Someone Else

Chapter 8

I open the window and look out at the street, breathing in the crisp night air.

The nights here are completely silent and I love it. In the distant there are some fireflies floating around. Maybe I should go catch some!

That's when I notice a f*****g black car practically in front of my house.

Police? No, it's an expensive car and the tint is way too dark to be legal.

This is what I get for hanging out with Matteo and Giovanni. Why are these guys watching me? Are they enemies or allies of the Luciano clan?

If I get kidnapped I'm going to be so f*****g pissed. I didn't get reborn to be killed in the middle of some gang war.

Fuck me, I should not stare at the car, they'll know I know. I text Matt that there's a suspicious car outside my window but the message doesn't go through. What the f**k?

I try calling him and the annoying lady tells me this number isn't available. That asshole blocked me? Why?!

Oh, I probably shouldn't be sitting here in just a bra and panties. Nah, I'll give them a show, they'll probably not be too rough if they do decide to kidnap me.

I think about texting Giovanni but decide against it. Gio rarely replies back and his number is literally always busy. If only I lost my death wish when I lost my life that first time...

Honestly this is so boring. How long have they been watching me? I could never be a cop or detective or gangster, I have too little patience and I don't listen to anyone.

I roll up and joint and light it. Now that I've been here longer, I can buy the good stuff.

My phone rings and I answer immediately.

"Hey girl, what are you doing right now?" Steph asked.

"Therapy." I answered, blowing into the speaker.

She laughs. "Want me to come over? I could use some therapy too, with practice tomorrow and all."

"I'm spending quality time with my therapist, Mr Marijuana." I said. "Plus, you know you'd be exhausted tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, you're right."

Of course I'm right. "Did you and Keith just finish having phone s*x or something?"

"No!"

Uhuh, I totally believe her. "We should do something after practice tomorrow. You wanna go to the community pool and see how many guys ask for our number?"

"f*****g, yes. I'm about due for a confidence boost." She said. "I wonder if Keith will mind."

I laugh. So she's that serious about this guy. "Okay, we can go to the pool to not get hit on."

"Yeah, that sounds like a plan. I'll even wear my conservative bikini."

"As if that would make any difference. I gotta finish my therapy, I'll drive you to practice tomorrow morning. So don't be late, yeah?"

"Yeah, okay. Goodnight!"

I take another drag and hang up. When the hell is this car going to leave? Is it going to follow me around all day every day from now on?

Mr and Mrs Luciano are at their house in Sicily now, I shouldn't call them about this anyways. They think I don't know about their real family business, I'd like it to stay that way. They offered to leave me a key so I can use the pool but I turned them down.

When my joint is gonzo, I close the window and go to sleep. Maybe they'll realize they're wasting time and leave me alone.

___________________________________

The car shows up at the school and I sigh. Being followed around is so annoying.

Those perverts are probably jerking off in there watching us.

"Focus! Smile wider!" Brianna yells at me from down below at the foot of the pyramid.

I give her my best smile, doing the bow and arrow I'd been practicing. Smiling bright, smile wide, turn out your legs, kick higher.

Everyone cheers me on as I lean back and the guys catch me. It's just not the same without Julian...

Practice ends at 11 but I'm spent at 10 am. It's been three f*****g hours, can this just end already?

When it does end, Steph and I are too tired to go anywhere so I just drive her home and go to a coffee shop to get some writing done.

I see the car pull up in my peripheral vision and two guys get out. Oh, so they're kidnapping me today? Right now? In daylight?

One guy is short and fat with gelled up blonde hair combed back. The other in short but muscular, also blonde. They look...Russian?

Oh f**k me, the Russian Mafia has taken a special interest in me? I'm so f****d, this isn't even a joke anymore.

I try calling Matt but to no avail. All right then, maybe if I stay here long enough, they'll get bored and f**k off. Maybe I could play off being Russian? No my hair is too dark for that and my fake accent doesn't even sound good.

Damn it. I've already died once, I'm not dying again unless it's from old age.

They sit at the table directly behind mine and my skin starts crawling.

"So, how do you know Matteo Luciano?" The fat one asked from behind me.

He's asking me? He's talking to me? What's happening right now?

"I'm sorry, are you talking to me?" I asked with a believable English accent. I've practiced this accent a lot, even English people buy it. I turn around and blink at them. "Who's Matteo Luciano?"

"Your neighbor in 7710." He said.

Well f**k me. "Do you mean the Lucas?"

"The Lucas?" He repeats.

"Yeah, I met the guy on a run, he said his name was Matteo Luca." I lied easily. "I'm sorry, who are you? Are you their relatives?"

They scoff. "Don't push your luck, Amelia Shackler."

Double f**k. They know me, they know I know. They think I'm someone special.

There's no playing dumb at this point.

"Listen to me, you dirtbags. You will not blow my f*****g cover." I said.

"Blow your cover? And what cover is that?" The muscular one asked.

That's an excellent question actually. I have no idea myself. "I work with the cops so I don't go to jail for f*****g illegal substance distribution. I don't f*****g want to get tangled up with your side, I'm just trying to survive." I can tell they don't quite believe me. The thing is, Amelia has been arrested once for a DUI.

"You can look at my file in the police station if you wish. If I f*****g disappear, they'll look for me and then they will sniff up your butts." I continued. "So you stay the f**k away from me."

The muscular one clicks his tongue. "You can work for us too."

Shit on a stick, this is going south pretty fast. At least they believe me. "Am I getting paid?" I asked.

He chuckles. "Of course you teenagers are obsessed with monies."

That seems to do it and they get up. "Hey! Don't f*****g tell Matteo, he'll kill me!" I whisper yelled, grabbing the fat one's sleeve.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with us." He said.

I let go of him and they leave, looking satisfied with themselves. These f*****g goonies have one brain cell that they share but the person they work for is cunning.

I try to call Matteo again and slam my phone down. I can't believe he's f*****g ignoring me! I thought we were friends, chums!

I ask the waitress for my check and purposely leave five one dollar bills and coins. After seeing how I paid, their car finally drives off. What would I do without this gorgeous brain of mine?

I go home and scrub the hand that touched the fat Russian's skin. If Matteo ever heard what I said, I'm sure he'd let me explain myself.

Matteo wouldn't kill me, right? The sinking feeling in my chest lessens. No, I'm sure Matteo wouldn't kill me.