Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 154525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
The second...
Nico’s gaze slammed into Salvatore. “Sorry, uh, Larkin is where, boss?”
Shit.
He checked his watch, knowing exactly why Larkin hadn’t shown up the moment he saw the time had gone past ten. The head of security knew his job. How long had he and Frankie been at this now?
“What the fuck do you mean she’s been at it again? And a guest? Who in the hell is staying at my home without asking me?”
Too many things happened, then.
Frankie bolted up from the chair, gripping Sassy for dear life. The impassive stare she took on made Salvatore think any progress he won in this war with her might be ruined just as he gained ground.
Nico pulled a face like something smelled as he peered over his shoulder and mumbled, “Well, if that isn’t the sister I wish I didn’t fucking have every day that I live.”
The phone on the desk rang. Salvatore might have swore. Again.
He nodded at Nico, saying, “And this is why I wanted you at eight, got it?”
Nico turned back around fully. “My bad. Uh—”
“We’re gonna go over, in detail, what those three things I specified to you actually mean when I break it down, okay?”
“Yep.”
Sal realized a few things in that moment.
He might be in trouble here. Definitely.
How ironic could it be that the problem which now kept him close to New York, would allow him the same thing his daughter desperately needed? Also, he and Larkin needed to talk. For a few reasons.
Why was his life so fucked?
Carina started shrieking again.
Sal wished he were a better man. “I’ll deal with her, I promise,” he told Frankie. “And I’m going to be here for everything and anything until you don’t need me to be from this moment forward. Do you hear me?”
“What about California?”
“I promise, from now until you don’t need me. I’m yours.”
“I’m tired of hearing promises that you don’t keep.”
His daughter’s emotionless shell didn’t blink a lash.
Something banged downstairs.
Frankie shrugged. “It could be worse. I could be like her—starving myself six months out of the year and hating myself the rest of the time. At least I know people want me to exist.”
With that, she left the room and knocked shoulders with Nico on the way. Nico only cleared his throat, but his lips formed the word damn.
“Sorry,” Nico said again as his brow knotted like he’d realized something. “I know that thing you’re gonna want to go over the most is probably respect, right?”
“It’s good that you ask a lot of questions because only idiots don’t,” Salvatore replied.
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder.”
“Just so you know, in some ways, between you and me—”
“Spit it out, son.”
Nico broke their staring contest again. “Uh, parts of my life look like roses, comparatively.”
•••
Four weeks later...
“I’d trade half a team for another one of your daughters,” Coach Denadei said.
Standing beside him, arms crossed, Salvatore sighed. “You’re shit out of luck. She’s the only one I’ve got.”
A trip to the doctor’s office for a vasectomy mere months before his marriage to Carina assured Frankie would be his only child. Besides, his daughter needed enough love.
Well...
He had to give Frankie credit. He demanded she cut down on practice time, and she did. There hadn’t been any running at home, and he sat at the table every night with her for dinner, something she asked from him. Those changes made a difference. His part, so far, was done.
Life would still come up with ways to make his daughter miserable. A human condition they all suffered through. The other shoe had to drop for him to determine how she would cope with hardships and anxiety.
“Another like your daughter, then,” the man said, chuckling. Salvatore tried to leave his thoughts inside while the coach rambled on, praising a girl that he already knew was amazing. “Striker, forward, defence. Offence. She’s not scared to run, get hit, or hit back.”
“That does seem to be the thing getting her in trouble, doesn’t it?”
The coach cough-laughed under his breath, glancing around to see if anyone close might hear their conversation. The empty bench for the team down on the turf had become a command post for the more annoying mothers of the teens. A handful of teenagers watching their friends sat a few rows behind where the two currently stood, passing around phones and vaping whenever they thought the adults didn’t see. The only person close sat four benches ahead, the second from the first. But he wasn’t listening.
Nico used the first bench ahead of him to kick his black combat boots up, crossed one over the other. Too busy ignoring the teenage girls that kept walking in front of him, smiling and giggling. One had even stood in front of him, shorts rolled high and asked what school he went to. An entire four Saturdays after their first proper conversation in his office, Nico hadn’t gotten any of the things he wanted yet, but he followed Salvatore’s expectations to the letter.