Boston Blood

Twenty Seven

Frankie grabbed Cillian's pack of cigarettes off the table and walked out, dazedly, to the patio. She was trying to wrap her head around everything O'Shea had just said. She wasn't going to be able to pull it off, she knew it. Tony knew her. He knew when she was lying and he was going to find out and kill her.

They didn't care about that, though. All O'Shea and Cillian wanted was to finally get Tommy and take Tony's business away from him. They didn't give a shit what happened to her. She inhaled deeply and felt a chill ripple through her body as she lit a new cigarette off her old one. The smoke was making her light headed and she had to hold on to the railings to steady herself. The noise of the glass door sliding open made her eyes shut in dread. Cillian stood beside her and whipped the the pack of smokes out of her freezing hand and lit one. He didn't speak but she knew he was staring at her.

"Right. Aidan is taking off now so I'll drop you to the bar when he leaves. Just go and say your goodbyes and then go straight home. We can't have you wandering off and getting into shit again." His tone was harsh and slightly teasing but Frankie kept her eyes focused on the lake in front of her. She spotted two swans swimming gracefully and envied their freedom and peace.

"What, you got no smart remarks to say for once?" He was facing her now, studying her face with a smirk. She stubbed out her smoke and started to walk inside but his hand was wrapped around her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "I'm talking to you." His eyes were fierce and scary but Frankie just shook her head in defeat. There was no point in arguing with him or acting brave. O'Shea had pretty much just signed her death warrant with his plan and she had accepted it. Once Michael, Bill and Mary were safe that was all that mattered. Besides, she always knew she would have to pay for what happened that night. The night she had finally escaped Tony. She had to do it. There was no other way. But now, she was finally going to suffer the consequences of her actions. She was terrified but she also felt some sort of strange solace. She had done terrible things in her life. Yes, she had had a hard life, full of pain but she was always a firm believer in reaping what you sow and taking responsibility. She had caused the death of innocent lives and now, she had to face the music. If only everyone who was bad would get what they deserve. Cillian and O'Shea would pay, eventually. She truly believed that. She believed it because she was going to be the one who made sure that happened, if it was the last thing she did.

Cillian let go of her hand and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He was about to say something but Bridget had appeared at the door along with three other men Frankie had just been introduced to. The men were the tall and silent type, dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses. They looked like bodyguards from the '80s. If Frankie wasn't so miserable, she would have laughed. "Cill, time to go. You want me to drop her off before tonight?" Bridget's usual perky tone was masked with concern as her eyes darted between Cillian's and Frankie's. Ray and Tom will follow behind us, just in case. Frankie stared at the two men towering over Bridget, they nodded in unison. O'Shea wanted them to stay close to Frankie. Maybe he thought she would try to take off but the more she thought about the plan, the more she realised that these men were for her protection. "No, I got it. I got shit to do in the city before the meeting." Cillian took Frankie by the arm and lead her into the sitting room. Lucy was climbing onto O'Shea's shoulders and smacking him on the head with a book. Maybe she's O'Shea's daughter? The sudden sorrow and fear Frankie felt for the beautiful little girl made her blood boil. She was so sweet and innocent, but here she was, born into a family of murderers and criminals. She was going to have a very difficult life and she had no choice. Frankie stumbled forward when Cillian pushed her back, a little too hard. She hadn't realised she had stopped to look at Lucy and O'Shea.

"Bye, Frankie who's a girl, not a boy. See you soon." Lucy jumped off O'Shea's back and ran over to Frankie, wrapping her little arms around her thighs. Frankie was overcome with emotion as she ran her shaky hands through Lucy's long wavy locks. She had a sudden urge to grab the kid and run with her, to get her out of this place and away from these people. To give her a chance. Her worrying train of thought was interrupted when Bridget swooped in to pry Lucy's surprisingly strong hands off Frankie. "Alright, that's enough. Now, I'll be back later, okay? You stay her with Marcelina and be a good girl. No sweets and bed by 8 p.m. or else." Bridget was gripping Lucy's chin, firmly but playfully. Lucy rolled her eyes at smiled at Frankie. "Yeah, yeah. I know. Be good or you'll whoop my ass." Bridget ruffled Lucy's hair and walked towards O'Shea. She leaned in to whisper something in his ear. O'Shea stroked her arm, not taking his eyes off Frankie the whole time.