“Right, and I appreciate you both checking up on me. But honestly, I’m fine. I’m not sorry for what I did. That guy wanted to hurt Emilio. I would do it again if I had to, because I can’t imagine anything happening to him.”
Alfie wraps me in his arms. “I’m not saying you should feel sorry or bad. I just want you to know you’re not alone.” He kissesthe top of my head. “Also, you need to change. That outfit is indecent to be leaving the house in.”
“Indecent? When did we time jump back to the 1500s? Aunt Evie bought me this outfit and I like it.”
“I can practically see your ass, Frankie,” Hudson says.
“Then don’t look at it.” I scowl at him. I know my ass is more than covered. They’re being ridiculous.
“Wait here.” Alfie walks out, and a few minutes later, he returns with Tío E. “Tell her.”
“What the fuck are you wearing, princesa?” Tío E asks.
“It’s called clothes.”
“No, that’s called a handkerchief. A scarf at best,” he says.
Emilio picks that moment to walk in. “Stop commenting on my wife’s clothing. Or lack thereof.” He glances at me. “Or I’ll tell Mom you’re commenting on Frankie’s looks.”
“That’s not what I’m doing. You can’t seriously let her go out of the house like that,” Tío E says to Emilio.
“Let her? She’s my wife, not a pet. I don’t own her. She can do whatever she wants, wear whatever she wants. Besides, anyone looks at her too long, I’ll scoop their eyes out.”
“You’re not doing that, but I’m ready to be done with this whole…” I wave a hand at Tío E and my brothers. “Whatever this is.”
“Yep, let’s go.” Emilio takes my hand and leads me out of the living room. I finally breathe when we get outside.
Opening the back door of a waiting car, he steps close behind me when I climb in. I’m sure to make sure no one gets a peek up my skirt.
“Where are we going?” I ask Emilio.
“You’ll see.”
Twenty minutes later, we stop out front of a jewelry store. “What are we doing here?”
“Getting you a ring,” Emilio says. “We’re doing things a bit backwards, but I want a ring on your finger. Come on.”
“A ring?”
“Yeah, you know, wedding rings.”
“Are you going to wear one?”
“Absolutely. I can’t wait to let everyone know I’m yours.” He smiles so wide.
“I have a better idea,” I tell him as I climb out of the car.
“What?”
I take hold of his hand and start walking down the street. I know there is a place not too far from here. “You’ll see,” I throw his words back at him.
The moment we stop out front of the shop, Emilio frowns. “A tattoo?”
“I want to get our ring fingers tattooed. I want your initials on my finger. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. But I know I’m going to love you forever, and I want something no one can take from me.”
Emilio leans down and kisses me. “Let’s do it.”
We walk into the shop, and I explain what we want to the woman at the counter. She takes us out back to where some guy is setting up his table.