Page 126 of Married With Malice

But I know if he has to, then he will. He has his orders. He’ll follow them no matter what.

The alarm bell in my head becomes a deafening roar.

Something is wrong. VERY wrong.

Sonny is very relieved when I nod and go willingly. If I thought he meant me any harm then I’d make a run for it. But he drapes his trench coat over my shoulders and leads me outside to the black sedan parked in the driveway.

The other men are grim and aloof. They say nothing. One opens the backseat door to let me in. I feel at a distinct disadvantage in my robe and bare feet but I suppose those are the least of my problems right now. Sonny’s a smoker and his coat comes with an acrid stench but I pull it closed anyway as I’m wedged in the middle of the backseat and surrounded by strange men.

I’ll call Luca when I get to my parents’ house. Maybe he’s already heard the news of this unnamed emergency.

“I’m sorry if you’re cold,” says Sonny from the front passenger seat. “Here, I’ve turned the heat on full blast and we’ll be at your father’s house in no time.”

As the car rolls out of the driveway I remember that the kitchen door is still unlocked. I watch the house I share with Luca disappear from view as we turn a corner.

“You’re safe, Annalisa,” says Sonny and his tone is paternal and reassuring.

Why would he lie? I’m defenseless and there are four of them. I don’t even have my possibly unloaded gun with me.

But if I’m safe…

THEN WHO ISN’T SAFE??

Now comes a rush of words with demands to know the whereabout of my husband and my sisters.

Sonny sighs as he stares straight ahead through the windshield.

And he ignores every question I ask.

28

LUCA

Unreal. It’s like I’ve been cast in the role of Cranky Dad in a road trip movie while the other occupants of the car do their best to run me into a ditch with their squabbling.

“I never said your clothes were ugly,” Monte says from the backseat. “Where do you get this shit from?”

Sabrina turns around to fire back. “You said I look like an amusement park beggar.”

Monte cracks up. “I don’t think I used those exact words.”

“That’s how I remember it.”

“Put your seatbelt back on,” I say to Sabrina.

She sulks but clicks her seatbelt back into place. “It’s rotten karma to be mean on Valentine’s Day.”

“Telling you to wear a seatbelt for your own good isn’t mean.”

“I was talking to the swaggering anti-hero in the backseat.”

“Ah Sabrina,” Monte says, “I’m sure somewhere in the world there’s a manic pixie fanboy just awaiting the chance to do your bidding.”

“I’m sure that’s true,” Sabrina says, undeterred.

“What are your plans tonight, Monte?” I ask, mostly to change the subject. “Are you going out?”

“Yeah, I’ve got something lined up.” he says, being abnormally evasive.

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