“Murder isn’t just a nighttime activity,” she sneered, and I had to hold back from grabbing her and spanking her ass like a spoiled child.
“Watch yourself, Francesca,” I warned. “Don’t act like you detest this lifestyle. You wouldn’t be as close to Luca as you are if you did.”
“I’m not close to Luca,” she threw back. “Not anymore.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I argued. “But that’s between you and him.”
She walked father into the living room, and it literally took everything I had in me not to snatch her up and hold her close. The sooner she married me, the sooner I could get my sanity back.
Frankie glanced at the documents on the table then looked back at me. “So, what exactly is it that you do?”
“Legally, I’m an accountant,” I answered honestly. “I got a degree claiming so.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you do.”
“I keep the business books, Frankie. I don’t have a legitimate degree, but I’m good with numbers and I keep Luca’s finances when I’m not…taking care of other obligations.”
“And Ciro?”
“He owns and manages a few of clubs and bars throughout the city when he’s not otherwise occupied.”
She finally got to the point, and thank God, because I had shit to do. “What is all this, Phoenix?”
“It’s simple.” I knew she was going to fight me-us on all of this, but it didn’t matter. She’d see that soon enough. “You’re going to go back to school, get your business degree, and work for Luca in the same capacity as I do.”
Her amber orbs widened in shock. “I am not going to go around killing people!” she cried, completely astonished at the notion.
“Of course, you’re not,” I snapped. Jesus Christ, this girl. “I mean the accounting part, Frankie.”
She visibly calmed down and I realized how bizarre this conversation was. “And?” she asked because she wasn’t stupid.
“I’ll maintain the accounting of the businesses off the books while you’ll oversee the legitimate businesses, including Ciro’s business ventures.”
“And?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
“And you’ll take your place when the time comes,” I answered.
“What’s that mean?”
“It means you’re a part of all this just as much as I am. Just as much as Ciro and Luca are.” She was about to argue, but I stopped her. “It’s been decided, Frankie. You don’t get a say.”
Frankie threw her arms out to the side. “So, you guys just decided what my life is going to be from now on and I’m expected to just accept it?” She let out a dark laugh. “You guys are out of your mind if you think I’m going to come to heel like a good little puppy.”
“Grow up,” I bit out. “We let you have your fit for six years, Frankie. It’s time to grow the fuck up and take your rightful place.”
“And where’s that, Phoenix? As the Mafia’s newest accountant? Their newest money girl?”
“As my wife!” I yelled, fed the fuck up with her self-righteousness. I stalked towards her, ignoring her shock. “As my fucking wife.”
She started shaking her head. “You…what…are you insane?” she cried in a strangled voice. “We can’t just…what do you mean, your wife?”
“Don’t fucking play with me, Frankie,” I growled. “If you hadn’t run off like a child throwing a tantrum, we’d be married by now with at least two kids. So, yeah, my fucking wife.”
“I wasn’t throwing a tantrum,” she denied. “You guys betrayed me!”
“No, we didn’t!” I argued. “We just didn’t include you in the dark parts of what we were doing!”
“Oh, but now it’s okay to include me?” she threw back. “What’s the fucking difference?”
I grabbed her by her arm and ignored her wince. I knew she was battered all to hell, but if I was really hurting her, she’d let me know. Frankie wasn’t a scared rabbit around anyone. “You better watch how you talk to me, woman,” I warned her. “If you want to rant and rave, by all means, go ahead. But don’t think you can cuss me out and not suffer the repercussions, Francesca.”
Outrage was beautiful on this woman. “So, let me get this straight,” she seethed. “Not only do I have to dump my life in Cedar Creek, I have to go back to school and get my degree, so I can work for the Mob, marry you, and watch my tongue, lest I offend your tender masculinity?”
I was going to kill her.
Straight up wrap my hands around her neck and strangle the life out of her.
“Yes!” I roared.
“And when is all this supposed to take place?” she asked, sarcasm and rebellion in each goddamn syllable.
“Your shit is already being shipped here from your apartment,” I reminded her. “We’ll be married by the end of the week, and you can start college this upcoming semester.”
Frankie yanked her arm free from my grasp and took a step back. She looked up at me with wild eyes. “What in the hell do you mean, we’ll be married by the end of the week?!”
“We’re getting married as soon as the marriage license is available,” I informed her. “Before Massimo dies. We’ll be getting married by a priest in his hospital room, Frankie.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach and doubled over, taking the emotional blow.
Massimo was my ace in the hole, and we both knew it.
When she looked up at me, her eyes were glassy and looked like liquid gold. They always looked like that when she cried. “You’re a bastard,” she whispered, knowing she lost.
I just gave her a tight nod because she wasn’t wrong. I was a bastard. But I wouldn’t apologize for it. I’d do anything to have Frankie and that included manipulating the situation to favor what I wanted.
Frankie thought this was all about us, but it wasn’t. It was about her, too. My parents were long gone in matching drug overdoses. Her parents were gone in an unfortunate car accident. Luca’s mother was weak, and Luca’s father was a sadistic monster. Luca
