Boston Blood

Fifty seven

Michael sat in the car park of the small hotel, waiting. Tommy hadn't rang him yet with further instructions and he was sure, since it was the middle of the night, that he would have to wait until morning. Tommy assured him that they were in there but he couldn't just go barging in and he was certain they would have used fake names for checking in, so he waited. His stomach was in knots and he dreaded the call that was coming. The whole way up here he found him becoming more and more panicked, not having a clue what the fuck was going on. Was Tony really dead or was Tommy lying? He should have called the office to confirm but the more he thought about it, the more he didn't care. Tony Russo was a vicious, violent scumbag and Michael found himself hoping that Tommy was telling the truth and that the bastard was dead.

He looked at his phone and sighed in frustration as he thought about Frankie. She must be absolutely terrified. He wished she would have tried to let him explain everything back at Bill's and he prayed he would get the chance but knowing now that it was her they were after and that what she had was so fucking important to both of them, he was so scared that he might not ever get the chance to explain, to tell her that it wasn't her fault, that she was the best big sister a kid could have asked for and that he was so sorry for everything that had happened.

He knew this was coming, this was what it was all about but when he got the call earlier to say that the shipment was off, dread and fear had started to make him sick. He didn't want it to end this way. He was warned to wait and they he had to bide his time before this could all be over. He felt so fucking naïve thinking that everything would work out, that Frankie would just hand over the key to the storage unit and once she did, he could end this but no, he may not have seen her for years but he knew his sister and he knew she always had to do things the hard way. She was so fucking stubborn and reckless but she was brave and strong and fierce. When she had found out that she was in Boston, he desperately wanted to find her but he knew it was too risky and he had already put his family in too much danger, he missed them. His foster parents were kind, loving, wonderful people and he loved them very much but such a big part of him was glad they were gone. He felt ashamed at what he had become, what he had to do for a living. He wanted to make them proud and hoped that they were could see what he was trying to do, somehow.

His heart ached as he lost the battle against his own mind. Sitting in that car, waiting for the orders from his father, his mind forced him to go back to that night. He was so young but he will never ever forget what Tommy had done. His poor mother, dead on their kitchen floor by his hands and Frankie, he had never seen his sister cry before, she was usually solid and strong and protective but he remembered how she completely broke down that night while holding their mother's cold, lifeless hand. Something happened to Frankie that night, he saw it in her eyes. A wall went up, a terrifying cold, heartless wall and he couldn't stop it. It was like she had died too and he will never forget the feeling of pure helplessness and guilt. If only he were older and bigger and stronger, he could have stopped Tommy and none of this would have happened. He would never have been sent away and he would have a relationship with his wonderful sister and not have to resort to this.

He picked up his phone again and called forced himself to hit send before he could talk himself out of it. He was working towards this night for years. This was it but he didn't know if he would make it out of it alive. Fear had taken over and he just wanted to hear her voice so he could memorise everything about it, just in case he never heard the sweet sound again.

"Hello? Mikey? Mikey is that you? Where are you? Are you okay? What the hell happened earlier? Tell me how you knew Frankie!" Linda was distraught and he silently cursed himself for making her so worried and upset. He closed his eyes and felt the familiar sting of guilt wreak havoc inside his body,