Out of Time

Chapter 1

   Heart slamming against her ribs, her breathing heavy, and her legs feeling like gelatin, she ran towards the dark alley between two old brick buildings. Bullets flying past, screams filling the air, nothing has been the same since the 18th Amendment was ratified. Slamming her back up against the wall, she barely missed a tiny rocket of pain.
   "God, it's crazy out here!" Her chest heaving, her hands shaking, the .38 caliber revolver lightly rattling in her palm.
    Taking a deep breath she attempted to slow her heart rate, steady her shaking, and focus her thoughts. How many gun men were there? Is there someplace I can hide? Where's my brother? Is he safe? Is he... dead? Is this about the Tear Drop?
    Celeste didn't realize she'd be thrown head first into the middle of a battle ground.

    Pretty oranges, pinks, and purples filled the sky as the sun went down. The wind started to get nippy and the streets started to get dimmer. Walking home from a little grocery shopping at dusk, Celeste picked up her pace as the sun continued to disappear. Turning the corner, just a couple blocks down from her house she spotted a sleek, black 1928 Cadillac with tinted windows just down the scarcely paved road. Rolling her eyes, the curly-haired woman trudged along, not caring who may occupy the menacing car.
    "Nice evening, huh Celeste?"
    Screaming and clutching her bag of food to her chest she whirled around to the street side and noticed a tall, burly man, with black hair in a buzz cut, a scruffy beard and dark brown eyes. His shoulders were broad and he kind of looked like an upside down triangle. With that humorous thought in mind, calming her nerves, Celeste regarded the man standing before her. "What do you want Luciano?"
    He chuckled and stuck his hands in his jacket pocket, "Can't a man say hello to a woman?"
    The skeptical woman looked at him up and down, and narrowed her eyes once she reached his face again, "Not when said man is affiliated with the mob." She attempted to cross her arms but forgot the bag was in her hands, so she opted for cocking out one of her hips. "So what do you want?"
    He studied her for a minute with a smirk on his lips. Celeste didn't like the way he was looking at her. I never liked the way any of them looked at me. The mob here was treacherous and not to be messed with.
    "Haven't seen your brother have you?"
    Glaring at the huge man in front of her, Celeste snapped. "No I haven't. Why does it matter?" She hasn't seen her brother in a few days. She suspected he'd be with these fools, causing mayhem.
    He shook his head and held his arms up in defense, "Just wondering. No need to get your panties in a twist."
Celeste scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Are we done here?"
    Luciano smirked and nodded his head, shooing her in the direction of her house with a wave of his hand.
Turning on her heels, the highly irritated woman continued towards home wondering what that was all about. I've been wondering where my brother was for a while. It's not unusual for him to disappear for a day or so but it's going on day 4 soon and Celeste still hasn't heard from him. She figured he'd be doing runs for the mob, with the Prohibition and everything, but maybe not if Luciano is looking for him. So where is he then?
    As the sun finishes its last stretches of light, Celeste was only a block or so from her home. Relief began its course through her body as the sight of relaxation and serenity came into view. After a long day out in the city, always having to look over her shoulder from time to time because too many unfortunate people know her, it'll be nice to put her guard down inside her own home.
    "Kinda late for a woman to be out alone don't you think?"
    Celeste screamed and whirled around again, wondering who in the hell this could be. The obscenities about to fly out her mouth died on her lips as her gaze rested on the handsome specimen. Tall, broad shouldered man, with caramel skin, sensual lips, full, luscious chocolate hair on top slicked back, beefy arms and stunning hazel eyes. Before she completely embarrassed herself, Celeste's brain registered who it was and immediately got offended.
    "What do you want?"
     The man before her chuckled and leaned up against his 1929 red and tan Chrysler, crossing his arms. "Can't a man say hello to a beautiful woman?"
     A sense of deja vu washed over her along with a heating sensation that this man thought she was beautiful.
Focus Celeste. "Hell no. Now what's your deal Dominic?"
    He shrugged his shoulders and his lips curled into a smirk that warmed her up inside. "Worried me seeing you walk home alone at this time of evening."
Celeste was shocked to the say the least. "Why? I'm none of your concern."
    "So you say."
    Wondering what that means, but not having the guts to ask, the curious woman continued to walk towards home, ignoring the mysterious, yet intriguing man.