“Better now that I’m home.”
“We’re all better now that you’re home,” he says. “How’s Frankie?”
“Asleep.”
“She didn’t sleep much the past two days, which is understandable. Your mother didn’t either,” he says.
“Sorry.”
“I know there are risks, with what we do. Getting caught is always a risk, but giving yourself up for a crime you didn’t even fucking commit is stupid.”
“Would you have preferred if I let them charge Frankie?”
“Yes,” he says flatly. I expected him to say that.
“Would you let them take Mom?”
“Never.”
I raise a brow at him.
“I understand why you did it. It’s admirable. But I never want to see any of my children behind bars. We’re smarter than that. We have to be.”
“I know.”
“I assume you two are keeping this marriage thing going?”
“I’m not fucking divorcing her.”
“It could be annulled. The papers could disappear, and it could never have happened in the first place.”
“I’ve wanted to marry her since I was sixteen. I’m not letting her go now that I have her.”
My father nods. “Good. Make sure you don’t.”
“Where is everyone?” I ask him.
“Elias and Ezekiel are in the basement. Esterio went back to Mexico, and your sister and mother are in Eliana’s room.”
“Eliana okay?”
“Yes.”
“How many more are there? I’m assuming you found out who this family is?”
“The last one is in the basement now. There were five brothers, all fucking wannabe thugs with too much money and not enough brains,” my father grunts.
“So it’s over?”
“It’s over. This time, but there will always be people who want to take what we have. You need to make sure Frankie is aware of the different rules and routines we have to follow. She’s going to need security with her all the time.”
“She’s going to hate it.”
“Yep. Welcome to married life, son.” My dad smirks.
“Did you hear Uncle Louie bought us a house as a wedding gift?” I smile, knowing that will only piss my father off. He doesn’t like being outdone.
“I heard. It’s not that great a house. Don’t get too excited,” Dad tells me.