Novel & Cerita Story Time Book

Liam grabbed his phone out of his pocket and was already making the phone call. "Do you need me to watch Addie today?" Denise asked as she came out of the kitchen. "Tatum and I are going to story time." Story time was one of the girls' favorite things to do at a local bookstore. Whoever took them was their hero for at least a few hours. "Oh, she would absolutely love that. You sure you don't mind?" "Not at all," Denise shook her head. "I'm already going anyway. One more kid isn't going to make a difference. Besides, together they kind of keep each other out of trouble."

"For story time." He took a breath. "Then let's do story time." Inside, 12 kids were waiting. Books on the floor. No cameras. No protesters. Just us. Damian picked up *Where the Wild Things Are.* "Who wants to hear a story?" Hands went up. As he started reading, my phone buzzed. Unknown number. *I see you. Both of you.* I deleted it. And sat down on the floor with the kids. Because if someone was watching, Let them watch this. END OF CHAPTER 51

Ainsley said softly, while Allonza just nodded, holding her doll tightly. I smiled at their enthusiasm and took out a storybook from the shelf beside the bed. The book I picked up was one of their favorites, “Adventures in the Fantasy World.” I started to open the first page while looking at the children. “So, tonight’s story is about a brave prince who went to a magical world to save a kidnapped princess,” I said, trying to get their attention. “Do you want to tell it now, Mom?” Adney asked, his voice full of enthusiasm.

I whispered with a loving smile, “Which story would you like tonight?” Mike’s face lit up with excitement, his tiny hands reaching for his favorite book. “The one about the brave little wolf, Mumma!” I chuckled as I opened the book, a captivating story about a young wolf’s rand adventure. Mike listened with rapt attention, his eager eyes fixed on the pages as I spun the tale of bravery and exploration. By the time I reached the part where the little wolf found solace under the silvery glow of the moon, my son was already fast asleep.

Kain and Riven could smell me on Jax anyway. In the hallway I found Angie. Her hair was everywhere. Her pajamas were askew. She ran to me. "Lira! Popsie didn't read my story tonight and I can't find Zuri." "Will you read to me?" she asked with pleading eyes. "I can't sleep without my story." My heart melted. "Of course." I took her to my room and tucked her into bed. I found a children's book about wolves. I read her a story about a little wolf who got lost in the woods but found a glowing stone that guided her home. Angie's eyes widened at every turn. Her mouth formed perfect little O's when I described the monsters hiding in the fog.

I had chosen a small town in southern Italor, a place where Mom had lived as a young girl. Mom often told me stories about this place when I was little. She'd tell me about the white houses surrounded by lemon trees, an azure coastline, and the peace of church bells echoing through the mountains at dusk. After Mom passed away, Dad had wanted to bring me here to settle down, but he was always too tied up with the family business to make it happen. Now, I had come on their behalf. I rented a small apartment facing the sea, with its white walls slightly warmed by the sun. On the windowsill sat a pot of blooming bougainvilleas.

I blush while looking over at Raven who approaches me with a few books in hand. “What did you find?” I question while holding up a pair of shorts checking if they will fit. I smiled when I see Rebecca grabbing tank tops in colors, she knows I love. “I found a couple pregnancy books that look good, and I found this one of Viking stories it reminds me of Vaari,” Raven answers while showing me the books and I smile remembering Mummo Adaline and Vaari Jyrki always reading us stories. “They look good, thank you,” I smile while grabbing the story book and open it seeing that it looks like Mummo’s book or at least the illustrations do.

Then, I lay beside him once he was fully settled and comfortable. “Mommy, tell me a bedtime story,” “Now?” “Yes. It will help me sleep faster. Also, nobody has told me bedtime stories since you left…” ‘since I left to prison…’ I wanted to say it out loud but I didn’t. The tears I’d been holding accidentally fell out of my eye, and I sniffed discreetly. “Of course.” I cleared my throat and began. “Story, story, story time. There was a far, far away land, and a King ruled a nation known as Anthill, filled with so many people who called themselves Anthillians.”

Chapter 6 I burned the letter before dawn. The flames curled around Dominic’s handwriting until every word turned to ash. I understood why he had asked me to do it. He did not want me dragged into further trouble. He did not want the children to grow up under another shadow. He did not want the village to twist his final choice into another story for people to gossip about. After Marcus and his friends died, the village changed overnight. No one came to our house demanding money anymore.

Nikolai muttered, but he was smiling. Pajamas next. Pascal’s favorite set with tiny rocket ships zooming across blue fabric. Nikolai helped pull the shirt over his head, smoothing it down when Pascal’s arms got tangled. “Story time?” Pascal asked, already climbing into bed, eyes bright despite the late hour. “Story time,” Nikolai confirmed. He pulled the covers up to Pascal’s chin, then settled on the edge of the mattress, picking up the worn picture book from the nightstand—The Knight and the Lonely Dragon.