He cursed softly. She could already picture his scowling face. As she walked back to the Mustang, she noticed a muscular man studying the vehicle. He wore a suit and his face seemed familiar. He was in his late thirties, had dark hair, blue eyes, and a hooked nose. When she looked at him, recognition filled his features. He sneered at her. Jessie nearly dropped her phone, but she grabbed it just before it hit the ground.
“Jessie?” Sergio’s voice came from the other end. He said something but she hadn’t responded.
Fear rooted her to the spot. She knew this man. He was a frequent visitor at Mama Rossi’s and seemed to have close ties with Mr. Rossi. He stuck out like a sore thumb in Hillcrest Pine.
“Fancy running into you here,” the stranger said. He flashed her an unsettling smile. “You lovebirds should’ve done more than change your car plates. Maybe given it a full paint job.”
“Sergio,” she whispered, unsure what to tell him. “They found us out.”
“Tell your boyfriend to expect a guest,” the man said. He unbuttoned his jacket and showed her the gun tucked in his belt. “Oh, and don’t think of running. I’ll shoot you right here in the street, and I seldom miss. I won’t kill you right away. I’ll cripple you first. I have plans for you and your traitor boyfriend.”
She swallowed. Jessie had been thinking of doing just that. Running for the hills. She’d get a cab and direct the driver straight to the trailer park. This man couldn’t be here alone. Sergio told her how the Rossi Family operated.
They had plenty of pawns to waste, but this man wasn’t some upstart mobster. For one, his suit looked expensive, and she’d seen him plenty of times in the restaurant talking to Mr. Rossi. He was a shark in a tank of fish.
“Give me the phone.” The man held out a hand to her. Sergio hadn’t said anything, and she was worried their connection got cut off. She had no choice and she gave it to him. Her mind raced frantically. Sergio wasn’t at his best. Why did he have to fall sick today of all days? No. She wasn’t blaming him. She knew deep down that this was bound to happen.
“Hey, Sergio. It’s your good pal, Aldo. Aw. Don’t be like that, and no, I haven’t harmed a single hair on your girl’s head,” Aldo said.
The mobster kept one hand in his jacket. His hand gripped the handle of his gun. She knew Sergio had done the majority of the Rossi Family’s wet work.
Aldo didn’t look like a trained assassin, but he didn’t need to be. Jessie only stood two, three feet from him. If she turned on her heel and bolted, he’d have a clear shot. What was worse was the fact they were standing in the middle of a busy sidewalk.
“We’ll see you soon, buddy,” Aldo said. Aldo made another phone call. Whoever he was contacting answered right away. “It’s me. I have the waitress. Sergio’s at the trailer park.”
Sweat slid down her back as Aldo rattled off their address.
“I’ll meet you there,” Aldo said, then ended the call. He held out the phone to her.
She made a grab for it. Aldo only dropped it in the front pocket of his suit. “Nope. You’re not getting your phone back. Now, give me your car keys.”
Aldo had already confiscated her phone, so she had no way to call anyone for help. If she gave him the keys to Sergio’s Mustang, she’d truly be in his control. Before she could react, he grabbed a fistful of her hair, then slammed her head right against the car window. The sharp pain that radiated from a cut on her skull made her gasp. Her vision swam.
“I won’t ask you nicely again. Give me your fucking car keys,” Aldo said with a hiss against her ear.
“It’s in the right back pocket of my jeans,” she blurted.
He snatched the keys and gave her ass a squeeze. She balled her hands to a fist, but he easily caught her punch. What was she thinking? Of course, she’d never stand a chance against a mobster. All the fight went out of her body.
“Get in the car unless you want me to return you to Sergio in pieces,” he ordered.
Aldo pulled her hair. Tears filled her eyes as he yanked the door open. They’d garnered a couple of stares. A kid was even holding out his phone. Was he taking a video? He shoved her inside the car and she got in. She had no other choice. Aldo sat in the driver’s seat.
“Put your seatbelt on,” he said.
Blood bled down the side of her face, obscuring her vision. With fumbling hands, she did as he asked. It took a few tries, but she managed. She wiped the blood off her face. Aldo hummed as he drove. She leaned her head against the glass. Sergio and she had escaped death’s clutches once. Could they do it again?