Page 28 of Choices

Rico's body stiffen and his face pales.

He nods in my direction. "You're their security detail from now on."

I nod. No one can protect my girl better than me. Plus, it would give me more time with her, more access to her.

"Let's let Hannah take a look at the financials the hacker sent over." He turns to look at Johnson. "Dig up everything you can from the Bureau and local PD - any theories or rumors they've heard about Vitale. Matty and I will work our connections to see if anyone knows anything. There's got to be something we're missing."

Rico slaps a hand down on his desk, essentially dismissing us. I grab my keys and head to the parking garage.

I don't mind parking outside her door if it means keeping my girl and her kids safe.

Chapter nine

Hannah

Around four o'clock on Saturday, the doorbell rings. Confused, I answer it to see a beautiful young woman on my porch, sporting a wide smile.

She shoves her hand out to me for a shake.

"Good afternoon, Hannah. I'm Amelia, Matty's cousin. He told me to come babysit your kids tonight so he can take you to the club. He says he'll be here in an hour to pick you up."

I stare at Amelia, shocked and confused. I take her hand and shake it before she laughs and pulls out her phone.

"I have my bachelor's in child behavioral science, and am CPR, and first aid certified. Here's my portfolio on Care.com and three references if you'd like to look me up before you agree." She laughs easily. "I told Matty he was crazy, but he insisted."

My phone dings with text messages from an unknown number, with a link to a profile and three contacts.

I shake my head. "I'm not sure I can afford a babysitter, for three kids for a few hours?"

Amelia shakes her head and waves a hand dismissively. "Matty's already paid, whether you hire me or not."

Disbelieving, I shake my head. These men owe me nothing, but they've done more and been more to me and my kids in the past two weeks than my own husband has been in a decade.

"Come inside."

Jack comes bounding overto see the new woman. Amelia kneels quickly and says, "You must be Jack!" She offers him a fist bump. "Matty told me you were the coolest kid in the world," she leans forward and loudly whispers, "and to let you have ice cream before dinner."

Jack's eyes widen in surprise. I can't help but chuckle myself.

"Aiden, Vivian, can you guys come here please?" I shout.

Viv comes down the stairs and Aiden peaks his head out of the living room.

"Hi! I'm Amelia!" She says brightly. I can't help but like her, but I'm so shocked at the idea of leaving my children with a babysitter and going to a club.

"Can I have a minute to think about it?" I ask her.

"Sure!"

"Let me show you the house!" Jack shouts, tugging at her hand and giving her the tour.

I sit at the dining room table, staring at my phone. Matty had mentioned taking me to the club, but could I really leave my kids with a babysitter? Amelia's reviews on Care.com are all glowing, and I trust Matty. He wouldn't send someone he didn't trust. Could I really go out? Go dancing?

I really wanted to, but my default setting for so many years has been one of self-sacrificing. Could I really take back control? Could I be selfish for a night? I want to set a good example for my kids, but have I been doing that? Are they going to grow up with the image of motherhood being a constant state of barely surviving? Do I want Viv to grow up to be like me as a mother? No. I'd want her to befulfilled, to charge her battery frequently so she can pour more into her children. Something I've been woefully terrible at.

My own mother hired a nanny the moment I was born, even though she never worked.

There had to be a middle ground. One where I can recharge my own battery AND be the best mom I can be.

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