Frankie Morales-Fire

Chapter 18

"I can't believe you almost shot me!" Frankie snaps.

"Well, what else was I supposed to think, dumbass?" I growl. "You come sneaking in here in the dead of night. How was I to know it was you?"

Frankie moves to try and pull me to him, but I balk. I'm still pissed at him for running off the way he did after he promised he wouldn't.

"I've been gone for nearly a month, Luna. I just want to hold you," Frankie says softly, looking wounded.

"I'm still pissed at you, you know," I growl. "What if you hadn't come back?"

"I know. I'm sorry. I am. But look." He kneels down and unzips his bag, pulling it open for me to have a look. I gasp, putting a hand to my mouth.

There's a shit ton of money in the bag. Thousands of dollars. It has to be. Where the hell did Frankie get all that money? There's no way in hell that money is straight.

"Frankie, you can't keep that here," I say. "It's too dangerous. And where did that money even come from?" Frankie zips the bag back up, straightening up.

"I can't tell you that, Luna. Just know that I'll use it for our family," he replies.

"Please tell me nobody is gonna come for you on account of this money." Frankie looks uncomfortable.

"I can't say that for sure. But I doubt they will." I suddenly throw myself at Frankie and latch on to him. He holds me tightly.

"I missed you both so much. I mean, all three of you." Frankie places his hand on my ever growing stomach.

"Come to bed. But be careful. Nova's in with me and if you wake her up, I'll kill you." Frankie hits the light and I grasp his hand, leading him into our bedroom.

"Let me go put Nova in her crib." Frankie moves, gently scooping Nova up in his arms. I stare at his fingers, wanting them in my panties.

Frankie carries Nova to her bedroom and returns a moment later. I'm by Frankie in a second, unbuttoning his jeans and pulling them down, along with his boxers.

I grab him and a loud moan escapes his lips. I pull down my panties, telling Frankie to touch me. I moan loudly, too, as Frankie's fingers gently graze me. I grab him, pulling us down on to the bed.

"I thought you were pissed at me?" Frankie says, tangling his fingers in my hair. I press my lips to his, just so he'll shut up.

"Luna?" I stop touching him and Frankie's pulled away, too.

"I want you to make love to me, Francisco Morales. Now." Frankie searches my face.

"Not that I don't want to, but where is this coming from?"

"Shit, Frankie! I WANT YOU." I grab at him, but he moves.

"Did-did something happen?" I ask. Frankie just stares blankly at me. Oh, god. It did. He doesn't want me anymore. My heart is breaking into a million pieces right now. I'm crying.

"No, no, no. Shh, Luna. Shh. Not that. I still love you. It's just.... One of my friends didn't make it." I stare at him.

That could have been him. I suddenly hit him, all that rage and loneliness and hurt I felt when he was gone, mixed with my pregnancy hormones.

Frankie grabs me by the wrists, holding them above my head. My breathing is ragged.

"I'm okay," he says softly. "Physically. Mentally, I'm shit." He releases me and I press close to him, slipping an arm around him.

We just sit there in the dark, holding each other. I glance over at the clock on my nightstand. It's four thirty in the morning. There's no way I'm going back to sleep.

Frankie moves after a while and gently kisses me.

"Can I still make love to you?" he asks, his voice low and husky. I nod.

"Yes, Frankie. You can."
***
Nova is excited when she catches sight of her daddy a few hours later. Frankie holds her close and she nestles against him.

I look over at Frankie's bag, which is still sitting exactly where he dropped it earlier this morning.

"Frankie, you have to do something with that money," I say. Frankie nods.

"Yeah. I'll take it to a bank and deposit it." I walk over to him and Nova.

"Frankie, I'm scared. What if-something happens to you when you take it in?" Frankie stretches his arm out to me and I move to him.

"Nothing will happen, mi amor. I'll be fine." I scoot back.

"Bring it to the bar," I say suddenly. "It'll be okay there." Frankie nods again.

"Yeah. That would work."