The Holy Ghost Page 7

  I could feel my teeth start to grind because he sounded like he meant what he said. “Excuse me?”

  One dark brow shot up, and he looked cocky and too fucking sexy for any woman’s peace of mind. “You heard me,” he said. “You’re not going back to Cedar Creek. Your place is here, as it’s always been. It’s time to come home, Frankie.”

  I scoffed at the absurdness of his words. “You are insane if you think I’m going to just pack up my life and come back to Morgan City,” I said scathingly. “I have a job, Phoenix. I have an apartment, and friends. I have a life in Cedar Creek.”

  The look on his face told me just what he thought of my life in Cedar Creek. The distaste was stamped all over him. “Your apartment’s scheduled to be packed up tomorrow. Luca didn’t arrange for you to go back to work on Monday, Frankie. He gave them your notice and convinced them to accept one week’s notice instead of two. As for your friends, you have a phone.”

  My body trembled in rage. I wanted to charge him and take every frustration I was feeling out on him.

  How dare he?

  How dare them?

  “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  I was so enraged, I almost couldn’t see with it. “What in the hell give you guys the right?!”

  “Because we’re your real family, Frankie,” he snapped. “We’re your only family.”

  I let out a laugh devoid of humor. “My family?” I asked, sarcasm dripping from each word. “Don’t speak to me about family, Phoenix. You guys left me in the fucking cold with your bullshit. You guys lied and kept secrets as easily as you brushed your teeth in the morning.”

  “Frank-”

  “What kind of family does that, huh?” I asked, ignoring him. “You, Ciro, and Luca are a family. I’m nothing.”

  He was in front of me in a flash. His hand wrapped around my arm, toying with the bruises that were already forming from earlier. “That’s not true,” he seethed.

  “Of course, it’s true,” I argued, refusing to believe him. “You three went into this together, never once including me.”

  “We were trying to protect you!” he yelled.

  “Bullshit!” I yelled back. “You were trying to protect yourselves! You were hoping to ask for forgiveness instead of permission.”

  “What did you expect?” he exploded, his grip tightening. “We knew how you felt about Luca’s family’s lifestyle.”

  “So what?” I said, still yelling in his face. “It didn’t change how I felt about Luca. I always knew there was a chance you guys would end up with the Benettis.”

  “Then why did you leave?” he asked, yelling just as loud as I was. “If you already knew where we were headed, why in the fuck did you run off?”

  “Because you guys hid it from me,” I said, finally explaining my pain. “You guys made this huge life decision and you hid it from me. I’m not mad because you work for the Benettis. I’m mad because you guys lied to me. You lied and, after years of holding me close, you guys left me out in the cold, making me feel less than what I thought I meant to you guys.”

  “Frankie-”

  “I don’t have room in my life for liars, Phoenix,” I announced, unable to stop the purging of six years of resentment. “There’s no way I’m moving back to Morgan City.”

  “It’s already been decided,” he stated, releasing my arm.

  Fury was burning bright in my gut. “Even if that’s the case, coming back doesn’t mean I’m coming back to you,” I pointed out.

  Phoenix’s back straightened, and he stood there, every inch of his six-foot-two-inch frame vibrating with rage. “You think so?” he finally asked.

  “I know so.”

  I couldn’t stop the cry that escaped as he grabbed me by my hair and drug me behind him. When we finally reached his bedroom, where he threw me on the bed, he snarled, “We’ll see about that.”

  Chapter 11

  Phoenix~

  Fury had me blind to everything else but the woman on my bed currently shooting daggers at me.

  I knew this was going to get ugly, but she was out of her fucking mind if she thought she could come back to Morgan City and not be with me.

  Out. Of. Her. Fucking. Mind.

  “You don’t get to manhandle me, Phoenix,” she raged from the center of our bed.

  “That’s where you’re wrong,” I informed her as I started removing my suit jacket. “I get to do whatever the fuck I want to you, Francesca.”

  She came flying off the bed and stood there like a beautiful, raging storm. And the more anger she displayed, the more she cemented the fact that she was born to walk next to Luca, Ciro, and me. Not just anyone could end up with Luca, Ciro, or me. Though many women have tried over the years, it took someone special to stand by our sides. Especially, Luca. One day, soon, he was going to take over this entire fucking city and the woman who ended up with him was going to have to be made of some strong motherfucking shit.

  Like Frankie.

  “You lost those rights to me six years ago, Phoenix,” she raged. “Once upon a time you might have had that privilege, but that time has come and gone.”

  My tie came flying off next. “That’s doubtful, seeing as how I’ve been taking care of you for the past six fucking years, Frankie,” I bit out. “I’d say that gives me all and every right to you and that delectable body of yours.”

  Her eyes rounded in shock, now whether from my statement or my undressing, I wasn’t sure. “What the hell are you talking about?” she screeched. “How in the hell have you been taking care of me?”

  I smirked. “Do you really believe you were so lucky that there just happened to be an apartment available to you that included all utilities for less than a grand a month, Frankie?” The second Luca’s henchman had mentioned the apartment he saw Frankie looking at, Luca had called me and I had gotten in touch with the rental manager and told him to rent it to Frankie for eight-hundred dollars a month and I would make up the rest, including paying for her utilities. He was also malleable enough that he managed to free up an apartment right across from hers for Elio, the guard Luca assigned her.

  Her face went from astonishment to denial. “You’re lying,” she accused. “There’s no way…”

  I kicked off my shoes as I informed her, “I’ve been paying your rent and utilities for six fucking years, Frankie.”

  She started shaking her head. “That’s…that can’t be true,” she said, her voice betraying her emotions. It wasn’t anger anymore. It was denial. She wanted me to be lying. “That doesn’t make sense, Phoenix. Why would you do that?” Suddenly, she noticed me pulling my socks off. “What the hell are you doing?”

  I stepped towards the dresser, taking off my holster vest, and placing it on top. Next came my shirt as I pulled it out of the waistband of my pants. “What does it look like I’m doing, Frankie,” I deadpanned. “I’m getting ready for bed.”

  Her amber eyes were the size of the sun, but then she shook her head again, getting back to the subject at hand. “Why would you pay my rent?”

  I tossed my shirt on the floor before stepping up to her in nothing but my slacks. I didn’t miss the way her pupils flared at the sight of my bare torso. The tattoos were new, and my body was sharper and more defined, but I knew she couldn’t miss her name blasted across my lower collarbone. I’d gotten it done the same week she had left Morgan City.

  I stared down at the only female on the planet who’s ever brought me to my knees and roared in that pretty little face of hers. “Because you are mine, Frankie! You’ve always been mine, and I will always take care of you, no matter where the fuck you are!”

  “No,” she whispered, her voice filled with anguish.

  “Yes,” I countered.

  Frankie took a step back and I followed her until the bed blocked any more progress. “You can’t just…own me, Phoenix,” she argued.

  “It’s too fucking bad you feel that way, Frankie, because I already do own you.” I leaned down int
o her face. “I fucking own you, Francesca. I always have. And you can deny it until you’re blue in the fucking face, but it changes nothing. You’re not going back to Cedar Creek, and that’s final!”

  “So, you just get to treat me however you want, and I’m just supposed to take it?” she asked, outraged.

  Now she was really pissing me off. “Other than lying to you about the Benettis, I’ve never mistreated you, Frankie,” I snapped. “Do not ever accuse me of that again.”

  “And the manhandling?” she asked as she slapped her hands on her hips.

  My eyes raked up and down her body before I told her the truth. “Get used to it.” She let out a Broadway worthy gasp. “I plan on manhandling the fuck out of you, and don’t kid yourself, Francesca. You and I both know you love it when I put my hands on you.”

  “Loved,” she had the nerve to say. “I used to love it.”

  I was going to fucking kill her.

  “It’s been six years, Phoenix,” she said haughtily. “How do you know my tastes haven’t changed?”

  My hand wrapped around her throat and I held her trapped between the bed and my body. I squeeze with the image she tried to plant in my head, even though I knew better. Her hands flew up and wrapped around my forearm, trying to pull my hand off her throat. “Because had you spent one minute with another man, I would have buried him before he knew what he’d done wrong, Frankie,” I growled. “Not only did I pay your bills, but Luca had eyes on you every day, all fucking day, baby. So, don’t try to tell me different because I know better.”

  Her chest was heaving, and her eyes were dilated, erasing nearly all the gold. Frankie was turned on, and I was going to take advantage of that fact, and I wasn’t going to feel not one bit of remorse over it. The plan was to be married by the end of the week, so in my mind, that negated taking advantage of the fact that she’s not been fucked in six years.

  I leaned down and bit her jaw. “Let me fuck that sweet pussy of yours, Frankie,” I whispered against her soft skin. “You can go back to hating me tomorrow, but let me have your body tonight, baby.”

  She whimpered and I knew I had her. If I were a better man, I’d insist we finish talking and work our shit out, but I wasn’t. I wanted inside her tight cunt more than I wanted to take my next breath. I moved to nibble on her earlobe. “We both know you want my dick to rip you apart. All you have to do is say yes,” I taunted.

  “I hate you,” she sobbed with regret. And I knew it was because she was going to give in.

  “I know you do,” I murmured against her neck. “And, even though I deserve it, I still need you to let me fuck you, Frankie. It’s been too long, baby.”

  Her hands tightened around my forearm and I knew I had her. I slammed my lips down on hers, and she opened for me immediately. Our arms wrapped around each other everything after that was a blur of lips, teeth, hands, and clothes flying everywhere. The second I covered Frankie’s naked body with mine on the bed, I knew she’d have to kill me before I ever let her leave me again.

  This is where we belonged.

  Me and her, and no one else.

  I wish I could say I handled her with all the finesse of a seasoned lover, but I didn’t. It’s been six years since I’ve touched a woman, this one in particular, I couldn’t hold back even if I wanted to. I only prayed she was turned on enough that I didn’t tear her body to shreds.

  With her legs spread wide for me, I rammed my hard as fuck cock straight into her body, and as her body bowed, and she screamed bloody murder, I swore the rest of the night would be spent making it up to her. I planned on spending all night making up for the six years we lost, so there would be plenty of time to savor her body, eat her pussy, and explore that smartass mouth of hers and that tight ass she used to beg me to take.

  My body, recognizing hers, immediately began pumping in and out of her tight, hot warmth. And, God forgive me, I ignored her discomfort and just took what’s been denied me for years. My body braced on my arms, I stared down at Frankie as I crashed into her body over, and over again. But, soon, her nails were digging into my flesh and her whimpers of discomfort turned into pornographic moans. My dick started gliding in and out of her body more easily, telling me my cock was probably covered in her white cream right now.

  “Nothing has ever felt better than my cock in your pussy, Frankie,” I grunted. “Fuck, I’ve missed you.”

  She raised her hips, trying to match my thrust, and I knew she was searching for that high that only came from being fucked into oblivion. “Phoenix…” she moaned, and I almost came inside her. I’ve always lived for that moment when she moaned my name. Even when we were younger, Frankie moaning my name while I was fucking her always sent me over the edge.

  “What, baby?” Her eyes opened at the endearment. “You need to cum, Frankie?” I taunted. “You need me to make you cum?”

  “Yes,” she begged. “Please, Phoenix…”

  She said my name again and the insanity of our situation started taking over. “That’s right,” I growled as my thrusts became harder and deeper. “Phoenix,” I repeated. “I’m the only one who gets to see you like this, Frankie. I’m the only one who knows what your sweet, tight pussy feels like.” Frankie started panting and I knew she was close. “This pussy is mine, Frankie. It’s fucking mine, and I’ll be goddamn if you ever leave me again,” I raged as I fucked her like a machine.

  “Phoenix…oh, God…oh, God…” Frankie started thrashing about and I knew she second she clamped down on my dick. And I was going to mark the fuck out of her, so she knew I wasn’t fucking around this time.

  “From the top of your head to the tip of your toes, I fucking own you. I fucking own you, Frankie, and I’ll fucking kill you before I let you leave me again,” I threatened, and she screamed my name, exploding all around me.

  Her cunt clamped down so hard, I shot my load with enough force I almost put out my back. But I kept pumping into her as I leaned down and bit into her neck until I drew blood. I forced her to take my cock as she rode out her orgasm and it wasn’t until my dick was completely soft that I finally pulled out of her and stopped sucking on her neck.

  I rolled off her and pulled her pliant, spent body with mine as I laid on my back and held her to me. The only sounds in the room was our mingled harsh breaths. My heart felt like it was going to explode, and so did hers. I could feel it thumping into my side.

  After a few minutes, Frankie finally spoke. “I still hate you,” she murmured.

  My arm tightened around her, and I pulled her closer. “I know you do, baby.”

  And I did.

  But it changed nothing.

  Chapter 12

  Francesca~

  I woke up alone the next morning and thank God.

  My entire body ached something fierce and I couldn’t even begin to bring myself to regret it. I had folded like a cheap suit and I had no one to blame but myself.

  It wasn’t that I still wasn’t mad, but I wasn’t so prideful that I couldn’t admit that I missed them. I missed them, and seeing them again, after all this time, just intensified how much I missed them. I still love them, too. And that included Phoenix.

  I didn’t want to examine the possibility that I may have overreacted when I ran away, but I could admit that I gave in because I missed them more than I was mad at them. Hell, maybe I wasn’t even still mad anymore. Still hurt, sure, but mad? I wasn’t even sure anymore.

  After Phoenix had attacked me last night, he had spent the rest of the night reacquainting himself with my body and all the things he remembered I used to love. He had kissed every inch of my skin before sliding inside me again. We had showered where he had immediately gone down on me afterwards. He had spent over an hour eating me out and letting his fingers dance all over my lower body. When I could no longer take him, he prepped me and worked me into such a frenzy, it hadn’t taken much for me to beg him to finally take my ass. After that, I passed out from exhaustion and nothing existed further until I opened my e
yes a half hour ago.

  A half hour I used to try to come to terms with everything that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours. I knew I needed to talk to my brother, but I also knew I needed to decide what I was going to do about Phoenix. Even though it was my fault for faltering at the first sight of his naked chest, getting back together wasn’t an automatic full-blown conclusion just yet.

  Even if he did have my name tattooed across his chest.

  I heard my phone’s ringtone for Robbie, surprising me, as I had dropped my purse in the living room when Phoenix had dragged me to his bedroom last night. But as I looked around, I saw my purse and clothes on a chair in the corner, my phone was on the nightstand on my side. Phoenix must have brought my stuff into the bedroom while I slept.

  I sat up, reached for my phone, and answered. “Hey.”

  “Oh, my God, Frankie,” she rushed out. “What the hell is going on?”

  I let out a small sigh. I called Robbie my best friend, but I’ve kept this part of my life a secret from everyone in Cedar Creek, her included, and I hated that I had to confess I’ve been lying to her all these years. “It’s a long story,” I hedged.

  “Mona said she heard you put in your notice,” Robbie divulged. “She said you’re not coming back to Brighton.” Her voice sounded worried, but also hurt. “What’s going on?”

  I wasn’t sure how much to tell her, but I had to tell her enough to let her know that I hadn’t abandoned her. “You…you remember that guy I was sitting with yesterday?”

  “Yeah. The dark haired one,” she replied. “The one who looked like Satan’s favorite son.”

  I almost chuckled. She wasn’t wrong. “Yeah,” I confirmed. “He came to tell me about a sick…friend. Or relative, really. He’s…dying and I came to see him.”

  “Oh, Frankie,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you,” I told her. “Anyway, I came to see him, and…well, I also learned that the decision was made for me to move back to Morgan City.”

  The silence was loud on the other end of the phone. After a few seconds, Robbie finally said, “The decision was made for you to move. Is that what you said?”