Chapter 133: Frank the Scumbag
Endless shifts.
Aside from sleeping and eating, Fiona's life had become nothing but rushing from one job to the next.
And William had been gone for nearly half a year.
More than once, Fiona had locked herself in a bathroom stall, sending texts and making calls to William—wherever the hell he was.
Every time, the same response:
The number you are trying to reach is not in service.
She didn't know whether it was William's "magic dick," or the lingering effects of the Obedience Whip, but for once—rare as it was—Fiona had actually managed to suppress her sex drive for half a year without spiraling.
Of course, being completely overwhelmed and exhausted probably helped.
Wiping away her tears, she finally returned to 2119.
But something was different today.
Someone was sitting on the front steps.
A figure holding a bottle of Coke, gazing off into the distance.
"…You're back?" Fiona stared at William, disbelief written all over her face.
For a moment, she wondered if she was hallucinating.
"Yeah. I'm back. How've you been? These past few months?"
William smiled gently.
Her expression collapsed.
Tears poured out instantly.
"Where did you go?! Why so long?! I couldn't reach you—not once!"
She rushed forward and started pounding on his chest with all the strength she had left, half-hysterical.
"Well… I'm here now," William said, offering no real explanation.
Because there was no explanation he could give.
"Fuck!" Fiona shouted.
"Hey—keep it down. Neighbors might hear. Oh, by the way—want to see my house?"
William pointed next door, at 2118.
The implication was obvious.
Fiona hesitated.
She still had a night shift later—and every time she was with William, time disappeared.
More than once, she'd seriously questioned whether he was even human.
But after six months of repression, self-control didn't stand a chance.
Half-resisting, half-giving in, she followed him into 2118.
---
The house was unfurnished.
But all the renovations were done—everything clean, finished, new.
William had arranged it all before he left, having Tommy handle the interior work too.
Furniture didn't matter anyway.
They'd done worse than floors before.
___
It was summer.
The bare floor felt cool against her skin.
Fiona lay there, eyes unfocused, staring at the ceiling, her mind completely blank.
"Holy shit—I forgot to go back and cook for them!"
She suddenly snapped out of it, scrambling to her feet and pulling on her clothes.
"Wait," William said. "You free tonight? I want to take you somewhere."
"Where?" she asked while fastening her bra.
"I've got a night shift at the club. Tips are good."
She didn't reject him—but she didn't agree either.
"Skip the night shift," William said casually.
She looked at him.
"If I skip work, I can't pay $1,700 a month in rent.
What—are you going to pay it for me?"
She leaned in and kissed him lightly.
"I'm not paying your rent," William said calmly.
"But you should listen to me. I've got a surprise for you."
That did it.
If William had tried the macho I'll take care of you routine, she would've been disgusted.
But a surprise?
That sounded like romance.
And romance, to Fiona, was worth missing one night's income.
She started thinking about who she could swap shifts with.
"Okay," she said. "But I still need to go back and make dinner for the kids."
She kissed William on the cheek one more time—and left 2118.
---
On the other side of town, Frank staggered out of a gay bar, legs trembling.
He looked down at the nearly one thousand dollars he'd scraped together over an entire afternoon and couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.
Still nowhere close to ten grand.
"Fuck… Liam, it's not that I don't want to save you," Frank muttered, shaking his head.
"I just… can't."
With that, he decided to head to the Alibi for a beer.
As for Liam?
Whatever.
No matter how scary those gang guys were, they wouldn't hurt one of their own.
Right?
So Frank happily went off to drink.
Scum stays scum.
---
While Frank was drinking at the Alibi, 2119 exploded.
"Debbie! You just let Frank take Liam like that? You didn't say anything?" Fiona snapped, furious.
"What was I supposed to say?" Debbie defended herself.
"He insisted on taking Liam. Was I supposed to physically drag him back?"
"This isn't the time to argue," Lip cut in.
"We need to find Frank first and figure out where Liam is."
"God. When Frank takes Liam, it's never good," Fiona said, panicked.
"Lip's right. We go find him."
Just as she made the call, the door opened.
William walked in.
"What's with all the excitement?" he asked casually, stepping up beside Fiona and wrapping an arm around her waist.
Lip watched—resentment burning.
Part of him hated William for having everything—women, control, leverage over him.
Another part hated Fiona for spreading her legs for the man he despised.
"William? You're back?"
Ian, Debbie, and Carl stared in shock. They hadn't known.
"Yeah," William nodded.
"Finally wrapped something up. I shouldn't be leaving the city so casually anymore."
"Fi, we need to go. Are you ready?"
Veronica walked in through the door, dressed lightly.
She and Fiona worked the same night shift at the club.
"V, I'm not going tonight," Fiona said quickly.
"Can you help me switch shifts? Frank took Liam—I need to find him."
"What? Why would Frank take a two-year-old?" Veronica said incredulously.
"Is his brain completely fried?"
"He is brain-damaged," Fiona snorted.
"You're just realizing that now? Thanks, V."
Then Fiona turned to Lip.
"Lip, watch the house. William and I are going to find Frank."
"Cool. I've got it," Lip replied.
With that, Fiona grabbed William and headed out.
Veronica followed them.
Lip stayed behind, leaning against the doorframe, silent for a long time.
"What're you doing just standing there?"
Ian asked, lighting a cigarette as he walked over.