seraphina

your squealing goes up a notch and now your hands are over your eyes. frank drops the hammer on the man's toes, startling another pained moan out of him but frank is unmoved. "baby—"

"my rug!" you warble out, still confused on whether any of this is real, peeking from between your fingers.

frank looks down, winces at the red puddle that seems to only get bigger with time. "shit, sorry, ba—"

"and my drink!" you cry, now pointing your shaking finger at the man bleeding out on the chair. "he's bleeding all over the place, wha— I don't—"

frank shushes you before you can talk yourself into a tizzy. "hey, it's alright, hey" he goes to step towards you then reconsiders. he's covered in blood, and he's pretty sure getting it on the coach bag you just got with his credit card might be what tips you over the edge.

"s'alright, sweetheart, don't gotta worry. I'm almost done here, yeah? let me finish up then I'll take you out, ok? dinner? that place on 5th."

you blink at him, then back at the man when he whimpers.

"hey," your eyes fly back to frank, who's chasing your gaze with his hands up in what he hopes is a reassuring way. "you trust me, right? you know I take care you. wouldn't let anything happen to you, would I?"

you shake your head, because of course he wouldn't. he mirrors your head movements, trying not to spook you. "that's right, daddy takes care of you, doesn't he?"

"daddy takes care of me" you nod - and you don't stop nodding, just up and down until he's worried you're gonna make yourself dizzy. the man behind him starts to gurgle and frank sighs, picking the hammer back up.

"right, so you gotta trust me, yeah? turn around and put your hands over your ears, you hear? eyes closed, baby, c'mon let me see it."

only after you do as he says does he swing. you are never getting that blood out of the carpet now, that's for sure.