“And destroyed our property,” I say under my breath. “Did he have to drag us out like that? I almost had a goddamn heart attack.”
After the goon shoved us into that SUV last night, the driver didn’t say a word. He pulled into my parents’ driveway, stopped the car, and gestured for us to leave with only a tilt of his head. He stayed until we got inside. I peeked through the blinds and watched as he backed out of the long driveway, thankful he didn’t wake my parents.
A few hours later, I was awakened by the obnoxious roaring of a motorcycle. I live on a quiet street, and any noise in the middle of the night is foreign. My friends didn’t stir, but I tiptoed to the window and peeked through my blinds for the second time that night.
I remember gasping and taking an involuntary step back when I saw the motorcycle in the driveway. I’ve grown up in thishouse with my parents and sister, and a bike has never graced the premises. My mother would faint.
The rider had his helmet on, but I knew it was him. No one is that big. He was still dressed in all black, this time with a black leather jacket. The motorcycle was black and red, and the dash of color somehow made him look more dangerous.
He flooded the engine a few more times before he drove away.
I won’t tell my friends. At least not while Selene is here. I might tell Cori later, but Selene is a minister’s daughter who, despite being an adult, is still scared of her father even though she denies it.
“Okay, so the dude was scary as fuck, but he’s an ally. He saved us from predators,” Cori says. “And I got to see him up close. Did you see his face?” She fans herself with her hand. “And that body?” She pretends to faint. “God damn.”
I finish my water, but my head still pounds. I need coffee. Better yet, I need a latte or a cappuccino. My stomach growls, and I realize only food and liquids will help me feel better.
“Ally, my ass,” I mutter. “He could have dragged those assholes into the alley without scaring us half to death. And now he knows where I live,” I whisper.
“You know half this town is owned by one person now,” Cori whispers. “Well, I don’t think it’s one person. It’s an enterprise.” She looks around. “A criminal enterprise, and that scary dude from last night is involved. He’s been living here for the past six years.”
I’ve lived in Shadow Cove my entire childhood, but left after high school. It’s your standard small New England town. After high school, I attended college in Boston and never moved back home. I stayed there for graduate school and worked as a physical therapist for three years.
I’ve visited over the years and would only listen with half an ear while my father talked about the dark element that had taken over the town.
“Dad said something about money laundering,” I whisper.
“We don’t know, but they own all the clubs from here to Boston, most of the restaurants, laundromats, and the casino in the next town over. And that’s all the stuff my dad has speculated on,” Cori says. “They donated to his campaign,” she whispers. “But he doesn’t know that I know. I heard him and my mother whispering about it one morning.”
“That dark angel did?” I ask.
Cori snorts and shakes her curly head. “I don’t know about him. He’s not even the boss. He’s like the boss’s goon.”
“His enforcer,” Selene stresses with a shiver.
“Who is the boss then?” I ask.
“Some nameless, faceless dude,” she says with a shrug. “I think that part is made up.”
I fall back on the sectional and put the cold, empty water bottle to my throbbing head.
“I want to forget all about last night and that thug enforcer.” I find my phone underneath the sectional. I check my bank app, holding my breath while it loads. No one knows how broke I am, not even Cori. Luckily, I get my first paycheck on Friday, and if I eat at home every night until then, I should be okay.
I exhale when the app says I have seventy-seven dollars and nine cents in my account.
“Let’s get breakfast,” I announce. “Hopefully, we won’t run into that thug at Seven Heaven,” I say about the popular local breakfast spot.
An hour later, after a much-needed hot shower, I take my first sip of my cappuccino at Seven Heaven. Despite living in the city for the past ten years, I’ve never found a cappuccino as good as this one.
It’s my first time here since I moved back. The place still has booths with red pleather seats, but they now lack the ripped patches. The windows also look new, and potted plants are now at the entrance.
“Ms. Hazel must be raking it in,” I say. “This place looks good.”
Cori gestures for me to come closer. I do, and so does Selene. “The rumor is Ms. Hazel is on the take.”
“The take?” Selene asks, and Cori rolls her eyes. “Like the gang of delinquents bought her off?” Her eyes go wide, and Cori nods. “No way. Not Ms. Hazel.”
I wave my hand away. “Let’s not talk about that guy anymore. I’m going to eat like this is my last meal, and I’m going to spend the rest of the day relaxing in my shitty apartment. Maybe I’ll convince my dad to give it a fresh coat of paint for me. What are you guys having?”
