The morning light that streamed into Antonella's apartment felt harsh against her tired eyes. She hadn't slept-how could she? Jason's voice still echoed in her mind, his touch lingering on her skin like a phantom. She kept replaying their conversation in her head, his calm, mysterious words seeping into every thought.
"I have my ways."
What did that even mean? And how much did he know about her?
Antonella sat at her small kitchen table, staring blankly at the untouched coffee in front of her. Her hands wrapped tightly around the mug, trying to stop their shaking. It wasn't fear, not exactly. It was more like an ache, a gnawing sense of inevitability that whatever this was between her and Jason had already begun, and there was no stopping it.
But she had to. She had to stop it. Before it went too far.
The idea of someone knowing her name, knowing more about her than she allowed them to, left her feeling exposed, like her carefully constructed walls were crumbling without her even noticing. Antonella had spent years keeping people at a distance, controlling who could see what, and now... it felt like Jason had already found the key to the doors she kept locked.
She wasn't sure if that terrified her or thrilled her.
Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She glanced down to see a message from Belcalis.
Belcalis: Club's quiet tonight. Might not be a bad idea to take the night off. I'm going in late if you're thinking of staying in.
Antonella: I might stay home.
Belcalis: Good. You've been tense. Text me if you need anything.
Antonella put her phone down and ran a hand through her hair, breathing a little easier knowing she had the option of staying home. She needed the space to clear her head. The idea of going back to the club, of possibly seeing Jason again, felt like too much right now.
But as the hours passed, the stillness in her apartment became suffocating. She couldn't stop thinking about him-about the way he had stood there in the middle of the night, telling her he wasn't going anywhere. She felt a pull toward him, something deeper than physical attraction, something that scared her more than she was willing to admit.
She stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as she pushed it back. She couldn't stay cooped up in her apartment any longer. She needed to clear her head, get some air, shake this feeling before it consumed her.
Walking through the crowded streets of New York, Antonella kept her head down, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her hoodie. The city moved around her in a blur of lights and noise, the constant hum of life doing little to ease her mind.
Her feet carried her without direction, each step meant to distance herself from the confusion swirling in her head. But no matter how far she walked, she couldn't shake the thought of him. Of his steady voice, his calm demeanor, the way he seemed so sure of everything.
She found herself standing outside the small bodega she used to visit often when she first moved to New York. It was a simple place, tucked between two taller buildings, its neon sign flickering in the growing dusk. For a moment, she hesitated, not sure why she had come here. But the quiet inside beckoned her, a small refuge from the chaos both outside and in her head.
Antonella stepped inside, the smell of coffee and the soft hum of the refrigerators grounding her slightly. She wandered the aisles aimlessly, her fingers brushing against the shelves as she tried to find something-anything-to distract her.
But just as she was about to leave, her phone buzzed again. This time, the name on the screen made her heart skip a beat.
Jason.
