Chapter 5 - The Last Time Marcus Came Back
Two weeks passed.
Victor disappeared from Emma’s life.
Marcus did too.
At first.
Emma found a new apartment with better security.
She also found a new job.
Not because Adrian gave her one.
Because Rosa introduced her to a friend who owned an upscale restaurant downtown.
Emma insisted on interviewing normally.
Adrian pretended not to be offended.
“You rejected my employment offer twice.”
“Three times.”
“Was it three?”
“You offered again at breakfast.”
“That wasn’t employment. That was consulting.”
“For what?”
“Teaching Luca to speak to normal people.”
Across the room, Luca said, “I can hear you.”
Emma smiled.
She had started visiting the Moretti townhouse more often than necessary.
Sometimes for dinner.
Sometimes because Rosa called.
Sometimes because Adrian sent a car with a message that simply said:
Coffee?
He never pushed.
Never demanded.
Never asked her to stay when she wanted to leave.
That mattered more than Emma expected.
One night, she found Adrian alone on the balcony.
“You know,” she said, “you’re less frightening when you’re holding tea.”
“It’s whiskey.”
“Oh.”
“Better?”
“Much.”
He handed her his jacket when she shivered.
Emma smiled.
“You always do that.”
“What?”
“Notice things before I say them.”
“Occupational habit.”
“Being a criminal?”
“Running businesses.”
“Sure.”
He glanced at her.
“You’re becoming disrespectful.”
“You’re becoming tolerable.”
“That sounds serious.”
“It might be.”
Their eyes held.
Then Emma’s phone rang.
Marcus.
Her smile vanished.
Adrian noticed.
“You don’t have to answer.”
Emma looked at the screen.
Then pressed accept.
“Hello?”
Marcus sounded strange.
“Emma, I need to see you.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“I’m leaving New York.”
“Good.”
A pause.
“I wanted to apologize.”
“You’ve apologized before.”
“I know.”
Emma looked at Adrian.
He made no attempt to listen, but he didn’t walk away either.
Marcus said, “Five minutes. Public place. Tomorrow.”
Emma hesitated.
“No.”
Then she ended the call.
Her hands were shaking.
Adrian quietly took the phone before she dropped it.
“You okay?”
Emma nodded.
“No.”
“Better answer.”
She leaned against the balcony railing.
“I spent four years thinking if I explained things correctly enough, Marcus would finally understand me.”
“And now?”
“I realized he understood perfectly.”
Adrian said nothing.
“He just didn’t care.”
The next afternoon, Marcus appeared outside Emma’s new restaurant anyway.
She saw him through the window.
Her stomach tightened.
He wasn’t drunk.
He wasn’t shouting.
He simply waited.
Emma stepped outside.
“Five minutes.”
Marcus nodded.
“You look good.”
“Four minutes fifty-five seconds.”
He gave a sad laugh.
“I deserved that.”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the street.
“I’m moving to Ohio. My brother found me work.”
“Good.”
“I started a gambling program.”
Emma studied him.
“I hope it helps.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I really am sorry.”
“For which part?”
“All of it.”
Emma waited.
Marcus continued.
“I thought loving someone meant they had to forgive you.”
“No.”
“I know that now.”
He nodded toward the black SUV parked across the street.
“Moretti?”
Emma glanced over.
Adrian wasn’t inside.
Luca was.
Emma had not asked for security.
Adrian had insisted until Victor’s network was completely dismantled.
“Yes.”
Marcus smiled bitterly.
“You two together?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“You’re right.”
He turned to leave.
Then stopped.
“I did love you, Emma.”
She looked at him.
“Maybe.”
Marcus frowned.
Emma continued.
“But you loved having me more than you loved me.”
He lowered his eyes.
Then walked away.
Emma watched until he disappeared.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Adrian.
Did he behave?
Emma typed:
Yes.
Three dots appeared.
Disappointing. Luca was bored.
Emma laughed aloud.
Across the street, Luca rolled his eyes.
Then another message arrived.
Dinner tonight?
Emma looked at the empty sidewalk where Marcus had disappeared.
Then at the black SUV.
This time, she didn’t need to run toward it.
She typed:
May you like
Pick me up at eight.
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