Page 19 of Mafia Handbook

Chapter Eight

“Is he hot?”

Milena rolled her eyes at Oakley’s ever-present obsession with handsome men. She recalled how they’d fallen into an instant sisterhood from the moment Oakley walked into her Nona’s house after their parent’s wedding. Oakley had been a constant when things got rough for Milena, from the first boy to crush her teenage heart, to the shelter she’d offered her when Frank tossed her into the streets.

“Because if he’s hot, you should totes go for it.”

Shaking her head, Milena shifted her attention from watching Oakley applying yet another layer of lip gloss, to the massive soaker tub across the room. After Crusher insisted she call it a day, Milena couldn't wait to tell her sister of Sebastian Kelly’s offer to help, preferably while she enjoyed a bath with the hottest water she could stand. While the work wasn't difficult, the dirt and oil covering everything made her feel disgusting.

“Speaking of going for it,” Oakley spun in her chair. “I want you to come out with me and my friends tonight. I got the total hook-up for a paps party uptown.”

Oakley was the poster child for everything party girl. She loved nothing more than to have her photo splashed across the tabloids wearing the latest designer clothing.

“Thanks for the invite, but you know we can't be seen together.”

Once Frank found out Oakley had taken Milena in, he’d come to the condo and threatened to not only cut her off but toss her alcoholic mother into the streets as well. Oakley and Skyla had a special bond, one Milena would protect at all costs.

“Screw Daddy Dearest,” Oakley leveled. “I’ll do your makeup and you can wear something of mine. That old bastard won’t recognize you.”

While Oakley’s offer was tempting, it was also dangerous. “Not that I would ever miss an opportunity to get one over on Frank,” Milena drifted off, buying time to come up with a believable lie. “But Mr. Kelly is coming over to install some sort of security on my apartment.” Guilt washed over Milena as the lie fell from her lips. She hated being dishonest, but she needed to do whatever necessary to protect her sister.

“Oh my god!” Jumping from her chair, Oakley's eyes grew wide. “I want details, tatts, piercings, how big he is,” wagging her perfect eyebrows as she spoke the latter.

“You forget, Sis, I have my monthly visitor,” rubbing her lower pelvis.

“And orgasms are the perfect pain reliever,” Oakley countered before disappearing into her massive closet.

Staring at the white porcelain of the tub, “Hey can I borrow your tub? The kids decided I was their new jungle gym today and my back is killing me.” Milena couldn't bring herself to tell Oakley she’d lost yet another job to this hacker, besides, she’d swore to her uncle she wouldn’t breathe a word to anyone she was working for him. She’d ask for forgiveness for all the lies during confession, she swore to herself.

* * *

Milena didn't botherto hold back the moan as she slid past the scented bubbles and into the churning water of the jetted tub, closing her eyes and letting the gentle music playing overhead take her away from the chaos of her life. With a full belly, compliments of Oakley and her sudden urge for Chinese takeout, Milena struggled to remain awake. Lulling her head to the side, she allowed her mind to drift to the way Bash had walked with confidence toward her earlier, all six-plus feet of self-confidence and dare she admit, sex appeal. Men like Bash didn’t need to be told they were pleasing to the eye, they were reminded of it with each gasp and scrambled female brain they encountered. While Milena knew she was far from plain and ordinary in the looks department, she was far from being the beauties Oakley and Skyla were, and absolutely not someone a man like Bash Kelly would find a romantic interest in.

Milena tried not to ponder the questions Oakley had raised. Did Bash have any piercings to go with those colorful tattoos? Was he an unselfish lover, adding a Jacob’s Ladder to his manhood? Or was he greedy, focusing entirely on satisfying his own needs? She imagined, based on the rest of him, the most important part of him in her sister’s opinion was massive, something she felt certain she would never be able to confirm one way or the other.

The shrill of a ringing telephone startled Milena, jerking her into a seated position, her sudden movement causing water to spill over the side of the tub.

“What the?” She glanced around the now dark room, the glow of her cellphone beaming from Oakley’s dressing table. Climbing from the tub, Milena grabbed a towel and haphazardly wrapped it around her body.

“Hello?”

“Sissy?” Jerking the phone from her ear, the shrill sound of her sister’s drunken voice nearly shattered her ear drum. “Those bitches left me. I need you to come get me.” Glancing around the room, Milena couldn't believe her eyes as she read the time on one of Oakley’s designer watches. It was well after one in the morning, she’d clearly fallen asleep in the tub.

“Of course, Oak, where are you?”

Milena could hear her sister screaming for someone to tell her the name of the club. She imagined her snapping her fingers and standing on any solid surface to gain attention.

“I’m at Glow.”

“Okay,” reaching for her discarded jeans, Milena knew of the club, having seen the building under renovations for the past few months. “I’ll meet you out front in fifteen minutes. Don't you dare leave, do you hear me?”

“Use my car, the keys are on the bar.”

Oakley may be the poster child for having the time of your life, but she had boundaries she refused to cross. One of those being her refusal to drink and drive, something Milena was grateful for at the moment.

Pulling the luxury sports car to the curb, Milena pressed the unlock button as Oakley waved to the sea of paparazzi who filled the darkened sidewalk with camera flashes.

Keeping her face down and ballcap in place, Milena waited long enough for Oakley to drop into the leather seat before pulling away from the curb.

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