Claude slipped out from the booth and I breathed a little easier, finally allowing myself to relax for the first time since Madame Vera's. If you don't know the giant weight placed on your shoulders due to owing an exorbitant amount of money to a very dangerous person, then you can count yourself lucky as hell. It's similar to the weight placed by not paying your taxes or your cellphone bill, and knowing that your service is going to be possibly cut at any minute... just a hell of a lot more dangerous. I hadn't even felt that kind of pressure when I had lost Julio's drugs because I figured I could talk my way out of it somehow or the other and to be honest, I had been a little bit overwhelmed and just didn't care as much.

Jimmy the waiter brought some food over and I barely noticed. I was too busy staring out the window, watching a gorgeous and expensive looking blonde exit a black town car and walk towards the diner. My brain was working overtime trying to figure out how and why I would know this woman, but it was coming up blank... wait a minute—

I had time to turn in my seat as Beatrice entered the diner and walked directly over to my table. I realized that my heart was pounding hard in my chest, the blood surging as every sense told me to run away, run away, while my brain interjected and tried to calm everything down with common sense and logic. There was no reason to panic right, and besides, she was gorgeous.

But what is she doing here?

Nothing good! Now start running you fucking idiot.

By that time it was way too late other than to watch Beatrice in her white designer suit as she slipped into Claude's seat and took a long sip of his soda, her eyes never leaving mine, daring me to say or do something.

"Harry wants to have a chat," she finally said.

"Is this about Madame Vera? Because I'm just about to get the money—"

"Harry says you shouldn't worry about the money, but if I were you, I'd really worry about it, if you know what I mean. Past experience, you know? But I also know you don't want to keep him waiting, and Bobby, you're keeping him waiting."

"I can't just leave. My friend is in the bathroom—"

"It will be quick, I promise. He's out in the car."

I looked from her to the car and then looked back towards the bathrooms. Why the hell was Claude taking so long anyway? And why was this whole situation giving me such a bad vibe?

"If you don't come I'm supposed to start killing people one at a time. Starting with your friend in the bathroom."

"Wait, what? Are you serious?"

"Nah, I'm just kidding. I figured it would be a really cool super villain type thing to say. Goes with the outfit, you know?"

"It's a nice outfit."

"I know. I like your suit too. Now, are you coming or what?"

Beatrice bounced up to her feet and took a huge bite of the burger I didn't remember Claude ordering. I wondered if I should leave Claude a note, or maybe text him to tell him where I was going, but I was only going to be a couple of minutes, right? After all, the car was right there.

Beatrice smiled back at me, and that more than anything convinced me that everything was going to be okay. She had survived Harry and here she was on his behalf, so it couldn't be all bad, right?

Right?

******** AUTHOR'S NOTE **********

The book is now AVAILABLE in Hardcover, Paperback and Ebooks. It's going to live here free on Wattpad, but if you love the story and want to support your awesome author (me), grab a copy from one of the lovely retailers below. Who knows: maybe it can become a bestseller with the help of you lovely WattPadders

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