The Mafia Boyfriend

The Kidnap

Having woken up around 12 PM, I joined Charles and my mother in the kitchen for a late breakfast. 

Charles had made his signature pancakes, the sweet enticing smell had pulled me from bed, even if the warm sheets were my best friends that morning.

My mom actually seemed amused as she happily told stories about her most quirky clients to her husband. She definitely didn't work in a Hospital since her worst tales were about female clients with hidden chin beards. Naïve soul. She would often make physical contact with my stepdad, expressing her love. It baffled me as to how someone could be so distinct to 2 different people. I ignored this unsettling feeling and gladly joined the conversation, asking her about her work. My effort to bond was observed by my stepdad's kind eyes. Charles listened quietly to our talk, allowing us to have a mother daughter moment, since they came so rarely. 

Later in the afternoon, I prepared to leave the peace of Julian. I packed my few belongings in the my bag and brought it into the trunk of the Ford. It wasn't the biggest of trunks, but my old Ford had been there throughout the hardest times and it had never failed me. I was still wearing comfy track pants and a light fabric t-shirt that felt good in the Spring breeze. 

Both Charles and Linda were at the door, expectant. I kissed them both goodbye while listening to my stepdad ramble his father advices. I knew he meant well but I was 25, not 12. I just smiled back, agreeing to everything he had said. 

I sat in my car, watching them from my rear view mirror as I waved goodbye one last time. My orange diesel light turned on the moment I started moving, empty tank alert.

Bummer. I should have checked earlier. I would have to fill up the tank before leaving for L.A. 

It was now around 5 PM and the sky was turning all shades of pink and red, with the setting sun. I hated going to the gas station in the dark, but it would have to be done. I always felt like the dark hid all the perverts.

I stopped the car and searched on Google Maps for the closest station and ended up finding an open one only 1,2 Km away. I put my car into drive again and drove silently with the car radio on low, my thoughts as my only company. I wasn't ready to leave my family again and go back to my boring and exhausting life. More and more I felt like I was starting a Burnout status, my body was tired and my mind numb. But there was nothing I could do. I knew I wouldn't be fulfilled to live in a small town like this one. L.A. was my home. And I had a job to keep and a mouth to feed. 

It took me only a few minutes to arrive at the dim lit station. It was a pretty small Station, which suited Julian's needs just fine. Only two gas pumps in shades of white and red with bold rusty lettering stood in the middle of a concrete floor. I decided to park by the one on the right side, since it seemed better lit. I turned down the engine and appreciated the complete silence outside. In L.A., there would be car honkers and people's voices. But here, the town was almost asleep, I could say. I reached for the lever under my seat to unlock the little diesel door. I slowly opened the car door, suddenly feeling a chill down my spine even though the breeze wasn't running anymore.

I inhaled the fumes and gasoline odor. There was another smell mixed with all the toxic chemicals. I couldn't really tell what it was. I busied myself with adjusting on the pump's screen the money amount in diesel I wanted to fill the car with. 

It was when I turned around to face the diesel pump that I realized the smell belonged to a certain person's cologne. I hadn't heard any steps in the silence of the gas station. I bared my eyes to my new company as I realized I knew who it was. Someone with a now forehead scar healing. I panicked by his presence and let out a scream as a black hood came into my view and made my world dark.