Page 6 of Unrestricted
"It's on me," I tell him. Since it seems unlikely I'll be picking up my paycheck this weekend, my boss, Sonia, can take it out of my wages.
"How generous." The hint of a smile plays at the corner of his lips again. I get the feeling Adriano likes to mess with his prey before devouring it. Adriano. The name fits him well.
"Now, tell me, what time do you finish work?"
"Three o'clock."
He glances at the watch on his wrist, a Hublot if I'm not mistaken. "Ah, only thirty-three minutes to go. I timed this well."
He makes it sound like a happy accident but I doubt anything this man does is mere coincidence.
"What will happen when I finish?"
"You'll say goodbye to your colleagues, grab your things from the staffroom and come with me." He pulls his jacket back just enough for me to glimpse the handle of a gun tucked into his belt. "You won't try anything."
"No, Signore Volante. I won't try anything."
I mean it. The time for running has come to an end. I'm exhausted from constantly being on the alert for danger. If I'm honest, I'm glad it's the Italians who caught up to me and not the Hungarians my brother brought into my life three years ago.
My countrymen have more honor in their dealings with women. If Adriano intends to kill me, I'm sure he'll do it quickly. Marton Vida's men would take their time, making me suffer. What they did to Gabriele, what I helped them do, was brutal.
"Good girl," he says. "Now, I think the old lady by the window is trying to get your attention."
Adriano picks up his coffee cup and plate and heads for a table by the door. I close my eyes and take a minute to compose myself before going to see what Mrs. Gillespie wants. I already know, of course, that she'll ask me for a box to take what's left of her scone home. She comes in every afternoon and orders tea and a scone with cream and jam which she eats precisely half of.
"Mrs. Gillespie." I greet her warmly although she's not a particularly pleasant woman. "What can I do for you?"
"Fetch me a box. I want to take this home." She purses her lips. "I don't know why you have to make them so big."
"Some people like them."
"Greed. That's what it is. Pure greed."
"Yes, Mrs. Gillespie." I am not wasting what may be my last few moments on earth arguing with this old bat. "Let me get a box for you."
"Be quick about it. I don't have all day."
As I turn, Adriano gives me an exaggerated look of sympathy. Asshole. As if he cares about me having to deal with a difficult customer.
I go and find a box and take it back to the table. Mrs. Gillespie swats my hand away as I try to put her leftovers in it.
"I'll do it," she grumbles. "You always break it."
Holding up my hands in surrender, I back away from the table. I almost laugh. There's an actual mobster sitting four feet away and right now I'm more wary of a feisty octogenarian.
For the next twenty minutes I carry on as normal. I smile at customers, make drinks and wipe down tables. My mind races the entire time. What happens when Adriano and I leave? Will they find my body at the base of Arthur's Seat in the morning? Or does he have something other than death planned for me?
I can't believe I'm being so blasé about it. I've allowed myself to think that just because Adriano has been civil in public, he'll be the same in private.
As I work, I'm acutely aware of Adriano watching my every move. He isn't doing it overtly. Part of his focus is on his phone the entire time, but every time I walk past his table, I feel the pressure of his gaze like a hand at the back of my neck. I know if I tried to slip out the back door, he'd be on me in seconds.
Just as my shift is about to end, Robin arrives to take over, cutting it fine as usual. She apologises for being late and I tell her it doesn't matter. Today I mean it.
Once she's safely installed behind the counter, I go and fetch my bag. It's the backpack I carry with me at all times. Containing my passport, cash and a change of clothes, it's got everything I need if I want to run. It's ironic really that the one day I should make a break for it, that's the last thing on my mind.
When I come back out into the café, Adriano isn't there but I'm not surprised when he falls into step beside me when I get outside. It's unseasonably hot today and I had planned to buy a drink and take it down to Princes Street Gardens. I like to sit there sometimes beneath the castle and watch the world go by. At least, I did.
"That looks heavy." Adriano takes the bag from my shoulder before I can respond. He unzips it and peers inside. "You were ready to run. Why didn't you?"
