Page 65 of Nanny for the SEAL

A lightbulb moment for sure. So much of the woman’s behavior makes sense now, and I wonder how long she’s felt this way about him.

Did she have feelings for Xaden when he was married? That’s a fucking problem.

Furthermore, Sam has said that Amy has basically pushed away or made life hell for every nanny and babysitter Xaden has had. She’s sabotaging them.

I’m not about to say any of that out loud, but damn, it does put things into rather sharp perspective.

Well, at the very least, I won’t blurt anything out.

With a sigh, I step back from Amy, physically disengaging with her, and she cocks a brow at me.

“Amy, look, have a great rest of the day at the park. I’m going to take Daisy to the swings over there. If you have something you want to tell Xaden, I suggest you do it so that you can get your answer. I won’t say anything to him about today because I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. But please,” I lower my head, my stare zeroing in on her, “allow me to take care of Daisy. Interrupting her playing with this isn’t right.”

I don’t wait for a response from her, simply turning around and calling for Daisy to come swing with me. The little girl is happy to come along, and we cross over to the far side of the park where we can swing away from Amy.

A glare from yards away is all I’m met with when I sit next to Daisy on the swings, but I don’t let it sour our time here. We’re going to swing and enjoy the weather before we have to go home.

The remainderof our time in the park goes by without issue. However, a big part of that is because Amy left with her son almost immediately after Daisy and I started swinging.

Still, I’m glad that the interruption didn’t ruin our outing.

Just before I pull out of the parking lot to go home and get some lunch before her nap, I unlock my phone on the dash to send a quick text to Xaden that we’re on our way back.

I’ve had my phone on silent, and when I look at the screen, I realize that I’ve missed another message from my father.

My stomach clenches, and I make sure not to show my anxiety on my face. I don’t want Daisy worried because my asshole dad can’t leave me alone.

I also know that I should just delete the thing and move on, but I see the start of the message in the preview, and those first few words make me open it.

Vivi, you can’t ignore me forever. Give me the money I asked for. Or expect an in-person visit. Time’s a-wasting, sweetie. Tick tock.

“I’m hungry, Ivy.”

Shaking out of myself, I trash the message as I call out over my shoulder. “Okay, honey. We’re going. We’ll get some lunch at home.”

I send the message to Xaden and then start the car, taking off for the house a little faster than usual.

I can’t keep doing this. I…dammit.

TWENTY-ONE

Xaden

Bullets zing past, landing in walls and kevlar and flesh. I can hear the distant rumblings of shouts and explosions.

But I can’t stop. The job isn’t done. We need to take out the target and then evacuate.

Lights flash over my eyes from the building across from me. I’m blinded momentarily, nearly losing my balance as I perch on the edge of a step.

This stairwell is the best viewpoint to see across the wide space between these two crumbling buildings. Still, the stairwell here is shoddy, and as I stumble ever so slightly from the light, a chunk crumbles off.

Thud!

The landing is too loud, and after a moment, I hear footsteps rushing toward my location from the exterior west wall. That’s not my men.

I need to move. I need to take out the target before I’m caught.

Gunshots echo below me. They’re coming. I’m going to miss this chance. I’m going…die.

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