I gave Dante a flat look. “Yeah, I know all about Bennigan.”
“Do yourself a favor. Find some hole in to hide in and hope Bennigan doesn’t find you again. I’m not sure you can survive another interaction.”
“We both know I can,” I said. “And when Bennigan ends up dead, you’re the one to blame, not me.”
Dante shrugged. “Whatever you say.”
“Take a day or two and think it over. I’ll come back for your answer.”
“You sure you want to do that?” Dante asked. “You come here and I might put a bullet in your girl.”
I stood up and looked down at him. “If I were really afraid of that, I wouldn’t have shown my face. But you’re a smart guy, Dante. I always liked you. I really hope you make the right decision.”
Dante leaned back with his hands behind his head and just grinned up at me.
Elise stood and I took her by the arm. I steered her to the door and kept my eye on the mafia guys. They stared at us, and a few of them looked like they wanted to put my reputation to the test, but nobody moved.
We made it back outside. I walked fast and tugged Elise along with me.
“I have no clue how that went,” she said. “I’m honestly just surprised we’re not dead.”
“Not over yet,” I said.
Three of Dante’s guys were following us.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just come with me.” I pulled her along faster.
“You’re hurting me,” she said. “My arm.”
“Keep up.”
“I thought you said he wouldn’t kill us.”
“He won’t. But he can’t find out where we’re staying, either.” I turned left at the end of the block. More residential houses, brick-fronted with gray stoops. Cars lined the street, parked against the curb. Short trees dropped leaves into the wind.
“Where are we going?”
“Quiet,” I said. “Thinking.”
I had to ditch the tail. But I knew these guys wouldn’t let go too easy. My mind raced as I walked fast. I spotted a dirty old Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper lying on the ground next to a bundle of cardboard waiting for the recycling truck. I bent over and grabbed it.
“Are you going to read that?” she asked.
“No,” I said. “I have an idea.”
I walked faster. Elise barely kept up. Ahead, the street turned into Passyunk Ave. More cars crawled along the street. People walked in twos and threes. Kids with their parents ran and yelled. Young guys in cut-off shorts drank cans of beer at metal tables. Shops and restaurants stretched for blocks.
I steered Elise directly toward a crowd of college girls. The girls were dressed in Ugg boots and North Face jackets. They had straight blonde hair and I honestly couldn’t tell them apart.
Not that it mattered. I pushed Elise forward.
“Hey, what the hell?” the girl closest said.
“Sorry,” I grunted.
“Jesus,” Elise said.
We pushed through the crowd. One of the girls cursed at me, but I ignored her.
“Here.” I grabbed Elise’s arm and tugged her into a recessed doorway. It was a laundromat. Yellow light shone on bored-looking ladies as they stood over spinning dryers.
I turned and pressed my back against the glass window next to the door. I pulled Elise against me, right up against my chest, and opened the newspaper in front of her.
“What are you doing?” Her hands were on my chest. She stared up into my eyes.
“Wait,” I whispered. I held the newspaper behind her head. “Put your arms around my neck.”
“What?”
“Like you’re my girlfriend. Do it, right now.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck. Her breasts pressed against my chest. She was soft and warm and sent a thrill down my spine.
“Now kiss me,” I said.
“Tanner—”
“Kiss me,” I said again, staring into her eyes.
She chewed her lip then tilted her head and stood on her toes.
Her lips tasted like cherry Chapstick and lemons. Her tongue was soft against mine. I held that kiss in longer than I needed to and luxuriated in her body.
We broke it off and my heart pumped harder.
“Like that?” she asked.
“Just like that.” I stared into her eyes.
Then dropped the newspaper down.
I scanned the street. The pack of college girls was long gone. A mom with a double stroller trudged past as her toddler lounged back in his seat.
“I don’t see them,” I said.
“Think they’re gone?”
“Just wait.”
She didn’t move. I felt her breath on my neck. I wanted to kiss her again but knew I couldn’t risk it.
A minute passed. More people walked by. An old man with a white fluffy dog. A couple of boomers, the guy in khaki cargo shorts, the woman in tasteful yoga clothes. Hipsters with flat caps and walking single-speed bikes.
“I think we lost them.”
“Can I move?”
“If you want.”
She hesitated. I dropped the newspaper and put one hand on her lower back. She tilted her head.
“Are you going to kiss me again?” she asked.
“I might,” I said. “I think you’d like it.”