Page 8 of Climb

The small diner's neon sign flickers in the night, adding a warm feel to the cold, the empty street. I push open the door, feeling the chill of the outside world dissipate as I step into the welcoming atmosphere. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries fills my nostrils, providing a brief moment of comfort.

The patrons inside are a mix of weary travelers and locals seeking refuge from the cold. They give me cautious glances as I make my way to the counter, but I pay them no mind.

A middle-aged waitress stands behind the counter, diligently wiping down its surface. Her weathered face shows her experience, and her expression seems guarded as she looks up at me. "Can I help you?" she asks, her voice weary and slightly rough.

"I'm looking for someone," I say quietly, showing her a picture of Natalia. "Have you seen her around?"

She studies the photo, her brow furrowing slightly. "Sorry, can't say that I have," she says regretfully. "She's a pretty girl, though."

I thank her and turn to leave, stepping back out into the unforgiving night air. Each dead end feels like a blow, but I refuse to let frustration cloud my resolve. Somewhere out there, Natalia is waiting for me, and I won't rest until I find her.

In the line of sleek, black SUVs, my men stand at the ready. They are a formidable sight, their muscles taut and weapons strapped to their bodies, all eager to find Natalia and bring her safely back to me. Searching for any sign of her, I make my way to them with hope in my voice. "Anything?"

Rico, a man of few words whose loyalty knows no bounds, shakes his head regretfully. "Still nothing, Boss. But we'll keep looking."

I nod, grateful for their unwavering commitment to this cause. "Keep searching. There's a chance she's here. I don't know why but I just feel it in my bones."

The drive is filled with tense silence, Rico and I lost in our own thoughts and fears for Natalia's safety. The darkness of the night surrounds us, stretching out endlessly as we push forward on our mission. It holds both possibilities and dangers as we navigate through its terrain, determined to bring her back home.

Rico heads up a dark street at our next stop and I tell him I'll catch up with him while I check in back home. I reach for my phone, needing a semblance of familiarity, something grounding. My fingers press the phone screen harder than I need to as I text Vinny, hoping his voice will give me some sense of normalcy.

"How's everything there? Just checking in."

I picture him lying in the hospital bed, his blue gown blending into the sterile environment, but his personality shining through as he gives the nurses a hard time.

His text reply comes quickly, the notification breaking through the tense silence in the car. "Not great. Nonna came to visit again."

A small frown tugs at my lips as my fingers tapping impatiently on the keyboard. Nonna's unexpected visits are usually a rare source of comfort in our dangerous line of work. But she's just as concerned for her granddaughters' whereabouts, so the pressure is on everyone, including poor Vinny. "Hang in there. She's a force to be reckoned with, but she’s on our side."

"I know," Vinny replies. "You be careful too, brother."

"I always am," I assure him, but the weight of his words on the screen lingers in my mind. "Stay safe out there."

I stare at the screen, wondering when we'll be on the other side of this situation. I can't afford to lose another teammate. But as I look out at the dark night and empty roads, I know danger can be lurking around every corner.

I drive up a side street that leads to another main road and park at a gas station. Walking toward the snack store, the bright fluorescent lights flood out into the darkness of the night. I can make out the attendant on shift inside, waiting for customers to pay for gas or buy stuff. I push open the door, and find the air inside is thick with the smell of coffee and pre-packaged snacks, a familiar scent that instantly takes me back to a few road trips in the past.

I make my way down the narrow aisles, scanning the shelves for a quick snack. A lone cashier stands behind the counter, his ill-fitting uniform hanging loosely on his thin frame. His expression is one of mild boredom, as if he has seen it all before.

Walking up to the counter, I pull out my phone and show him a picture of Natalia. "Seen her around?" I ask, keeping my voice steady.

The cashier takes a quick glance at the picture before shifting his gaze back to me. "Nope, haven't seen her. But you're not the first to ask about this girl."

His words cause my chest to tighten. "Other people have been looking for her?"

He nods. "Yeah, a couple of guys came in here asking the same thing. I told them the same thing I'm telling you. I haven't seen her."

I press for more details, hoping to get any kind of lead on who else wants to know where Natalia is, and how they know to look in this lazy little town. "Can you describe any of them?"

He shrugs lazily. "Not really. They were average-looking guys. One was tall with dark hair. The other was shorter and stockier. Both seemed pretty serious."

I thank him and step back into the night, my mind racing with new questions and concerns. Who else is looking for Natalia? Is she in even more danger than I thought? As I walk back to my vehicle, I can't help but feel a sense of urgency to find her and make sure she's safe.

Back in the SUV, I send a text message Rico with the update and my location. We meet up in the parking lot beside the gas station so I can update all my men.

They take one look at me once they all arrive from their respective directions in town and know that I have more information for them.

"What did you find out?" Rico asks as he stands next to me.

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