Are You Sure You Want to Do This?

The hum of the wheels riding the road drowned out almost all of Rome’s thoughts as he stared out the passenger window of Bart’s car, watching the suburbs turn into cityscape. The sun was setting, casting the world in a soft orange glow, reflecting off of the metal surfaces of cars and buildings, creating a warm ambience that might’ve been a comfort to Rome if he was headed anywhere else.
Neither man spoke much at all as they made their way toward the restaurant where Rome’s parents would meet them. He’d already spoken at length to Bart about his agenda and the plan, should something go wrong. His goal was to confront his parents about the kidnapping, ask them to speak to Lloyd Sinders and try to make peace, and then to ensure they were prepared to leave him be so that he could start his acting career over again without being harassed and without having to look over his shoulder every five minutes. If he could convince them to speak to Ella’s father, perhaps it would open her choices for the future. Revealing that she was alive to her father seemed like a huge mistake to Rome, but he had no idea what his wife might decide to do on down the line. It would be best if the two families finally found a way to get along together, for everyone’s sanity.
As they neared the part of town where the Italian restaurant they’d be dining in was located, Bart’s phone rang. The intrusion into his solace made Rome jump slightly. He turned to see Bart pick up his phone, rather than using the car’s Bluetooth, which made him question who it might be that his friend didn't want him to hear the conversation.
“Hello?” Bart said, bringing the car to a stop behind a taxi at a red light. “Yeah. Okay. Thanks.” He hung the phone up and dropped it into the console.
Rome couldn’t help but stare at him, an eyebrow raised. Not that Bart owed him an explanation. He could’ve been talking to someone unrelated to their current endeavor. In fact, he could’ve been talking to a girl. Rome had been so caught up in his own world for the last several months, he hadn’t even talked to Bart about what was going on in his life. He felt bad about that, but now wasn’t the time to ask his best friend how it was going.
He didn’t have to ask him about the call, either. Pressing the gas pedal, Bart went through the light, driving another block before he got into the turning lane, his blinker on, and said, “That was Max. He’s been at the restaurant for hours, and so far he hasn’t seen anything suspicious. Your parents’ car just pulled up out front.”
Rome took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He knew Max was a trusted associate of Bart’s. He had several. Rome had his own security working the scene as well, and they were asked to let him know should they see anything dangerous, but otherwise to let things unfold. He was completely confident that his parents wouldn’t be able to abduct him again, not tonight anyway. In fact, he was more concerned about Ella. She knew about Charles, who had come highly recommended from an actor friend of Rome’s. But there were three other security personnel posted around the property. One of them was at the gate. One was near the fence closest to the ocean, the place where someone might cross on foot, and another was at the back of the property. All of them had cell phones and walkie talkies as a backup. If his parents wanted to break into his house while he was gone, either because they were suspicious that he had brought a woman home with him, after what their people had seen in Texas, or to snoop around and see if they could find any information that might be helpful to them somehow, now would be a good time to do so. He’d make sure that didn’t happen.
The restaurant came into view ahead of them. Rather than valet parking, they’d already discussed taking a spot in a parking garage nearby. While it meant they’d have to walk to the restaurant and be in a potentially dark, deserted place for several minutes, it also meant Bart would have his keys so they would be able to leave without waiting in front of the restaurant. One of Rome’s bodyguards, a woman named Alice whose biceps were the size of Rome’s thighs, was also parked on the ground floor of the parking lot and could be in front of the restaurant in less than two minutes, should Rome need to get out of there even more quickly.
Bart pulled into a parking spot on the second floor of the garage and shut the car off, but rather than moving to open the door, he turned and looked at Rome. “You sure you want to do this?”
It seemed like an odd time to ask such a question. Rome cocked his head to the side slightly, wondering what he was getting at. He’d been under the impression Bart understood his reasoning. “You think I shouldn’t?”
“I don’t know.” Bart shrugged. “I’m just thinking about how difficult it was to get you away from them, and now, here we are, walking right back in there. Dude, the last time you were with your parents, you were ready to kill yourself, remember?”
Rome had to look away. He wasn’t sure if the trio standing on the sidewalk when he had that knife in his hand had put two and two together. Ella had never mentioned it, and he’d sort of put it out of his mind. He had been ready to slit his own wrists, but only because he thought Ella was dead, not because of what his parents had done to him.
Bart reached over and put his hand on Rome’s arm. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean to upset you. I think we’ll be fine. I don’t think they’ll try anything. I’m just concerned about how upset they’re going to make you, when they refuse to do anything you ask them to. Which is pretty much how I feel this is going to go.”
Running a hand through his hair, Rome considered what Bart was saying. Of course, he’d had the same thoughts. He knew his parents well enough to know they were likely to attempt to make their own demands. While he was willing to compromise on some points, like working for his father’s studio, he wasn’t going to budge on others. He certainly wouldn’t be moving home or coming over for Sunday dinner. And he was going to press the issue with Ella’s dad, too. “It’s too late now, Bart. We’re committed. I’ll make it through. Come on.” Before he could start to second guess himself again, Rome opened the car door and got out, his eyes panning the area around them.
He saw two men dressed in suits in a dark SUV about three rows away. The car was running. Were those his dad’s men? Would they try to grab him and throw him into the vehicle?
“The elevator’s right here,” Bart said, gesturing to the marked area on the wall only about twenty feet away. It would be difficult for the car to get over there in time to grab him before they could get in. “I’ll go ahead and call it.”
“Okay,” Rome said, keeping his eyes on the men. They were chatting like they were just sitting in the car waiting on someone to join them, but Rome didn’t trust them. Not one bit. There was a chance his parents had positioned them there to keep a watch out for him, not to grab him, but nothing was beyond the devious mind of Monty Verona.
Bart had reached the elevator and pushed the button. Another group was headed that way, chatting like there was nothing in the world to worry about. Two couples, dressed like they were also going to the restaurant next door, or perhaps one of the others nearby, couldn’t be part of Monty’s team--right?
Rome decided they would actually be helpful to him. He seriously doubted his father would send someone in to grab him with so many witnesses in the garage. With one last look at the pair of suits, he headed off to the elevator, just as the doors opened. He and Bart got in, followed by the couples.
One of the women recognized him and started gushing. Rome tried to tune her out. “I’d heard you were back in the city!” she exclaimed, fixing her blond curls as she smiled at him as if her date wasn’t even present.
“Yep. I’m here.”
“It’s amazing to see you! Are you just having dinner with a friend?”
Rome wished the elevator would go faster. They had only been on the second floor, after all. “Yep. That’s what I’m doing.”
“Leave him alone, Shelly,” her friend said, tugging on her arm. “Can’t you see he doesn’t want to be bothered.”
“Yeah,” her date agreed. A tall, thin guy with a haircut that said he wanted to be important but couldn’t quite swing it, he leaned in closer to her ear and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “His girlfriend just died, remember?”
“I remember,” Shelly said, throwing an elbow. She scowled at him, as if she wanted to say that was exactly her reason for speaking to Rome in the first place.
If Rome’s “girlfriend” had just died, he would’ve been hurt by the comment, but since Ella was at home, safe and sound, he shut the comment out and was glad when the elevator doors opened.
“Can we take a selfie?” Shelly asked, pulling her phone out of her bag.
Rome didn’t want to. He would rather rush off to join his parents than stand there in the parking garage and take a picture. But he did it, keeping an eye on his surroundings the entire time. Shelly slipped her hand around his waist, which he thought was odd, but then she was strange anyway. Once the picture was taken, the group thanked him and headed off.
He stared after them for a few moments before Bart tugged on his arm. “Come on. We don’t want to be too late.”
With a nod, Rome followed Bart out of the garage and down the sidewalk toward his fate, praying everything went well. If he was wrong, and his parents attempted to take him again, he’d lose his mind. He couldn’t live without Ella.