“Our brother. He’s a fucking riot today. Don’t let him fool you—he’s already in deep.”
Enzo shoots him a look. “Eat, brother. Put something in your mouth before I find something to shut you up with.”
“Don’t get your panties in a twist. Damn. Can’t a guy tease his twin anymore? Geez.”
My gaze bounces from Lucky and Enzo and the silent conversation between them. Usually, I’d be more intrigued by whoever my brothers let into their lives, but not today. I’m still too preoccupied trying to solve Lucky’s mystery to even start figuring out Enzo’s.
“Did you guys ever get more information about Frankie’s bracelet?” I interrupt, Lucky’s face falling instantly.
“No. So far we’ve got diddly squat.”
“We’ll find something soon,” Enzo promises, no longer mad at Lucky, giving his shoulder a little squeeze. “If her parents are out there, they’re bound to leave some kind of trace. I’ll find it, brother.”
“It’s not so much for me,” Lucky says, shoulders slumping. “It would mean the world to my girl if she knew where she came from. There’s this empty space in her heart I can’t fill… and I fucking hate seeing it there.”
“You really are in love, aren’t you?” Annamaria asks, all bright eyes and warmth.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Stop looking at me like that.” Lucky groans, his cheeks gaining color.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Lucky. Love is a beautiful thing. I’m so glad you found it in someone as wonderful as Frankie,” our sister adds assuredly, with an ear-to-ear smile.
“She is pretty wonderful, isn’t she?” His eyes light up.
“She’s the best,” Anna retorts with conviction.
“She sure fucking is. I totally lucked out.” Lucky beams, squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin, pride and love radiating off him.
“Okay, enough with the sentimental bullshit,” I interject, before I gag with all this lovey-dovey nonsense. “Just make sure you wrap it up. I’m not eager to be an aunt anytime soon.”
“Stella!” Annamaria squeals in outrage, her cheeks flushing bright red.
“Oh, don’t‘Stella’me, Anna. We both know these two might be the brains of the house, but when they start thinking with their dicks, their IQ plummets.”
“She’s not wrong,” Enzo mutters with a shrug.
“I… um… I’m going to grab my school bag,” Annamaria stammers, jumping up from her seat, clearly uncomfortable with the topic of discussion.
“Subtlety really isn’t your strong suit, is it, sis?”Lucky grins.
“Oh, bite me, Luciano.”I roll my eyes.
I’m serious, though. Frankie’s a wonderful girl, but my brother is so obsessed that I wouldn’t put it past him to knock her up just to make sure she’s always tied to him. Good thing Frankie came to me a few weeks back, asking me to take her to an OB-GYN to get birth control. She might be in love with the idiot, but she’s in no rush to start popping out babies either.
Good on her.
Personally, I’ve never seen the merit in having children. So much so that when I was old enough to get an IUD, I did. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a house full of siblings always bickering and fighting with one another. Or maybe it’s because, in this life, a woman’s choices are already limited. Add babies into the equation, and she runs out of them fast.
Once Annamaria returns with her bag, Lucky and Enzo shoot up from their seats, setting their empty dishes in the sink before heading out to school.
I stay behind at the now-empty table, lost in thought, weighing the pros and cons of going to Little Russia again.
But who am I kidding? I’ve already made up my mind.
“You’re still here,” I hear Dom’s voice call out, alerting me to his presence.
“Not for long,” I say, offering him a little smile as I stand and place my plate and mug in the sink.
Before I pass him, I rise onto my toes and press a quick kiss to his cheek.
