Chapter 2 - The Man in 4B
The stranger blocked Luca’s path.
“You deaf?”
Luca stopped.
“No.”
“Then get out.”
Elena rose slowly.
“Ryan, stop.”
Ryan glanced back.
“This guy bothering you?”
“You’re bothering me.”
His jaw tightened.
Luca noticed it immediately.
Possessiveness.
Humiliation.
Anger searching for somewhere to land.
Ryan stepped toward Elena.
Luca moved between them.
Ryan laughed.
“You her boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Then mind your business.”
Luca’s voice remained calm.
“She asked you to leave.”
“You don't know anything about us.”
“I know what ‘leave’ means.”
Ryan shoved Luca.
Nothing happened.
Ryan stared at him.
Luca looked down at the hand against his chest.
“That was your first mistake.”
“What’s the second?”
“Finding out.”
Ryan swung.
Luca avoided the punch, caught his arm, turned his body and forced him against the wall.
Fast.
Controlled.
Ryan gasped.
“What the hell—”
“Luca!”
Elena froze.
So did Luca.
She had never called him that.
She couldn’t have.
Luca slowly turned his head.
Elena looked confused.
“I said Luke.”
A dangerous second passed.
Luca released Ryan.
“Leave.”
Ryan rubbed his arm.
“You’re dead.”
Luca’s expression barely changed.
“You should choose phrases more carefully.”
Ryan grabbed his jacket.
At the doorway he pointed toward Elena.
“This isn’t finished.”
Luca stepped forward.
“It is tonight.”
Ryan disappeared down the hall.
Elena immediately locked the door.
Her hands trembled.
Luca noticed.
“You need ice.”
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not.”
She gave him an exhausted look.
“Do you always tell people how they feel?”
“Usually they listen.”
“That sounds healthy.”
Luca almost smiled.
Almost.
Elena sat on the sofa.
“He’s my ex.”
“I assumed.”
“We broke up eight months ago.”
“Why was he here?”
“He said he wanted to apologize.”
Luca looked toward the overturned lamp.
“Interesting apology.”
Elena rubbed her wrist.
“He wasn’t always like this.”
Luca crouched beside the lamp and unplugged the damaged cord.
“They usually aren’t in the beginning.”
She studied him.
“You sound like you know.”
“I know men.”
“That’s vague.”
“It was meant to be.”
Elena disappeared into the kitchen.
Luca began gathering broken pieces from the floor.
“Stop.”
He looked up.
“You don’t have to clean my apartment.”
“I’m already here.”
“That is not an explanation.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
She returned with ice wrapped in a towel.
Then she noticed his hand.
Blood ran across his knuckles.
“You’re hurt.”
“Nothing serious.”
“You punched him.”
“He punched badly.”
That earned the smallest laugh.
Then Elena became serious.
“Thank you.”
Luca looked away.
“You don’t owe me gratitude.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because helping someone who asks for help should be ordinary.”
Elena stared at him.
For the first time, Luca realized how close they were.
Too close.
He stood.
“You should replace the lock tomorrow.”
“I will.”
“And don’t open the door for him.”
“Bossy.”
“Yes.”
She smiled faintly.
“Goodnight, Luke.”
He reached the doorway.
“Goodnight.”
Then Elena said, “Wait.”
He turned.
“Why were you awake?”
Luca paused.
“What?”
“It’s after eleven. You usually seem asleep by now.”
He looked at the wall separating their apartments.
For once, Luca Moretti had no convincing lie ready.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
Elena nodded.
“Well…”
She hesitated.
“I usually sing when I can’t sleep.”
“I know.”
Silence.
Her eyebrows lifted.
“You know?”
Luca realized his mistake.
Elena slowly smiled.
“You listen.”
“No.”
“You absolutely listen.”
“The walls are thin.”
“Oh my God.”
“Elena.”
“You listen to me sing every night.”
“I tolerate it.”
Her smile widened.
“You’re embarrassed.”
“I don’t get embarrassed.”
“You are right now.”
Luca opened the door.
“Goodnight.”
She laughed behind him.
For the first time that evening, Elena sounded like herself again.
But downstairs, a man sat inside a parked car.
Ryan pulled out his phone.
He had taken a photograph before leaving.
A photograph of Luca.
He sent it to someone with a short message.
Do you know this guy?
Three minutes later, the answer arrived.
May you like
Where did you find him?
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