Bad Ex

"I... Imprisoned my boyfriend. Ex," Ericka said slowly, pausing between each word. "The last time I was with him, he was drunk, lost gambling, ready to sell me to the Cambodian organ trafficking mafia, and almost broke my neck."

Liam gasped.

Ericka bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her sobs from escaping, but the tears couldn't be held back.

"I pretended to pass out, and when he was off guard, I stabbed him in the leg with a kitchen knife, then ran to the police station."

"You... Brave," Liam murmured. His voice sounded sincere. It was praise. "So, was he caught?"

"He escaped, taking all my jewelry and valuables," Ericka said. She wiped away her tears, feeling the urge to tell more. "The police searched for him for a week, and he was caught as he was trying to flee to Mexico.  He was imprisoned for five years, for some reason, many of the charges were unproven."

"Maybe someone important is protecting him," Liam said. "Someone with influence in the government or the justice system."

"I think so," Ericka agreed. "I have a small house, inherited from my parents. We both lived there. After the incident, I tried to sell it, and it was only a few days before I moved here that it finally sold."

"And you moved here right away?"

"I originally wanted to buy another house in the countryside, but I received news that he would be released. It was earlier than the sentence was supposed to be, so I wasn't ready. After receiving the news that afternoon, that night I received a threatening phone call and someone threw rocks, breaking the windows of the house. I immediately asked the real estate agent to find me an apartment, the most remote one he could find," Noreen said, her voice trembling.

Liam sighed. He grabbed a box of tissues from the center of the dining table and handed two pieces to Ericka.

"That means he's probably free now," Liam murmured. "Are you sure he'll come looking for you?  For revenge?"

"Yes, that's for sure," Ericka said. "He threatened me before being taken away by the police, and Daniel is a cruel person."

"How could you get involved with someone like that?" Liam asked, confused. "Didn't you know his character before you started dating him?"

"Daniel wasn't like that at the beginning of our relationship," Ericka said. "We were college classmates, but I only got close to him around graduation. He was kind, gentle, and caring. But his personality slowly changed after he started working. He ran a printing company inherited from his father, and who knows what happened, but suddenly the company went bankrupt, and Daniel lost everything."

"And he started being abusive to you?" Liam asked.

Ericka nodded. She sighed. She was no longer crying, and she felt a little surprised because her chest felt lighter.

"He started not coming home often, and after a while, I found out he was involved in fraudulent investments, which only made him sink deeper.  It was like a string of bad luck, and she started taking her anger out on me and drugs."

Liam nodded. Now he completely understood why a woman like Ericka would choose to live in a place like this.

When he first met Ericka in the hallway, Liam was almost stunned. He was wearing a hoodie, his face hidden from view, so he could stare at her without restraint.

Ericka was very beautiful, though she didn't smile and her demeanor betrayed a high degree of vigilance.

Her hair was short and wavy, jet black, above her shoulders, and she wore a haphazardly tied headband, leaving her strands of hair in disarray around her thin face. Plastic-rimmed glasses didn't hide her beautiful, jet-black eyes beneath thick, curly eyelashes.

Liam thought she looked a bit tomboyish, as she was wearing only a dark, plain, loose-fitting shirt, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, along with faded jeans and gray sneakers. She also wore no makeup on her otherwise flawless face.

But, beyond all that, Liam was a little surprised at  her scent, which immediately hit his senses as he exited her unit and his eyes fell on Ericka, who was a few meters away.

Liam had never smelled anything like it before. A blend of the fresh scent of ripe peaches, the softness of tuberose, and a hint of warm honey.

At that time, after exchanging only a few words, with Liam issuing a warning, Ericka left.

Later, when Liam was once again caught up in the agony of the red full moon, Ericka suddenly entered his unit, catching him in a situation that should have terrified her.

But instead, Ericka stayed and waited for him, trembling, her baseball bat at her side, ready to strike at any moment, and her scent, oddly enough, made Liam feel calmer and more in control.

"That's why you said you couldn't leave here," Liam said, more lightly, and he seemed relieved by the reality of what he'd just said.

Ericka nodded. She took a slice of toast and spread peanut butter and blueberries on it, then cupped it with a slice of plain bread and handed it to Liam.

"I've changed my phone number, deleted all my social media footprints, and changed my appearance," Ericka said. "This place is perfect for me, and I don't know if there's a place more secluded than this. Searching for it would make me more exposed, since I'd have to deal with my real estate agent again, wouldn't I?"

"Hmm, I guess you're right," Liam said, taking a bite of his toast. "This building is going to be torn down, and not many people live here for that reason."

"Not to mention the ghost rumors," Ericka quipped. "Even according to my real estate agent, the banner about the planned renovations has been up for two years, but there's been no sign of any progress."

Liam sipped his coffee calmly. It was almost cold, but it was actually tasting even better.

"Well, I have to do everything I can to keep things safe," William said. He raised an eyebrow playfully. "The fewer people living here, the safer it is for me. And apparently, now, for you too."

Ericka stared at Liam in surprise. "That banner... You made it?"

Liam didn't answer, just chuckled. "It was quite effective. I was going to buy this building from the owner, but he said it was his only possession and wouldn't sell it until he was really close to death, because he had no family to take care of it."

"Do you know the owner?" Ericka asked.

"He lives in units 108 to 110. He's old, but stubborn. After I moved in, usually every Friday night, I would help him shop for his needs for the week until the following Friday."

"Oh, you're close to him?"

"He said I looked like his dead son and he liked it when I played chess with him every Sunday afternoon, after he watched the church service on television," Liam said with a faint smile.

"The people who live here, I rarely see them," Ericka said.

"I guess everyone has problems and things they want to hide from the outside world, and maybe, like the two of us, they find this place quite safe."

Liam finished his coffee and stood up.

"I have to go back now. My work isn't finished yet, and I hope you'll excuse the noise, it'll be a while."

Ericka looked at the food on the table, some of which Liam had brought. "This food still needs to be finished."

Liam took a deep breath, taking in Ericka's scent, which made him feel at ease. "I'll... Come again, if you don't mind?"

Ericka looked into Liam's eyes and found them to be very beautiful for a man. She nodded.

"Yes. I can't finish it all alone."

Liam smiled and walked to the door. He turned around when his hand was already on the doorknob.

"Ericka," Liam called.

Ericka was putting her coffee cup on the sink. "Yes, Liam?"

"I'll add a new door for you, with double locks," Liam said. He paused for a moment, then added firmly. "You're safe here. I'll make sure of it."

Then he left.

Ericka felt her cheeks grow warm.