“It’s where I do my best work.” She smiles at me.
“So I’ve heard. Is there a reason for this late-night visit?” I ask, dropping my gun on the kitchen counter.
“Your father called. Told me about your new blossoming romance and wanted me to make sure you stay in one piecewhile you’re here,” she says. “Congrats by the way. It should have happened a long time ago, if you ask me.”
“Thanks.” I smile. The thought of Frankie always makes me fucking smile. Unless it’s when I’m bailing her out of trouble, which is a fucking lot. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Judging by how slow your reaction time was when you walked in, I’d say you very much do need a babysitter, Emilio. If you die, we all die. So it’s in my best interest to keep you alive,” my aunt says with a smile on her face.
“You’re his best friend. He’s not going to kill you,” I tell her.
My dad admires my Aunt Lailani. She used to work for him as a hired contractor, a hitwoman. That stopped when she fell in love with Uncle Sammie, one of my father’s contacts here in Vegas. He sent my aunt to watch over his friends, knowing trouble was coming their way.
“You and I both know the only friend your father has is your mother. Also, he would totally kill me without blinking twice if I let anything happen to his favorite son.”
I perk up. “He said I was his favorite?”
“No, but I know you are.”
“How?”
“You see any of your other brothers living here, running around doing whatever they want, whenever they want?” My aunt raises a single brow at me in question.
I never really thought about it. I just assumed my brothers wanted to be closer to home. “He just needs them to surround Eliana. She started dating.”
“Oh good Lord, no. The world is not ready for that.” Aunt Lailani shakes her head. “Okay, we’re starting lessons again in the morning. Get some sleep. You’re not dying on my watch, kid.”
“No one is going to come after me,” I tell her.
“Don’t underestimate Louie Giuliani, Emilio, or how crazy he can be when it comes to his daughter.”
“I’m aware of who her father is. I’m not worried. He’s not going to try to kill me.” I don’t know that for sure, but I’ll deal with whatever comes my way when it happens. I’m not living in fear or hiding out just because my girlfriend’s father wants me dead. That thought makes me smile again. Frankie Giuliani is my girlfriend. She’d probably push me off a cliff if she heard me say that out loud.
“What are you smiling about?” Aunt Lailani asks.
“I have a girlfriend,” I tell her.
“Yeah, I hope you’re prepared for the shitshow that girlfriend is about to bring to your doorstep.” My aunt makes her way to the foyer.
“Worth it,” I call out to her back as she opens the door and walks into the hallway.
After showering, I climb into my very-empty bed. I lie here tossing and turning for five minutes before the distinct sound of a buzz comes through the wall, followed by Frankie’s voice.
“Finally, something that can hit the right spots.”
Oh, fuck no, she did not just say that her vibrator is better than I am. Like hell am I going to sit here and listen to her get herself off again when I know I can do it better than any of her toys.
I jump out of bed, pick up the key to her apartment I’m not supposed to have, and walk through the hall in my boxers. I unlock her door and close it again, making sure the lock engages before beelining it to her bedroom.
“Frankie, you are not…” My words drop off when I see her sitting up on her bed in nothing but a blue silk robe that’s left open, displaying all of her body. She’s holding a bright-pink vibrator in her hand and smiling at me.
“Two minutes. That’s how long it took you to get in here.” She smirks.
“You knew I’d come.”
“Well, I’m hoping I’m about to be the one coming,” she says.
“You’re not going to need that,” I tell her, pointing to the vibrating toy she’s holding.