The Thrill of Retaliation

After a long pause, I finally looked up at him. "When did you get back?"

"Last night!" he replied tersely, then continued to stare at me intently, his gaze making me uneasy.

The waiter brought the hot milk he had ordered for me. He pushed it towards me and then asked, "Do you want to solve your current predicament?"

"As long as it doesn't threaten my parents' safety?" This was my absolute bottom line. Knowing that he was asking this question, he must have had a plan in mind. For some reason, I felt an inexplicable trust in him, devoid of any defensiveness.

"I'll handle it," he said simply. "I'll let you know once everything is arranged. You just need to cooperate."

"Thank you."

When I left the café, it was already evening. He gave me a few brief instructions at the door, and then we each got into our cars and left. For some reason, I felt as though someone was watching me.