Page 152 of Assassin's Obsession

Chapter 41

CANDI

Cookie is thrilled with the experience in the saferoom. She talks a mile a minute about the stuff she and mom did with Mario and Boomer.

"We played Monopoly and mom won, like she always does, but I think sometimes Boomer sold her properties he shouldn't have. He lost pretty fast. And Mars was the best dog ever. Did you know he has his own potty room in the saferoom? Boomer trained him to use it."

"I'm glad you weren't scared."

"I knew Angelo would keep everybody safe."

Smiling, I nod. "I did too."

"Alright, you've been up for two hours past bedtime already. I think we're going to have to call in an absence for you tomorrow," mom says.

Angelo, who has been talking quietly with Boomer and Maria, looks up. "Would you mind keeping her out until the weekend? We need to come up with a security plan going forward. Keeping her safe in a public place, like school is harder."

Not impossible. Because nothing is when it comes to our wellbeing for my mafia assassin.

Mom shocks me by nodding readily. "Boomer explained that Cookie's schooling might have to change. Doing it midyear isn't ideal, but keeping my daughter safe is the most important thing. Both of my daughters."

The look she gives Angelo is both a warning and approval. It's strange, but I'll take it over open hostility, which is what I expected.

"Will you tuck me in tonight?" Cookie asks me.

That's her code for mom is too tired but won't admit it.

I nod quickly and smile. "You bet. Come on, you need to brush your teeth. I'm not even going to ask what kind of snacks Mario let you have while mom wasn't looking."

Cookie grins unrepentantly, but Mario dips his head in embarrassment. "She's hard to say no to, Ms. Candi."

"I'll keep that in mind, but if she starts bouncing off the walls from a sugar rush, you're the one staying up to play Mario Kart with her."

"Yes!" Cookie fist pumps the air.

Mario's eyes widen with near comic concern. Hiding my grin, I take my sister to her room to tuck her in.

"You're really okay, right, Candi? You'd tell me if they hurt you?" she asks.

"They didn't hurt me. I promise."

"I didn't think Angelo would let them." She yawns wide and I shoo her off to brush her teeth and wash her face.

Tomorrow is Halloween and if she can't go to school, there's no way Angelo is going to be okay with her trick-or-treating.

I wonder how he's going to feel about having a couple dozen eleven-year-olds running around his…our home for an impromptu Halloween party?

Between me, mom and Bianca, I have no doubt we can pull this off.

Oh, crap. I didn't call Bianca. Mostly because I still don't have my phone, but also because I forgot.

"Hey, Cookie, can I use your phone to call Auntie Bianca?"

"Sure," she yells around a mouth of toothpaste from the bathroom.

Shaking my head, I grab her new and improved phone just like mine. Using the parental override password, I open it and dial Bianca's number.

"Cookie? Is everything okay?" Bianca's worried tone makes me feel six layers of guilt.

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