Page 2 of Luka

There was no response. Spencer could feel the tension in his bones. His instincts told him to run, but his feet were rooted to the spot, fear paralyzing him.

Just as fast as he felt the presence, it was gone.

Then he heard footsteps. Luka emerged from the shadows, his powerful strides demonstrating his confidence. He looked around, concentrating on the area behind Spencer, then sniffed the air. It was the strangest thing Spencer had ever seen.

“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself,” Luka said. “It’s not safe.”

For reasons Spencer couldn’t name, he felt safe with Luka there. “I was just on break.” He pointed above him. “The security light went out, and I accidently locked myself out.”

Luka tilted his head, his gaze so intense that Spencer felt like squirming.

“I was just waiting for someone to let me back in,” Spencer explained, his hands shaking. Well, he would have been waiting for Tanner if he actually rang the buzzer.

Luka’s expression softened, and he reached out to place a hand on Spencer’s shoulder. Spencer let out a breath at the touch. He couldn’t believe he was finally interacting with Luka, talking to him. He never wanted this moment to end.

“You shouldn’t be here alone,” Luka repeated. “Let me walk you back inside.”

Spencer nodded, not trusting his own voice. Luka stepped closer, the heat from his body reaching out to Spencer in the cool night air. Spencer felt his heart racing even faster than before, and he realized that it wasn’t just from fear.

When they got back inside, Tanner was behind the bar, and when he saw them, the guy smirked. Spencer glared at him.

“Thank you,” Spencer said to Luka as the guy’s hand fell away. Already he missed Luka’s touch.

Luka leaned in close so only Spencer could hear. “You’re welcome,” he murmured. “But be careful. Not all dangers can be seen.”

That was something that Spencer already knew. He lived with the biggest danger of them all. Or he had—until his uncle was killed in a bar fight. Lyle had been the epitome of bad attitude and abusiveness. He also owed a lot of money to a lot of dangerous men when he’d died. Spencer was just glad that he no longer had to live in fear of his uncle.

Did that make him a bad person because he was glad his uncle was dead?

“Thanks,” Spencer said again, but when he turned around, Luka was gone. He walked over to the bar. “Did you see where Luka went?”

Tanner shrugged. “I was busy. I don’t have time to keep an eye on your crush.”

There were moments when Spencer wanted to slap Tanner. He wasn’t Spencer’s favorite coworker to deal with, but since it was a Tuesday and things were slow, they were the only two on shift. To be fair, Tanner had his moments of kindness, but those were few and far between.

For the rest of the night, Spencer poured drinks and kept his mouth shut. He didn’t need any more lip from Tanner. Besides, he kept his eye on the door to see if Luka would come back.

He didn’t, and by the time Spencer clocked out, he was even more disappointed than earlier when he thought Luka would talk to him at the bar. He made it home and walked into his apartment, tossing his keys aside, and realized too late that all the lights in his unit were out.

Spencer shouted when he was thrown against the wall, a hand around his throat. “Just because Lyle is dead doesn’t mean his debt is gone.”

In the darkness, Spencer couldn’t see who was talking to him, but he could smell the guy’s rancid breath.

“You’ve inherited his debt,” the guy said. “First payment is this Friday. Two hundred bucks.”

“I don’t have that kind of money,” Spencer said, feeling panic set in. “I’m not responsible for what Lyle did.”

“Guess again.” The guy slugged Spencer in the eye.

It felt as if his entire face exploded. Spencer screamed but knew his neighbors would be of no help. They minded their own business and wouldn’t get involved.

“Friday when you get off work,” the guy said before he released Spencer. Then the door opened and his assailant walked out.

As futile as it was, Spencer locked his door and cursed for ever knowing his uncle.

Spencer’s eye was already swelling shut by the next morning, the skin around it turning an angry shade of purple. Worse, he had no idea how he was going to come up with two hundred dollars by Friday, especially since he needed to pay rent and buy groceries.

He was so screwed.

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