“What’s your real name?”
“Francesca.”
“Pretty.”
“Yours?”
I smirked. “Maybe after we get to know each other a bit, I’ll tell you.”
“Maybe?” she challenged.
“Gotta earn it, sweetheart.”
With a suave level of confidence I’d never seen a woman pull off, she said, “And how would you like me to earn it?”
Ooh…she’s into me.
“What—what happened?” Salvatore jerked in the chair and nearly toppled over. He lifted his arm and looked at it. “Oh shit.”
Frankie left my side at the counter and walked over to him. “Be more careful, alright? That’s the third suture kit I’ve used in a week. We’re going for a record.”
He continued to eye his gauze. “Gonna hook me up with the good shit?”
“No. But I’m going to give you some antibiotics.”
“That’s not the good shit.”
“Would you rather get an infection and then have surgery? Because you’ll definitely get the good shit then.”
He gave a sigh. “Alright, thanks.” He got to his feet, his face still as pale as snow.
“You’ll be fine, alright?” she said in a kinder tone. “Just watch it next time. You’ll probably have a scar.”
“Yeah, I should get back to work,” he said. “The truck’s probably loaded.” He walked out.
The second he was gone, I was aware that I was alone with Frankie. Two open archways led to the rest of the house, but it was the first time someone else wasn’t in the room with us.
She turned back to me. “How’s the warehouse?”
“Boring as fuck,” I said honestly. “But I’ll pay my dues.”
“My father doesn’t trust you.”
“And he’s smart not to.” Not that I had any nefarious intention toward the Mancini family. But I definitely had less-than-honorable intentions toward this specific Mancini family member.
“Do you think?—”
“Frankie.”
She turned to the open archway when she heard her father’s voice.
He must have spotted her in the kitchen because he stepped inside. His expression was a lot kinder than it was a second later when he realized I was in there with her. His eyes landed on my face and stared for a hard second.
The room filled with unspoken tension.
“What happened with Salvatore?” He addressed his daughter but looked at me.
“Cut himself in the warehouse.”
