Boston Blood

Forty nine

Frankie sprinted towards the screams. They were coming from Tony's office. She didn't even hesitate before she ripped open the door and dove in front of the woman lying bleeding on the floor. 
"Tony stop! What the fuck are you doing? She's fucking pregnant!" Frankie screamed as she turned to look at a terrified Alex, heaving and holding her face. "Get the fuck out of here, Frankie. This is nome of your business." Tony spit as he took a dominating step towards the two women.
"I'm not going fucking anywhere. How could you hit her? You're a fucking monster!" Frankie couldn't mask the pure hatred and anger that was exploding from her entire body. She stared at Tony with utter disgust as he moved his heavily jewlled hand through his slick, oil-soaked hair. The sick bastard was smiling, loving every second of this. 
Frankie helped Alex up who was unable to speak but gave Frankie a thankful nod. "Frankie, it's okay. I was out of line. Tony didn't mean to do it, right Tony? I know he loses his temper but he never means it. It's okay." Frankie's mouth fell open as she looked at the broken young woman standing in front of her. She was suddenly saddened when she realised that those words were what she used to say to herself every time Tony laid a hand on her in the past. 
Tony scoffed and turned his back as Alex grabbed Frankie's hand and left the room. Frankie closed the door and glared at Tony. He was laughing quietly as he poured himself a drink and sat on the edge of his desk. "What the fuck is wrong with you? She's carrying your chi-" Frankie stopped herself and tried to steady her breathing. She knew she should just leave but she couldn't bring herself to walk away. She felt compelled to confront him knowing full well that it probably wouldn't end well for her but she could feel the years of anger and pain flooding through her and she wanted to hurt him.
"Frances, I am only going to say this once so listen carefully. Do not ever stuck your fucking nose in my business again. You're lucky I am in such a good mood. Drink?" 
Tony downed his campari and refilled his glass, whistling. Frankie shook her head. "Oh, that's right. You're sober now. Shame. I remember the fun we used to have back in in day after a night on the town. You've changed, Frankie. I thought it was just a phase but I can see now that you really have grown into a very mature woman." Tony was suddenly in front of Frankie and was running is warm hand down her bare arm. Her skin was on fire at his touch and she slapped his hand away before she could stop herself. 
Tony's eyes grew wide with desire and fury qnd he wrapped his hand around her wrist, squeezing tightly. The force made Frankie wince. 
"Frances, have you not learned that it does not serve anyone any good to defy me? I don't understand why you can't just admit that you still want me. Because I want you. And I always get what I want." He continued continued hold her wrist while his other hand had started to move up her thigh and rested at the edge of her short dress. 
"Tony. Stop. Your wife." Frankie tried to keep her voice steady but she could hear it trembling.  She felt so stupid for thinking that this wouldn't happen. She knew there was every possibility of Tony trying to make a move when she asked him for a job. She had so naïvely hoped that he loved his wife and that Frankie was just something for him to look at. She was wrong and now she had no way out. She couldn't blow her cover and she could feel tears burn her eyes. 
Tony's hand inched up so that it was now under her dress. She could feel his breath invade the skin of her neck and could feel him growing as he pressed himself against her. "Tony. Please." She tried to reason with him but it was no use.  His mind was made up and it was set on having her. 
His lips grazed her earlobe and she shivered in disgust but this only drove Tony to act further. His hand tugged on the hem of her underwear and he pressed his lips against her ear and whispered; "See. You want this too. Once a little slut, always a slut."
The harsh sound of a loud slap hung in the air. Tony recoiled, holding his right cheek. His mouth was gaping in shock as his eyes were alive with fury. 
"Don't fucking touch me. You never get to fucking touch me again. You fucking scumbag. I fu-" 
Frankie didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. Tony's fist silenced her as she felt the pain resonate through her entire body. Her head bounced off the hard wood behind her and she felt herself sink to the floor. Tony was shouting but the ringing in her ears are it difficult for her to make out the words. She could feel the blood begin to pool in her mouth as another agonising pain rippled though her body when Tony's loafer connected with her stomach. 
"You stupid fucking bitch! I was right about you. I knew I shouldn't have given you another chance. You may not be a junkie anymore but you're still just a fucking waste of space!" 
Frankie yelped and tried to grab Tony's shoe. "Fuck you!" She spat as she clawed her nails against his trousers leg and turned her body to protect herself. He had just lifted his leg to kick her again when a knock at the door stopped him. Tony sighed in mild frustration as he opened the door and was faced with a concerned Kevin.  "Em, boss we're ready for the briefing about tonight." Frankie could feel Kevin's eyes on her as she peeled herself up to a kneeling position., struggling to breathe. 
"Fine. You, get the fuck out. You're fucking fired." Tony knelt down and grabbed Frankie's chin in his sweaty palm. "I don't want to see your fucking face around here again. Do you understand me? I'm only letting you go because I am a changed man and I have a very important night ahead of me. But if I hear that you have opened your mouth about anything that went on here, I'll fucking kill you and everyone you've ever loved. Nod if you understand." 
Frankie's face was drenched in anger tears as shoved her head slightly. Blind panic coursed through her body as she silently screamed at herself for being so rash. She had fucked it up and now Aidan was going to kill her. "Tony, please. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I-," Tony leaned in and kissed her on the lips before shoving her face away and walking to his chair chair put on his jacket. Frankie locked eyes with Kevin who was staring at her with what looked like pity. 
"Okay, let's get this done, shall we? Lord knows we have a lot to discuss. I just hope everything goes to plan and Lopez comes through for me. That prick O'Shea won't know what hit him." 
Kevin nodded and shot Frankie one last look before she felt Tony step over her and close the door behind her.
She could hear them briefly mention the harbour and Mexicans before she could eventually stand and grab a napkin to wipe the blood from her chin and the tears from her eyes. She was out. She completely messed everything up and now she was screwed. She had to warn Michael and Bill and Mary. She'll tell them to go somewhere and to keep off the grid. Bill would be furious and panicked, demanding he tell her what the hell was going on but she prayed he would listen to her and trust her. She just hoped she would still be around to explain everything to him, a hope she knew was stupid. Aidan was only keeping her alive so that she could tell him what Tony was up to and now she couldn't even do that. Then a worrying thought struck her. She never told Aidan about the shipment tonight. Tommy did. Come to think of it, Frankie hasn't given Aidan any real information about Tony's plans for weeks. Sweat started to pour from Frankie's brow and upper lip as the realisation suddenly hit her. She slumped down in the chair in front of Tony's desk and held her head in her hands.
He couldn't know what I have, can he? Oh God. Maybe that's why he's been keeping me around this whole time. It was never anything to do with getting Tommy. This had all been about me. Aidan and Tommy know what I've done and they want it.  Whatever it takes. If they all don't get killed tonight. 
Frankie grabbed her things and ran down the hall and out the front door. She fumbled in her bag for her phone and took it out with trembling hands. She stared at the numbers in front of her but didn't know who to call. She thought about calling Cillian but she had no idea what Tony meant when he said Aidan won't know what hit him and she was sure he wouldn't believe her anyway. If Tony was working with the Mexicans, Frankie knew something bad was going to happen tonight and in spite of herself, she felt an overwhelming urge to warn him. And Micheal? He'll be there too! 
She immediately started to dial Michael's number but he didn't answer. She couldn't risk leaving a voicemail in case someone else heard it so she text him asking him to contact her ASAP and hoped he would know it was her. Then she dialled Cillian's number. It rang a few times but he didn't answer. The only other number she had was Aidan's but she wasn't going to call him. "Fuck!" She screamed as she bumped into a group of men standing outside a bar, smoking. "Hey, sweetheart what's the rush."  She heard them make various comments about her appearance qnd heard one of them tell her to smile but she kept walking, frantically trying to think of a plan. Then her phone rang. It was Linda.
She took a deep breath and thought about declining the call but in that moment moment she desperately wanted to talk to someone.  Anyone. 
"Hey, Linda."
To her surprise she could hear gentle sobs on the line. "Linda, what's wrong? What happened?"
"Frankie. I'm sorry for calling but, I honestly didn't have anyone else. Are you free to meet? I could really use a friend right now." 
Frankie didn't hesitate when she told Linda she would meet at the park in twenty minutes and was already on her way when she hung up. 
When she arrived, Linda sitting on the bench with her knees tucked into her chest. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were soaked with tears. 
Frankie quickly took out her compact mirror and covered her bruised cheek with concealer. She hurried over and pulled her into a hug. "Hey, what's wrong? Tell me what happened?"
"Oh Frankie, I'm so sorry for calling you. I just, it's been a really bad few days and I was just about to go to the liquor store when I called you. I almost slipped. God,  I'm a idiot."
"Hey, it's okay. We've all been there. The important thing is that you didn't drink, right? You were strong enough enough resist. That's really amazing." Frankie rubbed Linda's back as she wiped her nose on her sleeve.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Frankie asked but didn't press. But to her surprise, Linda started crying again and was mumbling. "Ugh, it was so stupid, Frankie. My boyfriend, you remember I told you about him and that he's working on a case around O'Shea?" Frankie's breath caught in her throat and she tried to fob it off with a cough,  Linda didn't seem to notice and Frankie nodded. 
"Well this morning he came to my apartment for breakfast and he seemed really tense and upset so I asked him what was wrong and he got all mad and told me to stop asking questions.  That it was to do with work and that I know he can't tell me anything. I know he's really stressed but I just wanted to cheer him up, you know? Anyway we got into a huge fight and I left. I think we're over." 
Frankie nodded and continued to rub Linda's back. She was so relieved that this cop didn't share any of his work work her. She was petrified that he may  have mentioned Frankie's name but that obviously wasn't wasn't case. Still she had to make sure. "So he's never shared any information on the case he's working on? Like nothing?"
Linda scoffed. "God, no. He always says it's too dangerous and I never cared before. It's like my job. Anyone I meet or anyone from the meetings have always been and will be confidential. I never talk about about anyone from the meetings so I get it. But lately he just seems to be getting more and more worked up and I don't know what to do." 
Frankie breathed a quick sigh of relief before speaking. "You love him, right? So I say go easy on him. Being a cop in this town can't be easy. And especially if he's dealing with O'Shea. Call him and make up. He'll need you and you'll need him. Try not to push each other away." 
Frankie was surprised at herself for how honest and caring she was being with everything going on but she really liked Linda. She didn't want to see her upset. She was one of the good ones. Unlike her.
"Why don't we go grab some coffee and you can ask him to meet you at the cafe to talk, yeah?" 
Linda nodded and Frankie grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bench. A few minutes later they were sitting in the coffee shop. Linda was standing at the toilet door on the phone while Frankie checked her own to see if Michael or Cillian had called back. She threw the phone on the seat beside her when saw no messages and plastered a forced smile onto her tired face when Linda slid into the booth across from her. 
"Okay.  He's gonna come meet me here in a few minutes to talk. Frankie, thank you. You really are a great friend." 
Frankie winked and grabbed her bag. "No problem, any time. Um,  I think I'll head out and let you two talk, okay? Call me later and let me know how it goes." 
Linda grabbed Frankie's hand and squeezed before Frankie left the cafe. 
She hurried down the street and tried to hail a cab. It was only a few hours until they would all be at the harbour but she had to try. She dug into her bag for her phone to try to call them again but it wasn't there. "Fuck!" She groaned and turned around to head back towards the cafe. 
She opened the door and walked quickly towards the table where Linda and her boyfriend were sitting at the back. He had his back to Frankie but she could see they were holding hands across the table. As she got closer, Linda smiled, holding up Frankie's phone.  Frankie rolled her eyes just as she reached the table. The man turned to her and Frankie felt her heart stop and her entire body go numb. No. Please God, no. 
The man's mouth was open and his eyes were wide with shock. The two of them stared at each other and Linda raised her eyebrows in confusion. "Um, Frankie. I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Michael."