Page 42 of The Holy Ghost
“Phoen-”
“Don’t, Francesca,”he snapped. “Just don’t.”
“It’s all my fault,”Robbie jumped in. “If…if I hadn’t told Randy who she was, he neverwould have concocted this…plan.” Her voice cracked. “I’m sosorry.”
The guysignored her as Luca gave directions. “Basco, you know the drill,” he said. “You’ll have twopackages to deal with. It’s business as usual
“Very good,”he replied, all his suppliespacked and ready to go. He turned towards me and Robbie. “The nextcouple of days are critical. Take the antibiotics I’ve left foryou, but also the pain medication for you’ll need it to sleep, ifnothing else.”
“Thankyou,Basco,” I told him. “Ireally appr-”
“Nonsense,Frankie,” he said, waving away my thanks. “It’s my job.” Then hepointed at Robbie. “Butyou,” hestressed the ‘you’, “no working or anything for the next week.”Robbie nodded, but I knew she had no intention ofcomplying.
Bascowalked out of the living room and Ilooked at Phoenix. “What next?” He glanced over at Robbie, but kepthis mouth shut. “Are you serious?” I asked, livid. “You can trusther.”
“Trust her?!” Ciroshouted. “Are you fucking kidding me right now, Frankie? She nearlygot you killed and you're telling us totrusther? You’re out of your goddamn mind!”
My bodywhirled around. “You don’t know the whole story!”
“What’s thereto know?” he argued. “She justadmitted to telling that piece of shit on the ground who youwere.”
I turned back toPhoenix. “It wasn’t like that,” I pleaded. “Phoenix?”
“You’re not inthe position to demand anything right now, Francesca,” he said coolly.
“It’s okay,Frankie,” Robbie whisperedsadly. “I don’t blame them.”
I turned tolook at my friend. “This is wrong,” I implored her. “I never toldyou it was a secret. You weren’t wrong for trusting your boyfriend,damnit!”
“Frankie-”
“No!” Iyelled. “This is wrong.” Iturned and looked to Luca for help. “Luca?”
“Your husbandhas spoken, Francesca,” he remarked, letting me know that I wasofficially in Phoenix’s hands now. Luca wouldn’t step in between a husband and wife as a friendor an Underboss.
I lookedbetween allthree men, myheartbreaking.
“So, what then?”
Luca walkedover to Robbie, grabbed her uninjured hand, and placed a set ofkeys in her palm. “Those are the keys to your boyfriend’s truck,” he told her. “I suggest youget going.”
“She can’t,Luca,” I criedout, hurt,angry, and fucking scared. “Basco gave her a sedative. She can’tdrive!”
“Then Isuggest she hurries back home then,” Ciro stated.
“Ciro!”
“Don’t, Frankie!” hethundered. “We’ve got shit to handle, and she’s the least of ourconcerns!”
“It’sokay, Frankie,” Robbie said,reaching out to hug me. “It’ll be fine.”
“Robbie-”
Shegave me a small, sad smile. “I’ll beokay.”
I watchedhelplessly as she turned around to leave out the backdoor. Hersteps stumbled as Luca called out, “If anyone comesknocking on our door overthis, we will come after you.” The only indication that Robbieheard him was the straightening of her back.
The second thedoor shut, I lost it. “I can’tbelieveyouguys,” I seethed.
