Boston Blood

Thirty two

Boston, 2000.

"I fucking knew it! She's nothing but a lying rat bitch!" Damien yelled, punching the wall behind Cillian's head. Bridget's eyes were locked on Cillian. He hadn't said a word. He just sat there, thinking. "Relax, Damien. She may be a rat but she knows not to fuck this up. The bitch can't be that stupid. Ten years ago, she was an addict with nothing to lose. But now she has young Michael to think of. She won't go to the cops. And I know she's itching to see Tommy dead just as much as we are. She won't admit it but she wants revenge. No, Frances Ryan will keep her mouth shut." Aidan's voice was quiet. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than the others.

"And what if she doesn't?" Damien was furious as he spit the words out in a threatening whisper. Cillian locked eyes with Aidan who was staring out the window, the smallest smile etched on his thin lips. "Well, if that is the case, then Frankie needn't worry about what Antonio Russo will do to her. I'll gut the bitch like a fish myself and everyone she's ever cared about."

Bridget slid her hand onto Cillian's knee. He hadn't realised that it was shaking, slightly. He couldn't believe it. Sure, he knew she was always going to be difficult, but to go to the cops? Even if she wasn't technically part of Tony's crew, she must have known that only the lowest of the low speak to the cops. A fucking coward. Could she be that idiotic? She has been extremely vocal about her distain for Cillian and Aidan but she wouldn't risk her brother's life, would she?

Cillian couldn't sit there any longer. He pulled himself off the couch and headed for the door. "Where the fuck are you going? No one moves. We're staying put. She's meeting Tony in three hours at Vincenzo's and we'll wait here until we know it's done." Aidan was standing now and was swaying slightly. Cillian turned to face him. He was fuming and had to stop himself from punching his drunk ass face.

"I'm not staying here. I need a fucking drink." Cillian mumbled as he slammed the door behind him.

He got into his car and grabbed the steering wheel, tightly. He was disgusted over learning what Frankie had done and fearful that she would do the same to them. Aidan was powerful and had always been able to weasel his way out of doing hard time but if Frankie was able to work a deal with the PD in exchange for Aidan O'Shea's crew? There wasn't a hope that they wouldn't all get twenty-five to life or worse, lose everything and not get his revenge on Tommy.

Cillian punched the wheel before revving the engine and speeding off down the street. It was strange. For the most part, he fucking hated Frankie and what she had done, she had caused nothing but trouble since they met but part of him was also happy. He couldn't describe it, but knowing that she was a rat and could bring down the organisation he had work so hard to help build, made him feel like his old self again and not this confused, unglued stranger he had been feeling like the past few days. Knowing what she was re-kindled the fire within him. It made me remember the end game of all this shit, finally getting the cunt who murdered his father and that no one could be trusted, except for Aidan, Bridget and the others. This was why he always made sure to keep his walls up and his head in the game. It made him remember that Frankie was merely a job and to stop thinking about her the way he had been. And the truth was, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

***

Frankie stood in the bathroom, willing herself to breathe. She had decided to get ready in the bar. She felt safe here, home. The pang of guilt and shame wrestling in her stomach made her feel queasy. She was about to see Tony again, after all these years. She knew it would happen eventually. She couldn't believe that he never came looking for her but she knew he was too preoccupied with rebuilding his life's work after it was destroyed that night. What would he want with a dumb junkie who he occasionally fucked when he felt like it? He always took her for granted and underestimated her and for the first time in her life she was hoping that that was still the case.