Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
“Is it really done? You don’t have some maniac trying to kill you?” I ask Emilio.
“Not today, babe,” he says. “Also, your brothers are downstairs. They want to see you.”
I roll my eyes. “They won’t leave me alone.”
“They’re worried about you.”
“I know, but they don’t need to. I have you.” I smile.
I’ve been hiding out in Emilio’s bedroom—well, not really hiding. I just don’t need to be around everyone currently roaming the halls of this house. They’re all looking at me like I’m about to break or something.
“You’ve always had me,” Emilio says.
“Yeah, but now I get to have you naked. How about we ignore the fact my brothers are here and get naked again?” I suggest.
“Fuck me.” Emilio runs a hand over his face. “As much as I want to take you up on that offer, we’re going out. Get dressed, talk to your brothers, and then I’m taking you out.”
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he says.
“I don’t like surprises.”
“Yes, you do. You’re the one who said you wanted to be wined and dined. I’m wining and dining you, Frankie. So get dressed. I’ll meet you downstairs.” Emilio leans forward, kisses me, and walks out of the room.
“Ugh.” I fall backwards onto the bed before slowly rolling off.
I know what my brothers are doing. Hovering to make sure I don’t fall apart after I took someone’s life. I have no doubt it’s because my dad told them to do it.
I take my time showering, wash and blow-dry my hair, and then apply a full face of makeup—thanks to my mom bringing me a toiletry bag full of everything I needed. Aunt Evie, or I guess she’s my mother-in-law now, brought me a bunch of clothes from one of her stores.
I dig through the closet and pick out a pale-pink blouse and matching mini skirt, pairing the outfit with nude Jimmy Choos, also thanks to Emilio’s mom.
I walk downstairs, feeling more like myself than I have in a while. I forgot what it was like to actually get dressed and make myself feel good about the way I look. I have no idea where Emilio is. I do find Ezekiel in the foyer, though.
“Hey, have you seen Emilio?”
Ezekiel looks up and does a double-take at me. “Whoa, uh. No, but I’ll help you find him.” He smirks.
“Thanks.”
“Has he seen you in this outfit?” Ezekiel asks.
“No, why?”
“No reason.” He laughs.
We end up finding Emilio in the games room with my brothers and Elias. All of their heads turn my way when I walk in. Emilio’s eyes run up and down the length of me slowly.
“I’ve changed my mind. I pick the first option you suggested,” he says, walking towards me.
“Getting naked and staying in bed?” I ask. My brothers grunt out a few curse words I choose to ignore.
“Yep, that one.” Emilio stops in front of me.
“Too late. You wanted to go out. We’re going out,” I tell him.
“You’re going to need a coat. It’s cold out there,” Emilio says.
It’s 86 degrees outside. It’s far from cold.
“Why are you two here?” I step around Emilio and look at my brothers.
“To see my favorite sibling,” Alfie says.
“I’m right here.” Hudson elbows him in the stomach.
“Why?” I repeat.
“Just seeing how you’re doing,” he insists.
“Come with me,” I tell my brothers before turning around to look at Emilio. “Be right back.”
I don’t need to have this conversation in front of everyone. I find an empty living room and close the door when my brothers step inside.
“First, you guys need to stop. I’m fine. Like I’ve told you both a million times. Second, don’t you have better things to do?”
“Dad’s orders. We don’t go against Dad’s orders, Frankie. Not that we need him to tell us to check on you. We’re worried. We know how hard the first time can be. There is no shame in having feelings about what happened,” Alfie tells me.
“I know that, but I don’t feel anything. Good or bad,” I admit.
“It will come, and when it hits you, I want you to call me.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I can talk to Emilio if I have issues. I don’t, though. I know how serious Alfie takes his big-brother role. “What if it’s in the middle of the night?”
“I don’t care what time you call me, Frankie,” he says.
“Me neither,” Hudson adds.
“What if I’m naked and in bed with my husband?” I smirk.
“Now you’re just being mean.” Alfie rubs a hand down his face. “I’m happy to pretend that you two have a platonic marriage, one where you don’t do anything… naked.”
I laugh at that thought. That will never be me and Emilio. I think we’re both making up for lost time with the amount we’re stripping down. He’s been home for less than twenty-four hours and we’ve already had sex three times.
“You know, just because you’re married, it does not take away from the fact you’re my little sister. You will always be my little sister, Frankie. No matter how old you get. I will always be a phone call away.”
“I know. Thank you.”
“Me too. You’re still my little sister too,” Hudson says.
“Right, and I appreciate you both checking up on me. But honestly, I’m fine. I’m not sorry for what I did. That guy wanted to hurt Emilio. I would do it again if I had to, because I can’t imagine anything happening to him.”
Alfie wraps me in his arms. “I’m not saying you should feel sorry or bad. I just want you to know you’re not alone.” He kisses the top of my head. “Also, you need to change. That outfit is indecent to be leaving the house in.”
“Indecent? When did we time jump back to the 1500s? Aunt Evie bought me this outfit and I like it.”
“I can practically see your ass, Frankie,” Hudson says.
“Then don’t look at it.” I scowl at him. I know my ass is more than covered. They’re being ridiculous.
“Wait here.” Alfie walks out, and a few minutes later, he returns with Tío E. “Tell her.”
“What the fuck are you wearing, princesa?” Tío E asks.
“It’s called clothes.”
“No, that’s called a handkerchief. A scarf at best,” he says.
Emilio picks that moment to walk in. “Stop commenting on my wife’s clothing. Or lack thereof.” He glances at me. “Or I’ll tell Mom you’re commenting on Frankie’s looks.”
“That’s not what I’m doing. You can’t seriously let her go out of the house like that,” Tío E says to Emilio.
“Let her? She’s my wife, not a pet. I don’t own her. She can do whatever she wants, wear whatever she wants. Besides, anyone looks at her too long, I’ll scoop their eyes out.”
“You’re not doing that, but I’m ready to be done with this whole…” I wave a hand at Tío E and my brothers. “Whatever this is.”
“Yep, let’s go.” Emilio takes my hand and leads me out of the living room. I finally breathe when we get outside.
Opening the back door of a waiting car, he steps close behind me when I climb in. I’m sure to make sure no one gets a peek up my skirt.
“Where are we going?” I ask Emilio.
“You’ll see.”
Twenty minutes later, we stop out front of a jewelry store. “What are we doing here?”
“Getting you a ring,” Emilio says. “We’re doing things a bit backwards, but I want a ring on your finger. Come on.”
“A ring?”
“Yeah, you know, wedding rings.”
“Are you going to wear one?”
“Absolutely. I can’t wait to let everyone know I’m yours.” He smiles so wide.
“I have a better idea,” I tell him as I climb out of the car.
“What?”
I take hold of his hand and start walking down the street. I know there is a place not too far from here. “You’ll see,” I throw his words back at him.
The moment we stop out front of the shop, Emilio frowns. “A tattoo?”
“I want to get our ring fingers tattooed. I want your initials on my finger. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. But I know I’m going to love you forever, and I want something no one can take from me.”
Emilio leans down and kisses me. “Let’s do it.”
We walk into the shop, and I explain what we want to the woman at the counter. She takes us out back to where some guy is setting up his table.
“This won’t take long,” he says. “Who wants to go first?” He looks from me to Emilio.
“Me,” Emilio replies. “If you’re shitty at this, you’re not touching my wife’s skin.”
“Okay.” The artist shrugs. “Hand up here.”
Emilio gets my entire name tattooed around his ring finger. Not just my initials. When it’s my turn, he holds my free hand. This will be my first tattoo. I’m nervous but I want this.
“Wait! I want his name. Emilio, not EL, because I just realized his entire family shares those same initials.”
“They do.” Emilio chuckles.
“Okay, Emilio it is.” The buzz of the needle is somewhat soothing. The minute it touches my skin, I relax.
“That’s it?” I ask Emilio.
“That’s it.” He kisses my temple. “I’m still buying you a big fucking diamond, by the way.”
“Oh, I know you are.” I laugh.
After getting cleaned up and the guy giving me aftercare instructions, Emilio pays the girl at the front counter and we walk out.
“We’re really married.” I sigh.
“We’re really married,” Emilio repeats.
“I can’t wait to grow old with you, Emilio Lopez.” Pushing up on my tiptoes, I press my lips to his.
“I’m going to do everything to make sure you have the happiest life, Frankie.”
“All I need is you,” I tell him. “Now, how about we go home and get naked again?”
“Let’s go.” Emilio takes my hand in his and we head back towards the car.
I smile as I jog to keep up with him. He stops, turns, and suddenly I’m over his shoulder, his hand on my ass, holding my skirt down.
“It’s faster this way,” he tells me.
I have a feeling we’re going to be just fine. Everything happens when it’s supposed to happen. I might have loved Emilio forever, but waiting until the timing was right was what made us as strong as we are today.