Eddie sat in his office, the soft hum of the computer filling the room as he leaned back in his chair, reflecting on his conversation with Jennifer earlier. For weeks, she had been avoiding any kind of social interaction, retreating deeper into herself after Frank’s death. It had been painful to watch, but today, Eddie had finally made some progress.Jennifer had agreed to join him for dinner—but under one condition. It had to be at home. No fancy restaurants, no outings. She wasn’t ready for that yet.Eddie knew this was a small victory. Jennifer wasn’t fully herself, not yet, but it was a step in the right direction. And if Andrew was as serious as he claimed to be about helping their family and their business, this could be the right moment to bring him closer. But how would Jennifer react to him?With a sigh, Eddie picked up his phone and dialed Andrew’s number. After a few rings, Andrew’s smooth voice answered.“Eddie, how’s it going?”“Good,” Eddie replied, trying to keep his to
Eddie sat at the dining table, staring at the remnants of dinner that remained untouched. His mind swirled with the events of the evening, Andrew’s unexpected confession, Jennifer’s quiet withdrawal, and the underlying tension that clung to the air ever since Frank’s death. It had been months, but Jennifer had remained trapped in her grief, retreating from the world. And now, with Andrew showing interest in her, Eddie felt conflicted about pushing her further toward healing.Jennifer’s door was still closed. Eddie stood up, running a hand through his hair as he made his way to her room. He knew what he had to do, even though he wasn’t sure how she would react. He knocked softly on her door.“Jen? Can we talk?”There was a long silence before Jennifer’s voice came through, muffled and hesitant. “What do you want, Eddie?”“I just want to check on you,” he replied. “After everything tonight… I feel like we need to talk.”The door opened slowly, and Jennifer stood there, her eyes red from
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
The evening had gone better than Jennifer had expected. Andrew had been nothing but kind, respectful, and charming throughout dinner. His stories about his struggles finding a partner resonated with her more than she’d anticipated, and she found herself intrigued by him in a way she hadn’t been with anyone since Frank. It was unexpected, but also comforting.“You know,” Andrew said as they finished their dessert, leaning back in his chair with a smile, “I never thought dating would be so difficult. For someone in my position, people often assume I have it easy. But honestly, it’s been hard to find someone who’s not interested in me for my money or family name.”Jennifer nodded, understanding more than she cared to admit. “I can imagine. It must be exhausting, trying to figure out if people like you for who you are or what you have.”“It is,” Andrew agreed. “But tonight, it doesn’t feel like that. You’ve been… refreshing, Jennifer. I feel like I can just be myself around you.”Jennifer
"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 walked back to the car with Andrew, his mind still spinning from their conversation. The idea of Jennifer moving in with Andrew was something he never would have imagined just days ago. But tonight had opened his eyes to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, it could be good for her.They found Jennifer standing by the car, her arms crossed as she waited for them. Her eyes immediately narrowed as she saw them approaching. “What were you two talking about?” she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.Eddie and Andrew exchanged a quick glance before Eddie spoke. “We were just talking about tonight,” Eddie said, trying to keep his voice casual. “And about what’s next.”Jennifer raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean ‘what’s next’?”Andrew stepped forward, his tone gentle. “Jennifer, I’ve been thinking a lot about everything you’ve been going through. I want to h
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 stood on the porch long after Jennifer and Andrew’s car disappeared from view. The fading sound of the engine echoed in his mind as he struggled to grasp the reality of his sister leaving, even if just temporarily. It was the first real step Jennifer had taken since Frank’s death, and Eddie was proud of her—though a knot of worry twisted in his stomach. As Eddie finally turned to go back inside the house, the emptiness hit him harder than expected. The house had been quiet since Frank’s passing, but knowing Jennifer was somewhere within those walls had been his small source of comfort. Now, with her gone, it felt like he was alone with his thoughts—and those thoughts were relentless.He couldn’t shake the nagging guilt about Frank. Despite the many reassurances from others, Eddie couldn’t let go of the idea that Frank’s death was somehow his fault. It had been a fluke accident, a terrible twist of fate, but Eddie had been there. He had seen it happen, powerless to stop it. And