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The fading light outside signaled the end of the day, and I absentmindedly reached for my phone, turning off airplane mode.
The sound of laughter and clattering bowling pins filtered through the thin walls of the bowling alley lounge.
It was unusually quiet where I was sitting, a private room reserved for those wanting some distance from the crowds, but the noise beyond felt hollow, a faint backdrop to the emptiness in the room.
Vincent, my boss had suggested I head home hours ago, but work was all that kept me distracted these days.
The vibrations from my phone jolted me out of my thoughts.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
I winced at the sound. “Ugh, Luca. Not now,” I muttered, bracing myself for
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another unwanted call from him. But when I checked the screen, a different name
popped up: [Alessandro Vitale].
Curiosity piqued, I answered.
“Finally, Elena!” Alessandro’s voice.
boomed through the line, impatient and loud. “Where the hell are you? We‘ ve been waiting since 4!”
“What?” I paused, thrown off by his urgency. “Waiting for me? Why?”
“Why?” He sounded baffled. “You and Luca set this up! The bowling night? Don’t tell me you forgot.”
“Wait, what?” I frowned. “I never-”
“Just get over here, Elena. We don‘ t have all night!” Alessandro hung up before I could protest, a message with the address and private lane number immediately following.
The location was The Gutter House–a bowling alley on the edge of the city known
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for its retro vibe, dim lighting, and private lanes often booked out by businessmen
and criminals alike.
It clicked. A few weeks ago, I’d asked Luca to take me bowling to blow off steam. But, as usual, something came up. First, he had to settle some territorial dispute with another capo. The next time, he was off handling Isobel‘ s latest “crisis,” some warehouse mix–up she’d dragged him
into.
The thought of Isobel and Luca together stirred that familiar bitterness in me.
But wait…
I knew what I could do. This bowling night might be the perfect opportunity to break things off with Luca for good. Alessandro. and Isobel would be there–close enough to Luca to make the message clear. If I did. this right, I wouldn’t have to deal with him or his lies anymore.
With a determined sigh, I grabbed my
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for its retro vibe, dim lighting, and private lanes often booked out by businessmen and criminals alike.
It clicked. A few weeks ago, I’d asked Luca to take me bowling to blow off steam. But, as usual, something came up. First, he had to settle some territorial dispute with another capo. The next time, he was off handling Isobel’s latest “crisis,” some warehouse mix–up she’d dragged him into.
The thought of Isobel and Luca together stirred that familiar bitterness in me.
But wait…
I knew what I could do. This bowling night might be the perfect opportunity to break things off with Luca for good. Alessandro and Isobel would be there–close enough to Luca to make the message clear. If I did this right, I wouldn’t have to deal with him or his lies anymore.
With a determined sigh, I grabbed my
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jacket, stuffed my phone into my bag, and left the office. It was time to put an end to this.
Outside The Gutter House, neon lights flickered in the growing twilight. The place was buzzing with the usual crowd–people coming to unwind after work, groups celebrating the end of a long week. The steady thud of bowling balls and the crashing pins created a rhythmic. soundtrack to the lively atmosphere.
As I approached the entrance, a young man in a faded Gutter House employee shirt greeted me. He looked like one of Luca’s men, trying to blend in with the staff.
“Miss Montoya, Mr. Marcelli’s been expecting you. Private lanes this way,” he said, his voice clipped, motioning toward a quieter section at the back.
I followed him through the crowded alley, dodging people celebrating strikes and the
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occasional gutter ball. He led me down a corridor past rows of shoes and lockers until we reached a section of lanes roped off from the public.
Finally, we stopped in front of a sign marked [Lane 10].
I could hear Alessandro’s voice, loud and frustrated, from inside. “I’m telling you, Luca, she just stormed off the other day. What does she even want? A damn apology?”
My hand hovered over the door handle. Alessandro’s tone was always brash, but tonight there was an edge to it I hadn‘ t heard before.
Isobel‘ s soft laugh followed. “Relax, Sandro. Elena’s had a rough week. You know how these things go when emotions run high.”
“Emotions?” Sandro‘ s voice was dripping with frustration. “I’ve seen Luca bend over backward for her, and for
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what? She’s still giving him the cold. shoulder! Luca’s running everything, and this is how she treats him?”
I froze, my heart thudding painfully in my chest.
Isobel chimed in again, her voice carrying that false sweetness I’d grown to despise.
“Now, now, Sandro. Elena‘ s not just some random girl. She‘ s Luca‘ s girlfriend. Maybe she’s destined to be more… like our future donna.”
“Isobel…” Sandro‘ s voice softened, taking on a more familiar, almost pleading tone. “You don‘ t have to pretend. If you hadn’t been off doing your little side deals, you’d be the one standing by Luca’s side right now. We all know it.”
A sick feeling churned in my stomach. Everything I’d suspected was falling into place. Luca wasn‘ t just protecting Isobel out of duty–there was more to their relationship than I wanted to admit.
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Sandro’s voice came through again.
“Listen, Isobel, in my eyes, you‘ re the only one fit for Luca. She doesn‘ t have
what it takes.”
So, it was true. All this time, I wasn’t imagining it. Isobel had always been the real threat, the one Luca would drop everything for.
“You coming in, or are you planning to eavesdrop all night?”
I whipped around, startled by Luca‘ st voice behind me. His imposing figure filled the narrow hallway, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched me.
“Why should I go in, Luca?” I shot back, unable to contain the venom in my voice. “I never agreed to this night. This is all
you.”
Luca sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if tired of the endless fight. “Elena, don’t do this right now…”
“Do what, exactly?” I snapped. “I heard
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everything. You have feelings for Isobel, don‘ t you? All this time, and you never even had the decency to tell me!”
