Design for Love ((Women of Landry's Landing and The Fabrizio men) by Shelli Quinn Page B

right at home. If you hadn’t figured out by now the Fabrizio family is use to being around danger.”
    “ So I guess any idea I had about taking Toni and hitting the road is out of the question.” London asked as she gazed down at him.
    “ In your very own words, you got that right.” He said teasingly. “So how did you end up with custody of Toni? What happened to her mother?”
    “ I was the one that stayed by her side the entire time she was in the hospital. I'm also the one that paid for her hospital bill, and since she didn’t have anyone else they pushed my paperwork through so that she could stay with me. As for her mother, she was killed when Toni was twelve and shortly after that her stepfather started abusing her in every way imaginable.” London said wiping away more tears before resuming her story.
    “ Anyway she’s doing a lot better when I first brought her home, she didn’t talk very much at all, but now it’s hard to get her to stop.” London said with a smile.
    “ I noticed that, but she seems like a really nice girl, and I can’t wait to meet her.” Gabe said as he drew tiny circles on her back.
    “ Speaking of which I guess she’ll be here soon. I suppose it’s time to talk to my sisters Will you come with me?” She asked nervously.
    “ You just try to stop me. I’ll be by your side for as long as you’ll have me.” He replied with a smile.
    “ And what if I want you forever and always? What would you say to that?” She asked.
    “ I would say you have me, I’m yours but just to make sure you don’t change your mind let’s get married.” He said he stood with her in his arms.
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    Gabe and London called everyone and asked them to meet them in the private dining room. Once everyone had arrived and was seated Gabe took London by the hand for support. She smiled at him before taking a deep cleansing breath.
    “ We wanted all of you here because I have something to tell you, I’ve been hiding some things and it about time I tell you. Four years ago when I left here for that job I was offered after I got to New York, I found out there was no job. However, because I didn’t want to let you, guys know that you were right I got a place to stay and found a job. For almost a year I worked in a dinner club singing. Then I finally got a job as a buyer for a store but one night, I stopped a man who was abusing a young girl.” She took a breath, and Gabe squeezed her hand to let her know that he was there, and everything would be alright.
    “ Anyway the man turned out to be her stepfather, but he went to jail once he was released from the hospital, and she come to live with me. Her name is Toni, and she’ll be here in little while. Gabe is flying her in from New York because her stepfather has just been released for prison, and he wants both of us dead. So if you don’t want either of us to stay here I understand.” London said as tears welled in her dark-brown eyes.
    “ I should kick your ass, you stupid little girl. What in the hell is wrong with you?” Indy said a bit irritated with her sister.
    “ What Indy is trying to say in her own twisted way is that we’re family you do not go through things like that alone. We are your sisters and no matter how bad things seem we will always be your sisters, whether you like it or not. Even if you think we’re crazy as hell, we are still family.” Gigi said as she stared at her.
    “ What I want to know is how in the hell did you hide this for all this time?” Asia asked with curiosity.
    “ It wasn’t easy but whenever I had to come home for a visit, I’d let Toni stay with my neighbor an older woman who doesn’t see her family too often.” London said. “Toni gets a bit uncomfortable if she’s around a lot of men she’s been through a lot.”
    “ Well I can’t wait to meet her.” Gigi said with a smile.
    “ Me too, when is she arriving?” Asia asked.
    “ Actually she should be arriving any minute.”