Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“I didn’t either,” he admitted.
It was a sad fact in a city as populated as ours that the cops weren’t exactly going to go out of their way to try to track down a faceless burglar. It would probably be hours before anyone even showed up at my door to take a report.
“We should at least tell Brian and maybe put a note up on the board downstairs, so everyone is aware that someone who shouldn’t have been in the building broke into an apartment.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, nodding, even if I was pretty sure I knew who was in my apartment, and that they likely weren’t a threat to anyone in the building but me. “That’s a good idea,” I added when he just kept staring at me. “Thanks for coming in with me,” I added. “Who knows what might have happened if you weren’t here.”
I had a feeling I did know.
And I wouldn’t be alive right now.
“Anytime,” he said, nodding. “Do you mind if I go and tell Brian?” he asked, eager to continue to be the hero.
“Please do,” I said, nodding.
“Do you need anything? Can I call someone for you?”
“I’m okay, thank you,” I said, pulling myself off the floor even if all I wanted to do was stay down there. “Really, thank you,” I said as I walked him to the door.
“Anytime,” he said, nodding.
As soon as he was into the hall, I closed the door and slid the locks before walking numbly into the kitchen, grabbing my purse off of the floor.
It was when I was placing it on the island that I saw it.
The edge of a white card that was stuck under a bowl of fruit.
Elian’s card.
I reached for it like a lifeline as I grabbed for my phone, then plugged it in before I could think better of it.
“Hello?” he answered, sounding distracted.
“You said to call if I ever need help. I, ah, I think I need help,” I admitted, sniffling as tears started to flood my eyes.
“Elizabeth? Is everything alright?” he asked, voice tight.
“Um, yes. But also, no,” I admitted, reaching up to wipe some tears off of my cheek as my body started to tremble as the adrenaline continued to move through me with nowhere for it to go.
“What happened?” he asked, and I could hear the beep as his car turned over.
“My door was open when I got home, and there was someone in here,” I told him, my hand going to my face, fingers and palm pushing into my eye that felt like someone was driving an icepick through it and into my skull.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes. My neighbor came in to check it out with me. I don’t know if I’d be okay if he hadn’t,” I admitted. “He got a bloody nose…”
“Are you hurt?” he asked, making some sort of driving maneuver that had a chorus of horns objecting.
“He punched me,” I told him. Then, “I’m okay.” Though, it didn’t feel that way.
I could handle this situation when the only place I thought I was truly unsafe was on the street. But now that my own apartment was compromised, I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to function.
There was no way I could sleep, that was for sure.
“I’m on my way,” Elian said.
“He’s gone,” I told him, suddenly realizing there was nothing this man could do. So why the hell was I even bothering him? “There’s nothing you can—“
“I’m on my way. Tell your doorman to let me up,” he told me, then ended the call before I could object again.
I called downstairs, having to try twice—likely because Brian was talking to my neighbor—before I got him on the line, then explained to let Elian Lombardi up for me before unlocking my door.
I was halfway back to my kitchen, ready to grab an icepack for my cheekbone and my rescue medicine, when the nausea came on hard and fast, leaving me no choice but to run into the bathroom and retch.
I was still sitting on my bathroom floor, rocking in pain, when I heard footsteps making their way through my apartment.
If this was how I died, so be it.
I couldn’t muster any motivation to try to get up and run for my life.
“Elizabeth…” Elian’s voice said, tone soft. “Oh, baby,” he added at my pathetic whimper.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Elian
I knew they weren’t going to just let it drop. Not after something as serious as an actual public shooting.
Some part of me hadn’t been able to sleep at night, wondering if I was going to see her face on the news, if they were going to say she was a victim of some tragic, senseless shooting.
I was actually fucking relieved to hear her panicked voice on the other end of the phone because at least it meant she was still alive.