The Beast's Nanny (The Nannies)

Her smile twisted his gut.

Going to James, he picked up his nephew and stormed across the house, returning to the kitchen. Grace followed him here.

“Caleb, what the hell? What are you doing?”

He put James on the floor. “Don’t you ever go outside again without someone there to protect you both. Do you understand me?”

“Caleb, you’re scaring him.”

“He should be scared. Do you know what kind of evil lurks outside?” He growled into her face.

Grace stood in front of James. “He’s three years old.”

James started to cry.

“He was playing in the snow and you scared him. I don’t know what your problem is, but you stay back until you’ve got yourself under control.”

“Don’t forget who you work for. I can have you removed from here so fucking fast.”

Rather than shrink away, she stepped close to him. “Then do it, Caleb, but be warned, you will not hear the last of me.”

She bent down, picked James up, and the two left, not going outside, but heading deeper into the house.

Rage rushed through him, and he slammed his fist against the door. The wood splintered, but it didn’t give him any satisfaction. He’d just pissed off his woman.

After running fingers through his hair, he reached out, gripping the edge of the counter. In the back of his mind, he imagined his sister tutting at him.

“Get a grip, Caleb. You’re looking like a crazy person.”

He was crazy right now. An enemy he didn’t fucking know had declared war, and it was up to him to save them all. He’d seen firsthand what this prick had done to his sister, and given the chance, there was no doubt in his mind Grace and James would follow. He didn’t want either to feel that kind of pain, but if he didn’t do something about it, they would.

He stood and he made his way through the house, going toward his office. Collapsing into his chair, he held the cell phone up.

It was an old phone.

A burner.

There would be no information here.

Unless…

He opened a bag, put the cell phone inside, and then called up his guy. So far, this mystery man had been able to cover his tracks, but no one was perfect for long. He’d fuck up, and Caleb couldn’t wait for that moment. Once he did, he would make him pay. Until then, he was going to have to wait, to be patient, and also make it up to Grace. She didn’t deserve his anger.

She’d gotten under his skin, and that was a dangerous place to be.

Chapter Ten

James didn’t go to sleep straight away that night. He was too afraid of his uncle being angry with him. Finally, after a nice hot chocolate, a movie, and some good food, James took his nap. She waited to make sure he was sound asleep before going to find Caleb.

Leaving the bedroom, but keeping the monitor in her hand, she found him in the office, typing away at his computer. The sight of him took her breath away.

She hadn’t seen him working like this before, and it was somewhat odd to see him now.

He looked up and immediately stopped.

“Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?” she asked.

“You need to consider your and James’s safety in everything you do.”

“You think I don’t?”

“No!” He yelled the word and then sat back.

“Caleb, what the hell? James was terrified. He was worried his uncle would come and shout at him for going to sleep.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not.” She stomped her foot. “Talk to me. Let me help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Clearly you do, because it’s not normal to barge into a room or a yard and stop people from having fun.”

Caleb stood, his chair rolling back until it crashed against the wall. She tensed up, not knowing what the hell to think as he put his hands on the flat of the table. “You don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about, Grace. So shut up and go to your room.”

Any other time, she’d have burst into tears and ran away. She didn’t like to be yelled at, and Caleb was annoying her. He wasn’t going to do this and get away with it.

Storming up to his desk, she put her hands flat on the desk. “No. You don’t get to speak to me like that.”

“I own you, Grace. You will do as you’re told.”

She burst out laughing. “Wow, you really think that, don’t you? You don’t own me.”

“Really? Then tell me why you’re working for me. Why you’re not back in your shitty apartment, helping everyone else but yourself? Why you’re not going into debt, huh? I took you, and like every other woman, you’re just doing the best you can. I’m surprised you’re not bargaining money out of this. After all, I’m fucking you for the—” He didn’t get to finish as she slapped him in the face.