[Aldo]
I remember when my parents and I moving into the neighborhood when we were kids. My dad had always dreamed of moving, giving up the whole wise guy lifestyle and all.
She must’ve been about five or six? Which meant that Andre was eight.
I remember him from school first. At first, we kept a distance between us as we walked home to the same area.
Then one day we were both buying comics at the little corner store. We became friends walking home everyday after school from that point on. Always at the end was Andre’s younger sister, home from school earlier than us, watching us through the screen door and playing with her toys. Or eating glue, as I liked to tease.
Now?
Now she wasn’t the girl who ate glue. Maybe that’s why it’s been such a weird and confusing time for me. My own memories and ideas of our lives were guiding me, not what the truth was now.
“Should we get back on the road?” Dawn asks.
“Yeah, I’d say so. We’ve still got to make time-” I almost choke out the last bit of coffee I’d just drained down. Instead, I gulp the boiling drink down and cough and sputter only slightly.
“Are you alright?” Dawn laughs.
“Yeah, it just went down the wrong throat.”
Dawn rolls her eyes and gets out of the booth. She adjusts her track pants and then turns. “I’m off to the toilet before we leave.”
I wink. “Meet at the van then?” She nods, and I watch her go, trying to stop the fear growing in my mind. The fear at what I hope I’d only imagined I’d just seen. But I have to know.
I turn around and look out the window, towards our van, where we’ve parked.
I look at the two men with folded arms leaning against a random car.
The two men from the car that was following us.
My blood surges, and rage fills me. I look after Dawn; she still hasn’t gotten to the toilets. I swing back to the men. They’re smirking now. They’re happy that I’ve seen them. I rise out of the booth.
This is ending now.
I don’t give a shit who they think they are. We’re doing business with them. Assuming they’re Kumarin people, trying to intimidate us on the way up to a deal is childish. I know I should call it into Luca, but I want to handle it.
Dad’s words about always being impulsive hits me but I shrug it off.
I’d much rather call and inform Luca that a problem is sorted out for once.
I head out of the gas station and into the car park. The wind chills my skin, and I zip up my hoodie jacket. I spot the men tracking me and still leaning on the car.
Their hands are covered in tattoos, and I see more leading up their sleeves. A truck comes in, and I have to wait for it to pass. Once it does, I see they’re gone. Heading back further into the carpark.
I follow, heading for our van. But they’re beyond it when I get there.
They duck between park lanes, behind a small three ton truck. I cross over and see them further on, edging me further away. I look at our van as I pass; they haven’t tampered with anything, have they?
I run to the next lane and see their boots heading behind another truck. I know that they could be leading me right into a trap, but I go anyway.
The thought of them threatening me pisses me off enough, but add in that this is meant to be some sort of deal with Luca and the fact that they’ve threatened Dawn’s life? I’m prowling with rage.
I’ve had enough of these guys. I’ve had enough of this bullshit. I want to know what the hell they want!
I get behind the truck and-
They’re gone.
I’m staring off at the exit lane, which turns into a merging lane for the highway, and the forest beyond.
I go back out to the lane of cars.
They’re not there either.
I get down on my knees and peek under all the cars. They’re not anywhere. I get up and frown. I start heading back towards our van.
Where the hell have they gone?
I spin around, trying to look down the little paths between cars. I search for their car, their plates, but neither of the men are anywhere. Nor is their car anywhere.
I turn back and start to head for the truck when I stop cold.
What if I wasn’t meant to get to them?
Dawn!
I sprint back to the gas station. How could I have been so stupid? Of course, they would lead me away from the station and get me lost just to get to her.
How could I be so stupid?
I’m running down the lanes between cars as quickly as I can. I didn’t realize how far I’d drifted from the gas station as I went after them. I cut down the lane to pass by our van, when I’m brought to another stop.
There’s a note on our windshield.
I pull it up and look at it. AndI don’t know what the fuck to think now…
*We’re waiting, Andre* It reads.
“What’s that?” Dawn asks.
I look up, surprised. I scrunch it up and stuff it in my pocket. “You scared me!” I joke.
“Got me jumping out of my skin reading the receipt.”
Dawn laughs and heads to her side of the van, nodding for me to get in. She’s picked up two extra coffees to go too.
Why didn’t I tell her about the note? Why didn’t I tell her about the men?
More than that, what has Andre been up to lately?