This wasn't a life for love, and I was the fool headed there in the fast lane with no airbag.
"Nic, do you want to join us for games, or do you have to go to the shop?"
Immy's question broke through my morose thoughts, and I blinked at her as I tried to comprehend what she was asking. Glancing around the table, I realized it was just the two of us.
"Where did they go?"
"They went to the restroom. Nic, what's going on? I feel like you've been on autopilot for the past half hour. Everything okay?"
"Yeah, it's fine. Just remembering how dangerous life is for us. Sometimes, it's hard being in the family."
Immy reached over and took my hand, understanding etched on her face. "Life is hard regardless of who your family is, Nic. If you don't surround yourself with the people you care about, you're just punishing yourself. Besides, what fun is being the mafioso if you can't protect the ones that make your life better?"
Her words struck me in the chest, and I realized how right she was. I didn't want her to know she'd just schooled me, so I shrugged nonchalantly, taking to heart what she said. I sometimes forgot, despite her only being seventeen, how mature she was. She'd been sheltered, yes, but she also knew a reality most kids her age didn't.
A waiter walked over with the tab just as Loren and Jude entered back into the room. Opening the black portfolio, I stared, temporarily stunned at what I saw. I'd expected to see a receipt to sign, but instead, a message sat inside.
I gave you one warning. This is two. You don't want to make it to three.
-D
When I looked up to try to gauge the threat, a loud boom sounded throughout the room, throwing me back. My chair fell backward with tremendous force smacking my head forcibly into the floor. The heat rolled in next, followed by the sound as I started to come to. Through the fog in my head, I tried to piece together what was happening.
Hands braced my face as someone slapped my cheek to get my attention.
"Nic, wake up! Nic!"
"MoMo? Ow. Why do you keep slapping me?"
"Nic! There's no time to explain. We have to go. Now, come on. We have to go," she screamed.
Immy's tears hit my face as I became aware. Sitting up quickly, I gathered her in my arms and took off for a run toward the exit. When I made it out the back, a sound drew my attention, and for a second, I turned. Deep espresso brown eyes hit mine, and it felt like I'd been shot in the gut. I started to turn back toward her when my arm was pulled in the other direction. Fighting against the force, I attempted to go to her, but the hit to the head had disoriented me, and I couldn't fight the arms off that wrapped around my middle and shoved me into a waiting car.
"NO! Let me go. I need to go to her. Stop the car! You can't leave them!" I screamed it over and over, but there was no response. No one paid any attention to my command.
Immy was curled up in a ball in the other corner of the car, and tears streamed down her face as she rocked. Flipping back, I watched out the rearview the chaos unfolding before glancing around the car to identify who I was with and hoping I hadn't been abducted by one of the other families. Looking to the front, I recognized another guard. His name wasn't coming to my mind at the moment, but I knew he was family.
"Where's Dakota? Where are you taking us? Why wouldn't you stop? Our friends are still there, goddammit!"
Each question was met with silence. Slapping the back of the seat in front of me, I tried to get a reaction, but no one answered me. They continued to drive further and further away from the restaurant in silence. Immy jerked her head up at my command, her fear clear on her face. When I realized I wouldn't get anywhere with the men up front, I gathered her in my arms and rocked her while she cried.
While I wanted to believe her words earlier, the truth was, this only proved how dangerous our life was. I didn't know how Loren would forgive me for leaving her there, but maybe it was better this way. She could hate me now, but she would still be alive. At least, I hoped she was.
I cared enough for her at this point to be able to live with her hating me. It wasn't until we pulled up to the estate I remembered the note.
The question was, who were they threatening?