I lie awake, tossing and turning, my mind refusing to shut off. A burning rage that is inside me is taking over my every thought.
The people that killed my baby are still breathing.
Sitting up, I peel the covers away and tiptoe over to the wardrobe, trying not to disturb Frankie. He’s finally getting some rest. Pulling on my sneakers, Frankie’s phone keeps lighting up on the nightstand. Shit. I need to make sure it isn’t anything important.
I quietly pick it up. Messages from Enzo flash up one after another. I should be happy we saved all the girls, I just can’t focus on anything other than my grief.
The last one catches my attention. It isn’t from Enzo, it’s an email invoice from the hospital my mom used to be at with her name on it.
I tap the screen and open it up. Outstanding fees. My eyes widen as I take in the staggering amount. Hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of treatment dating back to the start of the year.
“What the fuck?” I whisper.
My hands start to shake. My fucking father was never using Romano’s money to pay for Mom’s treatment. That was the only explanation I had for his part in all of his involvement with the shady organizations.
Anger clouds my vision, making it difficult to see. I feel my chest tightening as I grip the phone tightly.
That asshole.
He was the man who was supposed to protect me and Mom. Now he’s the man who is partly responsible for me losing the baby.
I can’t take it anymore knowing he’s out there making money trafficking innocent girls.
I hate him and everything he’s become.
“Fuck!” I scream, letting some of the pain go with it. Frankie’s phone launches across the room.
All I see is red. I look up at all of our clothes hanging perfectly in the wardrobe and start yanking them off and throwing them across the room.
“Zara!” Frankie calls out, I can hardly hear him over the ringing in my ears.
His hands grip onto my shoulders, and he spins me to face him.
“Zara, I need you to calm down.”
“No. Frankie. I’m not doing that. I fucking hate him!” My chest heaves.
“Who?” He blinks at me in confusion.
“My dad. Romano. Fucking Alex downstairs. All of them. They need to go. They’ve done this to us!”
My cheeks are wet with tears, and my fists are clenched as my body trembles uncontrollably.
“They will, baby. I promise you, not one of them responsible will make it out alive. I need you to be okay first.” His warm palms run up and down my arms.
I grit my teeth. “I won’t be. Not until they die for this. Starting with my father.”
He tilts his head and his eyebrows knit.
“I saw your phone, Frankie. I know Dad hasn’t paid a single cent towards her treatment. You’re covering it. Where the hell is his money going?”
He sighs softly, pulling me into an embrace.
“He was never the man you thought he was, Zara. I’m so fucking sorry,” he whispers.
“What do you mean?” I ask, looking up at him.
“He’s been having an affair. He used the money to buy properties from what we can see so far. One of which his mistress lives in.”
“Who the hell is she?” I try to free myself from Frankie’s hold, but he only tightens it.
“We are looking into it. She isn’t our priority.”
My whole body trembles. “I want him gone, Frankie. I need him to pay for this.”
I feel his hand under my chin, guiding my gaze to meet his intense eyes.
“And I will deliver him to you, Zara. I will stop at nothing to end this, if that is what you want right now?”
“I do,” I say, without hesitation.
Sitting around here won’t fix anything. I can never get our baby back, but I can send the assholes down to hell that did this.
“I fucking love you, Zara. So much.” He tucks my hair behind my ears, stroking my cheek.
“Together, we can take these fuckers down.” A fire dances behind his eyes, fueling me further. If I only get to do one more thing in life, I will be happy knowing it is finishing them.
For the girls they trafficked, for my baby, for Keller, Kai and everyone else they’ve hurt.
It ends now.
“How do you suggest we get to my dad? I want to be there. I want to make him feel my pain, Frankie.”
“You will, angel. I’ll make sure of it. We do this, together.” He pauses. “I think it’s about time we went and spoke to our friend Alex, don’t you?” he says with a smirk.
“I do.”
