behind me when I realized I probably needed to knock these days instead of just letting myself in. Now that Frankie and Phoenix were married, I didn’t need to walk in on anything I would need to poke my eyeballs out for.
“Hey!” I called out, not taking a step further.
My sister walked out from what I knew was the washroom. “Hey,” she returned. I big smile on her face. But that smile gave way to confusion as she asked, “What are you doing just standing there?”
I grinned. “Just wanted to make sure everyone’s got their clothes on before I get comfortable.”
Frankie rolled her eyes. “Phoenix isn’t even here,” she retorted.
With that information, I walked through the foyer and into the living room. “Good,” I replied. “I wanted to spend time with my sister, and he’d just get in the way.” Frankie walked into my open arms, and she let me just hug her.
When I finally pulled back, I asked, “So, how is everything coming along?”
“Things are good,” she said. “Do you want something to eat or drink?”
“I’ll take a Pepsi, if you got one.” But, of course, she always had one. Pepsi was both our favorite.
I sat in the kitchen bar as she got a soda for me and a water for herself. She leaned on the counter across from me and it felt really good to be able to do this with her again. “I got all my classes sorted out,” she announced. “It’s all online, though. No campus work.” I wasn’t surprised, but neither was she.
“That was a given, Frankie,” I replied. “You’re lucky Phoenix lets you out of his sight at all.”
She sighed. “I’m trying, Ciro,” she replied. “I really am. I understand better now, and after a month of witnessing Phoenix’s reactions to my healing, I wouldn’t do that to him again. To any of you.”
“What about the scar?” I knew it had to bother Nix if it bothered me. “Plan on covering it up?”
After a quick drink of her water, she said, “I don’t think so.”
My brows rose. “Really?”
Her eyes, the exact same as mine, looked down, and shame coated her pretty features. After a second or two, she looked up at me again. “It’s a healthy reminder of what could have been,” she said, miserably. “I don’t ever want to get comfortable again, Ciro. I know you guys will always do what you can to keep me safe, but I need to keep me safe.”
My heart lurched in my chest. An unhappy Frankie was a bitch to witness. “Well, now that you realized just exactly who you are, trust me when I tell you Luca, Nix, and I will sleep better at night.”
“Luca sleeps?” she teased.
“Not as far as I know,” I quipped just as the sound of the doors opening invaded our banter. I turned around to see who it was, and speak of the devil…
“We were just talking about you,” Frankie informed him as she walked back to the fridge and pulled out a 7-Up she kept stashed just for Luca. He only drank it whenever he was with Frankie.
One raven-colored brow shot up. “Really?” he replied dryly as he kissed Frankie on the head and grabbed his soda from her.
I looked over at him as he took the stool right next to mine. “Yeah. We were debating if you slept or not.”
Luca shook his head at us. The only thing missing was the eye roll. “Are you guys telling me you don’t have better things to discuss?” he asked, popping open his 7-Up.
“Well, we were talking about my classes,” Frankie offered.
Luca gave her a curt nod. “Phoenix told me he’s already been working on transitioning the legitimate businesses to you,” Luca replied.
“He has,” Frankie confirmed. “Even though they’re only your personal businesses, there’s still a lot going on with you three.”
“I only have the clubs,” I pointed out. “And the money is structured pretty much the same way.” On paper, I legitimately owned four bars, The Diamond, The Sapphire, The Emerald, and The Ruby. They all served a specific clientele, and they were all extraordinarily successful.
“Phoenix has his accounting firm and real estate venture he’s starting with you both as equal partners,” Luca mentioned. “Then you have just my restaurants.” Luca owned three restaurants, very much like my clubs. They were different in their menus and clientele. “It should be a piece of cake, Francesca.” He also only ever called Frankie Francesca.