Page 55 of Count Down

I hear Luca sprint toward the door. Then I hear a loud crash as if he’s run through the wall. Luca smashes full-force into the door knocking back whoever was coming into the room. He roars with rage as he jumps on top of the person in the hallway.

I hear myself scream, frightened for Luca’s safety.

In the hallway I hear grunting and a steady “THUD,” “THUD,” “THUD.”

I run to my bedroom door. The steady pounding is slowing down. The gaps between each thud getting longer. The door is broken and torn off its hinges. I pull it out of the way.

I see Luca in his boxers, on top of a man in the hallway. He’s holding the man by the collar and punches him one more time in the face. “THUD.”

Luca’s fist is covered in blood. The man he’s on is thick, beefy, and unresponsive. Even if I had seen him before, I wouldn’t be able to recognize him. His nose is busted, his face and bald head covered in blood.

Luca looks to me. His fist is still raised, ready to punch the man again. Every muscle in his body is tensed. “Are you okay?!” He barks.

I nod. I glance to Lexi’s door. She’s peering out from her room, a frightened look on her face.

“Are… are you okay?” I ask Luca.

“Yeah,” he grunts. He lets go of the man’s collar and stands up. He shakes out his fist. Blood spatters across the floor and the bottom of the wall. “We need to tie him up.”

I’m not even sure if this guy is still alive. But I don’t argue. I turn on my bedroom light and run to my closet. I dig out a spool of ribbon I had once used for a costume.

“Will this work?” I hand it to Luca. He takes it from me. He kicks the man on the floor onto his stomach. Then he uses the ribbon to tightly tie his hands behind his back. As Luca ties him up, I notice the faded black tattoos all over the man’s beefy hands. The contrast of the pale blue ribbon is so absurd I almost start laughing. Next Luca ties his feet together.

“Who is he? What’s he doing here?” Lexi asks, now venturing out of her bedroom.

“Bratva,” Luca replies as he runs to the living room window. He peers out the window, looking for any partners the man on the floor might have had.

Lexi looks at me confused.

“Russian mafia,” I explain.

“Oh shit,” she says. “But why—“

“They’re after Gina,” Luca explains. He comes back away from the window. It doesn’t look like he saw anyone else waiting outside. “Targeting her father.”

Lexi looks at me with a horrified expression. “I might have forgotten to lock the door when I got home. I’m so sorry!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Luca says. “If you locked it, he would have picked the lock. It wouldn’t have stopped him. You’re not safe here. Get dressed. Grab what you need.” Luca goes into my bedroom and starts to get dressed. “Both of you!” He calls out.

Lexi and I both rush to change and pack what we need. Questions are running through my mind, but now is not the time to ask them. This apartment feels tainted. This man knew where I lived. He either just picked the first bedroom, or he knew which one was mine.

Thank God Luca was here.

Within a few minutes, Lexi and I have changed and thrown a few things into our bags. I grab what I might need for tomorrow. I don’t want to have to come back here before the showcase. I don’t know if I should come back here ever.

Luca bends down and hoists the man over his shoulder. He looks fucking heavy. I’m impressed how easily Luca manages him. I get the door and Luca carries him down to the exit. I lock the apartment and follow Lexi out of the building.

We hustle down the sidewalk to Luca’s car. I keep my eyes open for someone jumping out from a doorway or a car. Luckily, there’s nobody else around. Luca heaves the man into the back of his car. The car dips and bounces a bit when he drops him in.

I don’t know if he’s alive. I don’t want to look too closely. Who knows what he’d planned to do to me if Luca hadn’t been there. Either way, if the man’s not dead now, I’m sure he will be before morning.

“I’ll bring you to my place,” Luca explains as he drives. “It’s a lot more secure there.”

“Where are you going?” I ask, although I think I have an idea.

“I’ve got to take care of this guy,” Luca jerks his thumb to the back of the car.

We get to Luca’s and he pulls the car through his garage door. He walks Lexi and I into the main floor.