Page 38 of The Holy Ghost
We’re.
So, thatmeant there was more than oneman down there.
I heardFrankie’s laugh, and it nearlybrought me to my knees. “You can kill me,” we heard her say. “Youcan even slice my face up some more…” Luca’s hand grabbed my arm ina punishing grip as her words registered around us. “…You three caneven try to kick my ass again. But you’ll still be sad, pathetic,pieces of shit who aren’t man enough to make your own way.” She letout another hollow laugh. “Do your worse, you fuckingpussy.”
We wereenraged, but proud of her inthis moment. She also gave us some important information when shereferred to thethreeof them.
“You’re a bastard!”came another female voice. “I hope they kill you slow.”
“Shut the fuckup, Robbie!” the man screamed. “If you don’t, I swear I’llletTony and Eddie shut youthe fuck up!”
Luca liftedhis hand and silently startedcounting down from three. We were going to rush in, the element ofsurprise on our side. We were all expert marksman. The second wegot our prey in our sights, it’d be over. I wasn’t worried we’daccidentally shoot Frankie or the other woman. I was more worriedthat one of us would accidentally kill the guy who took Frankie,and I didn’t want that just yet.
No.
I wanted tospend some quality time with the sonofabitch. Ciro andLuca, too.
Luca’s hand counted downto a fist and nothing could be heard over the thundering of ourfeet running down the basement steps.
“Whatthe-”
Guns drawn, Icame flying down the stairs first, my bullet hitting a tall, lankyguy in dark jeans and a blackt-shirt. He went down screaming in agony as his kneecap blew apart.I heard two other shots but ignored them both as I spotted Frankietied to a chair, her shirt shredded to pieces, blood dripping downher face, and the rest of her battered and bruised.
Irushed forward, ignoringeverything around me, because I knew Ciro and Luca had taken careof the other two motherfuckers in the room.
“Baby…”I whispered as I dropped my foreheadon hers. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest,and I’d never felt so weakened by anything before in my life. Evenwhen Frankie had left me all those years ago.
She wasfunctioning on pure adrenalinewhen she said, “Took you guys long enough.” I knew she was inpain. And I knew once the fear and adrenaline wore off that painwas going to intensify tenfold, but she was alive.
She was alive.
“What…”
“If I were you, I’dshut the fuck up,” Ciro snarled.
I turned tolook behind me, and I could see the guns in each of Ciro’s hands ashe held two of the men at gunpoint. Luca had his gun trained on the third man. Satisfied thatthey had everything under control, I turned back to face Frankieand immediately went to work on untying her from the chair. As soonas she stood up, I took my jacket off and placed it around hershoulders to cover her up.
I watched asshe adjusted the jacket to suit her. I looked into her golden eyesand asked the one question I didn’t want to. “Did they…your shirt was…”
Frankie shook herhead. “No,” she replied. “They just…put hands on me.”
Puthands onher.
Whata fucking way to describeit.
Then her eyeswidened. “Oh, God. Robbie.”
She rushedtowards the other woman who was also tied to a chair and I noticedshe was just as beaten as Frankie was. I went over to help her withthe woman.“It’s okay,Robbie,” Frankie cooed. “It’ll be okay.”
“I’m so sorry,Fran-”
“Shh now,”Frankie rushed out. “This isnot your fault.”
There weremoans and whimpering playing throughout the room, but Luca’s voicerang through the room. “Get them upstairs. CallBasco in.”
Frankie’s head whippedaround. Her eyes were flashing. “I’m not going anywhere,” sheinsisted. “I want to see this-”
I took herface in my hands, and it was as close to begging as Iwould ever get in front of witnesses.“Francesca,” I used her full name, so she would know I was serious,“I need you to take your friend upstairs and let Basco see to yourinjuries.” My eyes held hers and I prayed she’d have mercy on meand fucking just listen for once. “Your friend needs your help.”She knew I was manipulating her, but she relented. “Do you needhelp upstairs?” I knew it was killing her, but she gave me anothersmall nod.
