Chapter 3 #2
“He wanted to maintain everything original to keep Angelo from discovering this place didn’t belong to the Demon Riders anymore.
” I tried my best to help him out, but judging by Francine’s deepening scowl as she took in the faded bar and the tables barely holding themselves upright, I don’t think I saved him from being chewed out.
“He’s still going to get a rude awakening once he’s feeling well; I taught him better than this,” she huffed, her hands twitching as though she was resisting the urge to scour out the cleaning supplies and tear this place apart herself.
Although Francine wasn’t related, she was a mother figure for us, especially before we claimed the firehouse as a refuge. Since she owned the ice cream shop in town, we’d hang out there as kids, and she’d even help us with our homework when our parents were busy, or in my case, didn’t care to.
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Her lips pursed as she eyed the Demons congregating to receive their marching orders. “Somewhere private.”
“Of course.” I smiled. “But just a warning, I’ve only had the chance to change a few things in Merrick’s office, so it’s almost as bad as the bar.”
“At least you’ve tried.” She sighed and followed me behind the bar to the back office.
Chills skittered up my spine at the now familiar space, but I shook off the icy dread frosting over my skin. Merrick had helped to change my memories of this room from the dark and isolated place where Mike had drugged me, then scooped me up, delivering me to Tommaso.
Tommaso is dead. I reminded myself. And so was Mike. I delivered death to both of those monstrous men.
I pulled in a deep breath to center myself, but before I could release it, Francine clasped my shoulder. Despite the tender warmth in the touch, I nearly jumped at the unexpected pressure.
“We can go somewhere else.” Her bony fingers squeezed me with far more strength than a woman her age should have.
“I’m good.” Warmth bloomed in my chest, and a smile split my lips as I gestured her toward the new plush office chair. I let memories of Merrick in this office flood my mind, helping to melt the ice that had filled my veins.
As she sat in the chair, I noticed a fluffy white bear clutched between her palms, her fingers digging in as though the plush toy was comforting her. “Is that for Merrick?”
A furrow pulled between her brows until she followed my gaze to the stuffed bear she was clutching. “No. It has to do with our discussion.”
It was my turn to frown. “Unless there’s some sort of bomb in there, I don’t think it will help with our plans for the Barones.”
“Oh, it will,” she said almost to herself. “At least I hope it will.”
A moment of silence passed between us, a strained tension hanging in the air before she continued. “Tell me what you need from me first.”
“Okay,” I trailed off, shaking off the uncomfortable weight that had settled on my chest. “Tommaso’s funeral is tomorrow at the cathedral in town.”
“You killed him?” There was no judgment in her tone, but her eyes brightened a fraction with hope, hope I didn’t think I’d ever seen there before.
“I did.” I dipped my head. “How did you know it wasn’t one of the guys?”
“Because I know you, and I know those boys.” She shook her head in admonishment as though the answer should have been obvious.
“I saw his death warrant signed in your gaze the day you came to me with the bruise he gave you. I knew then, even if you got away on your own and chose not to team up with those boys, that one day you’d return and wipe that monster from existence. ”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. She had faith in me even when I couldn’t find it within myself. I was confined and alone before, and without her subtle nudge in the guys’ direction, I wasn’t sure if I’d be standing here right now. A warm flutter filled my chest, and I squeezed her arm in thanks.
“So we need to send a message tomorrow, and to do that we need the town on our side.” My breath got stuck in my throat. This was the difficult part.
“The cathedral,” she trailed off, wrinkling her brow in thought. “So I guess you’ll need Jerry and Susanne’s help at the very least?”
“We’ll need to set up on their roofs for the plan to work,” I said.
“And they’ll need to get out of town with their families.
” Jerry owned the hardware shop, and Susanne owned the jewelry store right across the street from the old church.
They’d be the first people on the Barones’ lists to mete out retribution.
Francine pursed her lips. “I’ll get all the shop owners I trust together. We’ll all have to be on the same page, but I don’t think we’ll have a problem getting them to agree. We’re all done with Angelo’s rule.”
“Jerry and Susanne, do they have a place to go?”
“They both have family on the West Coast, far from the Barones’ reach, and I doubt they’ll have enough men to spare to go after them.” Francine patted my knee in reassurance. “We’ll make sure they’re out of town tonight. Don’t worry about us.”
“You know everyone else will have to leave soon, right?” I chewed on my bottom lip, running through the logistics in my mind.
“That might be a problem.” Francine frowned. “There aren’t many in town who could afford even a few nights at a hotel, let alone a plane ticket right now. The Barones have upped their tithe for all the business owners. Most of us are barely able to keep the lights on anymore.”