Page 106 of Mila: The Godfather

But the girl with the loud laugh doesn’t seem to take me by surprise when she sidesteps Riagan and greets me with an air hug, which catches me by surprise because who does that? Most people would pull me in for a hug or offer me their hands when first meeting, not caring about personal space at all. Not this girl with the pretty hair, smile and laugh.

“What are you doing?” I look at her hair first, wondering if it’s as soft as it looks. Then, I notice the freckles on her tiny button nose, her big plump lips and weird shade of green eyes. I wonder who she is. She’s not dressed like the other women who I assume work for him with an established uniform. This person is wearing baggy jeans and an oversized white graphic shirt. Her hair falls over her chest and she even has bangs.

She is very beautiful in a way that’s effortless.

“Giving you a big bear hug without touching you.”

Did Riagan tell her about my discomfort when meeting new people?

When I say nothing, she pulls back and says in a serious tone. “Okay, you got me. I hate germs, and I don’t like people touching me, especially people I don’t know.”

Huh.

Germs.

She hates germs.

“Mila, this is Maeve, my–”

“His best employee and longtime bestie.” The girl says while side eyeing Riagan.

He rolls his eyes, but there’s a small grin on his face while Maeve flips him off before turning back to me with a smile.

I can’t help but frown when I think of how close they might be that she feels comfortable joking around with him. I also refuse to admit how territorial I felt when he smiled at her. I am not a jealous person. That is not who I am.

“Anyway… it’s nice to finally meet the woman behind this,” she points at Riagan. “brute’s obsession.”

“Maeve, do you want this to be your last day on earth?”

“As if you had the guts to kill your third favorite person in the world?” Maeve shrugs.

Third? Is she talking about his father? Who is the second, then?

I take a mental note to ask him later.

“What kind of work do you do for Riagan?” I ask, interrupting their banter.

Maeve smiles proudly. “I hack a lot of shit, and most of the time, steal money for him.”

Riagan hisses before pulling her behind him with an annoyed look.

“That is…” I think of the right word.

“Illegal? Immoral?” Maeve jumps behind Riagan, so she can see me better.

Looking at both of them, the tall man with tattoos on full display and the tiny ball of spitfire jumping behind him and saying. “Badass.”

“Badass.” Maeve stops jumping while Riagan looks proud? Yes, proud. “I think you and I are going to be the best of friends, Mila.”

Smiling shily, I just nod. Making friends has always been difficult for me and not something I really sought to do much, but this is different.

These are Riagan’s people.

They obviously mean something to him.

I have to try hard to fit in his world to not cause trouble.

I wouldn’t want that.

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