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“Whoever she works with probably had a car sent there. I bet all those long trips to the bathroom were an excuse to plan her escape.” Aurelio peeks at me before returning his attention to the road. “That’s how she snuck off the property the night I followed her to her house.”
“How do you expect to identify the car she’s in now?” As I ask, a car pulls onto the street in front of us. The car beams light up the interior for a second, but it’s enough.
“That gold dress of hers is a good start.” Aurelio waits for a couple cars to pass before progressing forward.
“What could have driven her to run like this?”
“Hmph.”
“You got a problem with Zakiya or are you still mad I got you working for me?” I glare at Aurelio, having had enough of his silent judgment.
“Look, Sansone, you and I chose our professions. We’ve known the dangers since day one, and we live our lives accordingly. But that woman, she’s got secrets, and secrets can be deadly. Only she knows the risks she’s taking, and we can’t plan for what we don’t know.”
“Hmm.”
“You know I’m right about her. You should make her spill or you dump her.”
I look out toward the window as downtown turns into urban neighborhoods before more and more green spaces separate the buildings. “Let’s get one thing clear: I’m never leaving her. That will never be a choice I’ll make. And after tonight, I doubt I’ll have much choice about making her talk.”
We follow Zakiya to the warehouse district. Is she involved with the problems my company has been facing? Am I about to witness her working with others to destroy what I’ve built?
Impossible. Her original purpose for reaching out to me is I have the resources and ability to protect Jinx. Even if she wanted to test my response, she would never use Jinx. So why the hell is she here?
Aurelio cuts the lights and creeps closer to Zakiya’s car then stops to observe.
She gets out and looks around. Aurelio and I duck in time to hide from her. We’re in the deep shadows of an alley in a black car. We should be fine, but I become more vigilant as I watch her. She may have played off seeing us.
She walks to a black panel van, opens the back doors where she retrieves a duffel bag, then begins to strip out of her dress.
“Close your fucking eyes, Aurelio. I don’t want to explain to your boss why you’ve gone blind on a simple job. And you don’t want to go out on disability so early in your career.”
“Fuck you, asshole.” Despite his response, he reclines his chair and does as I told him.
Although a lifetime ago we pursued the same girl, we are not the sharing kind. Neither of us would let another man live after seeing too much of our women.
There’s no way Zakiya knows I’m here. She must think she’s alone to undress so freely in the open. One by one, the items I fantasized about removing from her body disappear to be lovingly placed in the car. She doesn’t remain in her bra and shareware for long. Soon she’s clad in all-black body armor and multiple blades.
“Well, fuck me.” Seeing her in a badass outfit is doing more for me than the gold dress did.
“I’d rather not. I reserve the right for a certain kind of woman.” He noisily exhales. “Can I open my eyes now?”
I glance at Aurelio who has one eye peering at me. “Yes, she’s decent.”
He raises his seat. “Is she going to war?”
“Looks that way. How many weapons do you have in this car?”
“Seriously Sansone? You want to be her backup when you don’t know what the hell she’s getting into?”
“I protect what’s mine. She belongs to me. You need to get that through that brick for brains you got in that head of yours. Now how many guns do you have?”
Aurelio huffs an annoyed breath. “Enough. Check the glove compartment and under your seat. If we need more, I’ve got the more powerful stuff stashed in the trunk.”
I pull a Colt Python from the glove box and a Glock 17 from under my seat. He adds to the gun strapped to his holster with one from under his chair.
When I look up to check Zakiya’s progress, she’s taking down her updo to put it in a serviceable ponytail, depriving me of another pleasure.
Anger simmers inside me. Whatever is going on, she better have a good reason for putting herself in danger and denying me the fulfillment of my plans.
