“Yep.”
“That’s insane.”
“That’s who you’re sleeping next to.” She side-eyes me.
“I thought my brothers were a lot to deal with. Yours are ten times worse. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, but I do love them.” She smiles.
“Oh, I know.” I laugh. She’s just as protective of them as they are of her. “Maybe Aunt Evie will get through to them all, and if we can set the other boys up with girls, we can out number them eventually,” I tell her.
“Mmm, I like that plan.” Eliana smirks. “They won’t even see it coming. They’re leaving soon.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna head in. You coming?”
“Nah, I’ll stay here. Make them all come to me. They won’t leave without kissing me first.”
“As hard as they are on you, you’re really lucky to have them,” I say before I step inside. She’s loved beyond measure by an army of men. Sure, they’re overbearing and intrusive, but that love is priceless.
Guilt eats at me for how I spoke to my dad earlier. I’ve never threatened to not talk to him before. I was desperate, though. But I know how much that would have hurt him. The thought of losing me is one of his worst nightmares…
I walk down the hall to Tío E’s office. There are two guards standing at the closed door. “Is my dad in there?” I ask them.
“Yes.”
“I need to talk to him,” I say.
I wait until one of the beefy guys knocks on the door. A minute later, my Tío E opens it. “Frankie?”
“I need to talk to my dad,” I tell him.
Tío E runs his eyes up and down my body. “You okay? You need something?”
“Yeah, my dad. Is he in there?”
My dad is then shoving Tío E aside and walking out of the office. “I’ll be back,” he says to the room. “Come on.” He puts an arm on my shoulder and leads me down the hall.
He opens a door, and we enter an empty room. I’ve never been in this room. It’s another office, but not as fancy as my Tío E’s.
“What’s wrong?” Dad asks me.
“I’m sorry.” I start crying. I can’t stop the tears. “I wasn’t nice, and I shouldn’t have said what I said. I’m sorry.”
“Shh.” My dad wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest. His lips press down on my head. “It’s okay.”
“I don’t want you to think I don’t love you,” I say through my tears. “I do.”
“I know you do, princess,” he says. “I’m sorry too. It’s not easy for me to let you grow up.”
“I know, but I kind of already have,” I remind him.
“Yeah, I still don’t like it.” Dad leans back. His fingers wipe my wet cheeks. “You really love him?”
“I do.” I nod.
“And he makes you happy?”
“He really does.”