Chapter 6 - The Nanny They Thought Would Run
Dominic wanted to move Norah out of Boston.
Norah refused.
He suggested New Hampshire.
No.
Canada.
No.
A private island.
She laughed for almost a minute.
He did not.
“You own an island?”
“Technically three.”
“That is an obscene sentence.”
“Norah.”
“I’m not running.”
Dominic stared across his office desk.
“You are twenty-seven weeks pregnant.”
“And?”
“Someone intends to steal our child.”
“Which is why disappearing alone is stupid.”
“You wouldn’t be alone.”
“With thirty armed men? That’s not exactly subtle.”
Dominic rubbed his forehead.
She had learned this gesture meant he was imagining several arguments and losing all of them.
Luca entered.
“May I interrupt?”
Dominic pointed at Norah.
“Please.”
“She won’t leave.”
Luca considered.
“She has a point.”
“Get out.”
Norah laughed.
The plan changed.
Instead of hiding, they would use the information Vivienne provided.
Carlo Orsini depended on a physician network.
Several clinics maintained duplicate records on an offshore server.
If Dominic could obtain the server key, they would have evidence linking Carlo to blackmail, illegal surveillance, bribery, and Sofia’s poisoning.
The key belonged to Dr. Serrano.
Sofia’s former physician.
Serrano attended a charity gala every year.
The gala was three weeks away.
Norah looked at Dominic.
“We go.”
“No.”
“You need someone he won’t expect.”
“No.”
“He knows your face.”
“The entire city knows yours now.”
“Only as the pregnant nanny.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“Do not use yourself as bait.”
“I’m not bait. I’m access.”
He stared.
Norah continued.
“Men like Serrano underestimate women like me.”
“Women like you?”
“Domestic workers. Pregnant women. People carrying trays.”
Something bitter touched her voice.
“We’re invisible until someone needs something cleaned.”
Dominic hated the truth.
That was obvious.
Three weeks later, Norah entered the gala wearing a deep blue maternity dress.
For the first time, she made no attempt to hide her stomach.
Dominic saw her at the top of the stairs.
He forgot what Luca was saying.
Norah noticed.
“You’re staring.”
“Yes.”
“You’re supposed to be subtle.”
“I have never claimed that skill.”
His black tuxedo fit perfectly.
The neck tattoo visible above his collar made respectable donors pretend they were not looking.
Norah took his arm.
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
“About Serrano?”
“No.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“Everyone is looking at you.”
Norah smiled.
“Jealous?”
“Violently.”
“Healthy.”
“I’m growing.”
They entered.
The gala proceeded beneath crystal chandeliers and charitable lies.
Dr. Serrano arrived at eight thirty.
Norah recognized him immediately from Sofia’s medical records.
Gray beard.
Perfect suit.
Warm smile.
The face of a trusted physician.
She hated him on sight.
The plan was simple.
Vivienne would distract Serrano.
Norah would enter the coatroom where his encrypted phone remained during dinner.
Luca would clone the authentication certificate.
Three minutes.
No confrontation.
No danger.
Naturally, everything went wrong.
Norah entered the coatroom.
Found the phone.
Connected the device.
Then the door locked behind her.
She turned.
Carlo Orsini stood in the shadows.
Late fifties.
Silver hair.
Elegant tuxedo.
He looked like a senator.
“You’re prettier than the surveillance photographs.”
Norah’s heart hammered.
“Disappointing opening line.”
He smiled.
“Dominic likes difficult women.”
“Maybe he likes women who don’t like you.”
Carlo approached.
Norah held her ground.
Running was useless.
She needed time.
Luca had monitoring.
Dominic would notice.
Carlo looked at her stomach.
“A boy.”
“You knew before I did.”
“Information is my business.”
“You mean theft.”
“Information doesn’t belong to anyone.”
“Tell that to the doctor you kidnapped.”
Carlo’s smile thinned.
“You’re brave.”
“No. I’m pregnant and tired.”
That almost amused him.
He reached toward her abdomen.
Norah slapped his hand away.
“Don’t touch me.”
His expression changed.
Danger.
Then the door exploded inward.
Dominic entered.
No shouting.
No dramatic threat.
He simply crossed the room and positioned himself between Norah and Carlo.
His face was terrifyingly calm.
“Leave.”
Carlo smiled.
“You’re in a public ballroom.”
“And?”
“You can’t kill me here.”
Dominic looked almost bored.
“I said leave. I didn’t say why.”
Carlo adjusted his cuff.
“This child complicates everything.”
Dominic’s hand clenched.
“He has a name.”
Norah looked at him.
They had not chosen one.
Carlo noticed.
“Does he?”
Dominic did not blink.
“Daniel.”
Norah’s heart stopped.
Daniel.
Her father’s name.
She had mentioned him once.
Dominic remembered.
Carlo’s smile disappeared.
“Sentimental.”
“Human.”
Carlo walked past.
At the doorway he paused.
“You think becoming a father again makes you clean?”
Dominic answered quietly.
“No.”
Then looked at Norah.
“But it makes me know what I refuse to lose.”
Carlo left.
Luca rushed inside.
“Did we get it?”
Norah held up Serrano’s phone.
Still connected.
The cloning bar reached one hundred percent.
“Apparently I can multitask.”
Dominic stared at her.
Then pulled her into his arms.
“You are never doing that again.”
“You say that a lot.”
“I mean it more each time.”
She leaned into him.
Then felt a sudden tightness.
Sharp.
Her breath caught.
Dominic immediately pulled back.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Norah.”
Another cramp tightened across her abdomen.
She gripped his lapel.
Dominic’s face drained.
“Luca.”
“I’m okay.”
“Luca!”
Everyone turned.
Norah breathed slowly.
Then warmth touched her leg.
Her eyes widened.
Dominic followed her gaze.
For the first time that evening, real fear entered his face.
May you like
Norah whispered:
“I think something’s wrong.”
