Chapter 13
Vanessa
“I’m so sorry for what my father did to you.” Nicole pulls me into a hug. “I’ve made it clear to him that I’m done with him.” She backs up and looks at me. “I was so upset with you. I didn’t know what—”
“Stop.” I shake my head. “You had … have every right to be upset with me.”
I glance at Bri, Peyton, and Dani, who all came along with Nicole to see me. When she texted me again, asking if we could talk after Dani had told Bri and Peyton what happened and Bri filled Nicole in, I agreed and asked for them to come along.
“I owe you an apology,” I say to Bri. “What I did during your wedding … it’s unforgivable and not who I am.”
“There’s absolutely nothing to apologize to me for,” Bri insists, giving me a hug. “Your back was against the wall, and you did what you had to do. I wish you had felt like you could come to us, but what’s done is done, and Lorenzo will make sure you’re safe here.”
“Just know that we have your back,” Peyton adds, giving me a hug. “Dominick and Matteo are doing everything they can to catch Leysa, and once they do, we’ll all be safe to go back to our lives.”
“I hope it’s soon.” I sigh and sit on the couch. “My scholarship covers my tuition, but I use the money I make at the pub to pay for my books, dorm, and food, and after I paid for everything this semester, my account is groaning in pain, and I have no job to replenish it.”
Peyton and Dani give me a sympathetic look that makes me regret saying anything. The last thing I want is for anyone to pity me.
“I wish I could offer you a job,” Nicole says, “but the coffee shop isn’t busy enough to add someone to the payroll, and with Leysa coming after you, it’s probably not the safest place for you to be.”
“I was just venting,” I tell her. “I’m not asking for—”
“No, no, Leonardo. You can’t touch that.”
The five of us glance at the new nanny Lorenzo hired, and I glare her way.
Apparently, there was a nanny available through the agency Lorenzo uses, and they sent her over yesterday.
Lorenzo spent the day with her and Leo, and then today, he left for work, feeling that she was capable of watching his son.
And while I wouldn’t go against him, I’ve listened to her tell Leo no a thousand times throughout the day, and it’s getting on my nerves.
He’s a little boy who should be playing and exploring, not being reprimanded every time he makes a mess.
“She seems like fun,” Dani deadpans.
“She’s like a baby drill sergeant,” I mutter.
I offered to continue to watch Leo for Lorenzo, but he insisted that his son needed someone who knew what they were doing to look after him, and since we both knew I had no idea what I was doing—as a nanny or, hell, in life—I couldn’t argue.
Instinctually, I pick up the playing cards on the coffee table and begin shuffling them—something I do when I need to calm myself down.
“You play?” Peyton asks, nodding toward the cards.
“Yeah. My mom used to work at the casino on the reservation, and when I was forced to accompany her, I learned to play. It’s actually where she met Eric. He was gambling thousands, and she latched right on.”
Nicole groans. “He’s always had a gambling problem, but I didn’t know it was that bad.
Apparently, Leysa gave him millions to pay off his debt in exchange for him agreeing to push the Antonovs out of Harbor Point.
” She rolls her eyes. “My father has made a lot of shitty decisions over the years, but this one takes the cake.”
“If you need anything, we’re here,” Dani says with a soft smile.
“I’m good. I’m taking my classes online and—oh!” I glance at Bri. “I started your maternity dress. While you’re here, I need to take a few more measurements.”
“You didn’t need to do that,” Bri says. “You have enough going on.”
“It’s all good. I’m used to going to school, interning, and working full-time. Lorenzo had my stuff delivered from my dorm, so I ordered the material, and it’s been helping to keep me busy.”
Sewing is my escape, my passion, and learning how to make Bri’s maternity dress has been the best distraction. Since the day my mom showed up and Lorenzo came to my rescue again, he’s been avoiding me, so making her dress has given me something to do.
“If you’re looking for a job, I might have one for you,” Peyton says, her face lighting up in excitement. “Dominick was just saying they’re hiring cocktail servers at their casino. It would be perfect since the place is locked down, so you would be safe and—”
“No, Leonardo. Don’t touch,” the nanny chides, making Leo sniffle.
I tighten my hold on the playing cards, trying like hell not to interfere, but when he reaches for the pasta that she made him and she smacks his hand, I’m done.
Leo’s sniffles turn into a full-blown cry, and I cut across the room, gently taking him out of his high chair and into my arms so she can’t get anywhere near him.
“Don’t you fucking touch him!” I hiss, making her rear back. “He’s just a baby, and there’s nothing wrong with him wanting to feed himself.”
“Excuse me?” the nanny says. “I don’t appreciate you telling me how to do my job.”
“And I don’t appreciate you laying your hands on a little boy,” I argue. “And I’m sure Lorenzo won’t either.”
I pull out my cell phone and dial Lorenzo’s number while Bri, Dani, Peyton, and Nicole surround us, all glaring at the nanny, who only looks annoyed that I’m interfering with her job and not at all concerned about the fact that I caught her smacking Leo’s hand.
“Vanessa, is everything okay?” Lorenzo asks. “I’m in the middle of a meeting and—”
“No, everything is not okay,” I tell him. “Your experienced nanny just laid her hands on Leo.”
“What?” he barks. “What are you talking about?”
“He was trying to eat his lunch, and she didn’t want him touching it because it would make a mess, so she smacked his hand.”
Lorenzo goes silent, and my heart drops. He probably doesn’t believe me. I mean, after everything I’ve done, he has no reason to believe me, but—
“I’m on my way,” he says. “Put Mrs. Frederick on speaker.”
I click the speaker button. “Go ahead.”
“You need to leave my home right now. And I will be reporting you to the agency. I don’t know what made you think it would be okay to raise a hand to my child, but it’s not okay.”
“I didn’t—” she begins, but he cuts her off.
“You didn’t what? Touch my son?” he snaps. “Are you calling Vanessa a liar?”
My heart swells at the way he’s blindly believing me when nobody would blame him for not doing so.
“This is absurd,” the nanny huffs. “I don’t need to put up with this nonsense. When your child is an unruly, out-of-control brat, you’ll wish—”
“Leave now,” Lorenzo says, his tone brooking no room for argument.
With a shake of her head, she collects her belongings, and Dani sees her out, telling the guard to make sure she isn’t allowed back.
“Thank you,” Lorenzo says once she’s gone. “I need to cancel this meeting and then—”
I would offer to watch him, but I already know he wouldn’t want that. It’s the reason he insisted on hiring that witch of a nanny.
Thankfully, Dani cuts in, “I can watch him.”
“Dani? What are you doing at my place? Were we supposed to meet?”
The exhaustion in his voice has me wanting to reach through the phone and give him a hug. He’s such a good dad, but trying to raise a baby and run a company is clearly taking a toll on him.
“I’m here with Nicole, Peyton, and Bri. We came over to see Vanessa. But I can take him to my house with me. And I can watch him until you find another nanny.”
Lorenzo sighs. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Reluctantly, I lift Leo off my shoulder so I can hand him over to Dani, but like the adorable little monkey he is, he clings to me.
“C’mon, Monkey,” I say gently. “You have to go with your aunt Dani.”
Leo holds on to me harder and nuzzles his face into my neck.
“Sorry,” I murmur. “It’s his nap time, so he tends to get clingy.”
Even though Lorenzo doesn’t trust me to watch Leo alone, I’ve been spending a lot of time with him since Lorenzo couldn’t fully use his right arm, and I’ve learned his routine.
Dani smiles softly at me and reaches for Leo, who starts to cry when she takes him from me.
“No, no, no!” he cries, reaching for me.
“What’s going on?” Lorenzo barks, concern for his son laced in his tone.
“Nothing,” I tell him, rubbing Leo’s back to soothe him. “Leo’s just tired.”
Leo’s cries increase, and when he throws himself back, Dani almost loses her hold on him. I quickly catch him and take him into my arms, and he instantly calms.
“He just needs a minute, Lorenzo,” I say. “We’re good here. You can go back to your meeting.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, sounding torn.
“Yeah. He’s just hungry and tired. Once he’s fed, Dani can take him to her place to give him a nap.”
“Okay, thanks,” he says. “I’ll pick him up after work.”
Once he hangs up, the four women look at me.
“What?” I ask, rubbing circles on Leo’s back as he snores softly on my shoulder.
“You’re good with him,” Dani says.
“We’ve just spent a lot of time together since Lorenzo got hurt.” I shrug. “He’s a heavy sleeper, so you should be good to take him now.”
“Normally, I blame Lorenzo for being unable to keep a nanny, but in this case, he was in the right to fire her. I can’t even imagine someone touching my baby,” Dani says. “Matteo would bury them alive.”
Bri’s hand goes to her belly. “And I wouldn’t blame him. Andrey used to hit us, and when I saw that woman smack Leo’s hand, it brought back so many horrible memories.” She glances at me. “Andrey was our father … a man who didn’t deserve the title.”
I nod in understanding.
“I’m just glad you were here,” Dani says, reaching over and squeezing my shoulder. “Lorenzo has cameras around the main area, but he might not have thought to check them.”
“What?” I glance around. “There are cameras in the house?”
“Of course,” Peyton says. “We all have them. In the living room, kitchen, hallways. Not in the bedrooms or bathrooms, but there are cameras outside, surrounding the entrances. You can never be too safe. Dominick has a security team that oversees our property, but only Dominick has access to the ones inside our home.”
“Matteo has live access to ours,” Dani adds. “And I’m sure Lorenzo does as well. If I know my brother, he’s already pulled up the footage and sent it to the agency to make sure she’ll never nanny again.”
“As he should,” Nicole adds. “I’m not a mom, but even I know that what she did was uncalled for.
When I was little, I touched the hot stove, and my mother smacked my hand away to ensure I wouldn’t hurt myself.
But what that bitch did … smacking a baby’s hand because he wanted to feed himself, is unacceptable. ”
Everyone nods in agreement.
Since Leo is passed out, I hand him over to Dani, who assures me that once he wakes up, she’ll feed him, and I reluctantly give him a soft kiss on the crown of his head and let him go.
“Want to do the measurements?” I ask Bri once Dani is gone.
“That would be great. I’m excited to see what you come up with. And before you argue, I will be paying you.”
“I won’t argue,” I say with an awkward laugh. “I need the money.”
“Speaking of which,” Peyton adds, “I just texted Dominick, and he said you can come by this afternoon for an interview. It’s at Hotel Blu.
It’s an underground casino, so you’ll go to the front desk and ask for Franco.
He’s the casino manager. If he thinks you’re a good fit, you’re hired.
And since it’s locked down, you’ll be safe. ”
“Oh my God, thank you!” I give Peyton a hug. “I really appreciate it.”
If I can get this job, it will mean padding my bank account for next semester. I only have two semesters to go, and then I’ll be a college graduate—another step in the right direction for my future.