Page 117 of Made in Love and Blood

Nico pulled her dress down and threw the hand towel to the floor after, standing up straight while she fixed how the fabric laid across her hips. He twirled his finger, a silent command for her to spin.

She did.

“Perfect,” he praised. “Not a drop on you.”

God, that did something to her.

“I fucking love you,” he uttered.

Frankie blinked. “W-what?”

Like he had also realized at the same time what he just said, Nico glanced away. “Yeah, uh, I do. But just don’t, okay?”

“Don’t say it back?”

He said nothing.

That hurt.

“Whatever, Nico,” she muttered.

“Hey, Frankie, please—”

His words cut off as she unlocked and flung open the door. Not because she’d opened it, but rather, from the person waiting on the other side.

Arms folded, smirk in place. Ink vibrant under the hall lights.

“Go,” she heard Nico hiss behind her.

Frankie listened, not even acknowledging Marco as she headed directly past him.

“Hey, little brother,” Marco Russo said as she departed, his grin deepening as his gaze moved to the person she left behind. “Well, if this isn’t déjà-fucking-vu, huh? It’s always bathrooms with you two.”

15. — knowing when...

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Staten Island, New York

Nico, Gallo Estate

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Nico hadn’t kept track of how much time passed since he last saw his brother, but their final disastrous dinner happened shortly before he left for Miami. It didn’t take more than a look between the two for Nico to know not a damn thing had changed with Marco, either.

A movement in the corner of his eye drew Nico’s attention. Frankie peeked around the corner again. Nico’s head ticked sideways, a silent order for her to leave. She disappeared behind the wall, and hopefully, stayed gone.

Marco caught the exchange.

“She’s really grown up, huh?”

“She is nothing to you,” Nico said.

Marco snickered. “Ten minutes, I bet. Just her and I, and ten minutes.”

“That girl wouldn’t let you within two feet.”

“Nobody said anything about letting me, Nicky.”