Page 111 of Made in Love and Blood

“Mama, where’s Nico?” Carmen asked, turning on her mother.

The beauty in a silk, navy-blue number with draping shoulders and a lowcut front that clung to a body to die for, gave the little girl her attention. “I don’t know. I’m sure we’ll find him soon.”

“Right here,” came a quiet call.

All heads swung in the direction of the voice. Nico’s raised finger, as if that was the thing that somehow called out to his little sister, only dropped when Carmen found where he waited. Off to the side, alone. His cigarette had disappeared.

“Hey, you,” he told her, smiling for the first time since the cars pulled up.

“Nico!”

The squeal echoed.

Those shoes of hers made no difference to the way she beat pavement to get to him. If he took a step before his knee had to meet the ground to bend down and catch her, Frankie would be surprised. She bear-hugged him as Nico stood up and then bent over at the waist, bending in half to hug his sister back. Fast, quiet words passed between the two.

So much, it was hard to catch.

“...missed you, missed you so much...”

“...are you happy, are you okay...”

“...love you.”

“...love you so much, Nico.”

It was only movement at the two vehicles which drew Frankie’s attention away from a moment she knew meant so much to him. Two men exited from the second vehicle, their doors closed by the black suits who’d exited the front.

More interestingly, Vanna closed the distance beside her husband. Her gaze caught his while her hand came up to lay overtop where his collar met his throat. He nodded to whatever she said, as if without question, and then patted her ass with a nod in the direction of the house.

Neither said anything to the siblings, still catching up. Although now, Carmen held three of her brother’s fingers as she pulled him toward a patch of blue hydrangea flowers.

“Did you know PH changes their colors?” she told him.

He shook his head. “Where’d you learn that?”

“Mama. We planted a bunch this summer.”

Nico glanced back then, at the same time Vanna peeked over her shoulder next to her husband. It was only when he also had to meet his father’s stare did the happiness in his face start to bleed away.

Giorgio nodded at his son.

Nico did not return it. He went right back to Carmen instead.

Frankie had to remind herself to plaster that smile back on as the Russos climbed the steps to meet them.

“Happy birthday,” Vanna greeted her first.

“Yes, a big number, eighteen,” the boss agreed. “And a high school graduate now, as well. You’re growing right up, sweetheart.”

He spoke to Frankie, but his attention remained on Carina as the first person he intended to greet. He leaned in, not her. She put a hand up against his chest, stopping him from moving further than she allowed. Against air, as she did not move an inch to let him touch her, Carina turned her cheek to the side for a kiss that never made its target.

“Beautiful, as always,” Giorgio praised Carina, and his gaze swung on Frankie. “Both of them, Sal. You’re doing quite well for yourself.”

“Come,” Salvatore spoke up, drawing in Giorgio’s attention with a tight smile, “I have your favorite cognac poured.”

Giorgio made an approving grunt. “You do know how to treat me.”

“Don’t we all?” came the barely-there statement from someone Frankie had not expected.