Boston Blood

Twenty eight

Bridget stopped the car outside a small block of apartments in a really bad part of town. Frankie kept looking at the clock on the dash board. Bill would be leaving in an hour and she was starting to become worried about what she was going to say to him. After everything he's done for her and everything that's happening now, she wasn't sure if she would be able to hold it together. But she had to. She was pulled from her thoughts when she saw a tall, curvy blonde woman wearing a skin tight dress smile and wave at the car. She was gorgeous and Frankie felt herself unconsciously fixing her messy hair as she sat in the back seat beside Cillian, who she thought she could hear sigh.

"I'll be right back, Bridget." He snapped as he fixed his baseball cap onto his head. "You're not staying with Vicky? I thought you'd be dying to see her. Stress relief, ya know?" Bridget wiggled her eyebrows up and down and smirked at Cillian but he did not look amused. Without another word he got out of the car and walked over to the beautiful woman who literally jumped for joy and into his arms. She kissed him, hungrily and Cillian had to pull her off him. Frankie watched and couldn't understand the feeling that was gnawing the pit of her stomach. Cillian held up a finger to Bridget and went into the apartment complex with the blonde. "I have no idea what he sees in that woman. She's hot, right, but I don't trust her one bit. Plus she's an idiot." Bridget lit a smoke and handed one back to Frankie who was trying not to seem interested, but annoyingly, she wanted to know more. Maybe she could use this woman against Cillian when she was finally going to take him down.

"How long have they been together?" Frankie asked, as unimpressed as she could. "Oh, they're not together together. They just fuck. Cillian never gets too close to anyone and definitely doesn't do relationships. Well. none of us do, really. It's safer that way." Frankie took a large drag of her cigarette and nodded. She didn't know what it was about Bridget, but she found herself starting to like this woman, much to her shock. Sure, she was a criminal and probable murderer but she didn't seem as nasty and dark as the others and she was high and evidentially, very talkative. Frankie took the opportunity to ask; "Bridget, who does Lucy belong to?" The concern Frankie had for the innocent child was seeping into her voice. "Is she Cillian's?"

Bridget laughed. "Cillian? A dad? That's hilarious! No. Lucy is mine." Frankie whipped her head around to stare at Bridget in the rear view mirror. "Yours?"

"Well, not technically. She's my little sister. My mom is an addict and is in prison. Lucy's father fucked off after she was conceived. So I adopted her. I couldn't face seeing her in foster care. Not after I went through." Frankie nodded, taking in every word. "I couldn't have done it without Cillian. I have a rap sheet and they weren't going to give Lucy to me but Cillian made sure it happened. He'll never be a father if he can help it but he loves that girl and she adores him." Bridget smiled but Frankie was starting to feel the worry bubbling up inside her. "But you're all dangerous criminals How can you let an innocent child be a part of that life? Aren't you terrified something will happen to her?" Frankie's words wiped the smile from Bridget's face. She turned in her seat so she was facing Frankie head on. She looked scary. " Easy there, Frances. Don't you fucking forget you're no angel, either. I know what you've done in the past so don't go acting all high and mighty." Bridget's face was red with anger but she closed her eyes and took a breath before continuing. "Look. You may think you know us, but you don't. This is a business and I guarantee you that Lucy is in the safest place she can possibly be. Boston is a dangerous place and I for one am much happier knowing that me and my family are protected. Sure, we're involved in some shady shit, but who the fuck isn't? You just gotta do anything you have to to survive this life. And I know when push comes to shove, you'll do whatever it takes to protect your family too."

Frankie met Bridget's eyes and held her gaze. She was right. Frankie was not better than them, deep down and she was going to do anything to protect Michael. The sound of the back door opening beside Frankie made her jump. Cillian jumped in and slammed the door. He looked so pissed off. "Drive." Bridget revved the engine and drove off with speed. Frankie wasn't surprised that Bridget didn't say anything to Cillian. By the look on her face, she was deep in worrying thought and wasn't in the mood to tease him.