. I’m tired, and I’m not sure that I can read even a few pages, but I’m not ready to go to sleep yet.
The sun is still out.
It sets late in the summer, and while the bedroom curtains help, there’s still light peeking through the shades.
My phone buzzes with a text on the bedside table.
I reach for the device. There aren’t too many people who have my number.
Hey, it’s Ariella. How’s the big, grumpy bosshole?
I smile and can’t help but laugh. I never told her he was grumpy or a bosshole, but it’s like she can read my mind. She did know Nova before her mother passed away, so maybe he’s always been this difficult to deal with. I had assumed it was because his wife died, but I didn’t know him before her passing.
He’s a handful.
I’ll bet. Do you want to come over this weekend for a girls’ day? I have wine.
That sounds perfect, but would Moreno give me the day off?
Not sure I can escape, but I’ll try.
Escape? What, are you captive?
I start to type yes but then quickly delete it. I don’t need her calling the police and making more of a mess of my situation.
Very funny. I’ll let you know if I can get away.
Okay. Enjoy your Friday night!
I laugh under my breath. Yeah, I’m enjoying my Friday locked in my bedroom with a four-year-old in the next room over.
She texts me her address, just in case. Dropping the phone back on the bedside table, I dive into my book.
Not two minutes into my story, the adjoining door squeaks open.
“Nova?” I glance at the door to find Moreno standing there, staring at me again.
Is he planning on making it a habit to come into my bedroom unannounced?
I place my tablet down on the bed and stare up at him.
He’s wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. His hair is ruffled a bit. It looks like he was helping with the repairs in the playroom. There’s dried paint on his jeans and a smudge on his arm and cheek.
“Nova went down for bed without any trouble.” I can only imagine that he’s come into my room to talk about his daughter.
After the day we had, I don’t blame him for wanting to check in on her, especially since he seemed non-existent for the afternoon.
“That’s good. And I saw you bathed her.” He takes a seat at the edge of my bed.
“Yeah, we both kind of stunk after the fire,” I say.
Moreno smells good, even with sweat, dirt, and smoke lingering on his skin. He probably shouldn’t be sitting on my bed right now, or at all, but I don’t care.
I like his attention and his company. I try not to stare for too long before I avert my gaze.
“Listen, I was wondering if I could have tomorrow off. I’d like to go—”
“No.” Moreno’s answer is short and curt. “I told you, you’re not going anywhere.”
I slide the ring off my finger and hand the diamond band to Moreno. “I found your wife’s ring.”
He laughs darkly and shakes his head. “I hoped that I was wrong about you. About this,” he says, snatching the small piece of jewelry from my palm. “But apparently, I wasn’t.”
Moreno stands. “I’m disappointed in you.”
“I’m not your daughter or some kid you can boss around.”
“No, you’re my employee, my child’s nanny,” he says with such disgust that it roils my stomach.
Does he think that he’s better than me? He certainly acts like it with his nose held up and that smug grin plastered on his face.
I want to wipe it off. Prove to him that I’m more than just some nanny.
He heads for the adjoining door. Even if he wanted to escape from my bedroom door, I don’t imagine that he can. It’s probably still locked from the outside by the guards.
“I’m a better nanny to your daughter than you are a father,” I mutter on his way out.
Moreno stops dead in his tracks.
Shit.
He heard me.
22
MORENO
It’s not bad enough that Paige dares to steal from me and then wear Serene’s ring on her finger like she’s my bride, but then to go and say she’s a better parent to my daughter than I am?
The nerve of her!
Well, technically, she didn’t use the word parent, but it’s the same difference.
I can’t let it go.
I should walk out. Leave her alone and bury myself in work.
Even sleep would be a welcoming distraction.
But my feet lead me back around. Maybe it’s my heart interfering. My head is certainly in the right place, screaming for me to get out before I do something I will regret.
“Excuse me?” I take two strides. My footsteps aren’t soft and quiet.
I hope I don’t wake Nova from slumber, but I can’t be any quieter than I already am. This is me keeping it down.
My voice booms as I snarl at Paige.
Her eyes widen, and she snaps her lips shut.
Yeah, she didn’t think I heard her. Well, I did. “Care to say that again to my face?”
It’s a challenge.
She presses her lips together, rolling them between her teeth.
My gaze lingers longer than it should on her lips, but she doesn’t say anything if she notices.
“I will be taking tomorrow off,” Paige says.
Goodness, does the girl have no understanding of not leaving the compound? “You’re not leaving until I allow it.”
“Excuse me?” she huffs and sits up in bed, pushing her legs over the edge. “I’m not some girl you can hole up and keep captive.”
Does she realize I’m keeping her here to protect her?
Vance will come after her. And when he finds her, he’ll torture her, rape her, and kill her. It’s a game to see what he can do to destroy my family and how long we survive.
She doesn’t get it.
How could she? I haven’t exactly been open and honest with her about Serene’s death or Laura, our last nanny.
“Do you honestly believe that I’m keeping you here for my pleasure?” I laugh at the absurdity of her suggestion. “You’re Nova’s nanny, and I have somewhere to be tomorrow. Which means you will be here, watching my daughter.”
Her brow furrows.
The cogs must be going in her head.
“Then you won’t have a problem if I take her with me for the day out?”
I toss my hands into the air. “You seriously can’t listen? You are not leaving. Nova is not leaving. If you so much as step foot outside, I’ll have the guards detain you and sequester you to your room for the next month,” I seethe.
She is trying my patience.
“We can’t go anywhere?” Paige asks. Her jaw is practically on the floor.
“I will let you know when you can go for an outing, and you will be required to bring one of the guards with you.”
“Great, a spy,” she says under her breath.
She’s not wrong. Leone has been informed to report anything of importance, and after she met with Ariella, I don’t intend to tell him to stop. “You ought to watch your tone and your tongue.”
Paige strikes me as a girl who probably got into a lot of trouble in her teenage years, testing the boundaries, pushing her parents to their breaking point.
I can only hope that Nova won’t be like that when she gets older. Then again, with Paige as her nanny, is it inevitable?
“Are you done?” Paige asks, reaching for her eReader. “I’d like to get back to my book.”
“I’ll tell you when we’re done.” I step closer, grabbing her tablet and tossing it farther onto the queen-sized bed, out of her reach.
She opens her mouth to object. A frown crosses her features when I lean in and steal a kiss along with her breath.
I’ve never known Paige to be silent, ever.
Maybe I should take Dante’s advice and let my guard down and give in to temptation. She’s fiery, and the tension between us sizzles in the air.
While I loved Serene, the energy between us was never anywhere this charged. The temptation is impossible to ignore, especially the moan she emits from the back of her throat while we kiss.
Damn.
She knows how to make me powerless.
One kiss, and I’m willing to give her anything.
Even her freedom.
But I can’t give in.
I won’t.
Her safety is my priority, and if I allow her to leave, she may never see another sunrise. I pull back from the kiss, my lips tingle, and my heart pounds wildly against my ribcage.
Paige leans in for another kiss.
But I pull back to stop her.
23
PAIGE
