Page 87 of Mafia and Scars

Her hesitation makes my anxiety spike. I hover beside her, waiting for the first error. Braced to jump in.

But she’s careful. No mistakes so far. And my tension eases a little. I bring up another spreadsheet and also explain this one. Her eyes fix on my hands and forearms as I type at the keyboard.

She sighs, resting her chin on her hand. “You know, it’s really sexy when a man knows how to use a spreadsheet.”

I freeze.Sexy? Spreadsheets? Me?

She flushes and giggles. “Sorry, that kinda just slipped out.”

My chest puffs out a little. Strangely, I like hearing that—knowing that she finds me attractive somehow. My lips twitch a little before I turn back to the screen. “Keep going. I want to make sure you’ve got this one too before we move on.”

She inputs more data, then glances up. “Did I do it right?”

I check. Everything’s correct. “So, think you can handle it?”

She nods. “Yeah, I think I’ve got it. This whole stack?” She gestures to the pile labeled ‘input.’

“Yeah.”

“It’s a lot.”

I try not to groan. She’s right. The distraction she’s provided has made my work pile up. I’ve chipped away at it, but not as quickly as I usually do. “It is. Sorry...”

“No, I just meant that I’m going to earn that paycheck.”

My lips tug again. “I guess you will. Call me if you need anything.”

I step back toward the door. I’m leaving her alone with my system. Something I’ve perfected over the years. I don’t even trust my brothers with it.But I want her around, and this is how I get her to stay.

She flashes me a thumbs up before grabbing the next invoice to input.

I should tell her some invoices are coded—but the less she knows, the better.

And despite my anxiety over someone working on my spreadsheets, I can’t fail to notice how she lights up the room. How she’s in my space and making it…better somehow.

CHAPTER THIRTY

AVELINA

I’ve been working for around an hour, and all this time, I’ve been alone in the office.

I hear someone’s footsteps. I can tell it’s Grigory because his arrival is announced by his heavy stomp—and no one else walks like gravity is personally targeting them.

Stalking into the office, he freezes. And a deep frown furrows his brow.

Gee, I can already tell that he’s in a bad mood—and it’s not even 9 a.m. yet.

His glare darts around the office. “What in unholy hellam I looking at?”

My gaze drops to the paper ledger I was checking when he came in. I carefully flip to the next page. I know from what Viktor’s told me that there’s no speaking to Grigory when he’s in this sort of mood.

“Well?” he snaps.

I look up slowly. “I’m sorry?”

He points at the corner like it’s offended him. “What. Am. I. Looking. At?” A muscle ticks violently in his jaw. “And is that adamn hippo wearing my best tie?”

I open my mouth. Then close it. “Um…yes?” Sofia did that last night when we set up a play corner in case the kids miss me while I’m working and want to be near me. And Viktor did say that Grigory wouldn’t mind Sofia using his spare tie for her stuffed toy...