Eva slammed the front door shut with a force that reverberated through the apartment.
“Fuck!”
Moments later, Michelle returned, cradling a glass of water in her hands.
“Where did Eva go?” she asked, concern etched across her features.
I could feel the urgency surging within me; something important had happened with Eva while I was out, and I had to find out what.
“Sorry, Michelle, but I need to go…” I gathered every ounce of strength within me to push myself up. “Help me up, would you?”
With Michelle's steady support, I managed to rise to my feet. I paused for a heartbeat, allowing my head to clear before grasping the cold glass of water and draining it in one swift motion.
The refreshing chill of the liquid revitalized my body, awakening my senses.
“If you’re determined to go, you’re going to need these,” Michelle said, her gaze drifting toward a cabinet nestled beneath the television. With a swift, practiced motion, she swung the cabinet door open and retrieved a couple of items. “Here, I found these in your jacket pocket.”
The first item she handed over was my car keys. The second item, cradled in her hands, brought a wave of familiarity and relief. “Eve! Ivy! Am I glad to have you two back?”
Michelle's brow knitted with concern as she continued, “Speaking of your jacket, though… it really took quite the beating last night. If you truly want it, I can go fetch it for you." Her tone carried a hint of sympathy.
“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it; you’ve done enough for me already.” I offered a grateful glance back at Michelle before stepping out of her apartment, the door clicking softly behind me.
Outside, my eyes landed on Eva, perched elegantly on her motorcycle, the sleek machine gleaming under the soft glow of the streetlights, casting an almost ethereal aura around her. She looked like a guardian of the night, her leather jacket hugging her form snugly, a stark contrast to the darkness enveloping us.
Just a few feet away, my car sat silently, its polished surface reflecting the pale light; Michelle must have taken it back to her place when I was out.
“You were told to get some rest,” she admonished, her voice steady and assertive, with her gaze sharp enough to cut through the tension in the air.
“Well, I would have if you hadn’t been an asshole before leaving," I retorted, feeling a surge of irritation mixed with determination rushing through me. "So go ahead, tell me what you meant.” My tone held an edge, a challenge that reverberated in the cool night air, demanding answers.
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“Why don’t YOU explain that scar on your neck and how you acquired it? Or perhaps you'd like to tell me what truly happened with M?nica? What about Enzo? Why not tell me about him?” Eva challenged, her voice laced with a blend of concern and unyielding curiosity.
I smiled nervously, trying to deflect the tension in the air. “Eva, I don't know what you are talking about. I’ve never heard of a—”
Before I could finish my thought, Eva interrupted me, her voice sharp and accusatory. “Don’t make me out to be a fool, Max! I have your file back at my apartment. Just who exactly are you?”
“Hang on a second, what file?” I was confused and curious; the idea of someone having a file on me was concerning.
“Don't dodge the question by asking another. Now answer my questions!” Eva’s eyes bore into me, relentless and unyielding.
I took a deep breath, the truth hanging heavy on my tongue. “I’ll tell you this, okay? Enzo was a fake name I created to lay low for a while. The scar on my neck?” I gestured subtly to the faded mark, a constant reminder of my past. “It’s just where a bullet struck me a few years ago, that’s all.”
“And what about M?nica? What happened with her?” Eva pressed, her curiosity tinged with concern.
I hesitated, a wave of emotions crashing over me. “You don't need to know,” I replied, my voice steady but cold.
“Fucking hell, Max! You send me out to find out more about Rodrigo, who just wants some closure, as no one in this cursed city will tell him anything, so for God's sake, will you tell me?” Eva demanded.
“You want to know?”
“Yes!”
There was a moment of silence.
“She’s dead! She was dead the minute she married Rodrigo; it just so happens that I was there when it happened!” I said in anger before continuing, “But know this, I didn’t kill her; in fact, I was the one who tried to find her, but I was too slow. You know, I’ve always wondered what would happen if I was a bit faster or, better yet, if I never got on that fucking boat to begin with... Look, will you do me a favor and take me home, please? I’ve had enough of this shithole.”
Eva could read the exhaustion etched into my features, a mix of emotional weight and physical fatigue pulling me down. With a practiced ease, she switched off her motorcycle, its engine sputtering to silence, then extended her hand, expecting my car keys.
With a resigned sigh, I fished the keys out of my pocket and tossed them over. I slid into the passenger’s seat, my body collapsing against the worn leather, the scent of gasoline and faint traces of rain lingering in the air.
The drive back was enveloped in an awkward silence, thick with unspoken words. The city lights blurred past, flickering like thoughts I was too tired to speak. Once we reached my building, she parked and handed my keys back with a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Without another word, she stepped away, her figure gradually melting into the crowd, leaving me with the ache of things left unsaid.
As I stepped into the elevator, my mind felt foggy and unsteady. Each floor felt like an eternity, and I could barely register the ding of the doors opening. I stumbled into my apartment, the familiarity of the space feeling distant yet comforting. Before I knew it, my legs buckled beneath me, and I crumpled to the cool floor.
A wave of weakness washed over me, the exhaustion draining any remaining strength. My eyelids grew heavy, and the world around me faded to black as I surrendered to a much-needed slumber, my thoughts finally quieting.
