Boston Blood

Fifty two

Frankie was placed gently into the back seat and stared at Bridget in horror as she felt Cillian move in beside her. Bridget turned to look at Frankie and Frankie must have imagined it when Bridget reached back to give her hand a tight squeeze.

"Bridget, move!" Cillian demanded and Bridget immediately took off at speed once more. Frankie half sat, half lay in the back seat shaking violently. Tony's blood was splattered across her dress and body and she tried to scrub it off with her hand. She couldn't see through the tears that were cascading down her sore face so had to shake her head when she found her hands were wrapped up in Cillian's.

"It's okay, it's okay. We're going to take you somewhere safe and you can get cleaned up there, okay? I know you're scared and you have no reason to trust me but I promise you I'm going to keep you safe, you understand me?" His hands had let go of hers and were now holding either side of her face. She winced at his touch when a sharp pain shot thorough her head. "Shit, that looks bad. Here." Cillian rummaged in a first aid kit for some wipes and tentatively moved it across Frankie's left cheek and lips. She gasped and grabbed his hand, suddenly feeling the full extent of her injuries. "I'm sorry, just one more, okay?" His vivid indigo eyes looked pained as he stared into her wet green ones and gently caressed her bottom, bloodied lip with his thumb. She hadn't said a word to him. She couldn't. She wanted to scream and kick and punch the man beside her but in that moment, all she felt was gratitude. She was alive. She was alive because of Cillian. He killed Tony. For her.

The car stopped outside an apartment building that Frankie didn't recognize and Bridget kept the car running as Cillian jumped out and sprinted up the steps. A few minutes later he reappeared with a sleeping Lucy, wrapped tightly and lovingly in his strong arms.

"Bridget, what's happening? Where are we going? What about Tony? What am I gonna do?" Frankie could barely recognise her own voice as it rushed from her throat. "It's taken care of, okay? We'll explain everything once we're off the street and safe, okay, Frankie? I know it seems ridiculous now after everything but please trust us."

Frankie was taken aback by the emotion and sincerity in Bridget's voice and she could only nod in return. She didn't have the energy to ask the questions attacking her mind. She was exhausted and in pain and just wanted it to be over. As Cillian approached the car, Frankie could see him properly for the first time that night. He was soaked in blood and his clothes were filthy and wet. She hadn't noticed before and under the sleeve of his t-shirt on his left arm, she could just make out a bandage which also seemed to be blood soaked. He looked like he was in pain as he carefully placed a blissfully unaware Lucy into the front seat and kissed her forehead. He grimaced as he climbed back into the back seat and told Bridget to drive to the "Country Inn" In New Hampshire.

Bridget didn't question or hesitate as she nodded and sped down the road. Cillian leaned his head on the back seat and took a long unsteady breath. His hand moved to his shoulder and he bit his bottom lip at the slightest touch. "You okay, Cill? You good?"

"Hmm, just keep driving, I'm good."

Frankie could feel the heat from Cillian's body beside her. He squirmed and moaned at every turn, clearly in a lot of pain.

"Are you hurt?" Frankie whispered but she didn't even try to mask the concern in her weak voice. Cillian smiled softly and kept his head against the leather as he turned to her. "I'm fine. Just a flesh wound. Not sure I'll be as strong as you were, though. The second I get to the hotel, I'm gonna pop about twenty Vicodin."

His smile grew wider and Frankie was surprised to feel her lips involuntarily pull into one too. Then it dropped quickly as his face grew stoic again and he held her gaze until his eyes eventually closed and the sounds of soft snores filled the car.