Chapter 13 - THE APARTMENT
Hannah looked at Ellie.
“Bedroom.”
“But—”
“Now.”
Something in her voice made Ellie run.
Hannah backed away from the door.
“Adrian.”
“I’m here.”
“He’s outside.”
“I know.”
“What do I do?”
“Do not open the door.”
“Great advice.”
She heard Adrian moving.
“Marco should be downstairs.”
“I’ll call him.”
“No. Stay on with me.”
The doorknob moved.
Locked.
Luca knocked again.
“Hannah.”
Her blood turned cold.
No fake delivery voice now.
“I know you’re in there.”
Hannah whispered, “He knows.”
“I heard.”
“You sound very calm.”
“I’m not.”
Outside, Luca said, “Open the door and nobody gets hurt.”
Hannah laughed nervously.
“Does anybody actually believe that line?”
Adrian almost smiled despite the terror.
“Kitchen,” he said.
“What?”
“Go to the kitchen.”
“Why?”
“Fire escape.”
Hannah moved.
The apartment door shook.
Luca had kicked it.
Ellie came out holding Rosie and her pink backpack.
“I told you bedroom.”
“I don’t want to be alone.”
Another kick.
Wood cracked.
Hannah grabbed Ellie.
“Fire escape.”
They reached the kitchen window.
Three floors down.
Ellie stared.
“That’s high.”
“I know.”
The front door crashed open.
Hannah pushed up the window.
“Go.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too.”
Hannah climbed out first.
Then helped Ellie onto the metal platform.
Inside, footsteps moved through the apartment.
Slow.
Luca knew they were trapped.
Hannah climbed down.
Ellie followed.
The kitchen window opened above them.
Luca appeared.
“There you are.”
Hannah screamed.
“MOVE!”
They climbed.
Luca stepped onto the fire escape.
Below, a black SUV screamed around the corner.
Adrian.
Before the car stopped, he was out.
He looked up.
“ELLIE!”
Luca grabbed Hannah’s coat.
She kicked backward.
He lost his grip.
Adrian took the stairs two at a time.
Luca pulled a gun.
Hannah froze.
“Don’t.”
Ellie stood one level below.
Adrian reached the first platform.
Luca pointed the gun at him.
“You keep showing up.”
Adrian stopped.
“Let them go.”
“You first.”
Luca aimed at his brother’s chest.
Then Ellie threw Rosie.
The stuffed rabbit hit Luca directly in the face.
It did absolutely no damage.
But it startled him.
One second.
That was enough.
Hannah slammed her elbow into his wrist.
The gun fell.
Adrian rushed upward.
The brothers collided.
Metal shook beneath them.
Luca punched Adrian’s injured throat.
Adrian staggered.
Luca grabbed the gun.
Ellie screamed.
Then Marco appeared in the kitchen window.
“DROP IT!”
Luca turned.
Marco fired.
The bullet hit Luca’s shoulder.
He fell against the rail.
Adrian grabbed him before he went over.
For one strange moment, Luca dangled three stories above the alley.
Adrian held his wrist.
Luca stared up.
“Let me fall.”
Adrian’s face tightened.
“You’d like that.”
“Do it.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Adrian pulled harder.
“Because Lily doesn’t need another murderer in her name.”
With Marco’s help, he dragged Luca back onto the platform.
Police sirens filled the street.
Hannah collapsed beside Ellie.
Adrian looked at his brother.
“It’s over.”
Luca laughed through the pain.
“No.”
Adrian frowned.
Luca smiled.
“Pier 19.”
Adrian went still.
“You think that was my escape route?”
The smile widened.
“It’s not.”
Then Adrian realized what was waiting at Pier 19.
May you like
Not Luca’s getaway.
Something much worse.
