“I have work to do, Addi.”
We exchanged one last intense, lingering kiss, a silent promise of the unforgettable connection we’d shared. With heavy hearts, we parted, knowing our paths, though diverging, had been forever changed by this fleeting encounter.
Leaving the hotel, I stepped out into the moonlight, snowflakes still falling. The streets of New York welcomed me again, bustling with life and endless possibilities. But somewhere deep within, I carried the traces of a night forever etched in my mind, a night where I found solace, pleasure, and a momentary escape from the tangled threads of my existence.
Pulling out my phone, I clicked on E’s message, telling me the address for the stakeout. Parked in front of the brownstone, my eyes began to close as flakes fell and the sound of plows echoed. Infectious laughter jolted me awake, and that's when I saw her.
She was fucking beautiful.
Walking with another guy, I watched them stop on her steps as she laughed at something, playfully smacking his chest. Fuck, I wanted her already. But who was she? Was she just another girl caught in this operation, or was there more to her story? I grabbed my binoculars from the glove compartment, desperate to catch a glimpse of her face up close. As I focused the lenses, I couldn't look away.
Lost in thought, I noticed the guy pull her into a hug, their laughter blending into the cold winter air. A twinge of jealousy pulsed through me, and I wondered what their relationship was. Just a friend? Or something more intimate?
My curiosity piqued, and I decided to dig deeper. Pulling up my phone, I opened the encrypted messaging app that E and I used. I texted him, asking for information. It was a long shot, but E always had connections.
Waiting for his reply, I kept observing her. There was a mystery about her, one that intensified my desire to knowmore. I imagined meeting her, learning her secrets, and perhaps becoming a part of her life.
Minutes felt like hours before my phone buzzed. E had replied. I eagerly unlocked my phone, scanning for details. To my surprise, E had no concrete information to share. I was just his errand boy—his stalker. However, he mentioned a possible connection to a high-profile target we’d been tracking for months. My heart raced. Could she be involved in something more than I thought? This stakeout just got a lot more complicated.
As the snow blanketed the streets, I made a decision—I'd get closer to her, one way or another. Whether befriending her, following her, or pretending to be someone else, I'd uncover the truth behind her.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of my car, bracing against the wind. With each determined step, I knew this was just the beginning of a perilous path that could change both our lives. Little did I realize how deeply entangled our fates were about to become.
three
a killer flashback
Fallon
After a restless night of tossing and turning, haunted by the car parked across the street, I was awake before dawn…again. The snow had stopped, but the brutal wind still whipped it into a frenzy, sending dirty flakes dancing everywhere. My door creaked open, and Julian burst in, leaping onto my bed and into my arms. Tears streamed down his chubby cheeks.
"What's wrong, buddy?" I asked, my gaze locked on his bright, green eyes.
"I had a bad dream, Fallon," he whimpered, burying his face in my chest.
"Shhh, it's okay. Go back to sleep. I'll hold you," I murmured, forcing a smile.
I stroked his curly hair gently, a mix of relief and sorrow washing over me as I cradled him close. It had been an agonizingtime since Nina passed. The weight of responsibility, caring for Julian, had fallen almost entirely on Brady and me. Yet, I wouldn't trade it.
As he drifted back to sleep, nestled in my embrace, I made another silent vow to protect him fiercely. My fingers traced his blonde curls as he began to snore softly, finally at peace. Anger flared within me as I relived the circumstances that brought us here, and my heart ached, praying he'd never uncover the truth of what happened.
He deserved to know, though, even if it broke his heart. Rocking him gently, I closed my eyes, recalling the night that shattered his life. Now, holding him, I questioned whether to shield him from the truth or let him face the reality of it. The decision weighed heavily, a pivotal moment that would reshape his future.
For now, I'd keep him safe, let him rest, knowing the choice would soon be mine. My heart ached for him, but he’s resilient, and I knew he would find a way to overcome this. We'd face whatever comes, together.
"I'll always be here for you, buddy," I whispered in the moonlit room…and as he melted into a deep sleep, I held him tighter, promising to safeguard him and heal him, regardless of what the truth revealed.
flashback: Two years ago
I slammed back the espresso like it was a shot of tequila, needing the jolt to fuel me as I struggled through the daunting task of selecting floral arrangements for the wedding I was managing. I loathed wedding planning. Parties were my forte.My office door flew open, and Eliza swept in, balancing two steaming cups of coffee.
“Figured you could use this,” she said, handing me one as she sipped from hers.
“You figured right.” I took it gratefully.
I gulped it down, my eyes fixed on my laptop screen, trying to ignore the feeling of scrutiny burning into my back—again. It had been a year since Foley's Christmas party, and my life had spiraled into chaos because of it. I’d tried to hold it together, but it was goddamn hard.
"What's wrong?" Eliza asked, settling in across from me, already immersed in the task I'd assigned her, utterly oblivious to the internal battle and demons I'd been wrestling with for months.
