"So have you thought about what you're going to do? I ask Claude.
He shakes his head.
"I don't think I'll do anything. I'm not really into it." He shrugs.
I roll my eyes.
"You only turn 23 once Claude. This is your Jordan year, you have to celebrate! I push.
He chuckles to himself.
"What are you going to do? Make me celebrate my own birthday? He asks.
"If I have to." I nod confidently.
"You're not going to let this go are you? He asks.
"Nope." I shake my head.
"Fine. You can throw me a party. Nothing crazy, Frankie." He says.
"Yes, yes yes! I cheer.
"Nothing too crazy. I mean it." He warns.
"Don't worry, I know exactly what to do! Ugh I can't wait! I smile.
"Good luck planning a party in a week." He smiles.
"You're obviously underestimating my abilities. I'm great at planning. Even if your birthday was tomorrow, you'd still have the best birthday party ever." I boast.
"I doubt that you could actually pull off a birthday party in a day." He rolls his eyes playfully.
"Is that a challenge? I ask putting my paint brush down.
"Oh no. Just a fact." He smiles.
I scoff and fold my arms across my chest.
"When people tell me I can't do something, it simply makes me what do it more." I tell him.
"Oh trust me, I've noticed." He says.
"What's that supposed to mean? I question.
"Frankie, I've known you basically my entire life. You love to disobey your brothers, break the rules a bit." He shrugs.
"It's not like I like it, it's just that they can be really overbearing, and I'm not 17 anymore. There's no need for that." I say.
"Then why don't you just listen to what they say? He suggests.
"Claude I'm a grown woman. Why the hell should my brothers still be telling me what to do, when to go out and come back and how to live my life? I ask.
"Well you aren't the typical grown woman Frankie. Your family is in the mafia. It isn't safe for you to-"
"Did I ask to be in the Mafia Claude? No I didn't. I expected this from my brothers or Leo but I most definitely don't need to hear this shit from you too. I'm tired of everyone telling me what to do! I scoff.
"I'm not trying to tell you what to do Frankie. It's just that we don't want you getting hurt-"
"I train 24/7, I know how to shoot and I have a body guard for crying out loud. Who knows I'm probably still being tracked by you guys. I don't need anymore protection!
"I know but it never hurts to be sure. Last time we weren't careful and Ben-"
"Don't say his name! I stop him.
"I don't want to hear it. I don't care about him or anything that happened in Florida." I say.
"Okay. I'm sorry for upsetting you." He apologizes.
I shake my head.
He knows not to bring him up anymore.
I've expressed that many times.
YOU ARE READING
The Protected One
Action"You left me in there. You stabbed me in the back! I sobbed. "I WOULD STAB MYSELF A HUNDRED TIMES IN THE BACK, STOMACH, AND HEART BEFORE I EVER STAB YOU IN THE BACK." He yells. "THEN WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME? I ask. ------ Frankie Karol lives with her...
