Page 84 of Poison Pen
“Seriously, Enzo,” Frankie said, rolling her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips.
“You sure you’re alright?” Ricki asked, her thumb tracing the light bruising on Frankie’s cheekbone.
“I’m sure I’m alright,” Frankie assured her. “I mean, how many people can say they were pistol whipped by an FBI agent and lived to tell the tale?”
“Alright,” I cut in loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on here?”
“Oh, shit,” Ricki said, her eyebrows going up. “Asher, you can put the gun down. This is my friend Francesca De Marco—”
“Argenti,” Enzo cut in with a glare, and Ricki and Frankie both laughed.
“My bad, dude. Francesca Argenti and her husband, Enzo. They happened to be in town, and I thought they could help us sort out this mess.”
“Looks like you have it covered,” Enzo stated dryly, his eyes on Javier.
“I mean,” Ricki hedged, but I cut in.
“This piece of shit has been harassing Ricki for months. Then he kidnapped me and forced her to tattoo him.”
Enzo stared at me, one eyebrow going up.
“You let him kidnap you?”
I was about to object, when Frankie smacked him with the back of her hand.
“Oh, stop it. Leave the man alone. You were literally kidnapped two weeks ago. It happens to the best of us.”
“What the hell?” I asked, finally lowering the gun in my hand—mostly in shock. “Kidnapped? Pistol whipped by an FBI agent? Who the hell are you people?”
“Tourists,” Enzo replied, his stern face daring me to question him. “We’re just here to see the sights.”
“And get matching tattoos!” Frankie put in, clapping her hands.
“I am so fucking confused right now.”
“I know,” Ricki said, but she didn’t elaborate. Instead, she turned back to her friend and said. “I’m sorry you missed all the action. I really do need to get Javier to the hospital, though.”
“The piece of shit who’s been harassing you? Why the fuck would you do that?” Enzo asked, appearing honestly confused.
“I mean, not everyone knows how to handle such delicate situations, Enzo,” Frankie said, patting his hand where it was still wrapped around her stomach. He didn’t appear to want to stop touching her, a sentiment I could understand.
Looking at Ricki, I knew there was nothing I wanted more than to get her back to my place and wrap her in my arms, safe in my bed, where I could keep an eye on her.
Hopefully, for the rest of our lives, but I’d approach that subject with caution.
“Leave him with me, then,” Enzo went on, finally releasing his wife so that he could holster his weapon and retrieve his phone. “I’ll have this cleaned up in no time.”
“By cleaned up, do you mean...” I didn’t finish, but Enzo paused in his dialing and looked at me, stone faced.
“Do you really want me to answer that question?”
Glancing at Ricki, then Frankie, I saw they were both shaking their heads in the negative.
“I guess not,” I finally replied.
Javier moaned from behind me, amazingly still alive.
“Shut the fuck up,” Enzo snarled, not even looking at him. “Hey, Pop,” he said into his phone. “Yeah, I know what time it is. Don’t pretend you weren’t up. Listen. I need a crew. Yeah. Yeah, cleanup. No, I can deliver that myself. Just a scene clean. Okay. See you then.”