Page 16 of The Holy Ghost
“Not aproblem,” he bit out, and Icouldn’t help the wave of tremors that shook my body as he stalkedtowards me.
Holy shit.
Chapter 9
Phoenix~
Frankiewas more beautifulthan any girl had the right to be.
I mean,she’d always been a beautifulgirl, but age and maturity had turned her into one stunning fuckingwoman. Even after enduring a long day of working, driving, and theemotional toll she went through with Massimo, Francesca Mancini wasstill the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Her dark brownhair was pulled back in a french braid that left random wisps ofstrands dancing around her face. Her dark brown brows were stillarchedto perfection abovethose goddamn amber eyes. They reminded me of a lion’s mane, andthey were just as bright. Frankie and her brother were the only twopeople I’ve ever known who possessed that color of eyes. They werealso surrounded by long, dark lashes which made them look likeliquid gold whenever she cried. She had soft, rosy cheekbones, aslim nose, and thick, juicy lips.
Her body wassomething else entirely. Frankie was onlyfive-three, but her small frame packed a hell of apunch. When we were younger, she considered herself plus sized, butI never thought she was. I thought she was curvy and sexy as fuck.I had always adored her, but when the girl had hit puberty, I wasstupid with it. Her tits and ass filled out into the perfecthourglass figure and it was all I could do not to attack her everygoddamn time I saw her. The first time she let me feel her up, Ihad nearly cum in my pants. Francesca Mancini was stunning, butthat fucking chest of hers belonged in a temple to be worshipedalways. And, looking at her now, she still had those sinful curvesdesigned to drive me fucking insane.
I stood infront of her, peering down on her, and I knew there was no wayshe’d be given her freedom a second time.Her eyes were wide with anticipation as I stoodbefore her. And she might be wary, but this girl would never backdown. Ciro, Luca, and I taught her too well. And six years didn’tmean shit. I could still read Frankie like a book. I’ve studied thegirl for most of my life. There was no way I didn’t know what shewas thinking. And, right now, she was thinking she had a say, butshe didn’t.
“We can dothis one of two ways, Frankie,” I told her. “You can walk out ofhere on your own two feet, your dignity and pride in place. Or Ican drag you out of here by your motherfucking hair, kicking and screaming. Either way givesme what I want.”
Her eyes narrowedand she looked ready to spit fire. “I’m not going anywhere withyou,” she snarled. "And you’re out of your mind if you think Iam.”
I smirked downat her. “You can’t win,” Ipointed out. Her eyes flicked behind me to Luca. “Luca and Cirowon’t help you.”
Frankie’s eyeswere flashing with anger as her gaze shifted back to me. “I’m herefor Massimo,” she replied. “I’m here for Massimo andonlyMassimo. There’s no reason I can’t stay at anearby hotel.”
“There areplenty of reasons,” I argued.“Mainly, your safety.” Her face went from angry to confused, so Idecided to enlighten her. “You’re Francesca Mancini, and althoughwe’ve done our best to keep your return a secret, we can’tguarantee that word hasn’t gotten out that you’re back.”
“So?” shesassed. “Who cares if I’m back?”
“A lothas changed since you’ve been gone,Frankie,” I told her. “The fact that you’re Ciro’s sister, Luca’sbest friend, and my…” I trailed off because she looked down at thefloor at the mention that she was still Luca’s bestfriend.
She shook herheadbefore lifting her gazeto mine. “Whatever,” she said dismissively. “Then I can stay withmy brother if there’s a chance I’m in danger.”
“You’re not your brother’sresponsibility,” I snapped, losing my patience. It’s been sixyears, and all I wanted was to get Frankie home, so we could fightit out before fucking her unconscious.
“I’m not yourseither,” she said, stressing each word like I wasstupid or something.
I’vespentthe last six yearshoning my craft. I’ve developed a very intimate relationship withpatience, but, right now, that relationship was becomingnonexistent. “That’s where you’re wrong,” I said as I grabbed herby her arm and yanked her forward. “You’ve always been myresponsibility. You were my responsibility when you were five andyou’re my responsibility now.”
Frankie triedto shake me loose, but it was no use. The grip I had on her arm wassure to leave some bruising, but Ididn’t care. She was going to be covered in bruises comemorning after I got her naked anyway. Frankie always liked her sexrough and dirty and, knowing her legs have been closed for the pastsix years, I imagined she still liked it that way.
“I am notleaving here with you,Phoenix,” she almost yelled.
“You think so?”
“Iknowso.”
My free handsnaked out and I tangled my fingers in theintricate layers of her braidand tightened it into a fist. “Then dragging you by your fuckinghair it is,” I threatened.
Hereyes widened. “Ciro! Luca! Areyou guys going to just stand there and let him do this tome?”
“Yes,” came Luca’seasy reply.
“Frankie,it’s not myplace,” Ciro answered.
Frankie knewLuca was a lost cause, so she focused on her brother. “Ciro, you’remy brother! Of course, it’syour place,” she insisted. “You’re just going to let some man puthis hands on your sister?!”
Ciro’s wordswere clear, direct, andunwavering. “Phoenix’s not just some man, Francesca.”
