“Frankie, your brother doesn’t resent you.”
“I know that, Phoenix.” And I did. I knew my brother loved me. “The thing is, I never…lived the life you guys do now. The life you guys lived then. You guys kept that part of yourselves from me. And-”
“Goddamn it, Frankie,” he hissed. “How much longer are we going to have to apologize for that?”
“I’m not throwing it in your face, Phoenix!”
“Then what are you doing?”
“I’m trying to explain why I need time,” I clarified. “I was a clueless girl in college, making plans to live a normal, regular life. All the while, my brother and boyfriend were making plans to join the goddamn Mafia. You guys went behind my back and kept me in the dark. And because of that, I never got a taste for what you guys had to endure, for the kind of lifestyle you guys were accustomed to. And six years later, when I barely know any of you, I’m just supposed to automatically know my role?” I shook my head. “Come on, Phoenix. Give me a break here.”
Phoenix didn’t comment right away. I could tell he was absorbing everything I’ve just said. It was one of the things that hadn’t changed about him. Phoenix was a listener. He would always listen to me. Even if he didn’t end up agreeing with me, he always listened. It was only when he was angry did that trait disappear until times calmed. But he was listening to me now.
Finally, he said, “That’s fair.”
One brow shot up. “That’s it? That’s fair. That’s all you got?”
Phoenix smiled and my entire body went all gooey. A genuine smile from Phoenix Fiore was a dangerous thing. His dimples were deep, and he was just so damn gorgeous, it hurt to look at him sometimes. The girl in me really hated that he didn’t wear a wedding ring. Sure, most women would swoon at the knowledge that he had their name tattooed across his chest or that he had a symbol tattooed on his ring finger that was forever, but other women couldn’t see the church tattooed on the inside of his finger. And I was insecure enough to want every woman in the city to know Phoenix was taken.
I really was a tool.
“Look, Frankie, we’re not trying to dictate every second of your day,” he said. “We’re really not. We just want you to be safe. We want you to understand that you’re irreplaceable. Even if we weren’t in the Mob, we’d still look after you the same way.”
“I know,” I muttered, and I did. Luca, Ciro, and Phoenix had been super protective over me from the beginning. Even when we were just small children, and had no clue what the Mafia meant, they still hovered over me like hawks and protected me like warriors. Small, scrawny, dirty warriors, but warriors all the same.
“I’ll concede that perhaps we went about this the wrong way, but I won’t ever apologize for the hasty marriage or bringing you back home, Francesca,” he stated. “I’m also not going to take back anything I’ve said to you so far.” I knew he was referring to the threats. “I refuse to be without you any longer. I won’t go back to a life without you in it.”
“Phoen-”
He threw his palm up to stop me. “I will respect you and your opinions on everything, Frankie. I will treat you as the smart, independent, courageous woman you are, whether at work or at home.” He leaned in and brought a hand up to cradle my face. His thumb ran back and forth, softly, over one of my stitches. His eyes were burning with an intensity I only saw in the bedroom. “However, when it comes to our marriage, you have no say,” he continued. “I’ll never let you divorce me, Francesca. I will never let you leave me. And, even if you’re so mad at me you want to stab me in the heart, we will sleep in our bed together every fucking night.”
I could feel my nose tingle and my eyes start to fill up. “Phoenix…”
Phoenix reached for me and pulled me over until I was straddling his lap. I placed my hands on his chest and stared at him as he continued to lay down the rules. “You can voice your opinion and make demands on everything under the sun. Everything, but our marriage. Our marriage is forever, Frankie. Death is the only thing that can separate you from me.”
I couldn’t hold back anymore. “I love you, Phoenix,” I choked out, my voice broken with emotion.
“Baby, I have loved you since I was five. I claimed you when I was seven,” he recounted. “I’ve loved you my entire life and I will love you for the rest of it, however long that might be.” His hand came up to cradle my face and thumb away my tears. “I’ve never known anyone but you, Frankie. I will die knowing only you. If you believe nothing else, believe that there is nothing and no one I want more than I want you.”
“I hurt too much to have sex,” I blurted.
His head reared back, and he looked confused as hell. “What?” his voice scratched out.
I shrugged a shoulder, embarrassed. “I don’t know,” I mumbled. “It just felt like this moment should be followed up with some good sex.” Phoenix blinked his bright hazel eyes at me a few times in stunned fascination before he started to laugh.
The asshole.
“Quit laughing at me,” I snapped, our perfect moment obliterated.
He calmed down, but his smile was
