“You’re always up early,” I teased, knowing he worked out every morning, regardless of the night he’d had before. Regardless if his men on his crew were killed in a shootout. Regardless of the funerals he attended last week.
He rubbed his palms together and stared at the table.
“I heard you brought Wolfe into the family.”
“I did. Elio and some of the others were a little suspicious of Wolfe after he spoke with Cosa Nostra, but I trust him. He’s done a lot for us and has never once asked me for anything, for more money or a higher position. He does what I ask without question. He’s an arrogant man, but he doesn’t have an ego when it comes to work.”
“You respect him.”
“Yeah, I do.”
I inhaled a slow breath, hoping that he respected him enough to accept what we were about to share. Wolfe still wasn’t there yet, but he would walk in the door any minute.
My father’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he fished it out and glanced at the screen. “Massimo is trying to cut a deal on the guns he’s already received.” He quickly typed a message back and set the phone on the table. “Wolfe will take care of it.”
That meant Wolfe was still there…thirty minutes away.
And that meant he wasn’t coming.
Shit.
My father turned his head to look at me, and suddenly his tone shifted. “Did Alessandro harass you?”
I hadn’t thought about him since the last time I’d looked at him. My mind was filled with other, more important matters. Wolfe fucked me hard in that church, and it was as if the thing with Alessandro never happened. “No, that’s not how I would describe it.”
“Because Wolfe said he did.”
“Wolfe is…protective.”
“You don’t have to cover for Alessandro,” he said coldly. “I’m going to pay him a visit personally.”
And that was why I didn’t tell my fatheranything. “He didn’t harass me, Dad. He was interested and I wasn’t, and that’s the entire story. I think Wolfe perceives things differently because…because he’s a little crazy.” Crazy was putting it nicely. He’d absolutely lost his shit that day like a maniacal psychopath. “I think Alessandro was surprised I wasn’t interested…and maybe that threw Wolfe off.”
“Don’t ever protect a guy?—”
“I’m not protecting him,” I said quickly. “Dad, if some guy is giving me a hard time, I know exactly how to give him a hard time back. Don’t forget who you’re talking to.”
He turned toward me again, and a little smirk moved across his lips. “Fair point.”
“I don’t need you to intervene on my behalf. Or anyone, for that matter.”
He looked forward again and rubbed his palms together. “Well, if he bothers you again?—”
“He didn’t bother me in the first place. Wolfe isn’t the best historian. He sees what he wants to see.”
“Really? I think he sees what most of us miss.” He sat back against the couch and crossed one ankle on the opposite knee. “I had dinner with Lorenzo the other night, and he informed me that his son was back in town. He stopped by, and I thought he was a nice, young man.”
“You’ve never tried to set me up before, so please don’t start now.” Especially since I was pretty certain my days on the market were over for good.
His hand moved to the top of his ankle, and he mindlessly smoothed out his jeans. “You haven’t seemed interested in dating since Emilio died, so…”
I hadn’t thought of Emilio much since Wolfe had come into my life. I had a little guilt there, a small inability to move on, but once Wolfe had officially taken over my heart, Emilio slipped away.
“I’m sure this will come as no great surprise to you, but you’re the one who should take over this business when my time comes.”
I wanted to inhale and exhale at the same time, my body momentarily confused about how to operate. “That is a surprise to me. I always assumed it would be Leo, for obvious reasons…”
“What are those obvious reasons?” he asked. “Because he’s a man?” He gave a slight shake of his head. “He’s physically stronger than you, but you win in every other category, Frankie. You’re smarter, more responsible, have a better temperament. Don’t make snap judgments and you examine evidence with objectivity, rather than emotion. I love your brother and he’s a good man with a lot of admirable qualities, but you’re still superior in every way that matters.”
