too much faith in me,” she said wryly. “You guys are swimming or sinking me.”
Luca’s voice was tinge with icicles when he said, “We would never let you sink, Francesca.”
Her face softened. “I know, Luca,” she replied softly. “I was just kidding.” Luca was successfully pacified and went back to drinking his 7-UP.
Growing up, there were times when Luca would stay holed up in a room with Frankie for hours. Sometimes, they would just sit in the backyard silently, wrapped up in each other’s arms. Nix and I never pried, and because we trusted both of them with our lives, there was never any jealousy or suspicion surrounding their relationship. Whatever there was between Luca and Frankie, it was deeper than friendship, but nothing sexual. Frankie had always been meant for Phoenix, and we all felt it. Even as small children, we had known Frankie and Phoenix were connected on a different level. However, there was another Luca Benetti that only Frankie has ever met, and she’s probably going to be the only person on the planet who will ever know him.
“I know it’s a lot, Frankie,” I chimed in. “But we’re confident you’ll get the hang of it.”
“I convinced Phoenix to wait until I got my degree to have children,” she blurted out.
“Why the fuck do you want to wait to have kids?” I exploded.
“Calm down,” she said sardonically. “It’s only six months, Ciro.”
“I don’t give a shit if it’s only six weeks,” I countered. “I want a goddamn niece or nephew already.”
“He’s not wrong,” Luca added.
Frankie’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious, Luca?”
He aimed a well-practice look at her that didn’t work on her at all. “I’ve never made it a secret what your children will mean to me, Francesca,” he replied. “You and Phoenix will have beautiful children together and I’ve been waiting forever for them to come into existence, so I can spoil them.”
Just then, the front doors slid open, and it could be only one other person. Mine and Phoenix’s apartments, along with Luca’s penthouse on the top floor, were equipped with handprint scans that allowed you entry. Only Luca, Nix, Frankie, and I had access to the three homes. There was also a secret passage that connected my apartment to Nix and Frankie’s apartment, and a secret staircase that led upstairs to Luca’s penthouse.
“No one thought to invite me to the party?” Phoenix posed as he headed straight towards his wife.
“Don’t look at me. I was here first, just trying to spend some quality time with my sister, and then you two fucks showed up,” I tossed back.
“I live here, asshole,” he replied.
“No one cares, Nix,” I pointed out. “And what’s this shit that you’re waiting until after Frankie graduates to have kids?”
Phoenix rolled his eyes as he placed a kiss on Frankie’s cheek. “I didn’t realize this was a group decision,” he grumbled.
“How could it not be?” Luca asked seriously. “These are our children we’re talking about.” I let out a choked laugh because I knew that’s how the man saw it. Whatever children we end up having, they will be all of our children.
“Frankie wanted time to get…settled,” Nix offered as a way of an explanation. “What’s six months?”
“That’s what I said,” Frankie added.
“Not sure that’s going to work for us,” I informed them, and I got a nodding confirmation from the psychopath sitting next to me.
Nix went to stand behind Frankie. His placed his hands on her shoulders and it struck me in the chest that this was exactly how it should always be. How they should always be. Phoenix Fiore, The Holy Ghost of Morgan City, loved nothing or no one more than he loved my sister. Nix would die for her and, sadly, she’d do the same.
“I’m giving her the six months,” he reiterated. “You two can just suck it.”
“Well, that’s rude,” I countered.
“You’re lucky Francesca would be wounded by your untimely demise, Phoenix,” Luca snorted. “Or else I’d show you exactly what you can suck.”
Phoenix’s disrespect knew no bounds. He flipped Luca off, then asked, “Are you guys staying for dinner?”
“I cannot,” Luca answered. “I have a meeting with Sal in about an hour. I just came to check on Francesca.”
“Ciro?” Phoenix prompted.
“Hell, yeah, I’m staying,” I replied, not carrying if I was intruding. He got my sister day and night. I didn’t.
Luca finished off his 7-Up and stood, a sign he was leaving. But before he left, he brought up another important topic. “Since Phoenix was the