As I watch Cassie walk away, I can’t help but think she is an enigma. It’s difficult to take her word on being a virgin when I know what women are capable of. Every woman I’ve encountered since Sofia’s death has tried to run a game on me.

I look at the picture sitting on my desk. It’s a picture of Sofia and me days before her death. She died during childbirth. Anger didn’t begin to cover what losing her meant to me. For the first couple of years after her death, my focus was Hunter. My interaction with women was about fucking them and discarding them afterward.

“I’ve dropped Red’s things in her bedroom,” Gio says, walking into my office.

“Any updates with the rat?” I demand that before he can add anything regarding Cassie,

“Are you going to avoid the fact that you brought a stranger, someone we haven’t vetted, to look after Hunter.”

“Who I decide to look after Hunter is my business. Now, I asked you a fucking question.” Gio sits on the chair across my desk.

“When was the last time you got laid? Was it Maggie or Rebecca?” I bang my fist on the desk. “Come on, don’t get angry. I’m sure your dick has played a role in bringing Red here and making her the nanny.” He adds, laughing. I’m about to rip him a new one when my cell phone rings. The screen reveals it’s my mother.

“What’s wrong?” I demand, already standing from my chair. Gio copies me.

“Everything is fine. Hunter was playing in the backyard and fell. He fractured his arm.”

“What the fuck, mom? I leave Hunter in your house for a few hours, and this happens. Was your staff distracted and not paying fucking attention? Where were you?”

“You will not speak to me in this tone. I’m still your mother. Hunter is an active four-year-old who will get hurt as he grows. Getting hurt is part of growing, and you know it.” Before she could continue speaking, I interrupted her.

“I’m on my way to pick him up.”

“That is not necessary. He is perfectly fine. You can collect him in the morning like we planned.”

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” I end the call just as I reach the elevator.

“What happened to Hunter?” Gio asks.

“Fractured his arm.” The elevator door opens. “I don’t need you to come with me. Bring me someone’s head. I’m tired of having to wait for results.” I step inside the elevator.

“There hasn’t been anything new.”

“That’s my point. I want intel by the time I return.”

“Roger that.”

The elevator door closes. I run my hand over my face. This is why I don’t want Hunter out of my sight. I love my mother but can’t trust her to ensure Hunter’s safety.

_____

One Hour Later…

“How are you feeling, Bud?” I ask Hunter as we ride the elevator.

“I’m okay, Daddy. It doesn’t even hurt.” His words make me smile. I ruffle his hair.

“Of course you are okay.” The elevator door opens on the penthouse. “Go to your bedroom, Bud. I’m getting your new nanny so you can meet her.” He steps out of the elevator.

“I don’t want a new nanny.” I step out of the elevator.

“You might not want a new nanny, but you need one. Go to your bedroom.” I order him. He turns around and starts walking toward his bedroom. I start walking toward Cassie’s bedroom. Before I reach it, I see Cassie in the kitchen making herself dinner. I’m bothered by it since I gave Angela specific instructions.

“Why are you making yourself dinner?” I demand from Cassie as I walk inside the kitchen.

“I’m sorry. I thought it would be fine.” She answers, startled.

“I gave instructions for dinner to be made for you. Why are you making dinner for yourself?” It takes her a few seconds before she answers.

“I didn’t want to bother anyone.” She finally says. Her eyes give her away. She is lying.

“I won’t indulge you lying to me.”

“Angela mentioned the chef was gone. It didn’t make sense for the chef to return when you didn’t need dinner.” She adds. I close the distance.

“When I give an order, I expect it to be followed.” When I reach her, she takes one back. The air is filled with her lavender scent. Fuck.

“I understand Mr. Biagini. I will make sure it doesn’t happen again. Did you need something from me?”

“My son is here. He fractured his arm.” She sets a towel she was holding on the counter.

“What can I do?”

“I’ll introduce you to Hunter. Then help him get ready for bed.”

“I understand. Let me put everything away.”

“Leave it. I’ll have the chef make dinner and clean things up. Follow me.” I order her.

“Okay.” She stands in place.

“His bedroom is at the end of the hallway,” I tell her, stepping aside so she can start walking.

A whiff of her lavender scent crosses me the moment she takes steps. I’m aroused by it. Every bone in my body just wants to pick her up and fuck her. But I shake the thought away.

“The door on the right,” I tell Cassie.

We walk in silence. Cassie stops a few steps from the door. The sound of cartoons playing is coming from Hunter’s bedroom. I take her hand and walk inside Hunter’s bedroom.

“Daddy,” Hunter says, looking up from the TV. I stop before his bed and let go of Cassie’s hand.

“This is Cassie. She is your new nanny.” Hunter gets out of bed and stands in front of us. He holds out his uninjured hand.

“Hi, my name is Hunter.” I chuckle while Cassie squats down to meet him.

“Hi, my name is Cassie. It’s nice to meet you.” She tells him, shaking his hand. Hunter smiles at her and then looks at me.

“She is different, Daddy. Prettier.” He says with a smirk.

“Thank you,” Cassie says, her cheeks turning red.

“Time to get ready for bed, Bud.”

“But I’m not tired.” He says. Cassie stands.

“I’ll tell you a story if you like,” Cassie says before I can scold Hunter. “That is, of course, if your dad doesn’t mind.” She adds, facing me.

“I can tell her where everything is,” Hunter says, almost jumping out of his skin. I can’t remember when he was this excited about anything, let alone a nanny.

“We will be fine. If I need anything—”

I cut her off. “I’ll be in my office.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” Hunter says, hugging my leg. I ruffle his hair and leave his bedroom.

Without looking at Cassie, I leave the bedroom. This will be the perfect opportunity to see how she does with Hunter. I’ve never surveilled a nanny since my house manager, Martina, does all the hiring. But this seems like the perfect opportunity to see what Hunter needs and if Cassie fits the job.

In my office, I walk over to my desk and log in to my laptop. Despite having a limited number of people on this floor, I have cameras installed in every inch of it. I go straight to the camera in Hunter’s bedroom and turn on the audio.

“Hunter, what do you normally do to prepare for bedtime?”

“Well, Lulu was mean to me. So I just tried to go to bed fast.”

It pisses me off that Hunter was being mistreated, and I had no idea. A reminder that even though the shit with the Asians is escalating, Hunter needs to be my priority.

“I’m sorry to hear that. She sounds like a witch.” Cassie tells him, and Hunter starts laughing hard. Seeing him like this brings a smile to my face. “The witch is gone, so you won’t have to worry about her. Let’s get your pajamas ready and run you a bath before the story.”

“Yay!” Hunter claps, jumping up and down.

Having Cassie here might be more of a challenge than I realized. I want Cassie on my bed, but bedding the nanny on her first night isn’t ideal.

“Where did you go?” Gio asks, walking into my office. I minimize the window.

“Why the fuck are you here? I gave you orders.” I snap.

“BossDude, you need to get laid. You’re being more of an asshole than usual. Isn’t Red with Hunter? Let’s go out for drinks. You might find a blonde or two that will help with the stress.” He mocks.

“Stop calling her Red. Her fucking name is Cassie.” He holds up his hand in the air.

“Shit, should I be worried?” He asks, laughing.

“How about you tell me what you learned about the rat?”

“I don’t have a name yet, but we are zeroing in.”

I bang my fist on my desk.

“Not fucking good enough. I told you not to return unless you had something.”

“I’ll know by tonight who the rat is. One of my girls is dating one of the Asians. They are all supposed to be in a big party downtown.”

“And you couldn’t fucking tell me this earlier?”

“You had me collect Re—” I give him a death stare. “I mean Cassie, then Hunter got hurt. Didn’t get the chance to get more information.” He quickly adds.

“I expect a report in the morning. Go home.”

“Are you not going to join me?” He asks.

“Get the fuck out,” I say louder but with humor in my tone. Gio is my right-hand cousin, and he does his job well. I know he is working on finding the rat. I’m frustrated because I don’t like being in the dark.

“I’m letting it slide since Hunter is here, but tomorrow, there is no excuse. You need to get laid, and I need my wingman.” I shake my head as he leaves my office laughing.

I pull up the window with the camera in Hunter’s bedroom. From what I am watching, Hunter is smiling, and Cassie seems to be doing her job. I could go out. But I want to watch Cassie’s every move, which I plan to do. If I leave, I won’t see what she is about.