Page 51 of Playing for Keeps

With a furrowed brow and a softer tone, Frankie asked, “And this is where your heart is?”

My chest clenched so hard I nearly doubled over. “No,” I told her. “Running this company is what Lee wants to do. And I owe him that after he helped bring home Vivian. But I didn’t do this for me. I did it for him. For you. Because I’ve seen you both struggling, and I knew I could help.”

I moved closer to the table. “Lee’s got this, Frankie. He’s a natural. I introduced the new clients to him, but he’s the one that sold them on the company. He’s the one who convinced them LS Security was the best there is. He’s the one who matched the new staff up with the new clients. The only thing I did, the only thing I will do, is step in as a consultant when I’m needed. When you need me.”

Frankie’s lip trembled and she blinked fast, staring up at the ceiling. “Why?”

“I love you, Frankie. You deserve this.”

Tears flowed down Frankie’s cheeks as she stood from her chair and wrapped me in a tight embrace. “I love you, too, Vin. Thank you.”

The weight I’d been carrying on my shoulders finally lifted. The apprehension I’d been living with since Lee first approached me was finally relieved. My cousin and her business partner were taken care of. She forgave me for going behind her back because she knew I did it for her.

But Lee was wrong.

Setting this up wasn’t the only thing I’d been working on.

Now that this was done, I had other pressing matters that needed my attention.

12

Jen

Only the slight hum of the radio cut through the silence of the car as Dad drove the rental up Marco’s long driveway. They’d been here before, of course, but where we came from, this sort of splendor was rare. Mom had been chatting away her excitement from the moment they got into town, but that chatter ceased as we drew near the house.

I wasn’t sure I could have talked if I wanted to, my mind wound up in memories from last year. Watching as my brother was shot, his blood flowing out of him like a fountain. Marco yanking Frankie out of the way as Vinny held me back. Struggling to breathe as their housekeeper, Rose, applied pressure to Corey’s wound to try to keep him alive.

There were other memories of this place floating around in my head, but none of them were strong enough to block out the worst. None of them could give me comfort when the last things I’d felt here were heartache and terror.

“You okay, pum’kin?”

Dad’s voice was quiet, comforting, and I drew my attention away from Marco’s front stoop. He stood at my open door, offering his hand to help me out.

“Yeah. Fine,” I lied, taking his hand.

“Chin up, now,” he told me, quiet, so Mom couldn’t hear from the other side of the car. “We don’t want to be late.”

With a quick side-hug, Dad left me to go to Mom. She took his offered arm and, together, they led the way up the stairs.

Rose was there in an instant, the heavy wood door swinging open as if it didn’t weigh a thing. She greeted them warmly, but the look on her face as she turned her gaze on me was something closer to a reproachful glare.

Shrinking into myself, I squeezed by her without a word. There were memories there, too. The heartache and despair I’d been drowning in the last time I saw her. My eyes blinded by the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing after I tore out my own heart and left it upstairs.

She’d pulled me off their tile floor after I tripped on the bottom step and landed on my hands and knees. I hadn’t even uttered a thank you before racing the rest of the way out of the house, hopping in my car, and speeding away.

“There you are!” Marco’s booming voice reverberated around the room as we took off our coats. He came at us, arms spread. Gave Mom a hug and a kiss on each cheek. Gave Dad a hefty handshake before turning his attention to me. “Jen. It’s been too long.”

“Hi Marco,” I murmured as he pulled me into an embrace, one that went on too long and felt much too soothing.

Felt almost like home.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” he told me, his dark eyes soft as they took me in. Every inch of him screamed his thoughts as if they were spilling from his lips. That he wasn’t sure I’d come. That after I broke up with his son, I’d even consider stepping foot through the door.

But he underestimated me.

He didn’t realize the lengths I’d go to support my brother.

“Come, come,” Marco said, taking his hands from my arms and ushering us into the house. “We’ve got snacks and drinks, and the girls have set up everything in the dining room.”