Page 94 of Gin & Trouble

Son of a bitch. Does she ever listen?

“What are you two doing here?” Frankie embraced her sisters.

While Ari lingered in the hug, Mia pulled away and smoothed her hair. I didn’t need a PhD in sibling relationships to know Mia wasn’t overly fond of her baby sister.

“Your friend called to tell us you would be in Trapani.” Ari’s smile reminded me of days at the beach and ice cream sundaes, not the smile of a woman who’d spent months in hiding.

Frankie turned to Mia. “Tommaso has Sophia. Have you heard anything? Is she okay?”

Mia glanced between me and Giancarlo before turning her attention to her sister. “No one has said anything to me. Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Frankie gave me a pointed look.

“I’m sorry to change the subject, but we don’t have much time. This may be the only chance we have to see you for Christmas.” Air reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box. “This is for you from all of us.”

Mia edged closer. “The others thought you should have it.”

Ari sighed.

If Frankie noticed the dig, she didn’t let on. “Thank you. Your gifts are still in New Orleans. I can have my friend mail them, but they won’t get here in time.”

Ari hugged her again. “Seeing you is enough.”

Frankie dipped her chin. “I hate that we won’t be togetheragainthis year.”

Her reaction surprised me. We’d talked about the holidays a couple of times. She’d mentioned she rarely spent them with her family because of the extra expenses of taking time off work and traveling. However, I hadn’t realized how much it’d bothered her until that moment.

I wanted to interrupt. To tell them we could work something out. To promise they’d celebrate not only Christmas, but the New Year, and the Epiphany together.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I cleared my throat. “We should get inside.”

Frankie glanced at me, her eyes shining with fresh tears. “You’re right.”

Giancarlo led Ari and Mia to the yacht, but Frankie held back.

Once they were out of earshot, she turned to me. “I meant what I said before. It’s not safe. You should go home, Dante.”

“I’m not going anywhere until we talk.” That I couldn’t read her expression pissed me off. She seemed to waffle between determined and terrified. Then again, maybe I’d read her perfectly.

She looked me square in the eye. “I didn’t hurt Enzo.”

“I’m not getting into this with you here.” I wanted to grab her arm and drag her inside. Instead, I waited for her to huff and storm away.

And of course, she did neither. Frankie simply nodded, wiped her cheeks on the back of her hand, and climbed onboard.

“Wait.” I touched her shoulder to get her attention.

She turned her head in my direction but avoided my gaze.

“What’s the deal with Mia? She seems almost hostile, and that’s putting it politely.”

“I failed her and the others.”

Forcing myself to keep my voice down, I asked, “How? Because you didn’t find anything on my family?”

“Among other things, yes.” She hurried into the solarium before I could ask more.

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