Jennifer sat up in bed, her heart pounding. She could still feel Frank’s presence lingering in the air around her, though she knew it was only a dream. It had felt so real—the sound of his voice, the warmth of his touch. She rubbed her hands over her face, trying to steady herself. The dream had been so vivid, so full of emotions she hadn’t allowed herself to feel since his death.In the dream, Frank had appeared to her in a soft golden light, standing by the window where she always waited for him when he would come home late from work. He hadn’t spoken at first, just smiled at her with that comforting expression he always had. Then, he’d stepped closer, taking her hand in his and saying words she hadn’t expected to hear.“You have to let me go, Jen,” he’d said gently. “I’m not here anymore, but you are. And you need to live.”Tears welled up in her eyes as she had stared at him, unable to find her voice. How could she let him go? How could she ever say goodbye to the person who had b

"Why did you follow us, Eddie? Do you really think Jennifer can't handle herself?" Andrew's voice was calm but tinged with frustration as they stood outside the restaurant, away from Jennifer, who was still shaken from the attack.Eddie ran his hand through his hair, a deep sigh escaping his lips. "It's not that I don't trust her," he admitted, his gaze fixed on the ground. "It's just... I can't stop thinking about what happened with Frank. I should have protected him, and now he's gone."Andrew’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Frank’s death wasn’t your fault, Eddie. You know that, right? It wasn’t something you could have predicted.”Eddie’s fists clenched tightly at his sides. “I was there, Andrew. I should’ve done something—anything—to stop it. But I didn’t. I didn’t react in time, and Frank died because of me. Jennifer… she lost him because of me.”Andrew stepped closer, placing a hand on Eddie's shoulder. “I understand the guilt you're carrying, but following Jennifer around like

Eddie left the warehouse with the weight of the killing pressing down on him. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the act he had just committed was physically binding him to the ground. The streets of New York were still buzzing with life as they always were, completely unaware of the fact that one more man had been snuffed out, his life ended in the shadows. Eddie was no stranger to violence, but this felt different. It was personal in a way he couldn’t fully understand, not just because of Frank but because of what it said about him, about the man he had become.The subway ride back to his apartment was a blur. He kept his head down, staring at the patterns of dirt and grime on the floor. The city moved around him, passengers entering and exiting, the noise a dull hum in his ears. A mother struggled to keep her child in her seat a few rows down, an old man tapped his cane nervously as he waited for his stop, and teenagers laughed, completely oblivious to the world around the

Eddie paced back and forth in his living room, a nagging feeling creeping over him since he hadn’t heard from Jennifer all day. His phone buzzed on the table, and he snatched it up, hoping it was his sister.It wasn’t.Andrew’s name flashed across the screen.“Andrew,” Eddie answered, his voice tight with suspicion. “Where are you and Jennifer? She was supposed to go to the mall with you.”There was a pause on the other end before Andrew’s calm voice replied, “Change of plans. We’re not going to the mall anymore.”Eddie’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? Where are you going?”“We’re on our way to the airport,” Andrew said, as if it were the most casual thing in the world. Eddie’s heart pounded in his chest. “The airport? What the hell, Andrew? What are you talking about?”Andrew sighed, and Eddie could hear the hum of the car engine in the background. “Look, Eddie, Jennifer’s been struggling. She needs a break, and I thought it would be good for her to get away from all the noise. I

Andrew watched Jennifer run toward the car, her decision clear as she fumbled with her phone. His face twisted in frustration, his mind racing. He had spent weeks meticulously planning this, gaining her trust, making her think he was her escape. And now, Eddie had ruined everything. His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it, clenching his fists. Jennifer had already stepped away, halfway across the tarmac, but Andrew wasn’t ready to let this go so easily. With determined steps, he caught up to her, his voice low but urgent as he reached out to grab her arm. "Jennifer, wait."Jennifer stopped, startled, but didn’t turn around immediately. She seemed to wrestle with herself, not quite pulling away from him yet. Andrew took that as a sign to keep going."Just listen to me," Andrew urged, trying to soften his tone. "You don’t have to believe anything Eddie says. He’s trying to confuse you, make you doubt your own decisions."Jennifer shook her head, her voice barely above a whis