Page 129 of Always

Across from me sits Frankie “The Fist,” and beside him a redhead from Hell’s Kitchen, Isabella, who cut her teeth in the boxing rings before hooking up with Frankie and Dino. The three, together, are known as “The Unholy Trinity” throughout the underbelly of New York’s finest and foulest. They control everything from the docks to the upscale clubs, and fortunately for me, they love to take down assholes who abuse women.

I swallow my bite of ziti as Mama Louisa brings a fresh loaf of garlic bread.

Frankie grabs a slice and sinks his teeth into it. “Spill it,” he says. “What can we do for you, Mr. Black?”

“I hear you’re willing to travel,” I say.

“Within reason,” Frankie says, his mouth full of bread.

“Well,” I start, twirling the last of my ziti onto my fork, “I need you to travel to Boston.”

Dino raises an eyebrow, a spark of interest flashing in those icy eyes. “Why would we be going there?”

I place my fork onto the plate, glancing at each of them in turn. There’s something satisfying about having their undivided attention. “Because there’s a prick there who thinks he can take what he wants and hurt whoever he pleases.”

Frankie wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Sounds personal.”

I take a sip of wine. “It is.”

Isabella leans forward, her fiery hair cascading down her shoulder. “Who is he? This prick?”

“Pricks,” I say. “Plural. It’s an architect named Beau Reardon, his son, Peter Reardon, and another junior architect at the firm, Garrett Ramirez.”

“They hit on your lady or something?” Frankie asks.

The thought nauseates me as I recall the image of Skye with Peter Reardon. What happened to Tessa.

God.

What could have easily happened to Skye.

“They drug people. Make them cooperative. It started as a way to get business, which is bad enough, but now—”

“They’re using drugs to get sex,” Dino finishes for me.

“Stop with the euphemisms,” Isabella says, her tone angry and cold. “They’re raping women. Plain and simple.”

“Any proof?” Frankie asks.

I nod as I reach into my pocket and retrieve a thumb drive. “I’ve been having them watched for a while now. There’s surveillance footage, witness reports, and a few medical records.”

“How’d you get medical records?” Dino asks.

I meet his cold gaze. “How do you get whatyouneed?”

He nods. “Touché.”

I’m not proud of how I obtained Tessa’s medical records. But sometimes you have to break the rules to make sure justice is served.

Isabella is seething now. It’s clear she loathes men like Beau Reardon, men who prey on the vulnerable just because they can.

“What do you need us for?” Dino asks. “Seems with your wealth you can take down whoever you want.”

“He doesn’t want to get his hands dirty,” Frankie replies.

Anger curls at the back of my neck, but I hold myself in check.

Cold plunge. Forced meditation.

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