The pounding on my door sounds like someone’s trying to break through with a battering ram.
I crack open my eyes, squinting against the morning light filtering through the blinds. The left side of the bed is empty again, sheets rumpled but cold. Alyssa’s gone. Again.
The clock on my nightstand reads 7:00 AM in harsh red numbers.
I groan and roll over, burying my face in the pillow that still smells like her shampoo. I’ve got at least another half hour before I need to start getting ready for work. Maybe forty-five minutes if I skip breakfast.
Another round of aggressive banging echoes through my apartment.
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter into the pillow.
Maybe she locked herself out?
I drag myself out of bed and grab yesterday’s shirt off the floor, pulling it over my head as I shuffle toward the front door.
A final series of knocks rattle the door in its frame.
“Alright, alright, I’m coming.”
I unlock the deadbolt and pull the door open, expecting to see blonde hair and green eyes.
Instead, there are two Asian strangers.
A woman in her mid-thirties stands at the threshold. Her business attire is immaculate, neutral tones that probably cost more than my rent. Behind her looms a man built like he could bench press a car, wearing sunglasses indoors like some kind of movie villain. Dark suit, broad shoulders, the kind of presence that fills a doorway without trying.
“Caleb Lawson.”
The woman says it like a statement, not a question. Like she already knows the answer and is just confirming what she sees.
“Yeah?”
She nods to the man beside her.
Before I can process what’s happening, his hand is on my chest, pushing me backward into my apartment with enough force that I stumble. The guy moves like he could rip me in half without breaking a sweat.
“What pray tell is happening in my life now?”
The woman steps inside, closing the door behind her. The lock turns with a finality that makes my skin prickle. The man crosses his arms and just stares at me through those ridiculous sunglasses. Not saying anything. Just standing there like some kind of human wall, radiating intimidation.
As if I give a fuck. You want to kill me? Get in line pal.
“My name is Sun Wei.” The woman’s voice is measured, calm. She glances at the man. “That’s Lu Jian. Sorry for the morning intrusion. I’m a friend of your wife.”
“Alyssa?”
“Yes.”
I look around my empty apartment, still processing the fact that two strangers just forced their way inside. “She’s not here right now.”
“I’m aware.”
“I’d offer to call her, but I don’t have her number.” I say awkwardly realizing I haven't asked her for it yet.
Sun Wei pulls out her phone with efficient movements. Before I can react, she’s pointing it at me, and the camera shutter sound cuts through the silence.
“Give me your phone.” Her voice goes cold, professional. Like she just flipped a switch from polite intrusion to something harder.
“No.” The word comes out automatic. Not defiance exactly. Just refusal.
Sun Wei nods to Lu Jian again.
The big man’s head turns toward me slowly. His sunglasses track down my body, taking inventory. Shirt and boxers. Bare legs. Then his gaze sweeps across my apartment, cataloging the empty beer bottles, the rumpled couch, the photos with Alyssa’s face carefully inserted into my history.
He moves past me without a word, heading straight for my bedroom.
“Don’t resist,” Sun Wei says, like she’s giving helpful advice rather than a warning.
I watch Lu Jian disappear through my bedroom doorway, hear drawers opening, the sound of things being moved around. My phone’s probably on the nightstand where I left it last night.
“Why do you want my phone?”
I’m genuinely curious. Not scared, not angry. Just interested in where this is going.
“Can’t have you calling the cops, can I?” Sun Wei says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Why would I call the cops?”
She tilts her head slightly, studying me with those sharp eyes. “You’re not leaving the house today.”
I blink at her. “But I have work.”
“You’re not leaving until Alyssa comes back.”
I glance between Sun Wei and Lu Jian, who’s still rifling through my bedroom. The absurdity of the situation is almost funny. “Does she like... owe you money or something?”
“No.”
“Is Alyssa in trouble?”
Sun Wei’s expression doesn’t change, but something flickers behind her eyes. “Yes. She’s been slacking.” She holds up her phone, showing me the photo she just took of me standing here in my boxers and yesterday’s shirt. “But once she sees the picture I just sent her, she’ll do her fucking job.”
“What’s her job?”
“Don’t worry about it.” The words come out clipped, final.
I run a hand through my hair, trying to process this. “Can I at least call out of work? So they don’t think I’m just skipping without calling?”
“No.”
“Come on.” I can already feel the headache forming. “My boss is a giant piece of shit. It’ll be so awkward to have to come up with an excuse later.”
Lu Jian emerges from my bedroom, my phone in his massive hand. He walks toward me, and for a second, I think he’s actually going to hand it over. His arm extends slightly, the phone held out between us.
“What the fuck are you doing, Lu?” Sun Wei’s voice cuts through the moment like a blade. “No. Absolutely not.”
Lu Jian pulls the phone back immediately, his posture shifting back into that intimidating wall of muscle. The brief softness I thought I saw vanishes completely, replaced by the tough-guy act.
Sun Wei turns back to me. “You’ll figure work out, I’m sure.”
I sigh, picturing Bill’s smug face when I don’t show up. “Bill is going to be so annoying about this.”
Sun Wei’s phone buzzes in her hand. She glances at the screen, and a smile spreads across her face. Not a warm smile. Something colder, more satisfied.
She swipes to answer, bringing the phone to her ear. “Wei.”
Angry screaming erupts from the other end of the line, sharp and high-pitched enough that I can hear it from where I’m standing. The voice sounds like Alyssa, but the words are completely incomprehensible.
Sun Wei’s expression shifts to irritation as she launches into what sounds like rapid-fire Chinese. The language barrier is absolute, I have no idea what either of them are saying. The conversation goes back and forth for a few minutes, Sun Wei’s tone getting sharper, more clipped, while the screaming on the other end oscillates between furious and what might be pleading.
Lu Jian remains perfectly still beside me, my phone still clutched in his massive hand.
Finally, Sun Wei pulls the phone away from her ear and taps the screen. “Alright.” Her voice carries that professional edge again. “Here, say hello to your husband, Alyssa.”
She holds the phone out slightly, and I hear Alyssa’s voice come through the speaker.
“Hi baby...”
She sounds incredibly awkward. Like someone just caught doing something they shouldn’t and is now trying to play it cool. The discomfort in her voice is almost endearing.
“Alyssa, will these people kill me if I charge them?”
Long silence stretches across the line. So long I start to wonder if the call dropped.
Then an even longer sigh.
“No...” Her voice comes out small, defeated. “Just... I’m sorry... I got carried away this weekend with you. I forgot I had something to do yesterday... I’ll be home soon, okay?”
The pieces start clicking together in my head. The work emergency. The way she disappeared this morning. Whatever Alyssa does at Raytheon apparently involves these two, and she’s been blowing off her responsibilities to play house with me.
“Are they going to hurt me?”
The question comes out before I can stop it, and I feel that familiar flutter of excitement in my chest. If they’re willing to hurt me, maybe I can push them far enough to finish the job.
“We’re not going to fucking hurt you.” Sun Wei cuts in, her voice sharp. “Alyssa’s one of our best…”
She stops herself mid-sentence, like she just realized she was about to reveal something she shouldn’t.
“Alright, Alyssa.” Sun Wei’s tone shifts back to business. “Go do your fucking job.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Alyssa doesn’t hang up.
“I love you, Caleb.” Her voice comes through the speaker soft and desperate.
Sun Wei’s expression shifts to annoyance, but she doesn’t end the call yet.
“You know I adore you, right baby?” Alyssa continues. “You’re everything to me. My whole world revolves around you.”
I watch Sun Wei’s face start to twitch.
“I’m so in love with you, Caleb. So deeply, completely in love with you. You’re the only thing that matters.”
“Alyssa…” Sun Wei tries to cut her off.
“I cherish you, baby. I worship you. Every moment without you feels like dying. I love you so much it hurts.”
Sun Wei’s jaw clenches.
“You’re my reason for existing, Caleb. My purpose. I love you more than anything in this world. More than life itself.”
“Stop.”
“I’m devoted to you completely. Body and soul. I love you, I love you, I love y…”
Sun Wei hangs up with more force than necessary, jabbing her finger against the screen like she’s trying to punch through it.
“For god’s sake, she used to not be this fucking weird.”
I feel surprised at her words. “Really?”
Sun Wei pauses, her expression shifting to something thoughtful. She stares at her phone screen for a long moment, like she’s reviewing memories in her head.
“Actually i guess she’s always been odd,” she admits, her voice dropping slightly. “But now that she’s finally got you, she certainly seems weirder.”
“Finally?”
Sun Wei scoffs, the sound sharp and dismissive. “Don’t even get me started.”
My curiosity kicks into overdrive. “How long has she been talking about me?”
Her eyes snap to mine, cold and sharp. “Shut up. We aren’t friends. You’re a hostage.”
The words land with finality. I sigh and look around my apartment, spotting the couch. Might as well get comfortable if I’m going to be stuck here. I walk over and drop down onto the cushions, the springs creaking under my weight.
“Can I play a video game?”
“No.”
I glance at the television, then back at Sun Wei. “TV?”
She waves her hand dismissively. “Yeah, sure, whatever.” She turns toward Lu Jian, who’s still standing there like a statue with my phone. “Lu, make sure he doesn’t do anything weird.”