Captured Nanny (The Nannies)

“I … I have some other information that I’m not sure if you’re related to.” The cop reached into his jacket pocket and extracted a single piece of paper. “Here.”

Wolf opened the folded piece of paper to see Evelyn’s and Rain’s faces. Possible missing persons.

“Has this been filed?” he asked.

“It’s in the process of being filed, but so far, we can’t go on much, seeing as the woman moved away from her hometown. The local sheriff has called us, saying that he has four concerned parents. What do I need to do?” he asked.

“What makes you think I took them?” Wolf asked.

“There was a confirmed sighting at the local ice cream parlor of their last known whereabouts. I’d already pulled the security footage, so no one is aware of your connection.” The cop sighed. “Do I need to recommend … checking lakes and rivers?”

“Evelyn and Rain are alive and well.”

“Wolf…”

“Do not think to get yourself involved,” he said. “It will do you no good.” He tapped his fingers on the table, debating what course of action to take.

He gave the name of the restaurant where he intended to take her. “You will see her tonight.”

“And the little girl?” the cop asked.

“Safe and well, with nothing to fear.” He glared at the man. He’d never killed a child before in his life.

Getting to his feet, he had enough of this conversation and this man. There was only so much hypocrisy he could handle in one meeting. The man got paid a fortune to look the other way, and to be his informant, but now he was worried about two people who had nothing to do with him.

He should kill him now and get it all over with.

Instead, he walked out of the diner and toward his car.

****

The dress was figure-hugging, verging on indecent.

Rain stared at the red dress, with no panties, and no bra, and her heart raced. She shouldn’t be excited about this, but still, the dress was beautiful.

She stroked the soft fabric.

Removing the robe from her body, she lifted the dress and saw it was the kind she could slip over her head and roll down her body, so she did.

It fit perfectly, shaping to her curves, in a surprisingly flattering way.

Rain moved toward the mirror, turning left and right, checking to make sure she didn’t look a mess.

“This isn’t a date.”

The heels were going to be hell on her feet, but she slid into them, and Rain gasped. All that was left was her hair and makeup.

Leanne entered her bedroom and smiled. “You look beautiful. I’m here to do your hair and makeup.”

Rain didn’t know what to say to the woman, and so she stayed silent. They were two different people.

Leanne hadn’t asked her about her escape plan. Not that she intended to do it tonight. Why would she? Evelyn wouldn’t be with her, and when she was going to leave, her daughter would be right by her side.

She adores Wolf.

Adores was the wrong word.

Evelyn loved Wolf, like a father.

She clenched her hands into fists.

“Are you nervous about tonight?” Leanne asked.

“I’m surprised you’re still wanting to talk to me.”

Leanne chuckled. “We’re two different people, Rain. I imagine if I came from a good life, I’d want to leave this one as well, but I’m safe here. I’m warm. I’m happy.”

“But you’re not free.”

“I am, in my own way.”

“And you don’t want to … have a child of your own?” Rain asked.

“I’m not capable of having children,” Leanne said. “They took that away from me. I lost my appeal to a lot of people when I started to menstruate.”

Rain closed her eyes even as Leanne slightly tugged her hair to roll it around the curler.

She’d never had the time to spend learning how to do her hair. She often put it in a ponytail, or if she was feeling really fancy, a clip.

Leanne curled her hair, holding it away from her head, and when she let go, the length sprang to life.

“I’m so sorry,” Rain said. She couldn’t imagine ever not having Evelyn.

“Evelyn is a sweet girl. Smart as well. Did you always know you wanted kids?” Leanne asked.

“I knew I wanted Evelyn,” she said.

The full truth was a little more complicated, and it wasn’t worth getting into, not right now.

Leanne smiled. “I know this seems difficult and Wolf is a little different from most men, but he does care in his own way.”

“How do you forget that he’s dealing with other women?” Rain asked. “That other women want the same kind of freedom that I do?”

“I don’t think about it,” Leanne said. “I can’t change what is happening, and I know it’s all wrong, but that’s just the way the world works.”

Rain didn’t like it. She didn’t know if she could live with it.

“If Wolf wasn’t taking them, someone else would,” Leanne said. “There are so many bad men out there. You can’t stop what is happening.”