Chapter Twelve

"Don't look now," Tommy said, "but the three assholes are back."

She had to look, of course, and then … just her luck that one spotted her. He hit the arm of the guy next to him, and then like the annoying shits they were, headed toward her.

"Get out of here," Tommy said.

"It's not my break time."

"Then circle around and grab security."

She wasn't even going to pretend she didn't want to leave. Hurrying from behind the counter, she walked the perimeter of the arcade to where the security guard lingered. Just as she approached him, a hand grabbed her arm, spinning her around.

"Where you going, chica?"

The other two circled her, like sharks scenting blood in the water.

"Let go of me," she demanded.

"That just makes us want to grab you even more."

She yanked her arm away at the same time security spotted her. Tommy rushed toward them.

"Let go of her," he ordered.

One of the punks withdrew a knife, the spring action popping out the blade.

"You don't tell us what to do," he snarled.

There was absolutely no way she was going to allow them to hurt anyone, so she stomped on the asshole's foot and when he bent a little in pain, she brought her elbow back and smashed it in his nose. He let out a high pitch yelp just as Tommy cold-clocked him. His friends pulled him away, and as the security guard came toward them, they ran. The police were called and the arcade had to shut down because of the whole incident.

"Tonight was weird," Tommy said as he held an ice pack to his knuckles.

"Yeah," she agreed. "They've never pulled a weapon before."

"Their harassment is escalating." He sighed. "The police asked me to go down to the precinct to give my statement. Since I was the one who punched one of those assholes."

"Okay. Bossman told me to go home."

"If you want to come with me, I'll run you home later.

"That's okay. I'm going to take this opportunity to catch up on sleep."

"What about your boyfriend?" Tommy asked, frowning. "What's his name again?"

"Matteo Roman, and he had something to do tonight."

"Roman?" He frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure I know my boyfriend's last name. Why?"

"Kinda sounds like Matteo Romanelli."

"Who's that?"

"You've never heard of Romanelli? They're mafia."

She snorted. "Come on. There's no more mafia anymore."

"Yes, Macy, the mafia is a real thing."

"Well, my Matteo is a business owner. He'd never hurt a fly. Hey, there's the bus. Gotta run. See you tomorrow!"

She ran to the bus stop and waved at Tommy before getting on. During the ride she used her inhaler. All the turmoil of the night left her chest feeling tight. Macy hopped off at her stop and made her way to her apartment complex. A noise let her know there was someone behind her.

Not again, she thought.

Sliding one of her keys between her index finger and the second one, she turned to attack the asshole. A huge shadow fell over her and she didn't have a chance to protect herself as a fist came out of nowhere. Pain engulfed her face as blood poured from her now-broken nose. Everything went dark.