The Baker and the Don

By Zaria Sky

Avery ran away from her crime family 11 years ago and settled in a mountain town to stay hidden. Her first love, Delcan (head of another crime family) drops in on her after an attempt is made on his life. He is injured. Having just lost the assistant at her bakery, she hires him on until he can figure out who is after him and leave town before she is uncovered.

Turns out Declan’s second was trying to kill him to take over. And he tracks them down, eventually kidnapping their son to exchange for Declan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Shorts
• Release date: Sep 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094435497

Book preview

1

Laughter filtered from the phone, and Avery rolled her eyes at her son. He was everything to her, and knowing he was happy made her feel complete.

Did you pack everything? she asked.

He nodded, his hazel eyes darting toward the blue backpack on the bed beside him, before returning to his tablet.

Good. I don’t want to get an email saying you forgot your book again, she said, narrowing her eyes at him. You live on campus, Liam. You don’t have any excuses.

It won’t happen again, he said, his tone soft, as if the seriousness of her words had connected. I even double-checked this time.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Avery swung her head as the timer announced that her cookies were ready, and rushed to the kitchen, her phone in one hand as she tried to angle the camera toward her face. She opened the oven door and grabbed an oven mitt. What activities do you have planned for today, baby? she asked, finally wedging the phone against a glass bowl and propping it up with a cutting board so that Liam could see her.

Well, I have gym today, so I’ll have to play soccer….

With practiced movements, Avery retrieved the tray of cookies with one hand as she listened to her eleven-year-old prattle on about his plans, and moved them to the cooling rack.

Are those M&M cookies? Liam asked. His lips curled into a smile, and his eyes twinkled.

Yes, they are. But you’re not due another care package for another two weeks, Avery said, chuckling as her son’s smile curved into a frown.

Maybe you can send extra next time? he asked, the hope in his voice making him louder than before.

Sure. I’ll send you enough so you can share with your friends.

He groaned as he thought about it and then nodded. Sure, Mom.

A bell sounded in the background, and Liam scrambled for his backpack, dropping the tablet so that he could swing it onto his shoulders before picking up the tablet again.

I gotta go to class, he said.

I know, Avery said, as she watched his interest in their conversation fade. See you later, baby. I love you.

Love you too, Mom.

The call ended, and Avery sat on the stool in front of her worktable. A sigh escaped her lips, and she closed her eyes. She hadn’t seen Liam in person in over a month, and it was getting harder each time she had to leave him there. Sure, the school was safe, and for now, it was the best place for him, but she couldn’t stop the ache the distance was creating in her heart. People from her former life could be looking for her and she wanted to make sure there was no danger before she brought Liam home.

He’ll be with you soon, Avery, she whispered to herself. If things stay like this, he can be here next term. She hadn’t been living in Cedar Mount for very long, but it had fast become home for her. The people were warm and friendly, she could do what she loved and make a steady income, and the town was secluded. She hadn’t felt that comfortable in years, and she saw that as a sign.

Home. She’d finally found a place to call home, and if things stayed positive, Liam could do the same. Sure, his education would be different — the nearest schools were a town over — but he would be close to her. And having lived in various towns while he stayed at the boarding school for so long, Avery just wanted to live under the same roof with her son. It was time.

She took a deep breath and released it, reminding herself that the success of the bakery would determine whether Liam could move in with her, though it wasn’t the main factor. Back into work mode, she went to the large sink at the side of the room to scrub her hands and then returned to her worktable. There were a lot more things to do before opening.

An hour later, she’d baked another two batches of cookies and some cinnamon rolls. Flexing her arms, Avery walked around to the dining area of the bakery with a tray of cookies in her hand and started to stack them in the glass showcase so that her customers could see exactly what she had in stock that day before ordering. She’d just finished when her eyes caught the clock that was hanging behind the cashier’s station. It was past opening time. Her brows furrowed.

Where was Trisha?

She was Avery’s trusted and only employee; she also rented the loft above the bakery and was usually early. Avery walked to the front door and turned the sign to OPEN before heading back to the kitchen and picking up her phone to find Trisha’s number.

There was a rattle and Avery’s head snapped toward the storeroom, and she eyed the door to the alleyway. In a split second, she’d grabbed a nearby rolling pin as the door swung open. Avery’s grip on her makeshift weapon eased, and she released a breath when Trisha walked in.

Her natural hair that was usually in a bun was now puffed out around her face, forming a halo of sorts that was quite beautiful. But then Avery noticed that her eyes were red and puffy, her lips curved down in a frown.

What happened? Avery asked, dropping the rolling pin and rushing to Trisha, reaching out to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Trisha tried to smile, but when her lips trembled, she burst into tears. Avery pulled her into her arms, hugging her close, then led her to the office wedged between the storeroom and the tiny bathroom, with a small window looking into the alleyway. She didn’t love the layout, but it had grown on her, especially since the kitchen was large enough to fit all the appliances she’d always seen in high-end bakeries.

Her office had a desk and chair to the far wall and a worn couch to the side, where Avery often took short naps after a long night of baking or preparation. She helped Trisha to the couch and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her and rocking her gently as she bawled her eyes out.

Avery was twenty-nine and Trish only twenty, but despite the near-decade difference between them, they were friends. Normally, that would complicate a working relationship, but it worked for them. Trisha was the only member of her family still in town. When her parents had decided the year before to move in with their elder daughter, Trisha’s sister, and sell their house, Trisha offered to rent the flat upstairs. It worked well for Avery since she was already a great worker. She’d never been late, and Avery often had to chase her from the bakery at night and watch her go up the stairs. To see someone who always had a positive air about them in such a state caused a pang in Avery’s chest. But she didn’t want to make it worse by pressing Trisha for answers. So she waited.

My mom had a stroke, Trisha finally said, punctuating each word with a sob.

I am so sorry, Trish, Avery said, rubbing her shoulder gently as she tried to soothe her. What can I do?

Trisha shook her head and pulled away so that she could face Avery, wiping her cheeks and sniffling as she adjusted on the couch.

"There’s nothing you can do, she said, her brown eyes blinking as she fought to hold back more tears. But I can go and help take care of her. My sister can’t get any time off from work, and Dad can’t handle taking care of Mom and my nephews and nieces."

Avery nodded; she understood.

I spoke to my sister, and everything is arranged, Trisha continued. But I have to move immediately.

Avery sighed, the weight of Trisha’s statement slumping her shoulders, but she smiled at the younger woman and nodded. I understand, she said. Family comes first, and now it’s your time to champion that.

She would’ve dropped everything for Liam if necessary. Everything she did was for him: making Cedar Mount a home, creating a business that could sustain them for years to come. It was all for Liam.

I feel bad for leaving so soon, Trisha said. She already knew that Avery would support her, no matter what. You’ll be short a worker and a tenant.

Avery shook her head. That’s okay, she said calmly. The most important thing is that you can go as soon as possible. I’ll take care of everything else.

Thank you, Avery. You’re always so understanding.

Avery had known that Trisha wouldn’t flake on her for something insignificant, and being independent had always been important to her. So for her to have to leave so soon and be out of a job was a lot for Trisha to accept; there was no way Avery would add to that by not being supportive. They were employer and employee first, but that didn’t make their friendship any less significant. She reached across to cover Trisha’s hand with hers and patted it gently.

How about you take the day off and you can tell me when you need to leave as soon as that’s finalized?

I will. Thanks, Avery.

Trisha moved closer to hug her before disappearing from the office, and Avery leaned back, resting her head on the edge of the couch as she looked toward the ceiling. Things had gotten a lot worse since that morning. But she had to be positive, right? If Liam was to move in with her, she needed to make sure things were running smoothly. That meant she needed to find a replacement for Trisha. The town only had a few hundred people, but she couldn’t handle the bakery alone. Not on a permanent basis. Sweet Dreams wasn’t the busiest place in the small town, but it was the only bakery. And that meant she saw a lot of business, a good thing since she had Liam’s boarding school fees to pay.

Pushing herself from the couch, Avery went to the customer area and slipped into the checkout chair when