Page 70 of Mafia and Gold Digger

Serial and Killer are in the library with the door to the rest of the house closed. The French doors in there have been left open though, giving them free rein to come and go from the large backyard. The thought of them so nearby has me on edge.

The kids, however, have already seen the dogs since the top pane of the library’s door is clear glass. “Em, when can we play with the puppies?” Jaspar asks for the twentieth time.

“I told you, Jaspar, they’re not puppies. And they’re not dogs for playing with. They’re Saint’s guard dogs.”

* * *

In the afternoon, Saint gives me a quick call. “Look, Emerald, I’m sorry about this, but I need to go away for a few days. Work stuff. But I’ve made arrangements for the security to be doubled, and you’re absolutely safe at my mansion with my men protecting you and the kids.”

My mouth drops slightly. “What about the dogs?” I wail, not knowing what else to say—because there’s no way that I’m admitting that I might be just the slightest bit disappointed that he’s not going to be here with me.

“I’ll get one of my guys to feed them and take them for walks. They love hanging around with my men, so they won’t get lonely.”

But it’s not the dogs getting lonely that I’m worried about…

After the phone call, I sit on the couch with my arms crossed.

“Em, can we play with the puppies now?” Giulietta asks.

“Sorry, honey, like I said, they’re guard dogs.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t play with them too,” Giulietta says with a pout. “They look cute and fluffy.”

Cute and fluffy?Um, I don’t think so.

“What are their names?” Jaspar asks.

“They’re called, er…” But how do I tell the kids that the dogs are called Serial and Killer? I don’t want the names to totally freak them out in the same way that happened to me. “I’m not sure what their names are,” I say in a weak voice, crossing my fingers behind my back.

“They haven’t got names yet,” Giulietta announces. “That means we can name them ourselves!”

“Oh, I’m not sure?—”

But before I can finish, Jaspar squeals in excitement and drowns my voice out. “Let’s go and look at the puppies again, and then we can decide what names will suit them!” And Jaspar starts dragging Giulietta and me by the hand to look at the dogs through the door’s glass.

Arriving outside the library, we stay in the hallway while the kids stand on tiptoes and press their little noses up against the pane of glass. I find myself standing back a little, still wary of the animals despite the physical barrier. The dogs’ bright blue eyes are intense against their black and white fur, and at a guess, I’d say they are Huskies.

“I’m having one puppy, and you can have the other one,” Jaspar tells his sister. “And I’m calling mine Pumpkin.”

“And mine’s called Poochie,” Giulietta announces, making her mind up.

“Pumpkin and Poochie,” I say weakly. But at least those names sound way less terrifying than Serial and Killer.

* * *

A few days later, Saint returns from his murdering trip or whatever it is that he had to do. Walking in, Giulietta is all smiles when she sees him. It’s time for dinner, so we all sit down around the kitchen island for the spaghetti and meatballs I made.

After dinner, Saint heads toward the library.

“Are you taking the puppies for a walk?” Jaspar asks.

Saint grins when he hears his huge guard dogs being described as puppies. “Sure am. Do you guys want to come?”

Jaspar and Giulietta nod enthusiastically and trail after him, as do I.

He walks into the library but seeing the dogs aren’t there, he knows they must already be in the backyard. He stands by the open French doors and calls out. “Serial, Killer!”

No response.

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