I saw them coming up the walkway towards the parking lot, hand in hand. Once they got closer and I could make out their faces, my heart dropped into my gut and my smile faded away.

Little did my friend know, I used to be part of a mob. I have left that life behind now. But it wasn’t easy and I wasn’t necessarily safe. By not ‘necessarily safe’ I mean I almost got killed on my way out. And the man holding my friend's hand was the leader of the mob. It’s taken me months to drop his tail and stay hidden, and now he’s found me. I don’t know if he was here for me, or if he truly cared for Jena, and I didn’t want to find out. But there was no time for me to run, so I stood there and put on my best fake smile. I knew he would recognize me, I was a trusted adviser, his first in command, right-hand woman, whatever you want to call it.

They walked up to me, Caleb's arm now across Jena’s shoulders. When Caleb saw me a streak of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly hid it. He was much better at hiding his surprise than I was, Jena asked me

“You ok Des?”

“Yeah” I responded quickly

“Ahh, so this is Desiree”

“Yeah,” Jena said “You sure, you're ok?” She asked

“Yeah, fine. Should we go in?” I said motioning to the French breakfast place that we were going to. They both nodded.

We were sitting at a small square table that was pushed up against the wall so there were only three sides that you were able to sit at. throughout the meal, Jena was telling lots of stories. Caleb kept giving me skeptical and somewhat threatening looks, but Jena didn’t realize she was always oblivious, which was often unhelpful.

After a while Caleb looked at me and asked “have you known each other long?” in what I know to be his voice with a twinge of threat. I’ve heard him use it many times.

“No,” I said trying to sound casual “not long, just a few months.”

“Yeah,” Jena said “but we’ve gotten really close”

“I see,” said Caleb “Desiree, how old are you?” He asked, I started to answer when Jena said

“She the same age as me isn’t that crazy! And I throwing her a twenty-fifth birthday party, you should come!”

“I will,” he said “you know you look too young to be turning twenty-five if anything to look twenty one”

“I get that a lot,” I said, he was trying to frighten me, but showing how much he knows about me. I wasn’t going to cower, I just need a plan.

I finished up my food as fast as I could. The said

“Oh, I just remembered, I have a…job interview”

“But I thought you already have a job” Jena said confused.

“Yes, umm I do. But ummm yeah I hate it there, and the manager is really mean. So I’m looking for a new job” I said

“Ok, we’ll see you later?” She asked

“Definitely,” I said standing up “I was really nice to meet you,” I said shaking hands with Caleb as he stood. Then I hugged Jena goodbye and left.

As I was trying to get a Uber when Caleb came outside. I tried to walk away but he grabbed my wrist with a tight grip.

“What do you want, Caleb?” I asked sounding brave

“If you tell her who I am, I will hunt you down and torture you until you beg me to kill you, and only then will I end your sad, miserable life. If you don’t tell, I’ll leave you alone.”

“What?” I asked shocked

“Do I make myself clear?”

“Ye-yes,” I said with surprise

Then my car pold up, the driver rolled down the window and seeing Caleb’s hand on my wrist asked

“miss do you need help”

“No, I’m fine,” I said as he let go of me

I walked to the car, got in, and then drove away.