I was ready to pull my gun if they came inside the café –
But strangely, they walked right past. They didn’t even glance at us.
Instead, they headed towards Bianca’s dress shop.
“What the hell?” I murmured.
“What is it?” Emilia whimpered from behind the bar.
“You’re fine – it’s okay to get up,” I said.
I moved a few feet closer to the door so I could see the car better.
The windows were heavily tinted, but I could tell someone was behind the wheel.
A getaway driver.
Fuck.
My mind raced through my options.
I had the element of surprise. Nobody had seen me yet.
If I left through the café’s front door, the driver might spot me and let his buddies know I was coming – or come after me himself.
But if I could get into the dress shop without being seen…
There was an alleyway out back where the dumpsters were. Both the café and Bianca’s store let out into it.
“I need to get into the alleynow,”I told Emilia. “Can you help me?”
“Sure,” she said, worried. “Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know.”
As I followed Emilia past the storage rooms to the back of the shop, I pulled out my phone and dialed Adriano.
“What’s up?”he asked as soon as he answered.
“Some assholes just parked in front of the shop. Something’s not right.”
His voice immediately became cold and calm.“Who are they?”
“I don’t know, and I’m going to take care of it, but get over here as soon as you can.”
“I’ll be there in five.”
I hung up just as Emilia opened the back door.
“Lock the door behind me,” I told her, “but if I bang on it three times, open it.”
“What’s going on?” she asked, afraid.
“Maybe nothing – but lock it after I’m gone.”
Then I gave her a quick kiss and stepped out into the alleyway.
75
