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“I know, Frank. But that’s what’s happening. He’s given them shares to get the okay.”
“And how do you know this?” Frank accused with a shake to his voice. Hearing your lifelong partners and your own brother are setting out to whack you and take everything you’ve built doesn’t typically sit well with anyone.
“Johnny likes his technology.” Costello pulled out his phone and swiped the screen to life. “I warned him about that.” He handed the phone over to Frank.
As Frank scrolled through screenshots of Johnny’s emails and text messages to members on the committee, his face darkened. Once he was done, the fury in his eyes said everything.
“That fucking asshole,” Frank raged and tossed the phone back to Costello. “What is it you want? Obviously, you plan to trade this information in order to keep the fucking girl. So what?”
“I just want to leave. I want out. No one coming after me or Ariana. Let me walk.” Costello tucked his phone into his jacket.
“That’s it? You just want to leave?” Frank asked suspiciously.
“I’m done, Frank. Just want to retire with my girl in peace. That’s it.”
Costello waited as Frank gummed his lips for a long moment, obviously mulling over options in his head. Costello knew the anger of his brother’s betrayal clouded him, but Frank would be able to see straight enough to give Costello what he wanted.
“You bring your girl to the party tonight. Pretend you just wanted some fun with her outside the House, whatever the fuck you want to make up, but you bring her and it looks like she’s back on the adoption list. I don’t want Johnny suspecting anything. He’s hosting this fucking party. You’re going to help me take his ass down.” He stepped up to Costello and poked a fat finger into his chest. “You do that, you take him down for me, and you got it. Free and clear, you and your little girl can go live wherever the fuck you want. We won’t look for you. But you better be out of the life, Costello. I find you working for another family, and I’m taking back my promise.”
Costello paused long enough for Frank to think he was considering it. “Fair enough. What about the clients? If this goes bad, one of them could get hurt.”
“Then you better make sure that doesn’t fucking happen. You take out Johnny, and you get to keep your girl. That’s the deal.” Frank put his pudgy hand out.
Costello took hold of it and shook. One life for another.
He had no problems with that. Not when the one being saved was Ariana.
“I better get back. It’s going to take a while to get her and head to the House. She’s still groggy.”
“You need some Lullaby for her?” Frank asked, pointing at the monkeys behind Costello, ready to send them on the errand.
“No. Thanks, but she’s not getting any more of that stuff.”
“You really love this girl.” Frank sort of smiled.
“Yeah, Frank. I do.”
“Then for her sake, do good tonight.” Frank turned around and walked back to his desk. “Nine o’clock!” he shouted.
Costello shrugged off the monkeys’ hands from his shoulders, accepting the return of his Glock.
“I can see my own way out, boys.” He flashed them a grin and breezed between them.
A few more hours and they’d be free. Completely free.
“I’m nervous.” Ariana wrung her hands in front of herself. She was back in her room at the House, wearing the soft muslin dress Costello had given her to put on. He promised her fifteen times or more that everything was going to be fine, she only had to listen to him and follow his instructions.
“I’ve told you, just do what I say, and you’ll be fine.” Costello pinned a yellow bow into her hair. He had refused Nancy and Maria’s attempt to come into the room to help her.
“Can’t I do something to help? I’m not a little girl for real, you know. I can actually do things.” She turned around to glare up at him once the bow was pinned in place.
Her head was still a little groggy, but she no longer felt ready to lose her lunch.
He grabbed her shoulders to steady her when she wobbled. “Kevin was right, you shouldn’t be up and about yet.”
She pushed his arms away. “We don’t have a choice, do we?” She went to the dresser and picked up the light-yellow gloves and started to wiggle her fingers into them. “Just swear to me none of those men will get to touch me. I don’t think I can handle it if it they do.” Images of what she’d seen at the playroom party floated past her vision, electrifying her nerves.
“I know you’re capable of a hell of a lot more than you’ve ever gotten to do here, but tonight isn’t the night for superhero actions. I’ll handle what I have to handle, and you’ll just keep playing like you were. You’re six, remember that.”
