Chapter 2 - THE CORNER BOOTH
The restaurant emptied in less than ten minutes.
Customers were offered refunds, complimentary transportation, and explanations that nobody believed.
The musicians packed their instruments without speaking.
Norah sat in the corner booth with her injured hand resting on a folded napkin.
Roman sat opposite her.
Tommy stood several feet away.
The distance was deliberate.
Roman had learned, during the past three years, that approaching Norah too quickly would make her run.
And she had always been very good at running.
“Let me see your hand,” he said.
Norah kept it beneath the table.
“I can handle a cut.”
“I know.”
“Then stop looking at me like I’m about to fall apart.”
Roman’s gaze lowered.
“You’re not.”
“Good.”
“You’re about to leave.”
Her body stiffened.
He continued, “You’re calculating the exits. The kitchen door is behind you. The front entrance is blocked by Tommy. The service staircase leads to the alley.”
Norah’s face went pale.
“You haven’t changed.”
“No.”
“That’s not something to be proud of.”
Roman leaned back.
“No. It isn’t.”
The answer silenced her.
Three years ago, Roman would have argued.
He would have reminded her of everything he had provided, everything he had protected, everything she owed him.
Now he simply watched her.
Norah slowly placed her hand on the table.
Roman opened the first-aid kit.
His fingers were steady as he cleaned the cut.
She flinched.
His hand stopped immediately.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
“Norah.”
She looked away.
“Yes.”
He continued more gently.
When he finished bandaging her finger, he pushed the kit aside.
“Why did you disappear?”
Norah gave a small, bitter laugh.
“You really want to ask me that here?”
“Yes.”
“Because I was afraid.”
Roman’s expression remained still.
“Of me?”
She looked at him.
“Who else?”
The words settled between them.
Tommy shifted near the door.
Roman didn’t look away.
“What did I do?”
Norah’s eyes filled with something that wasn’t quite tears.
“You want a list?”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then she whispered, “You made me believe that loving you meant surviving you.”
Roman’s breathing slowed.
Norah pushed out of the booth.
“I’m leaving.”
Roman didn’t reach for her.
He only asked, “Are you safe?”
She stopped.
A long silence followed.
Finally, she answered, “I was.”
Then she walked away.
Roman remained seated.
Tommy approached carefully.
“Boss?”
May you like
Roman stared at the empty doorway.
“Find out who she’s afraid of now.”
