“We should have a bail hearing in a few days. The marriage papers will help. And that knife? It needs to disappear, any evidence of its existence along with it.”
“Already done.” Aunt Lailani walks in, holding up a plastic evidence bag.
“How the fuck did you get that?” Tío E asks her.
“I have my ways. Don’t worry. No one will ever know.” She smirks as she passes the bag to my uncle, who hands it to Elias.
“Melt it down,” Tío E says.
“On it.” Elias walks out of the room with the bag.
“I’ll sort out the paperwork. You going to be able to get him out on bail?”
“He’s a flight risk. You and I both know that. It depends on what judge they assign.”
“Find out who’s on the docket, and I’ll pay their family a visit,” Tío E grunts.
“Yeah, how about we try this my way first? If it doesn’t work, it’s all yours,” Mr. Valentino replies.
“What can I do?” I ask them.
“You can stay here. Don’t leave the house. Don’t talk to anyone, especially the cops.”
“Okay. Can I talk to him? Emilio?”
“I’ll give you a call when I’m with him tomorrow,” Mr. Valentino says. “Have faith that he’ll be home soon.”
“Thank you.”
When the lawyers leave, my dad kneels in front of me. “Princess, this… It’s not how I ever pictured you getting married. I’m supposed to walk you down an aisle. You’re supposed to be in a big white dress.”
“That can still happen, Daddy, when Emilio comes home.” I don’t bother telling him I had no intention of ever doing that, and if it weren’t for the current situation, I wouldn’t be considering marriage at all.
“Hudson, take your sister upstairs and stay with her.” Dad stands. He doesn’t like this decision, but I’m going to do whatever I have to do to get Emilio out of there.
I’ve been waiting for the last hour for my phone to ring. I know Mr. Valentino is going to see Emilio today and give him the papers I need him to sign to make us married. Tío E had everything backdated by two weeks. I didn’t hesitate to sign them. I want to do this.
Alfie is sitting in the corner. I’m holed up in Emilio’s room, wearing his hoodie and curled up on his bed. My brothers have been taking turnskeeping me company, their words. I know my dad has told them not to leave my side. I don’t know what he thinks I’m going to do.
I snap my phone up from the bed. “Hello.”
“Frankie, are you out of your damn little pretty head?” Emilio’s voice sounds rough, angry.
Shit. He hates me. He’s locked up because of me. Maybe this fuck-up is the one that finally pushes him over the edge.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not signing these papers, Frankie. This isn’t what you want,” he says.
“What?”
“Marriage? Really?”
“You don’t want to marry me? I understand,” I say, my voice quiet.
Alfie stands and walks over to me. I shake my head and hold up a hand, telling him to stop.
“I’ve wanted to marry you since I was sixteen, Frankie. But I know you, and you have been very clear on where you stand with marriage. I know you don’t want this.”