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“I'm gonna take my fifteen. Tell the boss?”
Leah just nodded solemnly. I walked back into the kitchen as I untied my apron from my waist. I passed the servers’ small break area and threw the apron on the counter and bee lined for the back door of the kitchen. I quickly pushed it open and took in a much needed breath of fresh air. The bright summer sun fell on my face and gently warmed my skin. I needed to get out more, maybe take up running or get a dog. The sun made me feel human again, and with so much darkness in the world, it really was the only light. I closed my eyes and let the warmth of the sun calm my nerves.
I walked past the trash to sit on a bench by the road and saw a newspaper there from the day before.
“Mobster makes it out of jail” was the headline.
I grabbed the paper and took it with me to the bench. Reading the article, I immediately knew w
ho it was about. I made a call. My hands shook as I held the phone. I couldn’t believe this was finally happening. Everything I had waited for.
“He’s out.”
“We knew that was coming. Have you seen him?”
“No. But when I do, I know what to do.” I tried to sound stronger than I was. But if I didn’t, he would lose it on me. Again. I still had the marks from the last time I screwed up. Bruises that were yellow from healing.
“Good. Make it count. Make him pay for what’s he’s done.”
“I will.”
I left the paper on the bench as I walked back to the diner.
Luka Gioti would come for me. And I would be ready.
He was the reason my parents were dead.
5
Vienna
Just a few days later, I was working the night shift. The place was empty.
“I think I’m going to knock off early. There’s no one here,” I said to Leah as I filled some salt containers.
“Go for it. I’ll close up this time.”
I smiled at her. We had helped each other out so many times that neither of us felt bad anymore about leaving early or asking to exchange shifts.
I left my apron under the counter and took my tips for the night. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, waving to her as I left.
I was counting my money when I heard a loud engine enter the parking lot, startling me. I moved from the back parking to the side of the building to get a better look at what had startled me. A silver sports car drove up into the parking lot, and it seemed woefully out of place. The diner’s lot was usually filled with an array of minivans and small sedans. The revving of the powerful engine did not fit in.
The mysterious driver turned off the car and I walked into the front parking lot to try and get a better look at him. When he stepped out of the vehicle, my whole body froze. I could hardly breathe. Luka Gioti stood in front of me, dressed in a gray suit with a blue tie. His dark hair looked different, slightly longer than the last time I had seen him. And he had a tattoo that just crept out of the collar of his shirt. He looked so suave, with his hand unbuttoning his jacket, as he walked toward me. My mouth dropped open slightly at the sight of him, and as much as I didn't want to admit it, my whole body ached for him to touch me.
But that wasn’t the plan.
“Vienna?”
I simply nodded, unable to find my voice.
“It's been a long time. Do you think we could talk?”
I didn't want to talk. But this was part of what we had set up. I had to go with him.
“I guess. Why?”
“Because I’ve missed you.”
