Frank’s ornery complaints break into my reverie. “—for Georgie? And why the fuck did Vitali not have extra protection on you? And why the fuck—”
“Frank,” I say wearily. “Believe me. Vitali did everything he could, but Luca…” I give an exhausted shrug, unable to explain.
But Frank gives an understanding snort. “He went all Don Morelli about it, huh? Said it’d make him look like weak shit if he holed up too much?”
I nod. “He said he wasn’t going to let the Irishorany other Italian Family think they were getting to him. And Ididhave extra protection whenever I was away from him—but when Luca was with me, he always…he took care of me himself. Because the truth was, he wasscared, Frankie.”
Frank’s face scrunches up in what I think must be his frown these days. There’s so much scar tissue it’s hard to tell. “Bullshit. My little bro’s never been scared a day in his life.”
“Not for himself. He was scared—”
“For you,” Frank finishes for me, his voice soft. “Okay. Yeah. That, I get. I’m fucking terrified right now for Cee and Marcy, and Iknowthey’ve got the best protection. Picked the men myself.” He reaches over to put his hand on mine. “But that’s why I came back,Principessa. For you. Because I knew Luca would want you protected.”
I stare at his hand on mine and try, once more, not to get teary. “I’m so happy you’re here, Brother Frank,” I say at last. “So happy.” I even smile at him, as much as I can. “But Iamprotected, you know.” I nod over at Carlucci. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“You think I should worry about Georgie instead?” He squeezes my hand. “I can do both. Got extra space for worrying in this head since that Irish fucker blew my eyeball out.”
Despite everything, I do laugh at that.
* * *
When we get backto the hallway that leads to Luca’s room, I spot the now-familiar face of Conor O’Hara standing with the guards at the door. “Tara must be here,” I tell Frank as we walk. “She’s come in a few times the last few days. You remember her?”
“I do,” Frank says. “I remember her standing up for us in Boston that time we went to your dad’s…” He trails off.
Funeral, he was going to say. Frank is a little superstitious sometimes, and I bet he doesn’t want to invite trouble. “Yeah,” I say. “She’s been coming in for a half-hour every day.That’s her man down there, Conor O’Hara. He’s…I don’t know, I guess he’s her 2IC?”
“Two-eye what now?”
“Second in command, 2IC. That’s what the Donovans call it.”
“Underboss?”
I’m not sure I like the thoughtful way he says that word. The position of Underboss was a sore point for Frank when he was last in New York. “Something like that,” I say cautiously, and then I remember I never concluded our discussion about Nick Fontana back in the café. “Hey, Frank, I meant to let you know—” but Frank pulls away to walk in front of me, eyes on Conor, who looks over to greet me with a sympathetic smile.
“Holding up?” he asks as we come to a stop in front of him.
“Yeah.” Although I’m not sure Iamholding up. Still, seeing his warm eyesdoesmake me feel a little better. Plus Frank’s here, and my sister must be with Aidan inside the room with Luca…
Sometimes I forget how many friends I actually have these days. How much my family has grown.
“This is Frank,” I say, gesturing. Frank and Conor can size each other up. Frank does so unashamedly, literally puffing out his chest as his shoulders go back. “Frank, this is Conor. He’s with the Donov—with my sister.”
“Call me O’Hara,” Conor says, putting out a hand. “These guys do.” He jerks his head towards the Morelli guards standing behind him.
“O’Hara.” Frank shoves his prosthetic right hand into Conor’s, giving him a head-to-toe stare. Conor just smiles his easygoing smile and shakes without even blinking. “And who’s that?” Frank pulls his hand away and stares past Conor. If it were any other day, I’d try to smooth over Brother Frank’s lack of social graces. But it’s not any other day, and I was just as suspicious as he is the first time I saw the new faces.
Conor crooks his finger at the other two, who come forward. “Byrne and Murphy,” Conor tells Frank. “They’re with me. Ms. Donovan’s security detail.”
“Tara trusts them?” Frank asks.
Rory Byrne sucks in his cheeks like he’s trying not to speak out of turn.
“Well, they’ve both saved her life more than once,” Conor says.
Frank gives a grunt and extends his left hand this time. I think he likes the way it makes people second-guess their own impulse to shake with the right, likes to put them off-kilter right away. He stays slightly in front of me as I nod to the Donovans, and it reminds me of the way Luca does the same. Frank really does feel like a big brother right now, and I’m fragile enough to appreciate his overprotective stance right now.
“You all in town for a while?” Frank asks. At Conor’s nod, he says, “Then maybe we need to have a talk about a few things.”
