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I didn’t know if a replacement was coming, but I couldn’t take the chance or waste time waiting and seeing.
And as the cab pulled up to the curb, I hurried out and got in the back. I gave him Frankie’s address, my heart racing and beads of sweat covering my whole body.
If Frankie was even still there, would he recognize me? Would he remember who I was or what we shared? Would he forgive me for just leaving?
I guess now was as good a time as any to find out.
15
Nadja
Nearly an hour later, the cab was pulling to a stop in front of the gates that surrounded Frankie’s home. I knew his brothers all lived here together, or at least they had years ago. I’d never actually been inside, but he’d shown me his home.
Although I knew my father would have been able to find out every shred of information on Frankie with little effort, I’d still been too afraid to even drive by his house. But Frankie insisted, telling me he could handle himself if need be, and then he’d given a wink like it was no big deal. God, I’d wanted to be able to just push my worries aside, to not know who my father was and the organization he was associated with.
I’d wanted to protect Frankie, even if I could barely protect myself from my father and the bratva. I wanted to make sure none of the vile evilness touched the man I loved.
I didn’t know how much time passed as the cab idled in front of the house, but the sound of the driver clearing his throat brought me back to the present.
“Sorry,” I muttered and paid him before climbing out. I adjusted the strap of my backpack, my focus trained on the house ahead. The sun had already peeked over the horizon, and cast an orange glow along the property.
Frankie told me about his childhood, the pain and abuse he dealt with, and how I was the light to that darkness. He’d been that for me too.
He still was. It was the thought of him, the hope I’d be able to see him again one day that kept me going.
I didn’t even realize the cab left until I no longer heard the engine idling behind me. I should have told him to stay, that this might be a dead end for me. Too late now.
I took a couple tentative steps toward the gate. My mouth was so dry, my throat feeling like it was closing up. My nerves were like another person inside me, taking control, dominating me.
I was so scared I found myself moving to the side, shrouding myself in the thick bushes that lined the gate, hiding. It was what I was good at.
The sound of a car approaching had me looking over my shoulder. Thankfully, I was still hidden, but I moved deeper into the bushes. A big pick-up truck slowed to a stop just a few feet from the house, then the driver side window was being rolled down. I couldn’t see much from my angle, but I noticed the large muscular arm reach out to punch a code into the keypad. After a second of the gate not opening, the very clearly male driver cursed.
His voice was deep as he punched in the number again. Still, nothing happened. I then heard a female voice come from the passenger side. I couldn’t hear what she said clearly, but the lilt of her voice was definitely feminine.
“I swear this gate always gives out at the most inconvenient times.” The man climbed out, and my breath caught as I saw his profile.
Frankie. My heart stopped as I watched him walk toward the gate to manually open it. Although he looked like the man I loved, there were slight differences that I didn’t recognize.
The way he moved, the shape of his muscles. He wore a baseball cap, so I couldn’t get a good look at his face, but it didn’t matter anyway. This was still obviously his house.
“You need help?” the woman called out.
“I got it, baby.”
“You sure? Because it looks like all those muscles aren’t working to get that gate open,” she said with amusement in her voice right before laughing as he struggled with the lock.
I heard him growl before he unlatched it and pushed it open. He stalked back to the truck, his head downcast, so I still couldn’t get a good look at him. But I absolutely heard the kissing he did with the woman loud and clear.
“You like to bust my balls,” he said, and she giggled.
“It’s only because I love you.”
He growled in pleasure. “Not as much as I love you.”
My heart hurt, my chest aching so hard that I actually lifted my hand and placed it over my ribs. The air left me violently. I couldn’t think of anything else but how wrong this had been to come here. What was I thinking?
