Page 235 of Nanny and the Beast

She storms past us, looking like an avenging angel with the gun in her hand. Nobody stops her. Nobody follows her. A few moments later, we hear the gunshots. The sound is slightly muffled,but the screaming that follows is unmistakable. Seraphina just shot a man.

Klaus walks up to me and gently cups my elbow.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I stare at him incredulously. His sister just came back from the dead, and this man is asking me ifI’mokay.

“Areyou?” I ask. “What’s going on, Klaus?”

He opens his mouth to speak, but he doesn’t say a thing.

“Did you know that she was alive this whole time?” I ask him.

“It’s a long story, Emma,” he says. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Who’s in the basement?” I ask.

The screams continue like a macabre melody, sending spikes of fear through me.

“Her husband,” he says.

“The kids’ father is alive too?” I ask. “And you’ve had him here this whole time?”

“We only found him a few days ago,” he says. “We’ve been searching for him for months. I knew he was out there somewhere, and I had a gut feeling he would lead us to my sister.”

“Is he...dangerous?” I ask.

“He’s a worthless piece of scum, but he’s not a danger to you or the kids,” Klaus says. “The basement is extremely secure.”

“I wish you had told me, Klaus,” I say.

“I was going to,” he says. “There are still a lot of things I need to tell you.”

The memory of last night trickles into my mind—the strange woman who banged on my door, ultimately saving all of us from the fire. I can still see her vividly in the back of my mind. I can still see her long black hair and the lace veil covering her face.

I can still feel her eyes on my skin.

“You’re upset with me,” Klaus says.

I shake my head. “It’s just a lot to take in.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispers.

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about,” I say, moving closer to him and wrapping my arms around his torso. “I’m just surprised that your sister andbrother-in-law are still alive.”

Someone taps my arm.

I turn to look at my friends. Their eyes are still a little glazed from the wine, but they look like they can’t wait to get the hell out of here. And honestly, I don’t blame them.

“We’re going home,” Gigi says. “Do you want to come with us?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m okay. Thank you for coming to see me.”

“Are you sure?” Ophelia asks, giving Klaus the side-eye. She’s always been suspicious of him and never bothered to hide it.

“I’m sure,” I say, hugging my three friends.

Alaric steps forward. “Let me drop you girls home.”

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