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Ruthless?
Gun-running?
Mafia?
Say what now?
"Oh, shit," she muttered, her eyes filling with contrition. "You didn't know."
I shook my head back and forth, trying to convince myself it wasn't true even as my mind started putting all the pieces together. The late meetings, literally at all hours of the night, when no respectable businessman would be doing anything work related unless it was a call overseas to Japan or something. The guys in dark suits with bulges under their coats that in hindsight looked a lot like gun holsters. The careful way the staff at the school treated Sophia, which I'd attributed to her health. The air of deference from people when they spoke to Nic, with a hint of fear underneath it.
I'd made excuses for it all, refusing to believe the truth staring me straight in the face. Love had blinded me.
Love.
Oh, crap. I'd somehow managed to turn into a double cliché. Not only was I the nanny who'd fallen for her single-dad boss, but I was also the good Catholic girl who'd given her virginity to the head of the Italian mafia. What had I been thinking? Then I felt Nic's heat as he came up behind me and I was reminded of the fact that I couldn't think when he was around. I couldn't because I was too busy being overwhelmed by him.
"Carly," he growled, anchoring his arm around my waist and squeezing tight when I tried to wiggle away. "It's good to see you didn't flee town after what happened with Bran, but I don’t appreciate you speaking to my fiancée about things which don't concern you."
Fiancée? I glanced down at my ring finger just to make sure I hadn't missed something overnight. I didn't find a ring there, but I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd slipped one on me while I'd been sleeping. He was so darn high-handed. A trait which was sure to be immensely helpful since he ran an illegal empire, but not so much when it came to how he handled me. Even if I let him get away with it each and every time. A little huff escaped my lips, and his fingers dug into my waist as he tugged me even closer to his body.
"Look," the woman bit out, her attention wholly focused on Nic. I was surprised to find no sign of fear or deference from her. In fact, she looked irritated. "I didn't have to come here and warn you, but I wasn't sure Bran would do it since the asshat seems to think I'm aligned with my da. You need to fill the moat, lift the drawbridge, and keep the dragons circling your castle if you want to keep your queen and princess safe."
My eyes widened at her description, drawing her gaze to mine before she turned back to Nic. "And you might want to fill your queen in on what her life is going to be like before she gives you another little princess. Being kept in the dark about what's going on around you sucks ass. And it doesn't keep you safe." She glowered at Nic, a deep pain filling her eyes. "If anything, it makes it hurt more when you're dragged into the harsh reality of our world."
"Her situation is nothing like yours, Carly. Your father and I are two very different people."
"I hope so. For her sake and mine," she whispered, turning away and heading for the stairs.
"Carly, wait!" Nic barked out, dragging me with him as he followed after her.
She paused on the bottom step. "What? You and I both know I need to get out of here before my da comes looking for me."
"Let me help. I can keep you safe from him."
"I won't be safe until he's dead." Her reply was filled with a defeated certainty. "By now my brother is sure to have told him what I've done. There's no going back for me."
"Let me help you hide. I have resources available to me that you don't have access to."
"I wish I could say yes, Nic. I really do." With as tired as she sounded, I didn't have a hard time believing she wanted nothing more than to take the assistance Nic was offering. Watching her standing there, I wanted it for her too. "But we both know my da isn't the only man with a grudge who's going to be looking for me. And if you're the one hiding me, Bran is sure to find me."
"Can you blame him? You shot the man. Dammit, Carly, you could have killed him."
She'd shot someone? I'd never even handled a gun. What had I gotten myself involved in?
"If I'd wanted him dead, I wouldn't have shot him in the thigh."
"Bran told me your gun only went off because you were startled when your brother shot at you."
