Chapter 12: Testing my patience

Sadie.

I was actually starting to enjoy my walk to work in the mornings. Somedays, like this one, I would leave early enough to stop and get a coffee and then walk along the shore for a little while. Rockaway was a beautiful area and I loved getting to hear the sound of the ocean each morning. It was almost comforting the way the waves pounded so relentlessly at the shore and the salty sea breeze that blew through the air. I had spent the best years of my life here and even though I left on bad terms, it was full of happy memories for me. Memories of family picnics on the beach, nights at the beach bonfires with Brandon and all of our friends, splashing in the waves while Adam chased me around. I had a wonderful childhood here.

I dreamed of raising my own family here when I was young--a family I would have with Brandon. Two boys and a girl--that was what we always talked about. Brandon would be running the family business, and I would be the dutiful Mafia wife, and own an adorable little floral shop in town called Sadie's Sweet Stems. We'd spend our weekends shuffling our kids between sports and birthday parties and BBQs with our families, and at the end of the day, we'd snuggle up on the couch together with a glass of wine and watch some cheesy horror film. Those were Brandon's favorite because I'd always pretend to be scared, just to get closer to him. We'd travel the world together, taking on new adventures and facing everything that came our way as a team. We'd grow old together on this beach, watching the waves come in until our dying days. We had talked about it so many times I could see it so vividly in my mind, our picture-perfect family. Standing here today and looking out into the water, it nearly brought tears to my eyes how differently my life had turned out.

I let out a heavy sigh. Thinking about the past did me no good. It only complicated what I was here to do now. I was so disgusted with myself that I couldn't even finish my coffee and tossed it into a nearby garbage can. I knew Brandon was angry with me because he hadn't been around the last few days, but on some level, I knew he would understand. My brother's life was at stake and I had to do whatever I could to protect him. That was no different than how he operated every day. However I tried to spin this in my mind, I just felt worse about it.

Wrapping my sweater tighter around my shoulders, I began the walk to Brodo. I was starting to get to know the shop owners along the way and waved at a few of them. Mrs. Patterson, the baker, was my favorite. I had known her when I lived here before, she didn't ask me too many questions and always sent me away with a chocolate croissant if I came by.

"Good morning, Sadie!" She smiled brightly, waving me in. "I have some croissants coming out of the oven, why don't you come inside for a minute?"

"Oh, I would love to, Mrs. Patterson but I'm already running late. Can I stop by on my way home?" I smiled sympathetically. Her baked goods sounded a hell of a lot better than the food I had in my pantry at home, and as much as I hated to admit it, the delivery pizza did taste like cardboard.

"I'll save you a few." She smiled, patting my shoulder.

"You're the greatest!" I turned around to wave as she disappeared into the store.

Before I was even turned back around, I felt someone sharply grab my arm and pull me into an alley. I opened my mouth to scream but it was quickly covered by a gloved hand as I was shoved against the brick wall.

"Relax, it's me." Herrera whispered harshly, as if the fact that it was him was any kind of consolation. "Sorry about the venue--your boyfriend has people watching your house now so I can't get in and out as easily." He chuckled. "I'm going to take my hand off now, but you can't scream. Got it?"

I nodded, shifting from beneath his grasp as best I could.

"What have you got for me?" He took his hand off of my mouth, but stayed close to me, pressing me firmly into the wall.

"You're hurting me." I grimaced as the sharp edge of a brick stabbed into my back.

Herrera let out a sharp laugh, backing off slightly. "Better? Now I asked you a question."

"I don't have anything yet, I haven't..."

"That's the wrong answer, Sadie." He glared. "You've been on the inside for almost a week, and my boss is getting impatient. If he gets inpatient, he might pull the entire project and believe me, you don't want that to happen. It'll land you and Adam right in a jail cell, and I can't help you anymore."

It struck me as funny that he was calling this help. He was helping me avoid a prison term, that was true, but I was working my ass off for it. I was sacrificing everything for this and he knew that.

"I'm doing my best here. They're not going to trust me right off the bat, I haven't been home in 8 years. It's taking some time." I tried to defend. The truth was, I hadn't pushed it because it still wasn't sitting right with me. I knew this was the only option I had, but I was having a hard time convincing my heart of that.

"Unfortunately, Sadie, time is a luxury you do not have. See, part of this deal was that I would protect Adam from any retaliation from Rivas and his crew. If I'm not getting the information. need from you..." He shrugged. "That protection just might go away."

"You can't do that!" I was shaking with both anger and fear.

Herrera leaned in until his lips were only inches from my ear. "I can do whatever I want, Sadie. And you're really testing my patience here. I need something by the end of the day or I can't promise that Adam will be alive when you get back."

All of a sudden, he released me and ducked back out onto the street. All the air was sucked out of my lungs and I was on the verge of a panic attack. My heart was racing a million miles a minute. That bastard had threatened Adam's life. He couldn't do that, could he? That wasn't a chance I was willing to take though. I couldn't let Rivas get near Adam again. He'd kill him for sure. I had to figure something else out. I had to find a way to get some kind of information from the Avenettis and get it to Herrera.