Frank and four of his guys are on the landing. The apartment door’s closed.
“Cops inside,” Trick murmurs.
He says it as a warning to me, and I nod.
“This isn’t your block anymore,” C says to Frank.
“Something of mine is here. So I’m here. Why areyouhere?” Frank asks, staring us down. He’d be a moron not to suspect that we had a hand in Rachel’s disappearance, but normally when we take something from him, it stays taken. So there’s a chance he won’t connect things unless she tells him.
Of course, she’ll tell him, I think.Why wouldn’t she?
The door opens, and cops come out. “You can clear this area. Ms. Palermo’s all right. She’s staying at her friend’s place. It was a misunderstanding.”
Frank turns and reaches for the door handle. The door’s locked.
I feel his struggle. He wants to kick that door in as much as I do, but the cops are watching.
He bangs a fist on the door.
It opens, and she’s there, her black hair gleaming in the light, her pale skin glowing like goddamned moonlight.
“Hey, Dad—”
He grabs her arm and yanks her out of the doorway. She’s wearing the dress I cut off her. It’s held together with strings and duct tape.
I block the path. His guys march forward, and I feel C and Trick at my back.
“Stop,” Rachel says. “Just stop a second,” she says, trying to jerk her arm free from Frank’s grasp.
When he doesn’t let go, I start shoving until I’m through Frank’s guys.
In my peripheral vision, I see weapons get drawn. There’s noise, too, raised voices, feet shuffling. Normally, I can keep track of a scene, where the threats are, what my best move is. But that part of me can’t take over because I’ve got one focus.
“Zoe said you were waiting at her place,” I say to her. “She’s looking forward to seeing you.”
Frank’s eyes are fixed on me, but I don’t make eye contact. There’s no good outcome to a stare-down between Frank and me right now.
“I want to see her, too. I thought she’d be here by now,” she says carefully. She winces, and my eyes drop to the grip he has on her arm.
I clench my fists, but keep my arms pressed to my sides. It’s close quarters. If shooting starts, we’ll all likely get hit, including her.
“If Zoe wants to see you, she can come to the house,” Frank says, pulling her.
There’s a second staircase on the opposite end of the landing. The police are ordering guns to be lowered. Frank uses the opportunity to put more distance between Rachel and everyone else. I let them get on the far stairs before I follow, but then I close the distance fast. When they get to the bottom, I’m lockstep with Frank.
He and I both know he’s got no chance if I force a confrontation. I’m too close for him to draw on me, and without weapons, there’s no contest.
“You can wait in Zoe’s apartment. C will bring her to you,” I say. There is zero chance C would bring Zoe here while Frank’s around, but I say it because it’s the one thing I know Rachel wants. I can figure out a way for her to see Zoe later, once I have her again.
Frank grabs her other arm and jerks her around so she’s facing him.Too fucking rough.My arm moves instantly. It’s around his throat in a choke hold.
“Let her go. Right now,” I growl.
He releases her, but my grip tightens. I can free her and end the war. All I have to do is not let go.
“The police,” she whispers, stepping forward. “On your six.”
I weigh things in my mind.
