A Promise

Waiting...

Behind the diner, I watched as the sun sank beneath the buildings on the horizon. The lot stretching behind the series of shops including the diner darkened as heavy clouds rolled across the sky. The remnants of snow freezing to hidden patches of ice in the potholes, but I waited. The van sat parked at the back of the lot, away from the lone camera on the far corner of the building, unlocked as waiting as I stood just out of sight against the back of the diner. The freezing cold from the brick wall seeped through my jacket, but it didn't bother me.

Every hour, Travis had stepped out to smoke. His anxiety burning through his cigarettes as fast as he could smoke them. And every hour I had watched him step out, stand there, and go back inside from drivers seat of the van, watching through the side mirrors as he checked and double checked up and down the sidewalk before going back inside. Just like clockwork. He'd be out again any minute, I checked my watch again. My mask sat on top of my head, folded to look like a beanie, ready for when I needed it. And there it was. That ugly creak as the door swung open. Shuffling footsteps. That's my cue. I pulled my mask down and stalked around the dark corner, drawing my gun from my belt.

He had his back to me as I appeared behind him. Stopping a few strides behind him, I flicked the safety off, watching him freeze at the unmistakable click. No matter how many times I did this, it never got boring. The fear in his eyes. The tremble in his lips as he began to beg. Tripping over his own feet as I directed him across the parking lot, away from prying eyes. Before long I had him on his knees,

"You know, not many people are stupid enough to take money from the mafia, Travis, but it takes a special kind of stupid to not pay the fucking money back."

"Please, I just need more time-"

"The time for bargaining has passed, buddy. Besides, I'm not loanshark, I'm just a soldier, I don't make deals, I follow orders. And I was told that it's time for you to pay up, so... do you have the money?"

"Please, I can pay, let me make some calls, I'll get your m-" My fist connected with his face, blood spurting from his nose as he hunched over, his hands cradling his face as he cried out.

"That's not what I asked. Do you have the money?"

"Please!" I lashed out again, hitting him in the center of the face with a crunch. His head reeled backwards, the blood running down his face and falling on his rumpled shirt.

"Yes or no, Travis." He began to cry as he stared up at the cloudy sky, slowly shaking his head. That's all I needed. With a final uppercut to the jaw, his body collapsed to the pavement. The stray gravel digging into his face as I pulled him across the ground and threw him into the back of the van, securing his hands behind his back before closing the door. But before I could even get to the driver's side door, a loud crash echoed across the parking lot, followed immediately by a short scream.

Whipping my head around, I couldn't believe my luck. I'd never been one to believe in God or fate, but seeing those gorgeous eyes staring at me could've converted me in a second. We stared for a moment, locked in a trance. Oh what had this poor girl gotten herself into. Lowering my head a bit, I raised a hand and waved at her, the smile growing on my face as her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and she took off running. The chase was on.