Twenty

The tension in the automobile increased as Luca slid back into the driver's seat. Elena looked at him, her eyes wide with worry as she looked for answers. After a moment of hesitation, she broke the uncomfortable stillness.

"Luca, what took place inside? I heard gunshots, and you look... different," questioned Elena, her voice quivering with interest and concern.

Luca looked at her.

“Different how?”

Luca's jaw tightened as his eyes stayed focused on the road ahead. Taking a long breath, he tried to decide how much to reveal. He wasn't sure Elena was prepared for the weight of the truth.

Elena, you have nothing to be concerned about. Only a quarrel with the mayor occurs. These incidents occur in my profession." With a measured and evasive tone, Luca answered.

Elena's gaze grew narrower as she realized there was more to the tale. "A 'disagreement' with the mayor and gunshots? You can't expect me to think that everything is alright, Luca. Tell me what happened, please."

Luca gripped the steering wheel more tightly. Taking a quick look at Elena, he could sense her sincere concern, and a wave of shame washed over him. However, he was hampered by the weight of secrecy and the perils in his environment.

"Elena, I can't tell you everything. Luca stated in a stern yet regretful voice, "It's for your own protection." Luca tried to wave it off, but Elena was not going to let him do what he wanted.

He wanted her to trust him and do as he said, but he could not answer a simple question.

"I need an answer, Luca,” she said after a long silence.

The car came to a sudden halt, the engine idling in the silence that followed Luca's harsh words. The city sounds outside seemed to close in on the confined space of the car.

"Are you going to allow us to have dinner in peace, or do you want to drop here and find your way home? I have already told you that I cannot give you details of the job. Is it now enough? Yes, you heard gunshots. That is what I do. I live a dangerous and dirty life, and I was okay before you put yourself in the picture." Luca's voice was strained, a mix of frustration and concern.

Elena's gaze dropped, her hands fidgeting in her lap. She swallowed hard before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "Drop me, Luca. I can find my way home. I do not want to be a nuisance."

Luca's jaw clenched as he nodded, his expression unreadable. He pulled the car over to the side of the road, the dull hum of the engine emphasizing the tense atmosphere. Without another word, he released the door locks, and Elena stepped out onto the pavement.

"Fine, Elena. Do what you  want."Luca's voice was cold, the pain of their exchange lingering in the air. He didn't wait for her response; the car pulled away from the curb with a low growl of the engine.

Elena stood alone on the dimly lit street, the city sounds echoing around her. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she watched the taillights of the car disappear into the night.

Elena's cab pulled up to her apartment building, and as she reached into her purse for money, a cold realization sank in—she had none. Panic tightened her chest, and she fumbled with the idea of explaining the situation to the cab driver.

As she stepped out of the cab, feeling a knot of worry in her stomach, a familiar voice called out, "Elena!" She turned to see Zoey standing near the entrance, concern etched across her face.

Zoey rushed toward her, her eyes widening with relief. "Elena, where have you been? I tried calling you a hundred times. I thought you were kidnapped or something!"

Elena, still shaken from the earlier confrontation with Luca, managed a weak smile. "Zoey, I didn't mean to worry you. It's just been a complicated night."

Zoey's concern deepened, and she handed some cash to the cab driver, dismissing his protests. "Never mind that. You had me scared. I've been standing here every day, checking to see if you'd come back. What happened?"

Elena hesitated but decided to share at least part of the truth. "It's complicated, Zoey. I got caught up in something, and I needed some time alone. I appreciate your concern, though."

Zoey's eyes narrowed, a mixture of worry and curiosity playing across her features. "Caught up in something? Elena, you can't just disappear like that. We're friends. You can talk to me."

As they entered the building, Elena recounted the events of the evening—Luca's secretive behavior, the confrontation with the mayor, and the subsequent fallout. Zoey listened intently, her expression shifting from worry to disbelief. She told them all but left out the facts about the werewolf community. Zoey’s boyfriend hated any conversations about wolves because, according to him, when he was younger, a wolf attacked him, and since then, he has always been on the lookout for wolves. That was exactly what Zoey told her, but up until today, everyone thought wolves were a myth.

"I had no idea you were dealing with something like this. Why didn't you tell me?" Zoey asked, her voice a mix of frustration and genuine concern.

Elena sighed, leaning against the wall of the elevator. "Zoey, I tried, but my battery died, and I could not get easy access. For some reason, Luca did not even want to let me out of his side.” She sighed.

Zoey nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "Well, you're not alone in this, Elena. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together. And you can bet I'm not letting you disappear like that again."

Elena hugged Zoey tighter; it had been a week since she had seen her last, and Zoey was her only family. She held Zoey's hand.

"Sleep here tonight, then I can move to your house tomorrow. He does not know me, so that will not be a problem,” Elena said.

Elena paused as she entered her own apartment. The smell hit here; since the transformation, her senses had been exaggerated. Her house was very disorganized, exactly the same way she left it.

"Are you going to sell your house because of Luca Avante?’ Zoey asked her.

Elena nodded.

"I do not want you to find me. All this mess started because of you, Zoey, so you have to fix  it."She spoke and cleared the sitting room so they could be comfortable.

Zoey laughed at her.

"People are praying for that type of person, and my friend is running away from a multibillionaire," Zoey said out loud.