Page 7 of Mafia Handbook

Chapter Three

“And the bear crawled back into bed, where his mother kissed him goodnight.” Milena whispered the last three words as she closed the book, turning her attention to the half-circle of sleeping children around her.

“Read another one, Ms. G.” Smiling, Milena placed her finger over her lips at Sam’s request. He was notoriously the only child who remained awake while the others slept during quiet time.

“Tomorrow, Samuel.”

Milena’s smile dropped as Samuel gasped, pulling his fluffy blanket over his head. Shifting her eyes to the door, she found Maxine Thomas, the center’s director, standing inside the threshold, motioning with her finger for Milena to join her. Standing from the floor, Milena laid the book on the table before tiptoeing across the floor.

“Is everything okay?” Milena whispered so as not to wake the children. As much as she loved her job at the state-funded preschool, most days quiet time couldn’t happen fast enough.

“Come to my office, Milena. There is an officer Malone on the phone for you, he said it was urgent.”

Milena had been open with Maxine about the hacker who’d attached himself to her, as the last thing she wanted was to bring about trouble for the little ones she cared for.

“Did he say what he wanted?”

“Only that it was important he speak with you.”

Nodding, Milena took a final look over her shoulder at the sleeping children, before disappearing down the hall and into Maxine’s office.

Reaching for the phone, Milena took in a deep breath as she raised the receiver to her ear.

“Hello, Mr. Malone?”

“Yes, is this Milena Rossi?”

“It is.”

“Hello, Miss Rossi, this is Officer Malone with the Sunnyville police department. I was wondering if you were available to come by the station later to speak with an expert about your situation?”

Situation?She scoffed in her head, hating how this guy made the hell she was living through seem like a speeding ticket she’d forgotten to pay.

“What time?”

“Completely up to you.”

Shifting her eyes to the clock on the wall, she was off in another hour, but she’d agreed to give Gil a ride to pick up his car at the dealership.

“Is five thirty too late?”

“Five thirty is perfect, I'll see you then.”

* * *

Milena tuggedat the knot in the string of her hoodie, something she habitually did when she was nervous. She’d failed to factor in how much of a procrastinator Gil was when confirming a time to be at the station. It’d taken her almost fifteen minutes to wake him up, and another twenty waiting as he’d ordered half of the menu at the drive-thru to quench his pot-induced munchies.

“I’m so sorry to keep you waiting.”

Milena jumped slightly as the door opened, but she recovered quickly with a tight smile and dropped the string.

“It’s fine, I was late anywa—” Words died on her tongue as Milena took in the face of the familiar man behind the officer. Deep green eyes framed with lashes so thick Oakley would be envious. Tanned skin, decorated with colorful tattoos which peaked out from under his pushed-up shirt sleeves.

“Milena, this is Sebastian Kelly, of Keystone Securities.”

Milena was ignorant of the company, which wasn’t surprising, as her focus had been on keeping a roof over her head while an asshole kept trying to steal it.

Bash wasn't certain what he expected this victim of Grant’s to look like. In all honesty, he hadn't really thought about the victim at all, his focus had been commandeered by how fast he would unlock the gate and hand over the identity of this hacker. Yet here she sat, all denim and cotton, big doe eyes with a hint of familiarity about her.

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