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So apparently did Chris.
“Don’t make me say it again, son.”
Chris pulled his foot back and put on the fakest, most phony of all smiles.
“It’s cool man,” my ex said cheerily. “I used to be in the building. She and I lived here for a while, back when…”
The big marine ignored Chris entirely. He dropped his laundry basket to the floor and flexed two big, tattooed hands.
“Sweetheart,” he said, addressing me directly. “Do you want him here?”
I shook my head. “Not at all.”
“Then he has five seconds to leave,” the man said simply.
Chris appeared confused and utterly bewildered. I had to choke back a laugh in spite of things, it was really that funny.
“I— I uh, was only trying to—”
“Three seconds,” the man said.
He took a step toward Chris, which was really little more than a half step because they were already so close. Chris immediately backed down. He looked at me, unable to hide the terror in his face, then turned back in the direction he came.
“I’ll… I’ll just see you at work tomorrow,” he said, trying to save face. “We can talk then.”
As my ex scurried back down the hallway, the man regarded me heavily for a moment. I could see him eyeing me over, but not on a physical level. He was taking stock of me as a person. As a neighbor.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I breathed, shoulders slumping. “I am now. Thanks.”
“No thanks needed,” he said crisply. “I’m Mike. Big Mike.”
Big Mike extended a big hand. I shook it gratefully.
“I’m Brooke. Pleased to meet you big Mike.”
“Likewise.”
Big Mike picked up his laundry basket, then shifted it to his opposite hip. “That guy comes back? You knock on my door. That door,” he pointed with one thick finger.
“I certainly will,” I smiled.
“If I’m not at home, my wife will be. Her name’s Ana. She’s tougher than I am, by far.”
I laughed for the first time all day. “I’ll bet.”
“Goodnight Brooke,” said Big Mike. He spoke with a thick, familiar accent that I knew could only belong to one place: Brooklyn. “You ever need a beer or an ear, you just come on by.”
“I will,” I promised.
My new neighbor gave me a friendly wink, then stepped across the hall and nudged open his own door. Before pushing through, he turned back.
“By the way,” he said, “you should probably steer clear of that guy, whoever he is. There’s something about him that’s… wrong,” Mike said.
I swallowed dryly. A cold shiver was already working its way through my body.
“Something in the eyes.”
