“I don’t need to know. I just need to know that you are going to be safe and that you are coming home,” I say once we’re alone in the hall.
“I will be home,” he promises.
“Good. Te amo, Emilio Lopez. Don’t go breaking my heart by dying.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Te amo, Frankie Giuliani,” he says before leaning in and pressing his lips to mine.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Idon’t get nervous before a war. I love the adrenaline. There are a few things I never leave the house without doing, though. One of those things is seeing my little sister. I like to think of her as my good luck charm.
I find her sitting on the back porch. “You hiding?” I ask Eliana as I drop down next to her.
“Nope, just didn’t want to make it easy for you all to find me.” She smiles. She looks withdrawn.
“You doing okay?”
“Just dandy. All the men I love are about to go off and get into a shootout with god only knows who. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“It has to be done,” I tell her.
“I know.”
I wrap my arm around my sister’s shoulder and pull her against me. My lips press onto the top of her head. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she says.
“You know we’re all coming back.”
“I know.”
“I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.” My sister sits up straighter.
“Look out for her for me.”
“She’s older than I am. She’s also very capable of looking out for herself,” Eliana says.
“I know, but you’re more used to this sort of thing than she is.”
“I’ll make sure she’s distracted.”
“Thank you. Now stand up and give me that good luck hug of yours.” I stand and hold my arms out for my sister.
She wraps her arms around me and hugs me as tight as she can.
“Thank you.” I hold her close, inhaling her strawberry scent.
“Stay alive,” Eliana says when I step back.
“Always do.” I smile and drop my arms. “You should go find Mom and keep her company.”
When I walk inside, I find Elias waiting at the door. “My turn,” he says, stepping out to the back deck. We all make sure we talk to Eliana before we go out to fight.
As I pass the living room, I hear my mother talking to my aunts and some of my cousins. I step into the room and find Frankie and Jazzy.
“Hey, Ma.” I walk over to my mother.