Page 49 of The Holy Ghost
Phoenix tookoff his jacket, draped it over the back of the couch, and beganloosening his tie. I sat silently as he took a seat nextto me because I knew the man wasabout to put me in my place. But, honestly, he didn’t need to. It’samazing how getting kidnapped can fix one’s vision.
“We need totalk,” he began, “but I’m thinking, maybe, I need to call yourbrother and Luca over for this. You-”
“Don’t,” Iinterrupted. “You don’t need to call them.”
Phoenix tilted hishead a bit. “I don’t?”
I shook my head.“No, you don’t.”
His lipsrolled in, no doubt trying to hold his tongue. After a fewseconds, he gave me a smallnod, allowing me to proceed.
It grated on mynerves.
For six years, I’vebeen my own person and lived my own life, making my own decisions.And, now, I was obligated to someone who couldn’t be manipulated orcontrolled.
I was married to TheHoly Ghost of Morgan City.
“Itwas unfair for you to expect me toacclimate to…this lifestyle in only a matter of days, Phoenix,” Ibegan. “Even knowing who Luca was, I still spent my childhood beinga girl on the outskirts of what you three did. And, as we gotolder, you guys still sheltered me. Sure, I knew what Luca and hisfamily was about, but my days were filled with being young andcarefree. Even after my parents died, Ciro did his best to makesure I still graduated from high school and went to college.Massimo was a great substitute parent, but I knew it was Ciro whodid his best for me day in and day out.”
“Frankie, yourbrother doesn’t resent you.”
“I know that,Phoenix.” And I did. I knew my brother loved me. “The thing is, Inever…lived the life you guys do now. The life you guys lived then. You guys kept that part ofyourselves from me. And-”
“Goddamn it,Frankie,” he hissed. “How much longer are we going to haveto apologize for that?”
“I’m not throwing itin your face, Phoenix!”
“Then what are youdoing?”
“I’mtryingto explain why I needtime,” I clarified. “I was a clueless girl in college, making plansto live a normal, regular life. All the while, my brother andboyfriend were making plans to join the goddamn Mafia. You guyswent behind my back and kept me in the dark. And because of that, Inever got a taste for what you guys had to endure, for the kind oflifestyle you guys were accustomed to. And six years later, when Ibarely know any of you, I’m just supposed to automatically know myrole?” I shook my head. “Come on, Phoenix. Give me a breakhere.”
Phoenix didn’tcomment right away. I could tell he was absorbing everything I’vejust 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 hedidn’t end up agreeing withme, he always listened. It was only when he was angry did thattrait disappear until times calmed. But he was listening to menow.
Finally, he said,“That’s fair.”
One brow shotup. “That’s it?That’s fair.That’s all you got?”
Phoenixsmiled and my entire body wentall gooey. A genuine smile from Phoenix Fiore was a dangerousthing. His dimples were deep, and he was just so damn gorgeous, ithurt to look at him sometimes. The girl in mereallyhated that he didn’t wear a wedding ring. Sure, mostwomen would swoon at the knowledge that he had their name tattooedacross his chest or that he had a symbol tattooed on his ringfinger that was forever, but other women couldn’t see the churchtattooed on the inside of his finger. And I was insecure enough towant every woman in the city to know Phoenix was taken.
I really was atool.
“Look,Frankie, we’re not trying to dictate every second of your day,” hesaid. “We’re really not. Wejust want you to be safe. We want you to understand that you’reirreplaceable. Even if we weren’t in the Mob, we’d still look afteryou the same way.”
“I know,” Imuttered,and I did. Luca,Ciro, and Phoenix had been super protective over me from thebeginning. Even when we were just small children, and had no cluewhat the Mafia meant, they still hovered over me like hawks andprotected me like warriors. Small, scrawny, dirty warriors, butwarriors all the same.
“I’ll concedethat perhaps we went aboutthis the wrong way, but I won’t ever apologize for the hastymarriage or bringing you back home, Francesca,” he stated. “I’malso not going to take back anything I’ve said to you so far.” Iknew he was referring to the threats. “I refuse to be without youany longer. I won’t go back to a life without you init.”
“Phoen-”
Hethrew his palm up to stop me. “I willrespect you and your opinions on everything, Frankie. I will treatyou as the smart, independent, courageous woman you are, whether atwork or at home.” He leaned in and brought a hand up to cradle myface. His thumb ran back and forth, softly, over one of mystitches. His eyes were burning with an intensity I only saw in thebedroom. “However, when it comes to our marriage, you have no say,”he continued. “I’ll never let you divorce me, Francesca. I willnever let you leave me. And, even if you’re so mad at me you wantto stab me in the heart, we will sleep in our bed together everyfucking night.”
I could feelmy nose tingle and my eyesstart to fill up. “Phoenix…”
Phoenixreached for me and pulled me over until I wasstraddling his lap. I placed my hands on hischest and stared at him as he continued to lay down the rules. “Youcan voice your opinion and make demands on everything under thesun. Everything, but our marriage. Our marriage is forever,Frankie. Death is the only thing that can separate you fromme.”
I couldn’thold back anymore. “I love you, Phoenix,” I choked out, myvoicebroken withemotion.
“Baby, I havelovedyou since I was five. Iclaimed you when I was seven,” he recounted. “I’ve loved you myentire life and I will love you for the rest of it, however longthat might be.” His hand came up to cradle my face and thumb awaymy tears. “I’ve never known anyone but you, Frankie. I will dieknowing only you. If you believe nothing else, believe that thereis nothing and no one I want more than I want you.”
