Chapter 1

My ex-husband dumped me, his plus-size wife, for his boss’s daughter.

Three days later, I become the live-in nanny for New York’s most feared mafia boss, Rafael Romano.

All of a sudden, Rafael wants me.

And so does his dangerously hot underboss cousin, Nico.

Apparently, becoming a plus-size nanny for the mafia comes with one unexpected problem.

Both Romanos want me.

Three days after the divorce, I am unemployed, plus-size, and standing outside a limestone townhouse on the Upper East Side because apparently rock bottom comes with excellent dental benefits.

The listing is simple.

Live-in nanny. Private family. Excellent salary. Experience with children required.

It doesn't mention men with guns.

One stands beside the front door in a black suit. Another leans against an SUV with a bullet hole through the rear panel.

I look at it.

He follows my eyes.

“Pothole.”

“That seems aggressive for a pothole.”

His mouth twitches.

Inside, twelve women are waiting in the foyer.

They are all heels, perfect hair, expensive little suits.

Then there is me.

Old jeans. Flat shoes. An oversized shirt I've been using for years to hide my stomach. My hair is twisted up badly, and the port-wine birthmark across my upper chest shows above the collar.

I tug the fabric higher without thinking.

A man hurries past the hallway carrying a bloodstained towel.

Someone behind him says, “Russo still breathing?”

“For now.”

“Boss wants him awake.”

I stare after them.

Maybe I should leave.

Then I remember my bank balance.

Apparently, organized crime has nothing on rent in Manhattan.

The women file inside, eyes straight ahead.

A tiny shard of glass catches my eye near the rug.

I stop, crouch, and pick it up before following them.

Mr. Bell, the house manager, looks down the line of applicants and stops at me.

“You.”

I blink.

“ You’re the only one actually paying attention.”

Five minutes later, I am upstairs.

Rafael Romano is sitting on the floor.

That surprises me more than the guns.

Everyone in New York knows the Romano name. Shipping. Construction. Nightclubs. Private security.

Newspapers tend to put alleged in front of everything else.

Rafe looks exactly like a man newspapers are careful around.

Black shirt. Broad shoulders. Hard face.

The skin across his knuckles is split.

He is also holding a stuffed dinosaur.

His son sits against the couch, silent.

“Leo,” Rafe says quietly. “Can you tell me what's wrong?”

Nothing.

Rafe looks at me.

“He hasn't spoken to a stranger in almost a year.”

Great.

I spot Little Red Riding Hood beside the couch.

I sit on the rug and open it.

“Okay. Court is now in session.”

Rafe frowns.

I ignore him.

“The defendant is Little Red Riding Hood. Charges include breaking into Grandma's house, eating Grandma, and stealing her bed.”

Leo's eyelashes flicker.

“As for the wolf, completely innocent. Lovely guy. Probably pays his taxes.”

Someone behind me coughs.

I turn the page.

“The hunter then attacked this poor animal for absolutely no reason—”

“No.”

The word is tiny.

Nobody moves.

Leo lifts his head.

“The wolf.”

I widen my eyes. “The wolf what?”

“He ate Grandma.”

Mr. Bell whispers, “Holy shit.”

Leo points at the book.

“The wolf is bad.”

I close it.

“Well. That's embarrassing.”

His mouth twitches.

A smile.

Rafe stares at his son for a long second.

Then at me.

“You're hired.”

Before I can answer, footsteps come down the hall.

A man walks into the room wearing a black jacket over a shirt cut into a deep V, open far enough across his chest that buttons have clearly lost an argument.

There is blood smeared along his collarbone.

He notices me looking.

Dark eyes. Lazy smile.

“Relax, sweetheart. Not mine.”

“That wasn't what I was worried about.”

His smile widens.

“Even better.”

Rafe's expression flattens.

“Nico.”

Nico looks me over once, slow enough that I notice.

Then he glances at his cousin.

“This the new nanny?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck.”

I frown.

Nico looks back at me.

“Nothing personal.”

His eyes dip briefly to my hips.

“Actually, very personal.”

Rafe stands.

“Nico.”

“What?” Nico says, completely unbothered. “You hire a woman who looks like that and don't warn me?”

I have been in the Romano house for less than twenty minutes.

One child has spoken to a stranger for the first time in almost a year.

One man has blood on his chest.

Another is looking at me like he wants to kill his own cousin.

I really hope the health insurance is good.