Page 47 of Take A Chance

Emma

Iwatched out the window as the rain got worse. Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the landscape momentarily before plunging the earth back into darkness as it retreated into the clouds. I’d used the towels the cashier had given to me to dry off, but little could be done with my soggy clothes. I shivered and hugged my arms across my stomach. It had been almost two hours since I'd called Blake, and while I knew we were north of the city, I had no way of knowing how far north or whether Blake would be able to find me.

“Here you go, honey.” The cashier slid a plate of pancakes in front of me and set a jar of syrup there too. She reached into her apron and pulled out a cutlery pack, rolled up in a paper napkin. I wasn’t hungry, but I didn't want to be rude.

“Thank you,” I said, smelling the fresh-cooked bacon nestled onto the side of the plate next to the pancakes.

“Moe will make you more if you’re hungry, alright? You just eat.” She winked at me and headed back to her post near the door, and I stared at the pancakes, wondering how I would manage to make them disappear with the way my stomach felt. I picked up the cutlery and unwrapped it, laying the fork and knife to the side as I carefully placed the napkin across my leg.

Every noise in the place made me jump, scared they’d found me and were breaking the door down or something. Moe dropped something in the kitchen about once every ten minutes, so my nerves were on edge. My hand trembled as I poured some syrup on the pancakes and set the jar aside. I used the fork to cut a small bite and place it in my mouth. The warm, buttery flavor coaxed me into another bite in spite of my upset stomach, and before long, I had half the stack finished up. I wiped my mouth with the napkin and thought about asking for a glass of milk when the door of the diner opened, the bell above it chiming.

I looked up to see a man walk in, dark hair, tall, wearing a black leather jacket and dark jeans. He didn’t notice me, so I shrank down into the corner of the booth hoping he wouldn’t. My heart raced. He wasn’t one of the men who’d brought me here with orders to make sure I killed Louie’s cousin, but he looked familiar. The hair on my arms stood on end. My shivering got worse.

The man walked up to the counter and talked to the cashier, who had a smile on her face as if he were just another customer. I hadn’t seen him drive up, so I didn't know what sort of car he drove or if he had walked up like I had. She glanced at me, her eyes lingering for a moment before she handed the man a menu and led him to the opposite side of the diner. I could still see him, but where I sat was dark. I hoped that made me harder to spot.

As I watched the man from my corner, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He seemed too calm, too collected. Was he one of them? Had they sent him to find me? My mind raced with all sorts of possibilities, and my anxiety levels were skyrocketing.

The storm outside was getting worse by the minute. The wind howled like a pack of wolves, causing the diner's sign to creak and groan. The rain came down in sheets, battering against the windows with a ferocity that made it difficult to see anything outside. Every few seconds, there was a flash of lightning, followed by a deafening crack of thunder that shook the entire building. I huddled in my booth, feeling small and vulnerable as the storm raged on outside. It seemed like the whole world was in chaos and I was just a small, insignificant part of it.

The lights flickered, and at another loud boom of thunder, the power went out and the diner was plunged into darkness. I could hear the man getting up from his seat and the cashier's voice as she apologized for the inconvenience. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I wondered if he was coming over to my table. But then, to my relief, I heard the cashier telling the man that they couldn't cook for him anymore due to the power outage.

I could hear him cursing under his breath as he made his way toward the door and the sound of the bell ringing as he stepped out into the rain. I let out a sigh of relief and slumped back into my seat. The power outage had saved me, for now. But how long would it last? And what would happen when it came back on? How long would it take Blake to get here?

The cashier came over to my table with a flashlight, apologizing for the inconvenience. I could see the worry etched on her face. “Honey, you okay?” the cashier asked as she approached my table.

I shook my head. “I don't know. I'm just really scared.” I tried to calm my breathing.

The cashier gave me a reassuring smile. “Don't worry, dear. We'll get through this. I have a generator out back, but it's going to take some time to get it going.”

I nodded, feeling a little relieved. “Thank you.”

“Here, take this blanket and get some rest.” The cashier handed me a cozy blanket, and I wrapped it around my shoulders. “I'll keep an eye on things. You just try to relax.”

I thanked her, grateful for her kindness, and wrapped the blanket around me as I lay down on the booth. She picked up the plate of half-eaten food and shuffled away, and I tried to get comfortable. The rain continued to pour outside, but I felt a sense of safety in the warmth of the diner. I closed my eyes, hoping to catch some sleep before the power came back on and Blake got here.

I dozed for a while, I wasn’t sure how long, and when the lights flickered back on, I blinked my eyes open. The rain still pounded the window, but the thunder was fading away in the distance. I sat up and yawned, rubbing my eyes. The cashier wasn’t near her post, but Moe was wiping down tables. I felt bad. It was probably time for them to lock up and go home, and they were waiting for me to leave. I had nowhere to go, though.

When the door chimed, I froze in panic again. Where Moe stood obstructed my view of the door and the person entering. I was terrified the strange man had come back and was searching for me. When Moe moved that way, telling whoever it was that they had to leave, I heard them protest. A warm baritone that soothed my fears instantly. Blake was here.

I bolted out of my seat and rushed toward the door where Moe was physically pushing Blake toward the door to Blake’s protests.

“Look, buddy, we’re closed. Leave now.”

“You don’t understand. I’m looking for someone.”

Moe had his hands on Blake’s chest. “I said, get out. We don’t like your kind around here.”

“Blake!” I screeched, squeezing between him and Moe.

Moe backed off, running a hand through his mop of dirty blond hair. “Sorry, lady. I didn’t realize he was your ride. Look I’ll give you a few minutes, but I really gotta lock up soon.”

“Thank you, Moe. For everything.” I sighed and buried my face in Blake’s chest. Moe walked away, and I stood there letting Blake hold me. “Thank you for coming. God, I’ve been so scared.”

“I’m here now, okay? Let’s sit for a minute.” Blake led me to the nearest booth, and we sat across from each other. He held my hands as I trembled. “What happened? God, I was so worried about you.”

“My father’s men took me, Blake.”

“And your father is Joseph Bonetti?” he asked, eyes trained on me, narrow slits.

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