Chapter 17

8 AM

I was about to turn around when I felt a sweaty palm clasp over my mouth. I froze. The other hand was thrown around me, holding onto tightly to my chest.

I opened my mouth to scream, but my mouth was forced shut.

"Don't make a sound," He whispered into my ear.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't expected this. I knew one day he would show up again, but not now. Not so soon. Not while I was going through my issues with Tommy.

Why didn't I figure it out before? The silence on the end of the phone was my ex boyfriend, Luca Moretti.

I was trying to forget, but this was me. This was what I left behind. I was ashamed of it because it was something I told myself I would never do - something I told Tommy I would never do. I was with a guy who was no good - someone who I knew was no good. Someone who hurt me.

Tommy softly kissed the top of my head. "I just don't want you to end up like..."

"Your mom?" I asked him. He didn't say anything.

I just couldn't bare to see the look on Tommy's face if he ever found out, so I buried it. I tried to at least. I tried so hard to get away from it all and now it was grabbing me by the throat.

"Daniella - my sweet, sweet Daniella." He whispered into my ear as he still held onto me. He was the only one who called me that. I admit, I used to always love when he did, but only because it made my name sound more feminine than it was. It had been a long time since I had been called that, but definitely didn't want him calling me that now.

"I've missed you." He finally let go of my mouth and began to caress my cheek. It was always like this. He could flip from rough to sweet in a second.

"Where you expecting someone else?" He finally released me and shoved me forward as he did. I stumbled, before regaining my balance.

"What the hell are you doing here, Luca?" I said, turning around while trying to sound assertive, but I couldn't lie. I was scared to death and Tommy was long gone by now.

Luca looked the same as I last remembered him. He still had the same haircut, although his dark brown hair was a little bit shaggier. He had that same perfectly trimmed European looking moustache and beard combo. He was dressed in a white collared shirt, slim flat front beige cotton pants and brown buck oxfords. I didn't know how much I could hate a pair of shoes till now. It seemed a little for formal, but this was casual for him. Perfect for breaking into your ex girlfriend's house and sneaking up behind her.

Luca ignored my question. "Do you know how long it took me to find you?" He asked, while starting to examine the front hall. As he walked, I stood there watching him.

"It's been 5 years..." I said, folding my arms into my chest.

"So, what?!" Luca spat toward me like an angry pit-bull, his hazel eyes flaming. Out of fear, I looked away. Then quickly back at him to show him that he didn't scare me anymore. We were just having a conversation. He doesn't have that power over you anymore, Dani.

"When did you get here?" I asked.

"When did you get my first phone call?...around then," He replied, pretty laid-back about the whole thing.

"How… How did you find me?" After Tacoma, I had moved to New York and now here in Philly. If anything, he should have expected me to be back in Pittsburgh where my mom recently moved back to.

"I heard through the grapevine that you were in Philly." I waited for him to continue and stop by the foot of the stairs.

Who could have told him that I was in Philly? My mom...or sister...someone from work. Dammit. I should have just stayed in New York. Though I doubt that would have stopped him. It would have just left me isolated from everyone.

"I thought I'd pay you a visit." He added. He headed into the kitchen and was peaking around it like he expected to see someone in there.

"How the hell did you get my address then?" I questioned, following him inside. All the blinds and curtains in the house were shut so it was hard to tell that it was in fact morning. The kitchen was so dark so Luca flicked on the light.

"Is that really important? I just had to make sure it was you." He paused. "I also heard that you're fucking Tommy Riordan. That true, Dani? The MMA fighter who got his ass kicked by his brother?" He chuckled.

I shuttered when he said Tommy's name. It felt so wrong coming from him. He didn't deserve to say his name. Those two parts of my life shouldn't collide. Anyway, Tommy could kick Luca's ass any day of the week. He really shouldn't have been laughing. They were around the same height, but Luca was half his size.

"Of course it is," Luca said to himself. "I saw the picture of you two all dressed up after dinner." Wait, how did he kn -? Oh that damn couple with the camera after dinner that Tommy was so upset about.

"We're just friends. Anyway, it's none of your business." I paused. "Tommy's on his way over here right now so you can ask him yourself." I tried to keep the tone of my voice even. I wondered if he could sense the fear on me. Dani...he can't hurt you anymore. All you have to do is get to the door and you'll be safe. Get outside and you're safe.

"You're lying."

"I'm not." I told him.

"Yes you are." he corrected. "I always know when you're lying Dani...He's not coming back." "Sit down, Dani," he said quietly.

I just looked at him. Was I really gonna sit? That would make it harder for me to make a run for it.

"Sit," he said again.

I did as I was told. If he didn't think I was scared, he wouldn't be keeping too close an eye on me. It would give me a better chance to run. Luca stood by the kitchen counter with his hands pressed to either side of it..his knuckles white. He was looking down. I think a part of him must have liked the feeling of still being able to control after being away from me for so long. I was sitting. He was standing. I was obeying his every order...so far.

He gritted his teeth, but didn't say anything. Then he said, "I haven't forgot about that night…and if you thought I was going to let you get away with it, you're wrong."

"All this because I left you that night?" I retorted.

"Left me? Is that how you remember it?" He asked with an angry laugh. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. "You didn't just leave me. You called the cops, you dumb bitch!"

"And you lied to me. You said no one was going to get hurt." I yelled between huffed breaths. "And I was so goddamn stupid to have believed you," I whispered to myself.

Tacoma, Washington, 5 Years Ago

I was had just turned twenty-four and was deciding whether or not to transfer to NYU's Journalism school. I wasn't completely inexperience when it came to writing articles. I had wrote a bunch of articles for websites and for smaller newspapers as a "youth" voice. People definitely got more opportunities if they were enrolled in uni. I was still deciding on whether or not to tell Luca.

I was changing my major because English was never really a good fit for me. How could I tell him now that I wanted to leave Washington and transfer to NYU? I had to tell him eventually, but I still wasn't exactly sure of the decision at the time. I didn't want to piss him off prematurely and end up not going through with it.

Soon, I kept telling myself.

The decision to move states was obviously on purpose. I loved Luca, but also a part of me wanted out of the toxic relationship and was just looking for a reason to leave. I wondered if Luca would even let me? Luca - who I had met at the University of Washington. Four years after Tommy left me. I was twenty. He was an art major and was seven years older.

The night in question, we were driving down South street and had just finished picking up dinner from a Chinese place.

Luca turned down a residential street I wasn't familiar with.

"Wait, where are we going?" I questioned, sitting up in my seat.

"I just have to get some things back from a friend." He said, turning to me.

"Things, what things?" I asked.

"Some money that doesnt belong to him," He replied flatly. I could tell he didn't want to tell me anything at all, but I still pressed. I just hoped today wouldn't be one of his "days". Only one way to find out...

"He stole from you? Do you need to get the cops involved?" I asked. This was something a normal girlfriend would ask, not someone who was scared of her boyfriend. I wasn't scared of him. Not all the time.

"No. I can handle it myself." He replied calmly. OK - today wasn't one of his "days". He parked the car outside a house that didn't look like anyone was home. All the lights were off.

He quickly reached into the glove compartment and took out a handgun.

"What the hell, Luca? A gun? You put a gun in my car?" I paused. "Please tell me you are not taking that in there."

"Just a precaution," he told me.

"You better not use it."

"Don't worry, I won't." He said.

"Luca..." I warned. He opened the door anyway and stepped out.

"Luca!" I called out, he ignored me and shut the door. I watched him walk up to the house. He didn't knock on the door. I continued watching until he went inside.

...

Luca should be out any minute. How long did it take to get money from someone? I had my hands pressed against the steering wheel, foot slightly brushing the gas. I wanted to go home already. It was cold and well past midnight. I slunk deeper into my seat as an old lady across the street, came out of her house to put a bag in the trash. Then, I felt a vibration and went fishing in my pocket to find my phone. It was Luca calling me on my cell. Why was he calling me?

"I'm on my way. Get the car ready, Dani." He said. Why was he calling to tell me he was on his way? Why didn't he just get his ass out here already?

"Alright, well hurry then I - " Suddenly, there was a gunshot. I screamed instinctively as my heart dropped in my chest . Then there was another. I began to hyperventilate.

Fuck! I slammed my hand against the wheel. What the fuck! He said no one was going to get hurt. And not guns. I hate guns. My dad was killed with one and since forever I had hated the damn sound of one. Even on the TV.

I could wait for him, but that meant possibly being arrested. There was always the chance that Luca wasn't the one who pulled the trigger, but either way, I knew I wanted out of there and this was my chance.

"Fuck", I shouted out loud this time. I took a deep breath...I didn't even think. I put my foot on the gas and sped away without looking back.

PRESENT

Luca made a motion to come towards me and I prepared myself. Then he stopped in front of the fridge. Shit, I thought. There was a picture of Me, Tommy and Rosie from her party three weeks before.

"Friends, huh?" Luca asked.

My breathing was hitched and I looked away before closing my eyes. I knew what was coming next. Within seconds he was in my face.

"Answer me!" He said.

"I don't know what you want me to say..." I said not looking up from my seat in the chair. "Yes, we are together...well we were. Now I'm not so sure."

Luca scoffed and backed away. "That's too bad."

Suddenly the phone rang and I made a dash for it.

"Don't.." he warned. Luca was right on my tail, but I was hoping to have a few seconds over him.

I just ran toward the hallway table by the door and prayed it would be Tommy. I only needed one second to let him know I was in trouble.

There was a struggle as Luca clawed onto from behind, trying to pull me back. I yanked it off the hook, pressed the button and pushed it to my ear. "Hello...Tommy?! Tommy!" There was no reply. "Tommy!" I shouted again.

And then my vision went dark. There was a painful throbbing in the back of my head. Did Luca hit me? I thought as I collapsed to the floor.

And as I did, the voice on the other end of phone spoke:

Congratulations, you have just won a brand new iPhone 6...to claim your prize, press -

I closed my eyes.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. R&R PLEASE

I always believe I have a minimal amount of mistakes until I actually post and go back and read it. Please ignore them.