22
Karina
The house is small and quaint. Not anything I’d expect from a man living in a mansion and working for the mafia.
Why show me the house?
Why take me here?
Is he trying to show me what it was like growing up, being with his grandfather?
I can’t wrap my head around it, but the peacefulness is too surreal. I haven’t heard anything more than the wind and birds as I walk along the gravel road dividing the field.
There’s no sign of civilization.
No other houses nearby, but we passed a few before turning onto the road. I assume it’s a private street.
His grandfather owned quite a bit of land.
Was he in the mafia too?
How did Aurielo end up working as an interrogator?
Whatever the reason, I’m not sure I want to know his story or will like hearing it.
In the distance, the roar of an engine startles me. It’s coming from the opposite direction of the house.
I step off the road, and the SUV rushes by, kicking up dust and dirt as it barrels down the road for the cottage.
Two more identical SUVs follow.
My stomach flops, and the hairs on my arms stand on end.
Something is wrong.
I can feel it deep inside of me.
Ashton is in danger.
I tear down the road, tripping over my feet when I near the cottage. All three black SUVs, the same ones that I witnessed barreling down the road minutes earlier, are parked out front, blocking Aurielo’s vehicle.
I retrieve my burner cell phone from my pocket.
There’s no reception.
Who would I even call? I don’t have Francesco’s phone number, and my sister can’t help. Do I try the cops?
I don’t have a weapon or anything useful to use in defending myself or my son.
I sneak around the back of one of the empty SUVs and peek through the window, trying to see what’s happening, and glance inside for any spare guns or tools.
There’s a black bag in the trunk, but I don’t wait around to open it and find out what’s buried inside.
I hurry from one SUV to the next, getting a closer look at the scene in front of me.
Six men have their guns poised at Aurielo. It’s a bit of overkill for one man.
He pissed off someone.