“Huh, well, this is pretty tasty.” I shrug.
“You can ask me anything, you know. I won’t lie to you.”
“I know you won’t. Which is why I’m not going to ask questions, Emilio. I really don’t need to know some things,” Isay. “I already told you I know who you are. I know what our families do. I’m not an idiot. I just… I want it to be like this. Like today, where we can just be us without worrying about what everyone else thinks or if my father or brothers are going to try to kill you.”
“Pfft, they could try.” Emilio laughs. “I’m not that easy to kill.”
“It’s not funny.” I scowl. “What if they disown me, because I tore apart the family?”
“That’s never going to happen and you know it,” Emilio says.
“It could.” I doubt it. I know my family loves me. I don’t doubt that. I also know my father really doesn’t want me dating Emilio. My mom, however, seems to be very onboard with the idea.
Maybe I need to break the news to her first, get her on my side, and then work on the men in the family. None of them will go against my mom. She really does wear the pants in the house, despite what my dad likes to think. But then I remember the late-night meetings, the nights my dad doesn’t come home until all hours. Who knows what he’s doing? And I doubt he’s getting my mom’s blessing before he’s doing those midnight deals. If he wanted to kill Emilio, he would find a way.
“You need to stop worrying so much. It will be okay.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I’m not going to let anything come between us. I just got you, Frankie. I’m keeping you.”
“Even if I never want to marry you?”
“Even then.”
“What about kids?”
“What about them?”
“Do you want them?”
“I’m not opposed to them, but I want you more than I want anything else.”
“I think I want kids in like twenty years.”
Emilio laughs. “We’ll be forty, babe. That’s cutting the clock a bit short.”
“Maybe.”
“What are your plans after college?”
“I plan to be the best physiotherapist the city has seen.”
“Why physiotherapy?” Emilio asks.
“I like the idea of helping people. Remember when we were kids and Hudson broke his ankle? He had to do physio on it and I used to go with him to his sessions. I just really liked it.”
“I’m really glad you’re doing something you’re passionate about.”
“What are you passionate about?” Surely it’s not cocaine and money.
“You. And I plan on doing that again real soon.”
My entire body heats up with that one sentence and the promise of a really good time. I look around the bar. There’s a bathroom. That will do.
“I’m going to the restroom. You need to follow me.” I stand and Emilio smirks at me. I know that he won’t be far behind.
As soon as I get in the restroom, I remove my panties. Thank god I wore a dress.