“The truck! Gina, the truck!”
I dashed out of the complex to find Nico running across the parking lot. He came to a full stop. Then he sank down on the gravel with a dramatic groan. I moved my eyes from him to the empty spot in front of him.
The truck gave a final toot goodbye. We all watched the back end of it pull onto the highway.
“They stole the truck.” Nico groaned again. “Are you sure Zia Sophia didn’t see two crows?”
“SHIT!” I yelled, throwing my arms in the air. This was definitely a day beyond crap. “But who?”
“Didn’t see,” said Danny. “Heard the engine start and rushed out here, but…”
“They were already pulling away,” said Nico. He moaned like he was in pain.
“Wait a minute. Why are we waiting here? Nico, we have to go after it! Come on!” I turned on my heel and took off. I raced toward the back of the strip plaza. Nico and Danny were close behind me.
My car was right there, waiting. We all climbed in and slammed the doors.
I did a record three-point turn and was on the highway in seconds.
“Can you see it?” I said, squinting through the windshield.
“Just barely,” said Danny. He pointed with a finger. “Straight down the highway, up ahead. There are a few cars in between us.”
I stepped on the gas. Nico groaned in response.
“How did they even get it started? I have the keys right here.” I checked to make sure that my purse was still slung across my shoulder.
“They have ways,” said Danny in his laconic way.
“Who has ways? Who would even do such a thing? It was a family truck! Is this guy insane?” You have to be nuts to steal anything from our family. Everyone knows that. And this was a big hulking truck full of…let’s say, merchandise.
“What am I going to tell Magda?” Nico was rocking back and forth, holding his head in his hands.
“Forget about Magda. What are we going to tell Uncle Vince? It’s his truck!” I said, gripping the steering wheel with both hands.
You have to know my godfather, Uncle Vince, to fully understand that sentence. Let me try to explain. You know how Dr. Who is a Time Lord? My uncle Vince is a Crime Lord.
Suffice it to say, you don’t want to cross him.
“Actually, it’s Aunt Miriam’s truck. All the vehicles are in her name,” Nico said. “For tax reasons.”
“Oh freakin’ hell,” I said with a shiver. That made it way worse. Even my godfather doesn’t mess with Aunt Miriam.
“He’s slowing down,” Danny said, pointing. “That’s Hagersville up ahead. You have to slow down to sixty.”
“Good,” I said with satisfaction. “We’ll catch up.”
“And do what?” Nico’s voice rose an octave. “Exactly what are you planning to do, Gina? Hit them over the head with your purse?”
“I’m not letting them get away,” I growled.
“I’m calling Sammy,” Nico said. He unhooked his phone and punched some numbers.
“You can call whoever you like, but I’M NOT LETTING THEM GET AWAY!”
Nope, I was fed up. Like, totally. Everybody was taking advantage of me these days, and I wasn’t going to put up with it anymore.
First, I get mugged by that totally skinny dude. And now those bastards steal my truck. I hate being made a fool of. They were going to pay, man. I was gritting my teeth something fierce.
“What are you mumbling, Gina?” said Nico. Then he turned his attention to the phone. “Oh, hi, Sammy. We got a situation here.”
“They’re going into that Tim Hortons parking lot,” said Danny from the backseat.
“Yup…Yup…We’re at the Tim Hortons in Hagersville,” said Nico into the phone.
“No, they’re pulling around the corner so they don’t have to go into the parking lot,” said Danny, all eager.
“I see it,” I said.
I booted it up to the light, ready to turn. Doors opened on the truck cab, and two big guys heaved themselves out. They had long black hair and each weighed at least a hundred pounds more than necessary.
“Uh-oh,” said Danny. “Those are really bad hombres. I know them. You don’t want to mess with them, Gina.”
“They don’t want to mess with me,” I mumbled. No kidding. I was having a really bad day.
“Gina, Sammy wants to talk to you.” Nico held the phone over to me.
“Sammy can freaking well wait,” I said.
I pulled up and screeched to a halt right behind the truck. The two bad guys were out of sight now, getting their donuts and coffees inside. Conveniently, they had left the truck running.
“Move over to the driver’s seat and follow me,” I shouted to Nico. “Keep your cell phone on.”
I pushed open my door and vaulted out.
“Hey, Gina, what…” Nico’s voice trailed off behind me.
In ten seconds I was at the truck. Another five and I had the driver’s door open. I threw myself up into the driver’s seat and gave the door a good slam. Before I could get the truck in gear, the passenger door opened. Danny slid in and said, “Get moving! I think they saw us.”
I stumbled getting the truck into first. Then the thing jumped as only big hulking monsters that carry massive amounts of bootleg shit can do. “CRAP!” I yelled, then tried again and managed first.
I was vaguely aware of a commotion outside. Honestly, I was putting all my concentration into getting the damned vehicle moving.
Bang!
“Holy shit, they’re shooting at us!” said Danny. He dove under the dash.
Bang, bang!
“They’re freaking nuts!” yelled Danny.
Two bullets hit the box or the cab. I couldn’t tell which and figured it wasn’t a good time to check.
I went through gears like they were disposable. More shots rang out behind us. The truck shot from the shoulder onto the highway, quickly followed by a little silver car—my car. With Nico at the wheel.
We bolted down the highway, totally ignoring the speed signs. I could barely hear the gunshots now.
For some weird reason, I felt elated. “We did it!” I said to Danny. “We stole the truck back!”
“I am thinking this isn’t going to end well,” said Danny, poking his head up.
“Oh, don’t be such a wuss,” I said. “We whupped their asses.” Ha! Take that, universe. Gina Gallo is back in black. I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. My confidence was back again. Reclaiming a hijacked transport from a bunch of thugs will do that to a girl.
We drove for a few miles at a pace somewhat over the speed limit. I checked the side mirror of the truck. No cars following us. The coast was clear.
I was still feeling my high.
“We seem to be heading toward Brantford,” said Danny as another signpost passed by.
“What’s in Brantford?” I asked quite innocently.
“No idea. I’m just pointing it out, as we seem to be going away from the place where this truck was supposed to end up.”
“Rats,” I said, remembering our purpose. “So you want me to turn around?” I had no idea where to turn around. This was Grade A farmland. Not a crossroad in sight.
“You know what? I can take it from here,” Danny said. “I know the drop-off point.”
“Really? You can drive this rig?”
Danny grinned. He really was nice-looking, with beautiful brown eyes. “I can drive it. My family is into tobacco farming. I drive those trucks all the time.”
“What a relief! If I stop here, is it okay?”
Danny nodded.
I signaled right, so Nico would know what I had in mind. Then I slowed down and maneuvered the truck onto the shoulder. Nico pulled up behind me. We all got out of the vehicles. This time I managed to stay on my feet instead of rolling onto the gravel. Nico came running to meet us.
“Danny is going to take it from here,” I said.
Just then my cell phone rang with Pete’s signature tune. “Hang on a sec,” I said to Nico and Danny.
“HELLO,” I yelled into it.
“Whoa, babe. Not so loud.”
I tried to steady my voice. “Sorry. I’m outside, and there’s a lot of noise.”
“Where are you?”
I gulped. Logical question. I needed a logical answer, quick.
“I’m helping Nico make a delivery. From the store.” Well, it was half true. I didn’t mention that we had recently been through a hail of bullets and were now parked by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.
“You know it’s nearly six. We were going to have dinner together before the bachelor party.”
Six! Crap. “Sorry, Pete. The time got away from us.” I signaled frantically to Nico. Then I used that hand to cover the phone. “It’s the bachelor party tonight!” I said to Nico.
Nico’s eyes popped. “I was supposed to pick up Pete.”
I uncovered the phone. “I’m thinking you might want to take a taxi, Pete. We’re sort of running late and will be stuck here for a bit.”
“No problem. I’ll get a cab.”
I said goodbye and turned back to the boys. Nico and Danny were doing that hug thing again.
“Thanks a mil, Danny. For everything,” said Nico, pulling back.
“We owe you for this,” I added.
“No probs.” Danny smiled and shrugged his narrow shoulders.
“Let me know if we can ever do anything for you,” I said. “I mean that.” And I did.
Danny shoved his hands into his jean pockets and looked off in the distance. “You’re my friends.”