Page 157 of My Mafia Queen

“Yes. I think I can. Let me see.”

“It’s that bad?”

“It’s not good,” she says. “On top of that, I have a migraine.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be there soon. I’m entering LA right now. Just give me the directions to that place.”

“This looks familiar…” she says as if she hasn’t heard me. “Uh… Wait a minute.”

“What?” I ask, looking in the rearview mirror.

She says nothing.

“What is it, Jen?”

“I know this area.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, fuck.”

“What?” I ask impatiently.

“I’m two blocks away from where I live. It’s a small house with a green door and dwarfs on the front lawn. Who the fuck lives here?”

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll find out later. I just need to get you out of there. Can you walk to your place?”

“I can do that.”

Hope blooms in my soul.

“Perfect. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Maybe more, depending on how traffic is. Let me know if anything unusual happens. If not, I’ll meet you at your place. All right?”

“Yes. Please hurry.”

“I will.”

We end the call, and I step on the gas.

* * *

CARMINA

I enterJen’s street sooner than anticipated and drive straight to her place, tension building in my bones.

The thought that she’s relatively okay and I’ll have her out of harm’s way soon makes me feel good.

The fact that she’s hurt makes me clench my fists.

I'm doing everything Damaso taught me.

Driving by her place and checking the area.

Things look all right.

Most houses are sunk in darkness, as people get few more hours of sleep before the sun goes up.

My eyes hover over the cars parked in the street.

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