AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Standing in the front of the group, Frankie, looking so much like Luis, sings his heart out with rest of the group.
His dark hair and even darker eyes make me wonder what it would have been like having a child with Luis. With my red hair and green eyes, would his dominate genes have taken over, exactly like he’d taken over my everything else in my life?
The choir finishes their hymn and I can’t pull my eyes away from the little boy. The pain of learning I never meant anything to Luis is overshadowed by the little boy at the front of the church.
Mass ends and I watch the others file out of the church from the front first. They cross the hall and I watch as the first few people take a staircase to the left down a flight of stairs. Most of the other parishioners follow, a few others leave out the front door.
I know I can’t go downstairs. It’s probably a Sunday luncheon, even that is pushing my luck a little too far. I turn to pick up my bag when I notice a head of dark hair at the front of the church.
Frankie is still standing at the front with a bunch of papers in his hands. I take the opportunity I’ve been given. I pick up my purse and walk to the front of the church.
“Hi,” I say quietly, hoping not to scare him.
He jumps and quickly turns. He looks like he’s about to run when he stops and really looks at me.
“Hi, Mrs. Romero.”
Shock fills me. “You know who I am?”
He nods and sits down on the front pew. “My grandpa made me memorize yours and your husband’s faces since I was little.”
I want to tell him he still is little, but I don’t. “Why did you have to do that?”
He looks at me sheepishly. “He says that they two of you are dangerous. He told me I don’t have to worry about your husband anymore.”
Pain fills my chest and just as quickly, I force it away. There’s no room or time to let my heart break over Luis Romero anymore. He never loved me anyway.
“What do you think? Do you think I’m dangerous?”
He pauses for a brief moment, watching me. “No, I don’t think so. If you wanted to hurt me, you already would have.”
I give him a soft smile. “You’re right. I don’t want to hurt you. I actually want to know more about you.”
He fiddles with the papers in his hand. “What about that man you were with that first night?”
“Nico?”
He nods.
I thought about the way Nico tried to protect me. Even if he had to lie through his teeth. The way his lips felt on mine. How he pulled me from the wreck the other day. “Well, he can be scary, but only when he’s protecting people or things he cares about.”
“You mean like money and jewels.” He doesn’t phrase it as a question.
“Do you know what we do? What your grandfather does?”
He looks at the floor. “I do, but I don’t want to do that.”
“I can understand that. I never expected to end up where I am. Did someone tell you that you have to work in this business?” Neither of us say it out loud. Just as I was raised to only talk business in the house or specific locations, it seems that Frankie has been taught the same.
“My grandfather says I have to take over for him someday. That’ll he teach me everything as I get older.”
“What would you like to do instead?”
“I want to be a doctor and help people.” It’s hard to miss the way he scoots closer to me. The woman who he’s been taught practically since birth is his enemy.
“I think you’ll make an excellent doctor someday.”
Bright, white teeth shine as he smiles at me. A smile very reminiscent of his father.
