Page 46 of Mafia Handbook

“She’s in shock, Bash.”Slate tried to comfort his friend as the pair watched Milena pack her meager belongings. “Poor girl just found out her brother has been the one responsible for making her life hell for the past few years.”

Bash wanted to believe him, but his heart wouldn’t allow it. Something told him Milena’s avoidance went much deeper than mere shock.

Milena perused the space she’d called home for the past several weeks, memories of the times she spent with Bash threatening to choke her. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she made a silent vow to the woman staring back at her. She would survive this and when she came out on the other side, she would forget everything about Sebastian Kelly.

Tossing her backpack over her shoulder, Milena made her way down the hall to the kitchen where she found Slate and Bash waiting.

“Ready, Sweetness?” Bash held onto the stone countertop in an effort to keep from reaching out for her.

“Yes, let me grab a few bottles of water first.” Stepping around the pair toward the refrigerator, “It’s quite a hike to the main road if memory serves me correctly.”

“It is,” Slate agreed, hooking his hands on his hips. “However, we’re going to take an alternate mode of transportation back to California.”

With her fingers gripping a chilled bottle of water, Milena glanced over her shoulder at a smug looking Slate. “What kind of alternative?”

Snagging the strap of his gear bag, Bash cleared his throat in an effort to tamp down the emotions brewing in his chest. “With the cancellation of the code yellow, we no longer have to remain off grid.” Tipping his head toward the hall, “Your chariot awaits, Ms. Rossi.”

Milena followed the pair down the main hall and through the maintenance door, an involuntary shudder at the memory from earlier jolting her body.

“You okay, Sweetness?” Unable to stop himself, Bash reached out, running his hand down Milena’s arm.

“Fine,” Milena lied with a smile. “Just anxious to see where you’re taking me.”

Bash had spent enough time studying Milena to know when she was lying. With Slate’s advice of giving her space echoing inside his head, he returned the smile and waved his hand toward a set of stairs to the left of the generators.

Jogging up the steps, Milena basked in the earthy smell of the forest as she stepped through the door and into nature. Tilting her face to the sun, she inhaled the fresh air, a strange whirling sound capturing her attention.

“Wha..?” Her question trailed off as she took in the helicopter coming to life across the flatness of the cliff.

Extending a hand toward her, “Here, let me help you get inside.” Slate offered, his lack of sleep evident in his voice.

Nodding, Milena took his offered hand, her gaze landing on Bash who sat in the front of the helicopter, sunglasses on and a headset covering his ears. “You have nothing to worry about, Bash is one hell of a pilot and will have us back home in no time.”

Keeping her focus on the passing vegetation outside the window beside her, Milena tuned out the conversation between Slate and Bash as they flew toward California. She questioned how she could have missed the apparent hatred Gil had for her? Her thoughts then drifted to her father and the myriad of possible illnesses he could have which would land him in the hospital. When trees morphed into concrete and tall buildings, Milena turned her attention to Bash as he spoke in numbers and phrases she didn't understand to a man on the radio.

Bash hated the beacon flashing from the top of the hospital. The pilot in him was thrilled at the opportunity to land in a restricted area. The man desperately in love, wanted to turn the bird around and return to The Cliffs, turning back the clock and taking the pain out of Milena’s eyes.

Reaching for the strap of her bag, Milena caught sight of two men in suits standing beside a man in a lab coat.

Bash saluted his uncle as he set the helicopter down, his heart hammered in his chest as the men approached to collect Milena. This was it, his time, at least for the moment, was up. He’d made a promise to himself on the way back, to give her time to see her father and allow her a few days to sort out the feelings of betrayal Gil gifted to her. Then, he was coming for her.

With her hand paused on the handle of the door. “Slate, I have no idea how I will ever repay your kindness.”

“No need for payment, just sorry it turned out to hit so close to home for you.”

“Me too,” Milena held back the emotion threatening to spill out of her. “Please extend my thanks to your team.” Shifting her gaze to Bash, she reached down, and pinched the side of her leg to give her something to focus on instead of the pain ripping her in half. “And to you, Trespass,” using his call sign in hopes he understood he wasn’t welcome in her world anymore. “Thank you for going above and beyond, despite the reason.” She finished as she jumped from the seat and ran across the helipad.

Bash couldn't shake the feeling he was missing something, but as he watched Milena disappear into the hospital, he swore to himself he would figure it out.

“I wanted to wait to discuss this until after we dropped her off.”

Turning the helicopter toward the field where they stored it, Bash sent Slate a puzzled look.

“We have a return client, and they’ve requested you.”

---