Page 193 of Made in Love and Blood

“Someone makes sure I do,” Nico replied, tilting his head toward Frankie.

She’d done well up until then and kept quiet. Giorgio turned his attention on her again, and Nico regretted bringing her back into the conversation immediately. It took everything in him to stay rooted to the spot while his father’s gaze did a slow perusal of Frankie. From where her dress gathered at the floor to how she’d tucked her hair behind her ears.

Nico looked to Sal who subtly shook his head.

“At least you can pick them,” his father murmured, arching an eyebrow when Frankie inched closer to Nico. “Then again, you did pick that other one, too, at one point in time. A dinner or two with this one might have been nice, had you made the effort, son.”

The way he just dismissed Frankie by referring to her the same way he would Mina, as if the two were remotely similar other than both being female...it pissed Nico off like nothing else.

“What’s this about a gift?” Giorgio asked suddenly.

“What?”

“The announcement you two wanted to share,” Salvatore filled in, giving Nico a pointed look.

Now or never, he thought.

Nico pulled Frankie’s hand from where she’d tucked it into his elbow so that his father saw the engagement ring that couldn’t be missed once it took center stage. That diamond and all those begets caught the lights and glittered. A lot like his girl’s eyes whenever she looked at him in her happiest moments.

“What the fuck is that?” Giorgio demanded.

“I asked Frankie to marry me, she said yes, and we thought sharing the news with you before we let everyone else know would be a nice Christmas gift, Dad.”

“You asked her to marry—”

“He did it the right way, and came to me, of course,” Salvatore put in, “and I already knew what my daughter wanted. They could both do a lot worse, Giorgio.”

The room had turned quiet around them. Nico kept staring at his father, waiting while next to him, Frankie said nothing.

Nico prepped her to be as silent and beautiful as she could when in the presence of Giorgio because that was really all he cared to see from a woman. He didn’t want their conversation, opinions, or problems.

Frankie’s hand squeezed his gently. He brought her fingers up for soft kisses that helped to steady his heart.

“When did this happen?” Giorgio demanded.

“Recently,” Salvatore replied. “Look at them. They’re a good match, boss. Don’t you think?”

His father’s dark and cruel eyes cut between Nico and Frankie. Like he had to search for something between them. Something that explained the unexpected engagement. That thing just happened to be hidden by red ruffles.

A beautiful distraction.

“You don’t think you could do better than my son?” Giorgio asked Frankie.

“I think—”

He didn’t even give her time to speak.

“I hear you’re a serious contender for Team USA in the future. Summer Olympics are in Los Angeles in a couple of years; you’ll probably play. You’ve got your choice of Ivy League schools. God knows your father treated you like precious glass your whole life. I bet he never once told you no, did he? And that’s who you want,” Giorgio pressed, nodding at Nico without even looking at him.

If her smile could melt metal, it would. “Aren’t you going to ask him why he wants me, too?” she asked in a murmur. “Fair is fair, I mean.”

Salvatore’s brow lifted higher, but he said nothing.

Nico’s arm tightened around Frankie’s waist, a silent warning.

Giorgio, on the other hand, just laughed and gave her another good look. “No, sweetheart, I don’t need to. Those reasons are obvious. I can see exactly why he wants you.”

At that, the man glanced back at Salvatore.