You Again (Completed) ✔️

66.

Cole pulls the car in front of Rivera. He turns the ignition off and then looks at the building. Sighing, he turns towards me. "Before Veronica gets here, I want you to know about this restaurant."

What would I need to know about it?

It's a popular Italian restaurant that's been around for a long time and is run by an Italian family that moved here for a better life. I've never stepped foot in there, but I researched it for when I did have time to go.

I look at him and say, "What is it?"

Cole pulls on his seatbelt and moves closer to me. "You know how I have heaps of connections in the mafia?"

"Yeah,"

"Well, the Rivera Family are a part of it. There are several Mafia Families in Los Angeles, but they don't know each other. The Rivera Family have done several things for the community, and I met them that way. They invited me to the restaurant a few months ago, but I had other plans and told them I would come another time. What better time to come than now? I think it would be good if they met Veronica and you."

A smile spreads across my face. "You want the family to see if they recognise her as a bad person because of what I've said to you."

He nods. "The Riveras have a face recognition program for everyone who enters their establishment. Since she wants to go out with you tomorrow, I thought it would be safer to get her here."

"Thanks," I whisper. Climbing out of the car, I close the door behind me and open the back door to grab my bag from the backseat. Looking around the parking lot, I see Veronica pull up.

Cole locks up his car and walks over to me. Leaning against the car, he says, "She's on the phone with someone. Do you think she's moved her plans forward?"

"I don't know, Cole. It looks like we have to see how the night pans out. Did you bring your gun?"

He lifted his shirt and showed me his gun. "I don't leave the house without it, " Cole said, looking me in the eyes. Then he added, "At the restaurant, somebody will search me. When they take me to the back room, please keep Veronica distracted for me. Can you do that?"

"Yes, I can." I take his hand and walk to the restaurant's main door.

Cole holds the door open for Veronica and I. He waits for us to enter before he follows.

I enter the room, and the lights are dimly lit with flower petals on the table. Giving the atmosphere a romantic feel to it.

A beautiful blonde walks out of a door and welcomes us to Rivera. Looking at Cole, she says, "Those men would like a word with you, Sir."

Four men wearing Italian suits and guns are nearby. They ignore us and lead Cole to a separate room.

A man closes the room door, bringing my attention back to the waitress. Looking at the name tag, I see Skyler written on it.

She smiles. "Can I get you ladies anything to drink?"

"The finest white wine you have."

"Sure, I'll bring the bottle right out to you." She walks away from the table and goes behind the bar. She grabs the bottle and an ice bucket and fills it up.

Veronica leans back in her seat. "This place is a bit too fancy for my liking. Does Cole take you here regularly?"

Shaking my head, I say, "This is the first time I've ever been here. It was on a list of places I wanted to visit when I moved back here, and now I can cross it off my list."

She looks at her phone and then starts typing away on it.

Skyler returns a few minutes later with the bottle of wine, which she places in the middle of the table. "When Cole returns, I'll take your order." She excuses herself and attends to a group of men walking into the restaurant."

Veronica's shoulders stiffen as she looks at one of the men. "Shit," she stands up. "I'm going to use the restroom. I'll be right back." She quickly escapes the room.

Come on, Cole. You don't have to spend all night in the room with those men.

Skyler walks over to me, and she whispers. "Your friend seems a bit sketchy tonight. I'd keep an eye on her if I were."

She's right; I should.

Looking in the direction she left, I say, "I will."

Skyler pulls a seat out across from me. She sits. "Do you mind if I keep you company until those guys order?"

"Sure," I lean forward. "How do you know Cole?"

A smile spreads across her face. "I met Cole when he first came here for a meeting with Luca at this restaurant. The group of men he came with had their guns drawn at the other men in the restaurant. They had a stare-down until they gave in and had some drinks. After that, they became friends. It's been a year since I've seen Cole." She touches my hand. "It's because of you that he's here now. If you told him something recently, it scared him, and he came here for help."

"Really?"

"Yes, the last time something happened, it was with his parents, and he asked Luca for help to track down the people responsible for murdering them. He could have gone to his cousin, but he didn't want to involve them in something he could handle alone. Cole likes to do things his way, and his family would have made him do things the way they see it."

A guy sitting at the head of the table across from me yells. "Waitress, we'd like to order now."

Skyler stands up, pulls the notepad out of her apron, and walks over to them. "What would you like?" She writes down their order and then walks to the kitchen to place it.

One of the men looks at me. "Are you all alone tonight, Miss?"

I shake my head and say, "I'm waiting for my date. He just went to the bathroom."

He smirks. "He's been in the bathroom for too long. Why don't you join us? We'll show you a better time than that loser you came in with.

Cole's not a loser. I can't wait to see their face when they see Cole walk out of the office.

Suddenly, the room is dark, and I yell out for Cole. "COLE," I feel something shoved over my head and struggle.

Someone lifts me up and carries me out the restaurant's door. I feel a light breeze on my arms and start to shiver.

A car door opens in the distance, and I hear a woman say, "Didn't you knock her out?"

"No," A male voice says.

Something hits the back of my head, and I black out.