Romans & histoires New York A Novel

I don’t feel this at ease around men I hire myself and have known for years. “Have you noticed, though, how quiet the street was when we left the apartment?” “It’s early.” “Yeah, but this is New York; there’s always someone outside, no matter how late or how early it is. I don’t think there was even a pigeon on the sidewalk.”

​The North Atlantic had been a cacophony of salt and iron, but New York was a different kind of storm. We arrived under the cover of a freezing drizzle, tucked into the back of a delivery truck that smelled of industrial solvent and old newsprint. Moretti’s "Network" was a silent machine a chain of couriers, dockworkers, and basement-dwellers who moved us across the border like contraband.

Everything about this city was beautiful and tame, and it was a very stark contrast to what I was used to back in New York. "Quite different from New York, eh?" Aiden asked, as though he'd read my mind. I turned to him with a bright smile on my face. "Yes, very." I reached out for his hand, and this time he didn't hesitate to let me touch him. My fingers glided over his, settling in between the hollows that defined his hands, and holding on tight. His grip was warm, comforting, and nerve-jolting. "We could almost imagine we're on a vacation, instead of running from the most powerful mafia man in New York." He murmured.

SOPHIA’S POV The sun shone brightly over the New York horizon, its reflection working wonders on the streets of the city. I could watch its people for hours, always amazed at how they seemed to strive no matter the situation. Their go-getter energy is infectious, and it’s practically the anthem of everyone who lives here. You couldn’t be a New Yorker without being made from a different material, cut from a different cloth. It was why I had chosen to settle here. I was confident that with their varying cultures and tastes, the limits of what I could achieve here would be endless.

Eager to immerse herself in the fast-paced business environment of the Big Apple, Luna eagerly accepted the invitation and embarked on her journey to the city that never sleeps. Upon her arrival, Luna was immediately captivated by the iconic skyline of New York City. The towering skyscrapers, such as the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center, symbolized the city's ambition and drive. The streets were alive with a constant flurry of activity, as people from all walks of life hurriedly went about their day.

I snapped back. “And how do you plan on finding her in a city like New York?” I stared around, the busy streets of New York coming into view. It was as if I had entered into another world, because in New York, the night seems to be the morning. Shiny streetlight shining brightly, almost blinding. Cars wheezing past with great speed. Cafe shops open and are ready for business. New York was another world of its own. A beeping sound from my phone jolted me out.

“Babe. They have potential.” “I don’t want SAS,” I say through gritted teeth. “I don’t want NYU,” he replies with as much annoyance laced in his voice. I don’t like him again. My fist meets his shoulder. “You don’t even know NYU.” NYU is almost as exciting as the city. New York is most people’s favourite city, crawling with the good, bad and ugly. People mind their business. No one cares what you do as long as you don’t get in their way. It’s a great place to start a new life. We can be young, wild and free there. “Think about me too. Let’s apply together,” I say while poking his chest hard enough to leave a dent. “I want NYU.”

Two Weeks Later New York “Welcome to New York, Sara,” Kingsley said softly as they stood on the balcony of her new penthouse, the Manhattan skyline stretching endlessly before them, alive with light and movement. The cool evening breeze brushed gently against Sara’s face, lifting strands of her blonde hair as she stood still, holding a glass of wine in her hand. Her eyes remained fixed on the city, taking in the endless sea of lights that pulsed with life below. Even after two weeks, the view had not lost its impact. It still felt unreal, like something she had stepped into by accident rather than earned through pain and persistence.

The name of one of my restaurants. Mark drives and Leo follows. The city rolls by us—skyscrapers, old brick buildings, coffee shops with long lines. Traffic pulses in that controlled chaos way New York always does. Horns, pedestrians sprint across streets, lights changing too fast, too slow. My fingers drum on the leather armrest. A's quiet, her eyes flicking across her phone screen. She's not reading. Just scrolling. I know that look. "You okay?" I ask. She nods without looking up. "Yeah."

New York City, despite all that has made it such a monument to the world, can be considered dirty or too habitual of a place to find the need to go on adventures in. But to Bradley it was everything. The first becomings of a boy turning into a man, the hum and drum of every person on the streets living out a life so uniquely and wonderfully theirs. The universe does not make mistakes when it comes to the lives of the little folk, and New York is the home of these little folk. Every star studded collar and bright eye presenting a unique point of view of the city, no matter the limitations pressed upon them. New York was home, and the fact that it was now the setting of what appeared to be a r