Page 15 of The Holy Ghost
“Ciro,” Ibreathed into his neck. Beingonly five-three to his six-one, I was on my toes as he crushed me,and I still couldn’t meet his height.
“I missed you somuch, Frankie,” he mumbled into my hair. “So fucking much.”
“AndI’mstill pissed at you,” Ichoked out. “So fucking pissed at you.”
Hisarms tightened around me evenmore, if you could believe it, as he said, “I know youare.”
I blinked thetears threatening to escape away. Now wasn’t the time to hash outour differences. No matter how much I wanted to rip into him,telling him everything I’vekept hidden all these years, I refused to cause a scene onMassimo’s hospital floor. I could tear into Ciro tonight at hishouse later.
His house.
Another panghit my chest as it occurred to me that I didn’t even know where my brother lived. Even thoughthe hurt and betrayal lay at his feet, the six years of separationlay at mine.
I pulled backand looked up at his handsome face. “Well, we have all night tosort it out,” I told him. “It’s been a long timecoming, I think.” Of course, I hadn’t beenhaving any of those thoughts until I talked to Massimo thisevening, but I did know I couldn’t leave without making thingsright with my brother. He was all I had. And even if he haschanged, he was still my brother.
His eyessearched mine, and he lookedas if he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure. Then he glancedover my shoulder and took a step back. “Uh, Frankie, you’re notstaying at my place,” he finally said.
“Then where am Istaying?”
“With me.”
Myentire body froze. It’s been sixyears, and though it’s been touched by age, I would still know thatvoice anywhere.
Phoenix.
The poundingin my chest was real, and the punch felt ten times stronger thanwhen I had seen my brother.Maybe it had been naïve of me, but I really hadn’t expected tosee Phoenix. There was no need. Reconnecting with my brother madesense. Having to see Phoenix didn’t. It’s been years. Whatever he’sdone, whoever he’s moved on with, there was no need for us to seeeach other.
None.
And I knew every secondthat I didn’t turn around screamed of cowardice, but I didn’t care.These three were blindsiding me left and right, so if I needed afew precious seconds to collect myself, then I was going to takethem.
And then hiswords registered.
With me.
I finallyturned around and immediatelywished I hadn’t.
Phoenix Fiorestood just inside the doorwaywith Luca at his back, and he looked better than any man had theright to.
Like Ciro andLuca, gone was anything that used to mark Phoenix as soft or young.Though he was two yearsyounger than Luca and Ciro, one wouldn’t be able to tell it.Phoenix stood as tall as Luca at six-two and filled out just asstrong. I used to always think that because we were the same age,Phoenix and I were sheltered from the darkness that surroundedLuca, but I was wrong. Darkness swirled around Phoenix like a wildmist that couldn’t be contained.
He was wearinga suit, much like Ciro’s and the one Luca had on, but that was theonly thing gentlemanly about him. Phoenix stood tall with his handsin his pockets and his chin upin a challenge. He was waiting for me to defy him, but I was toobusy taking in everything that was difference about him andeverything that was the same.
Phoenix hadthe same dark brown hair but gone was the curl atthe ends. It was now kept short andneat. Messy, but in that way most men aimed to style. His hazeleyes, bright with thick lashes, were clear and sharp as he assessedme, waiting for my reaction. They no longer looked like theycrinkled in joy. And, like Ciro and Luca, his face was hard anglesand clean-shaven. I also knew that if he smiled at me right now,dimples as deep as caverns would render me stupid. They accompanieda smile full of straight white teeth, unless something has changedabout his smile in the past six years. And, just like Luca andCiro, the suit Phoenix wore did nothing to hide what had to be amagnificent body underneath.
Growing up,Phoenix had never been a pretty boy, but once pubertyhit, and he saw what his cut,muscular physique did to me, Phoenix had made it his mission themake sure he always had a terrain of abs for me to run my tongueover. He had always kept in shape, and I couldn’t imagine that’schanged much. My stomach roiled with the quick, unpleasant thoughtof which lucky woman was running her tongue over his absnowadays.
I quicklyshoved that thought asidebecause I had no right to that answer. I was the one who walkedaway from him. And I was the one who stayed away for six years.Whatever or whoever Phoenix was doing was none of mybusiness.
Neither of us moved aninch. We stayed planted where we were as I asked, “What do youmean,withyou?”
His chin inched upfurther. “Just what I said,” he replied coolly, his voice rough andenticing. “You’ll be staying with me at my place.”
“Sayswho?”I snapped, this time, mychin up in challenge.
“Says me,” he tossedback.
I could feelmy lip curl in a snarl. “Over my dead body,”I seethed. Where Ciro had been reasonable and knew weneeded to talk, he hadn’t issued any challenges. He hadn’tdemanded. Phoenix Fiore was out of his mind if he thought he coulddemand anything of me after all this time, and after what hedid.
