Page 60 of Kingpin
The whole room goes quiet. Even the people in the waiting area who aren’t with us are watching like we’re their personal soap opera.
Frankie glares at me with a look I’ve seen before. He’s fuming, and I know what he’s thinking. Frankie isn’t the guy you want to piss of, but then again, neither am I. I should probably apologize, though, because Frankie’s probably only days away from being officially named boss, but I’m emotional. Tommy is my guy, so I’m allowed to be upset too, but I know I’m going to have to fix things with Frankie soon, or I could end up getting clipped over this.
I try to catch my breath and calm down, but it’s easier said than done. Frankie looks furious, and I know I have to fix it.
“Look, Tommy just got shot, and I’m all fired up,” I begin. “I don’t mean no disrespect, Frankie. You know that. You’ve known me since I was a kid, and you’re like an uncle to me.”
Frankie cuts me off by turning his back and walking away.
I turn to Joe and Charlie, and the looks on their faces tells me they know what that means. I may have just royally fucked up. They look scared for me.
I think to follow Frankie to plead my case, but before I can, my phone rings. I look at the display, and I’m comforted by Alannah’s name. She’s probably worried to death about me, and I hadn’t had a chance to call her and tell her anything. Right now, I just want to hear her voice.
“Hi, beautiful,” I say when I pick up.
Then, everything stops.
“Oh, how fucking sweet, lover boy,” a deep voice replies.
A man’s voice.
Abram’s voice.
How does he have Alannah’s phone?
“What’s the matter? Surprised to hear from me, you fuck?” he says when I hesitate to speak.
“How do you have her phone?” I manage to say as my heart beats faster by the second, and tears blur my vision.
“How do you think, Dominic? Me and your little girlfriend are hanging out right now, and if you ever want to see little Miss Alannah again, I suggest you get your ass here to her house, right now. And you better be alone, or all that’ll be left of her is five little pieces of her hand.”
He hangs up, and my heart falls into my feet. I can barely breathe, and my skin feels like it’s on fire. Charlie and Joe stare at me, wondering what’s wrong, but I can’t tell them. I can’t risk Alannah’s life.
Abram has Alannah.
My body fills up with more fear and rage than I’ve ever felt, as I break into a full sprint towards the exit.
