Chapter 14 - The Diner on 5th Street
|
The 5th Street Diner was a rundown, greasy-spoon establishment located on the very edge of town, far away from Brenda's upscale neighborhood. The neon sign buzzed loudly in the damp night air, casting a flickering, blood-red glow across the wet pavement.
I parked Maya's car under a broken streetlight, gripping a heavy canister of pepper spray inside my coat pocket. Taking a deep breath, I pushed through the glass doors. The bell chimed softly. The diner was mostly empty, save for a tired waitress wiping down the counter and an old man drinking black coffee near the window.
I scanned the room, my eyes drifting toward the shadows of the back booth.
A man was sitting there, wearing a dark baseball cap pulled low over his eyes and a faded denim jacket. He was nursing a glass of water, his posture tense and rigid.
I slowly walked down the narrow aisle, my heart hammering furiously against my ribs. As I approached the booth, the man looked up, removing his cap and placing it on the vinyl seat next to him.
I gasped, taking a sudden step back. The resemblance was uncanny. He had the same sharp jawline as Luke, the same dark eyes, but his face was weathered, lined with years of exhaustion and hard living.
May you like
It was Marcus. Luke’s estranged older brother. The son Brenda had famously "disowned" ten years ago for allegedly stealing money from the family business.
"Sit down, Hannah," Marcus whispered, his voice rough as sandpaper. "We don't have a lot of time."
