Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
I’m walking through campus when I spot Hudson approaching me. I’ve managed to avoid both of my brothers for an entire week. It’s been a blissful few days of being wined and dined by Emilio. Who would have thought the guy could be such a romantic?
He’s taken me on dinners, lunches, and more breakfast dates. We’ve seen movies, gone to an art exhibition, and he even took me to a cabaret show. Between all of that, he’s given me multiple orgasms a day. So much sex, to the point I think I might actually be starting to walk funny.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Hudson says, stopping in front of me.
“Why?”
“Because you’re avoiding me. I want to know why.”
Something about his tone tells me he already knows why.
I’m closer to Hudson than I am to Alfie.
We’ve always been the ones to get into mischief together, while Alfie was the one trying to be Dad, attempting to set us on the straight and narrow.
But I don’t want to talk about Emilio with Hudson.
I like how things are. Everyone else has left us alone.
Even our mothers, which surprises me the most.
“I’m not avoiding you. I’ve been busy,” I tell him. “And right now, I’m meeting someone for drinks.” I step around him and continue walking through the gardens to get to the parking lot.
“Who you meeting?” Hudson asks, following me.
“No one you know.”
“I know everyone. It wouldn’t be Emilio Lopez, by any chance?”
My steps stop and I spin around with my hands on my hips. “Hudson, whatever it is you’re here to say, you can save both of us the time. I don’t care what you think about Emilio. I like him. He likes me. End of story. Everyone else can deal with it.”
A realization hits me. I don’t care anymore. I’ve never been ashamed of Emilio. I should be able to show him off. He’s damn good arm candy. And I want everyone to know that when we walk into a room together, we are together.
Hudson’s lips tip up. “He’s a fucking idiot and he’s not good enough for you, Frankie. You’re stepping way below your worth.”
“He’s been our family friend forever, Hudson. What exactly makes him not good enough for me?”
“He’s in the fucking cartel, for one.”
I blink and shake my head. “Remind me where is it you guys get your coke from? That’s right! The cartel Emilio is a part of. Don’t be a hypocrite.”
“What if he wants you to move to Mexico with him?”
“Then I will have that discussion with him, and Emilio and I will make that decision for us.”
“No.”
“You can’t say no.”
“I can. I just did. I’m not letting you leave this city. You can’t leave me here alone, Frankie.”
“You’re not alone. You have Alfie,” I point out.
“Pfft, he’s a bore and you know it. Come on, I need a drink.”
I let my brother lead me over to his waiting car. Jumping in the back seat, I pull out my phone and message Emilio.
Me:
I’m not coming home yet. Hudson showed up at school. Going for a drink with him.
Emilio:
Let me know if you need the calvary.
Me:
I’ll be fine. He’s just sulking because he thinks I’m going to leave him alone in this city with Alfie.
Emilio:
Where are you going?
Me:
According to Hudson, I’m going to run off to Mexico with you.
Emilio:
We’re not going anywhere you don’t want to go.
I smile at his response. I love that he wants me to be where I want to be. But a relationship isn’t just about one person. This also isn’t something we need to discuss after one week of dating.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Hudson tries to look over at my phone screen.
I turn it off. “Nothing. Where are you taking me?”
“Home,” he says.
“Hudson,” I groan. I don’t want to go to my parents’ place. I’ve made excuses to avoid it all week.
“Frankie,” he retorts.
“Why?”
“Because I want a drink, and we have the good stuff at home.”
“A drink? Can’t we just go to a bar?” I ask.
“Nope. Why don’t you want to go home, Frankie? If what you say is right and you don’t care what anyone thinks of this kissing-cousins thing you have going on, then why are you avoiding Dad?”
“I’m not avoiding him,” I lie.
“Sure you’re not,” Hudson says. “Don’t worry. He doesn’t know and I’m not going to rat you out.”
“Thank you.”
Hudson didn’t lie. He did take me into the games room and poured me a glass of whiskey. It’s the good stuff too, Cinque by the De Bellis family. It comes from Australia. After two glasses, my dad pops into the room.
“Princess, you are a sight for sore eyes.” He smiles as he walks towards me. When my dad engulfs me in a hug, I let myself fall into him. I love my dad’s hugs. He kisses the top of my head. “I’ve missed you. You really should move back home.”
He pulls away and I take a huge breath. “I’m dating Emilio Lopez and I know you don’t approve, but I don’t care. I like him and he’s good to me, so whatever it is you think about us dating, you have to just… not kill him,” I blurt out.
Hudson chuckles beside me. My dad turns to him. “You knew about this?”
“Just found out,” Hudson says.
“I’m going to fucking gut the little prick.” Dad turns to storm out of the room.
“No!” I jump up and chase after him. “You can’t. Daddy, please.”
“Princess, it’s not your fault. Whatever that scumbag did to influence you has turned your usual good judgement to shit. He’s not for you, Frankie.”
“Mom!” I scream at the top of my lungs. I’m going to need reinforcements. “Daddy, he loves me. You have to know that he’d never hurt me. He’s good. You know he is.”
“He’s not good enough for you,” Dad growls—yes, growls.
“Yes, he is. You have no idea how much he’s done for me over the years!”
“What do you mean years? How long has that little prick been sneaking around behind my back with my daughter?” Dad stares at me.
“We’ve only been dating for a week. Promise. But he’s always been there for me. Times I never told you about because Emilio has always had my back.”
“What’s going on? Oh…” Mom looks from me to Dad. “Louie, you need to calm down.”
“Calm down? Charlotte? You knew? You didn’t think to tell me my daughter was running around with a member of the fucking cartel?” Dad yells.
“Do not raise your voice at me, Louie Giuliani. And she’s my daughter too. She’s also a grown-ass adult and can date whomever she chooses.”
“No, she can’t!” Dad screams. “Hudson, get your brother. We’re leaving in five.” Dad storms out of the room.
“Mom, you have to stop him,” I plead.
“Hudson, do not get your brother,” Mom orders.
“You know he’s right. She can’t be dating a Lopez,” Hudson says from where he’s standing behind me.
“Yes, she can,” Mom insists. “I’ll be back.” I watch as she follows my dad and pray that she can talk some sense into him.
Then I pull my phone out of my pocket and text Emilio.
Me:
He knows.
Emilio:
Who is he and what does he know?
Me:
My dad. He knows about us.
Emilio:
Are you okay?
Me:
I’m not the one he’s planning on gutting.
Emilio:
Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Want me to come and get you?
Me:
You coming to my parents’ place is the last thing I want right now. I’ll be home soon. I just need to sort out this shitshow.
Emilio:
I can come and help.
Me:
Nope. I’ve got this.
I pocket my phone and follow the direction my dad and mom went off in. I find them in my dad’s office, in his walk-in safe that looks like an armory. He’s picking up guns, magazines, knives. Shit.
“You can’t do this to me,” I tell him.
“I’m doing this for you,” Dad says.
“Louie, you’re being unreasonable,” Mom tells him. Which he ignores.
“Clearly, I can’t stop you from doing whatever it is you want.
But if you do this, if you hurt a single hair on Emilio’s head, I will never forgive you.
I will never talk to you again. I’ll just disappear and be gone.
” There are tears running down my face. I don’t want to threaten my dad, but I need him to know how much I love Emilio.
“I love him, and if you take that away from me… I won’t… I can’t.”
“Frankie, princess…” Dad reaches for me but I step back.
“No, don’t touch me. I love you, Daddy, but I love him too. And if you can’t put my happiness above your own issues with me dating, then you obviously don’t love me as much as you claim.”
With that, I turn and leave. Hudson is waiting in the foyer. He wraps his arms around me. “I fucking hate when you cry.”
Alfie picks that moment to walk into the house. “What’s going on? What did that ass do to make you cry?” he asks me.
“It’s Dad,” I tell him, wiping at my face.
Alfie pulls me out of Hudson’s arms and hugs me to his chest. “Don’t cry, sissy. I’ll talk to him,” he says, kissing the top of my head before letting me go.
I don’t tell him there is no use talking to Dad. He wasn’t even listening to Mom, and he almost always listens to her.