Page 117 of Never Say Never

"They aren't yours," she scoffed. "You will never be what I am for them. I have mothered them."

"They don't need another mom. Dawn was great and you will never compare. Your job is to be a nanny."

Shelly's face reddened with each word that came out of my mouth. She pointed the wooden spoon at me. "You wouldn't know anything." She looked at the girls. "Get over here, now."

When the twins didn't budge from behind me she took a step toward them, her hand outstretched as If she was going to snatch my girls away from me.

I responded on instinct. I snatched her up, hand around her slender throat. Her eyes widened before she started to swing and let out a scream that sounded closer to the squeal of a pig.

"Let go!" She hit me with the spoon.

"I told you to never talk to them again." My breathing was even. Snapping her neck would be easy.

"He-Help!"

I pulled her close. "No one here will help you. They'd all watch you die and piss on your corpse before saving you."

Little hands tugged on my shirt, and I let Shelly go. She was lucky I wasn't going to kill in front of the girls.

"We're okay, Paolo," Navy hiccuped.

I glared at Shelly as she scrambled away from me. Her back hit the wall, stopping her retreat.

"It's okay if you're not." I turned to them and squatted down. "I won't let anyone hurt you." My instincts said this wasn't the first time Shelly had raised her hand to them. "She's done this before?"

They looked at each other before facing me. Clinging to one another, Nyra and Navy nodded.

I turned on my heels and stood up to my full six-foot-five-inch height. "You're dead."

"Help!" Shelly shook her head, screaming. "I only disciplined as a parent would."

"But you aren't one."

"Stay the hell away from me." Shelly threw the spoon at me. It hit my chest before clattering to the floor.

One extra kill for the night would be okay.

I was so focused on Shelly, I didn't hear York leave the room. He was in my face in seconds, blocking me from getting to his nanny. His eyes narrowed as he came toe-to-toe with me.

"Move, York."

"Have you lost your fucking mind?" His breathing was irregular. His fists were balled up at his sides, but I could barely focus when Shelly stood up and clung to his back.

"Mr. Washington, please help me."

York didn't look at her, his gaze was focused on me. "Girls, room. Now."

"Daddy—"

"Now," York barked.

They looked my way as they left the kitchen and headed to their room.

"What the fuck, Paolo?"

"Move, York, I need to take care of her first." My anger was hot as it rode me.

"No, what the hell is wrong with you?"