Hired

60

Settling my backpack properly on my shoulder, I said my goodbyes and made my way down the sidewalks, humming silly songs on the way, excited.

I had a part-time job at my grandparent's local cafe, it was just a block away from school, so I arrived just in time.

I walked five minutes early sending a quick wave to grandma Maggie, while tying up an apron to start working.

"It's your day off." She came over to remind me.

"I had some time to spear, so I came to help. Nate has baseball practice, "

"I can manage. I've been doing this alone for 30 years."

"You don't have to anymore....I don't mind.."

She shook her head with a sigh, "You're just as stubborn as your ma."

I smiled at her and went to get the tables.

I love this cafe,

It's warm and cheery, with its bright lights and colorful walls, it had a scent of refined coffee and a library where I could read classical stories to give my primitive brain a little of what it craves, it's incredible,  it has a few perks of course, but those little perks were not enough to hinder my love for the place.

The bell rang signaling a customer had come in, I turned to greet them only to find a group of travelers tumbling in instead of our usual elderly customers at this hour in the day.

I adjusted myself and went to attend to them.

By the time lunch rolled around I was starved and after just having a muffin and running around serving customers, I was depleted.

"Dear, why don't you have some rest, you look like you need a little serving too." Grandma said and I laughed shortly, "Go on, I would close up tonight."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She nodded, "Go on..."

I smiled and hurried to change, "Bye, Grandma." I yelled to her as I ran to the apartment I shared with my cousin, Ruth.

I got ready and went to wait for Chika at the bar.

"Hey!" A male said to my right.

I didn't care to turn.

"Taken." I said without shooting him so much as a glance. Where the heck was Chika? I was already nursing my third drink and she was almost an hour late. This is ridiculous, why did I agree to this, it's exactly like her to leave me hanging after we made plans,

"So much for celebrating, huh?" I said to my drink.

"What are you celebrating?" The deep voice beside me spoke again, I hoped he would just go away but he seemed persistent.

I set my drink back down and turned in the stool to face him and gave him a quick once over. But just has my eyes landed on his I felt my heart stop.

"Antonio?"

"Hello, Eva... It's been a while."

I quickly got up to leave and he blocked me.

"Get out of my way." I warned and pushed him away. I was aware writing that article would attract some attention but this wasn't exactly the awareness I was hoping for.

I managed to make it to the parking lot before I was dragged and turned to a corner,

"Get off me!!"

"Relax," Antonio spoke softly as he let go of my arm. "Don't worry, Eva. I'm not here to kidnap you, threaten you, or anything...I just need your help."

"With what?" My spat,

"With finding Carlos." He said and my heart flipped, "We were ambushed during the war, Miles, Carlos, and a few other men went missing."

"You're saying something happened to him?"

"He's alive, just missing. I suspect in hiding."

"Carlos is not a caword or one to back away from his duties, if he's hiding then there's a good reason for it." I told him and tried to walk away.

He drew me back.

"I need you to get a location, find him."

I scoffed in disbelief, "The audacity you have."

"Eva, I'm aware I don't have any right to ask for any more favors, considering our history, but I'm desperate here, and you're the only right now that can find Carlos, he left you a clue."

"I'm not helping you do anything, you are despicable person--"

"Trust me, Eva. I don't have a bad motive in doing this. We want to find them and bring them home." He walked towards me until he was only a few centimeters away, but I still couldn't bring myself to trust him. "They shouldn't be hiding like thieves, we want to protect them."

My eyes wandered around the empty parking lot, taking a deep breath but not speaking. If I said no, would he kill me now? If I said yes would finding him put him in danger, I was in such a dilemma.

"Has Carlos contracted you."

"No, I haven't heard from him," I told him.

"He must have left you something, a clue."

"I have nothing, Carlos left me nothing." I spat.

"Okay, then."

There was only one question I had and I asked it without hesitation, "Who exactly is looking for Carlos, is it Gabriel?"

"Unfortunately, Gabriel is dead." He surprised me with his words, I didn't know Grabriel was dead. "Someone else is in charge now and she would like to meet you."

Antonio's eyes drifted and he looked towards the SUV near the back of the parking lot.

The security guard who was standing near the SUV looked at Antonio who simply nodded his head.

I watched the security guard walk to the back door of the SUV and opened it up before stepping aside.

My heart raced inside my chest, wondering who it was, and when I saw French heels on the pavement, my jaw dropped.

"Aurora, Aurora is the new Don."