Page 34 of Never Say Never

Shelly looked at me, her nose scrunching up in disgust before cleaning her face of any emotions.

"That was my next step. I just found my phone."

Yeah, but what about a neighbor? Or even going out to look for the girls?

"They are okay and I've spoken to them both about it. Girls, what should you be saying to Shelly?"

"Sorry," they said in unison.

Shelly turned away from me, focusing on the girls. "Girls, it's bedtime, why don't we let your dad and his friend have some time alone?"

"But—”

"No buts, let's go," Shelly said. She pulled the girls away from York and herded them further into the house.

Both Nyra and Navy glanced over their shoulders at me, shooting a pleading look my way. If it was up to me, the nanny would be out on her ass and jobless. However, I was a guest, nothing more.

York blew out a breath, watching them for a second. He opened his mouth but his phone rang. He pulled it out and instantly his demeanor changed. It was either someone from work or his informant. As much as I wanted to listen in and get more information on who she was, I knew I needed to take it easy. Any mess up and I was bound to get caught. I'd spent too many years undercover to fuck it up now just because I was a little impatient.

"Go ahead and get that, I'm not going anywhere."

"Living room is straight down there. I'll be right out," he said.

I shooed him away. He went down the hall, phone to his ear. He turned left instead of keeping straight down the hall. I slowly made my way toward the living room. I took everything in, studying what I could about York. Pictures of the girls decorated the walls along with pictures of what could only be Dawn. She had a bright smile, brown skin, the same long curly hair as the girls, and bright brown eyes. They were the picture-perfect family. I didn't know her personally, but from how York talked about her, she was more than likely a good woman.

I made my way further into his place; the living room was nothing like mine. I had basic furniture picked out of a showroom with no touch of my own. His was mismatched furniture, a pink single seat that oddly paired well with the huge blue L-shaped couch. There were knickknacks all over, some that made sense, and others I knew had to be the girls. There were beads on the coffee table along with strings. A half made bracelet made me smile as it dragged up memories of the time Gin had made us matching teeth bracelets. A few guys in our school had tried to pick on Enzo and we'd taken a baseball bat and golf club to each of them and their older siblings. Gin thought it was cool to collect their teeth and make matching bracelets. We'd worn them for six months straight, until Benito flushed them down the toilet. Something about evidence or another.

We'd been kids, but no one fucked with our family.

I moved over to the kitchen, keeping an ear out for York. The fridge was covered in art and report cards. Both girls were on honor roll and had perfect attendance. Hushed words caught my attention, and I headed down the other hall off the kitchen.

"You two have greatly disappointed me. What would your mother think of you right now?" Shelly asked. "This is why every child needs a mother. You two have been without one for too long."

Who the fuck does she think she is? A mother was great, but any parent that was actively doing what they could was better than the shit ones out there in the world. From what I could tell, York did everything he could with his girls in mind. It was why I could get over the fact he'd shut me down so hard at work. Security for his family came first. I could respect that about him.

"Daddy said?—"

"Don't talk back. You two need to go to bed."

"But, Da?—"

"I said that's enough. You two are already turning out to be entitled little monsters."

All right, that's it.

I knocked on the door, slapped on a huge smile, and reminded myself not to kill the nanny. "You two ready for a movie?"

Navy and Nyra lit up the moment they saw me. Nyra was quick to wipe away her tears. I wasn't one to be moved by kids' tears, but the sight of sweet Nyra crying had me forgetting all about not blowing my cover.

"They have school in the morning."

"That's great. They will be in bed after a movie."

Navy grabbed Nyra and they moved over to me. It spoke volumes that they were more willing to be near me, a virtual stranger, versus the woman who was supposedly taking care of them.

Shelly squinted at me. "I have been watching over the girls for the past six years?—"

"And today you took a long-needed break. Why not continue?"