Chapter 5
Lena
Three Years Later
I watch as my little girl, Mia, sits quietly in the booth, practicing coloring in, her little tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as she concentrates, legs swinging under the table.
Big Joe sits beside her, praising her choice of crayons.
I’m incredibly lucky to have this job. I work at Big Joe’s Diner as a waitress.
Big Joe is a giant of a man with the heart to match.
He took me in when I had nowhere else to go.
Having fled to the city with no belongings and no money three years ago, I was determined to make it on my own. After three months of scraping by and living in cockroach-infested bedsits and working in late-night dive bars, I found out I was pregnant, with a married man’s child, no less.
Or worse, with Zeke’s child. But that’s a possibility I won’t allow myself to entertain. Besides, Mia looks too much like Rex for me to believe she’s anything other than his.
I told myself that maybe the best thing would be to terminate the pregnancy. I had no way to provide for a child. I could barely provide for myself. But already I had fallen in love with my baby. I couldn’t do it.
But I knew I couldn’t go back to Rex. I wouldn’t allow myself to even think of him.
The pain of his lies was still too raw. Plus, there was a slim chance he wasn’t the father.
If the baby was Zeke’s, then all the more reason that I had to stay away.
There is no way I would let him anywhere near my child; to him, they would be a pawn and another way to control me.
I also knew that my returning pregnant with a child that could potentially belong to leaders of two rival clubs would potentially lead to an all-out war between them, and I wasn’t about to start that, or raise my child in it.
So, I swallowed my pride and went crawling back to the one person who has always been there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it.
Big Joe fostered me when no one else would take me in, right before I aged out of the system.
When I was getting into trouble and running away, Big Joe was the one who steered me back on track and kept me from losing myself entirely.
I shouldn’t have stayed away so long, but I was ashamed of how I treated him when I last saw him and embarrassed for him to see what my life had become.
How low I had sunk. But with a baby on the way, I knew I needed to put her first and ask for help.
Of course, Big Joe welcomed me back with open arms and no apologies needed.
Not only was Big Joe there for me through the pregnancy, but he’s also been great at helping to care for Mia while I work and letting me bring her to work with me.
I don’t know what I would have done without his help.
Mia calls him Pop-Pop, and honestly, he feels like a grandfather figure to me, too.
He’s always ready to listen and offer sage words of wisdom with a twinkle in his eyes.
His face is a map of lines, each one telling a story of a remarkable man who has endured much.
Big Joe’s Diner is a well-loved staple in town, as familiar and comfortable as the red leather booths and Formica counter.
Big Joe was here fighting for Civil Rights back when this diner was a ‘Blacks only’ joint that would get vandalized regularly by white supremacist hate groups.
The fact that he fought his way through that to turn Big Joe’s into a thriving, successful business is a testament to him.
The diner is quiet tonight, and I’m almost about to clock off to take Mia home to bed, so after ensuring the customers we have are happy and their drinks are filled, I head over to Mia and Big Joe. “What a beautiful picture, Mia, you’re such a clever girl!” I say, looking at the mass of scribbles.
“Pop-Pop thinks she did such a good job that maybe Mia should get a chocolate milk as a little treat before bed,” Big Joe says, grinning conspiratorially at Mia before looking at me.
Mia giggles with delight, thinking she’s pulled one over on me. Obviously, she’s been pestering him for chocolate milk, and he’s said I have to approve it to get out of being the bad guy. He spoils her rotten, and I find myself caving in most of the time just because it makes them so happy.
“Oh, does he now? It wasn’t your idea, Mia?” I say, my voice jokingly chastising.
“Uh-uh,” she giggles, shaking her head vigorously.
“Well, in that case, I guess chocolate milk all round,” I reply, scooping Mia into my arms and kissing her chubby cheeks.
As Mia drinks her chocolate milk, happily chattering away in toddler garble, I again note how much like her father she is.
Her amber eyes and dark hair are both thanks to Rex.
Though I try only to see my incredible little girl when I look at her, I don’t want my heartbreak to impact her in any way.
It pains me that he’ll never know his brilliant daughter.
I have to remind myself that he already has a family, and introducing Mia to him would only cause her—and me—pain.
“Say, Lena, isn’t that the same car that’s been parking here all week, but they never come inside?” Big Joe says, suspiciously looking at the black sedan across the street.
“Quit being paranoid, they probably just live or work nearby,” I reply, rolling my eyes good-naturedly.
This past week, Big Joe has become convinced that someone is watching the place.
Why he thinks anyone would be interested in the diner is beyond me.
He pays his taxes, and everything is above board.
“I’m telling you, Lena, those guys are watching us,” he says, moving closer to the window.
“Why would they? Did you rob a bank?” I kid.
“I’m more concerned that they’re casing the place to rob us,” he replies.
It’s a grim thought, but hopefully one that won’t come to fruition.
I look over at my daughter, blissfully ignorant, so innocent and vulnerable, and my chest tightens at the thought of anything bad happening to our haven.
“Surely, there are plenty of more lucrative businesses close by for a would-be robber,” I reply, trying to convince myself as much as Big Joe.
“You’re right. I’m getting paranoid in my old age,” Big Joe says, patting my hand.
I know he’s lying to comfort me, and I love him all the more for it.
“Now, it’s already dark and past this little one’s bedtime.
Shirley’s here, why don’t you clock out a little early and head home to put the rugrat to bed? ”
Mia and I live in the apartment above Big Joe in an old house that was converted into apartment. Big Joe got us a great deal on rent, as he plays dominoes with the landlord—another thing I have to thank him for.
“Not tired,” Mia protests before a yawn gives her away.
“If you’re a good girl, maybe Pop-Pop will come in and read you a bedtime story.”
That does the trick. Mia immediately allows Big Joe to pick her up, and he carries her outside with me following close behind as we call out goodbye to the others.
Neither of us owns a car, and it’s only a ten-minute walk home down a few side streets.
Alone, I’d be nervous, but with Big Joe by my side, I feel safe.
He may be in his late seventies, but he’s no vulnerable old man, and he carries a pistol at his side for protection.
As we turn into a dark, empty alleyway, suddenly, a car appears under the streetlamp at the end of the road, blocking our exit.
“Shit, it’s that same car,” Big Joe hisses.
A man wearing a balaclava climbs out of the vehicle.
“Take Mia,” Big Joe says, hurriedly handing her over to me without taking his eyes off the man and pulling his pistol from his pants.
“I don’t know who you are or what you want, but you’ve got until the count of three to leave or I shoot,” he warns, his voice firm and clear, betraying none of the fear that I feel.
Either he’s fearless or good at hiding it.
I cling to Mia, soothing her as she fusses, not understanding what’s happening.
The man pulls his own gun, and from behind, I hear a click of a gun cocking. Another masked man has snuck up behind us. “Give us the woman, and no one gets hurt,” the man replies.
“Over my dead body,” Big Joe growls.
“Fine,” the man replies before pulling the trigger.
It’s so sudden, so unexpected, and deafening that I don’t register what’s just happened until Big Joe wildly fires off a shot that misses his mark as he falls to the floor.
A red bloom slowly appears on his favorite shirt, the one I got him for Christmas last year.
The scream bubbles from me as I drop to my knees, trying to stem the blood flow with one hand while still desperately clinging to my little girl with the other, trying to keep her face buried into my chest so she doesn’t witness the horror I’m seeing.
“It’s going to be okay,” I tell him, sobbing as the blood doesn’t stop flowing.
So much blood.
The men surround me, pulling Mia from my grasp, and I scream like a wounded animal, desperately clawing to try to get her back while the other man holds me firm. “Get in the car, and we’ll give her back to you. Do as we say, and neither of you will be harmed.”
I nod and stop struggling to show I’m willing to comply. I’ll do anything to protect my baby girl. I cling to her as they hand her to me and push me into the back of the blacked-out car. I try my best to comfort her as she sobs, to hide how terrified I am.
My fear only intensifies when I spot the corner of a tattoo on the wrist of the driver. I’d recognize the emblem anywhere—the Iron Vultures.
Zeke has finally found me.