I’m okay with that. Holy shit. I’m okay with that.
Chapter 5
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember, wear something nice and sexy. Show off those voluptuous twins you got up top. Emerson will go bonkers. In fact, maybe just wear the apron.”
Toni gave her friend’s shoulder a smack.
“Cut it out.”
Tina and Toni had finished locking up the storefront and started walking down the street together.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of tires squealing and then what sounded like shots being fired. Toni pulled onto Tina and shoved her down to the ground and out of the way, behind a parked car. She slipped and scraped her arm on the metal of the bumper as the loud, crackling racket continued to explode around them. Glass shattered and she was certain that bullets were fired, too.
Tina screamed and covered her ears. Toni’s heart raced and pounded in her chest as the car disappeared, but a few more popping sounds echoed behind them and against the front entrance to Bliss.
“Oh my God, what was that?” Tina asked.
“I don’t know.” Toni looked around them. It was dark out, but there was enough light from the street lanterns to illuminate the area. Toni felt the instant stinging in her arm. Before she even looked at herself, she looked at Tina. “Are you okay?” she asked her, helping her best friend to stand up. She looked just as frazzled as Toni felt.
“Yeah, what the fuck was that about? I thought it was a drive-by fucking shooting,” Tina stated in a shaky voice. Toni felt the exact same way, as they held one another and looked around them. They wanted to be sure that no one else was going to drive by and try to hit them with something.
“Look,” Tina said, as Toni’s eyes landed on the same thing her friend was pointing to.
“Firecrackers? What the hell?” Toni released Tina’s arm and walked closer.
“They had to have thrown about five bricks of firecrackers at us. Look at the damn mess, with all the shredded papers.” Tina raised her voice. Now her friend was pissed.
Toni scrunched up her nose. The smell of gunpowder from the fireworks filled the area where they were. The little bit of smoke still had to dissipate, but the entire scene made Toni feel eerie.
“But look at the window on that store, and the door. No fireworks would do that. They were sho
oting bullets, too,” Toni stated.
“Oh my God, we could have been killed,” Tina said, and Toni agreed.
“I swear, if I find out who did this, they’re dead meat. I mean come on. Did you see the car they drove? I think I did.”
“Yeah. It was black, and medium sized,” Toni replied.
“No, I think it was dark blue. Like maybe a sedan.”
“I don’t know.” Toni tried to stop her heart from racing. Then she felt Tina grabbing her arm.
“Oh shit, you’re hurt,” Tina said. Toni twisted her arm into an awkward position so she could view the damage. She definitely had a cut and scrape on it. The blood was getting all over her shirt. Tina pulled out her cell phone. “I’m calling the cops. This is bullshit.”
Toni swallowed hard. If Tina called the cops, then her cousin would find out, then her uncle Vincenzo…
“Yes, they threw like a shit load of firecrackers at us as we walked away from the storefront. I think they shot bullets, too. One of the store windows is shattered. The owner is injured. Her arm is bleeding, and I think this should be reported,” Tina stated into the cell phone, as she gave the 911 operator all her information. It was too late. Now her cousin and uncle would find out.
Toni instantly thought about the threatening letters she had received. Three in the last four months. Could this be related to those threats?
“Okay. The cops are on their way. They may send an ambulance.”
“An ambulance? I don’t need an ambulance,” Toni stated.
Tina rubbed her hip and ass. “Well, I might need one. You’re incredibly strong, Toni. When you tackled me to the ground to cover me, I hit that sidewalk concrete with a thump so hard I think I’m going to have some wicked bruises.”
“I’m sorry. I was so scared, and thought that it was gunshots.”