I whip my head up from the cushion as the door creaks open. “Wakey wakey, lazy bones,” Frankie announces as he walks through with a brown shopping bag in each hand.
After one month of living in this tiny flat in the middle of god knows where, I can actually say I don’t mind Frankie’s company. After my initial rage, he’s proven me wrong about him so far.
“Hardly lazy. Just bored out of my head and pregnant and tired.”
“Well, I come with more smut.” He chuckles, dropping a bag full of books next to me before heading off to the kitchenette.
“I threw in a mother and baby book as well. In case your brain fancied a break from dicks.”
“Hey! They have a plot too.”
I follow him into the kitchen. He’s busy refilling the refrigerator full of goodies. I even spot a massive carton of strawberry ice cream that I demanded, blaming it on cravings.
“I’m making us carbonara tonight, my mother’s recipe.”
“Do you need a hand?” I ask.
“No. It won’t take me long. I’m a pro.”
He doesn’t need to tell me twice. His cooking is delicious, after all.
By the time I’ve stacked my new books in the shelf in my bedroom, organizing them in the order I want to read them, Frankie calls out to me.
“Smells good.” I smile as I take a seat at the little two-seater table.
I can’t help but notice Frankie’s frown every time I start chopping the spaghetti up with my knife. I guess that’s not how it’s meant to be eaten.
“How’s Grayson?” I ask.
“He’s fine.”
He never gives much away. He told me about Grayson’s recovery from the shooting and how he’s been put on bedrest. Other than that, I get the same two-word responses. But I have to ask, I have to know he’s okay.
“How long in days?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been working on this for over a year now. I can’t fuck it up now.”
“Right… What is this grand plan anyway?”
“Eliminate all the enemies, take back what’s rightfully mine.” He shrugs, biting into the garlic bread.
“What about Grayson and Luca? Where do they fit in this take over the world operation?” I ask nervously, hoping they aren’t his means to an end. Although, he’s only shown respect when he speaks of them so far.
“Think of it as more of a joint enterprise. I and Luca could dominate the world.”
“If they don’t kill you first.” I smirk.
“I mean, if you could put in a good word with them for me, I might survive.”
I snigger.
“Depends how much longer I’m here. Every day, there’s less chance of me saying anything nice about you.”
“I see why Grayson likes you. You’re full of spirit.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Come on, you need to eat. It’s not just for you anymore, think of the little one,” he says.
Since the episode in the hospital, Frankie’s had private doctors around every week to check up on me and the baby. I’ve had no more bleeding and apparently everything’s going as it should.
“I’ve got a new TV coming tomorrow. Thought I’d replace the one you smashed up.” He smirks.
Oops.
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
“No, you’re not. Does it get me back in the good books though?”
“Fine. Just hurry up and finish whatever it is you’re doing and let me go back to my life.”
“I’m trying. You have my word. The second it’s safe for you to leave, I’ll let you.”
“Anyway, how come you have so much time to come and have dinner with me most nights? Don’t you have a wife or someone to go home to?”
I’ve been dying to ask. I bet he’s not short of options, plus, he must be in his late thirties. I find it hard to believe he hasn’t forced his way into someone’s life yet.
“Nope. Too busy for that.”
“Don’t you want a family?”
“Watch it.”
“Just an observation,” I say, then stuff my mouth with pasta.
“I’m more than happy being Uncle Frankie.”
“You might regret saying that. Uncles have to do lots of babysitting, you know,” I tease.
“No problem, how hard can it be. I was brought up in a big family. I have lots of nieces.”
“I guess we will see.” I shrug, pushing away my plate. Every now and then, this overwhelming sadness consumes me. I miss Grayson so much.
No matter what, I will make sure Frankie makes this right.
For now, I’m grateful we’re alive and healthy.
