His threat echoed in my mind, and all I could picture was watching my son be shot right in front of me. That was a thought that I couldn’t bear.
Luckily, my hand managed to find and grab my cell phone at the bottom of my bag.
“Tell him,” Reyes demanded.
I stuttered a little before saying, “Aiden, um, we’re going to have to come back to get the ice cream a little later.”
I looked to Reyes, who gestured with his head to the door.
“But why?” Aiden whined.
“Come on,” I said, ushering him to the door. In my heart of hearts, I knew this was the wrong move.
Never be taken to the second location,my mind whispered. The advice was from a self-defense special I’d watched on television years earlier. That was the one piece of information that always stuck with me.
“Where are we going?” I asked Reyes when he yanked my arm in the direction of the tiny parking lot behind the parlor where my car was.
Panic struck me when I realized that only my car and a dark blue minivan sat in the parking lot. Most of the other patrons had parked out on the more highly trafficked street.
I managed to pull my phone out of my bag and slip it inside of Aiden’s jacket pocket.
Aiden peered up at me, but I shook my head and pressed a finger to my lips, signaling him to keep quiet.
“We’re going for a little ride,” Reyes said, his voice ominous.
“I don’t want to go with him,” Aiden complained, pulling away from the van.
“Shut up, boy,” Reyes said, his voice dropping all of the fake politeness it held while we were in the ice cream shop.
Aiden gasped when he saw Reyes pull out his gun.
“Don’t point that at my son,” I growled when he aimed it. I yanked Aiden behind me.
Reyes’ smile grew even more devious. “Look at you, all protective. If only you had that same energy when it came to getting my damn money. Get in the fucking van.” He pulled the driver’s side door open. “You’re driving.”
He pushed me toward the driver's seat.
“No,” I yelled when he yanked Aiden from my hold.
“Get in the car,” he growled, aiming the gun at Aiden’s head.
“Don’t hurt him.” My voice trembled. I ached with the fear I saw in my son’s face. His brown eyes begged for me to do something. To save him.
“D-do what he says, Mama.”
I choked out, “Okay, okay.” I held up my hands and climbed behind the steering wheel.
Reyes didn’t say anything as he slid open the back door and forced Aiden to get in before climbing in behind him.
“We’re going on a trip.” Reyes turned to Aiden. “Doesn’t that sound fun?”
“I want to go home,” Aiden said.
Reyes rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’ll send you home, all right.” He turned to me. “Close the door and start the damn van. We’re leaving.”
“Where am I driving to?” I asked as I started the van.
“First, you’re going to get my damn money. There’s an ATM not too far from here. Make a left out of the parking lot.”
