Chapter 4 - The Door Came Down
Elena stared at him.
“What?”
“My name is Luca.”
“Luca what?”
A heavy impact struck the apartment door.
Elena jumped.
Luca didn’t.
“Moretti.”
Her expression changed.
She knew the name.
Everyone in New York knew the name.
“No.”
Another impact shook the frame.
Elena whispered, “Luca Moretti?”
“Yes.”
“You’re—”
“Whatever you’ve heard, we can discuss it later.”
“You’re the Moretti?”
“Elena.”
“You ate leftover Chinese food in my kitchen.”
“Apparently criminals eat noodles.”
“This isn’t funny!”
“I know.”
The doorframe cracked.
Luca moved her toward the bedroom.
“Stay behind me.”
“You lied to me for six months.”
“Yes.”
“You let me bring you croissants!”
“I liked the croissants.”
“Luca!”
The door burst inward.
Wood scattered across the floor.
The first man entered.
Luca moved immediately.
The confrontation was fast and brutal without becoming chaotic.
He knocked the intruder off balance and drove him back into the damaged doorway.
A second man rushed in.
Then Elena screamed.
“Luca!”
Ryan had appeared behind them.
He grabbed Elena’s arm.
“Come on!”
“Let go!”
Luca turned.
That distraction was enough.
One attacker struck him from behind.
Luca staggered.
Elena fought Ryan.
“You caused this!”
“I didn’t know!”
“You sold his address!”
“I needed money!”
Luca heard that.
Everything stopped inside him.
Ryan had sold the location.
Luca shoved the attacker away and crossed the room.
Ryan released Elena.
“Stay back.”
Luca kept coming.
Ryan retreated.
“Man, I didn’t know who you were.”
“You knew enough to sell me.”
“It was just an address!”
“You put her in the middle.”
Ryan looked toward Elena.
“That wasn't supposed to happen.”
Luca stopped inches away.
“That sentence is what cowards say after consequences arrive.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Then heavy footsteps filled the hallway.
Marco entered with three men.
“Luca!”
The remaining intruders immediately surrendered.
Marco looked around.
Broken doorway.
Destroyed lamp.
Elena sitting against the bed.
Luca standing between her and everyone else.
Marco understood everything.
“Cars are downstairs.”
Luca turned to Elena.
“You’re coming with me.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Elena.”
“No.”
“This building isn’t safe.”
“Because of you.”
The words hit harder than Luca expected.
“Yes.”
Elena’s voice trembled.
“My apartment is destroyed because of you.”
“Yes.”
“My ex sold your location because of you.”
“Yes.”
“And now you expect me to follow you?”
Luca looked at her for a long moment.
“No.”
That surprised her.
He stepped aside.
“You don’t belong to me. I don’t make that decision for you.”
Marco glanced at him.
Luca continued.
“But whoever came here knows your face now.”
Elena looked toward the broken doorway.
“So what happens?”
“I put you somewhere safe.”
“And then?”
“You choose.”
“Choose what?”
“Whether you ever want to see me again.”
She stared at him.
Luca held out his hand.
For several seconds, Elena didn’t move.
May you like
Then she took it.
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