“What the hell?” Jay choked, trying to break free. He clawed at Tschida’s arms.

Tschida tightened his grip until Jay wheezed. “I’m going to walk you to the end of this alley. You are going to take your girlfriend somewhere else. This bar is ours tonight.”

“You bastards need to go!” Nick said, pointing toward the narrow two-way street. “So, get outta here.”

“Yeah, whatever man,” Jay choked out, going limp. He had the sense to stop fighting Tschida.

Luca straightened and helped the man in the blazer get Tina to her feet. “I’m sorry that happened. I’m sorry I wasn’t more help."

“You got here quicker than I did thanks to that crazy guy,” the man in the blazer said. “She might’ve been hurt real bad if you weren’t here.” He shook his head as he examined Tina’s teary face for cuts. “Don’t know what it is with this place and the people here. Thought a VFW would be safe, just a buncha old guys.”

Luca gave the man a half-smile as he pulled a pocket pack of tissues from his khakis, then offered two to Tina. “So did we.”

Tina sniffled and took the tissues, dabbing at the black trails along her cheeks. “Thanks.”

“She doesn’t get out much. We usually stay home,” the man in the blazer said as he stroked Tina’s hair.

“I like to go out and get dressed up once in a while, especially when Raul comes to visit me.” Tina sounded apologetic, as if she felt the need to explain doing something so very normal. “We really thought this would be okay. We don’t go to places like Mango Moe’s or anything when he visits.”

“I’m from Brooklyn, but you have a special brand of crazy here,” Raul said, shaking his head. “Angry, angry people here. Been with Tina at All Mart earlier, and some woman, a stranger, came up to her asking her if she was looking at her boyfriend. Oh, didn’t get your name.” He struck out his hand.

Luca accepted Raul’s hand. “I’m Luca. And, um, welcome to Anthracite City.”

“I’m looking for a job here as an engineer, but, damn, I don’t know about this.” Raul ruffled Tina’s hair. “Kidding, kidding. I’ll look so we can live together.”

“Why not go to Brooklyn?” Luca asked Tina. He knew there’d be some good reason why she was stuck in Anthracite City, something binding her to the area like her family before her probably was.

“My family. I’m an only child, so I can’t leave my parents. They don’t want to leave. They grew up here.” Tina shrugged, giving Luca a story he’d heard many times. No one ever really stayed because they liked it here. But he liked to ask, because maybe he’d find someone who was happy living in Northeastern County.