Page 119 of Gin & Trouble

“Yes and no.” Frankie muttered a few curses of her own.

35

Frankie

The houseat the center of the Marchionni compound was called Villa Dei Fiori for a reason. Its whitewashed walls provided the perfect backdrop for brilliant displays of bougainvillea and many other flowers that I couldn’t name. Even in the middle of winter, the place had a springlike quality.

As welcoming as the house seemed, I didn’t want to get out of the car. Some part of my reptilian brain clung to my childhood notion that the Marchionnis were evil ogres dressed in designer clothing.

“It’ll be okay.” Dante lifted my hand and placed a kiss in my palm. “I won’t leave your side.”

“Promise?” I tore my eyes away from the massive windows and what I imagined to be dozens of prying eyes.

“Promise.” He opened the door and pulled me out with him. “It’s late. I imagine everyone will be in bed.”

“I hope so.” Holding onto him tighter than I had the life vest in the sea, I put one foot in front of the other.

We’d made it halfway up the stone walkway when people poured out of the villa. Most wore pajamas, but they all wore wide smiles.

A little boy who looked to be five or six years old broke free of the pack and reached us first. “Uncle Dante!”

“Hey, Ryan.” He swung the child into his arms. “Why aren’t you in bed? Santa can’t visit until you’re asleep.”

“Nonna said we can open two presents when you and Frank got here. Where’s Frank?” Ryan glanced at me and furrowed his brow. “What happened to your hair?”

“I shaved it.” Biting back a huge grin, Dante nodded to me. “That’s Frankie.”

He gave his uncle a yeah-right look. “That’s a weird name for a lady.”

“It’s short for Francesca. Duh.” A tween girl clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes.

“Hey Chloe.” Dante put Ryan down and hugged her.

She sighed against him, and for a moment, I thought she’d cry. Instead she pulled back and planted her hands on her hips. “Daddy told us you were dead. I had to see if you were a zombie or an alien or something.”

Laughing, Dante said, “Now that you mention it, I have been craving brains lately.”

“Chloe doesn’t have brains. Only air.” Zach gave Dante a half-hug and me a real one. “Good to see you again, Frankie.”

“You, too.” I’d never spent much time around children, but they were enough to turn my biological clock forward a few years. And holy smokes, the way Dante interacted with them was one of the hottest things I’d ever seen. Then again, of course he’d make a great dad. The man had turned a studio apartment into a game room.

“All right, you guys. Let’s go pick out which gifts to open.” A blonde woman gave Dante a bear hug, whispered something in his ear, and took the children back inside.

Leading me toward his family, he leaned close and lowered his voice. “That was Maggie, Gabe’s wife. The kids are Joe’s, but they’re raising them. Then there’s Ella, who is Gabe’s daughter by a one-night stand and Rocco is the youngest. He’s Maggie and Gabe’s.”

My head exploded halfway through the explanation. “Please tell me there won’t be a pop quiz.”

“Not until you meet the babies.” He winked.

“Glad you’re home, little brother.” Gabe embraced Dante.

The flood gates opened and more people joined in. Before it was over, he was buried three deep in arms and well-wishes.

Walking slower than the rest, Enzo made it to the fray. However, he held his arm out to me. “May I?”

Something about the way he studied my face sent a rush of warmth through me. For one brief shining moment, I allowed myself to believe he knew I was his sister. Nodding, I hugged him.

Enzo winced, but used his good arm to pull me tight. “It’s good to see you again, Frankie. Welcome.”

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