Page 130 of Always

And Frankie’s not wrong.

I could bring the bastards down on my own, but the Unholy Trinity specializes in this kind of stuff.

“Do we have a deal?” I ask, pushing a manila envelope of cash toward Dino.

“Give us a minute,” Dino says.

The three of them rise and leave the back room.

I pour myself another glass of Barbera and reach for a piece of garlic bread.

Again I think back to my time in South Boston—the simple days of honest labor that seem a universe away now.

We live in a world where men get away with atrocities just because they can. Hell, I’ve done it myself. Getting Tessa’s private medical records wasn’t my finest moment.

But the Reardons and Ramirez aren’t going to get away with this.

I take another bite of ziti. The longer the trinity are gone, the less likely they are to help me. According to Dimitri, they’re the best on the East Coast.

But there are others.

I take another bite—

I jerk when my phone buzzes. I’ve told everyone in my employ not to disturb me during this meeting.

Unless it’s an emergency…

My hackles rise as I look at my phone.

The text is from the doorman at my residential building.

The building where Skye will be returning to after her dinner with Eugenie.

Mr. Black, it’s Charles Thatcher, your doorman. I’m texting from another person’s phone. I was held at gunpoint by two men who entered your residential building, so there’s currently no security. I’ve called 911.

My stomach drops, and my pulse races.

The Reardons. Or Ramirez. It’s got to be. No one else would get personal.

Mama Louisa enters the back room with a plate of cannolis. “You leaving, Mr. Black?”

“Yeah. Please tell Dino and the others that something came up. I’ll be back in touch.”

“Will do.”

I throw a few hundred-dollar bills on the table. “Thanks. Everything was delicious.”

And it was.

Though it all may come hurling back up any minute now.

First another call to 911. I may not need the Unholy Trinity after all. If the Reardons are behind this, I’ll get them on several other felonies—including rape.

The police are dispatched to my building, but this is New York City.

I’ll get there first.

I’m on autopilot as I text my security company. As I suspected, it’s offline at the building.

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