Chapter 3 A Killer Flashback
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 agonizing time 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.
"Just swamped with the wedding and Brady's been dragging me into his and Nina's shit," I replied, rolling my eyes as I checked the message that had just come through on my phone.
Eliza shook her head, her gaze piercing, as if trying to see through the lie. It wasn't entirely a lie. “You need a break. I can handle this wedding mess. Why don't you go home for a bit?"
I shrugged, knowing I needed a break, but also knowing I never took them—that wasn't who I was. Reading the message from Brady, my stomach clenched, and my heart hammered in my chest, a lump forming in my throat.
Need you to meet me and help bring Nina home. She's at Foley's.
"What's wrong now?" Eliza asked, noticing the horror on my face and the sudden loss of color in my skin.
I forced a smile, feigning composure as I slipped my phone into my purse. "Brady needs me, so I guess I will take that break."
She gave me a skeptical look as I rushed for the door. "Take your time, Fallon."
The entire drive to meet Brady, I couldn't shake thoughts of Foley and the evil he'd inflicted—on everyone, not just me.
Last year, right before Nina was about to have the baby, she learned the child was stillborn.
The revelation had crushed my brother, but they told no one and kept it a secret.
Meeting my brother in front of Foley's death-tainted mansion, I could tell he was unraveling.
"What now, Brady?" I exhaled, trying to control the panic clawing at me.
"He won't let her leave, Fallon," he said, just as the door opened.
Evander himself emerged, dragging Nina along. He grinned at us, his eyes lingering on me for an unnerving beat, making my stomach churn with nausea.
"How can I help you?" he asked smugly.
"Let Nina go," Brady demanded.
Evander just laughed. "She's not going fucking anywhere."
Fury surged through me as I watched Evander’s cruel smirk. "You can't keep her here against her will," I seethed, stepping forward to confront him. But before I could do anything, Nina spoke.
"I choose to stay," she said, her voice surprisingly steady.
Brady and I exchanged a look of shock and confusion, but Evander simply nodded, his eyes never leaving mine.
"She stays because she wants to, isn't that right, Nina?" he taunted.
I gritted my teeth, taking a deep breath, knowing I needed to find a way to get Nina out of there, even if it meant defying Evander.
As the tension mounted, I prepared to fight for Nina's freedom, whatever the cost. Brady charged at him, trying to pull Nina away, but Evander pulled out his gun and struck him with it, sending him sprawling.
"Are you fucking stupid?" Evander roared, now pressing the gun to Nina's head, looking bored and enraged.
I froze in horror, paralyzed.
"This bitch isn't even worth the fucking hassle, really. There are plenty of other whores out there who can do a better job than her anyway," he said callously.
And then, he pulled the trigger, putting a bullet through Nina's temple. Brady and I were forced to watch as her body crumpled onto the dirty pavement. I stood in shock as Evander calmly walked away, leaving Nina’s lifeless body behind.
Time seemed to halt. I couldn't comprehend what I'd just witnessed but I knew it was going to fuck me up.
Brady was on the ground, struggling to grasp the enormity of it all, but I could see the fire in his eyes.
"We have to do something," he said through gritted teeth, his voice a raw mix of anger and determination.
I nodded, feeling the same intense desire for justice.
We couldn't let Evander get away with this.
As we rushed to Nina's side, I knew we wouldn't stop until we brought him to justice.
This wasn't just about Nina. It was about ensuring that no one else would suffer at the hands of a monster like Evander Foley.
And we would make him fucking pay for what he'd done.
present
Once I was sure Julian was fast asleep, I carefully slipped out of bed and walked over to the window, tapping my pinky on the cold glass seven times.
The car was still there, parked in the shadows across the street.
Anxiety pricked at me, but I pushed it down and headed downstairs, trying to focus on making Julian breakfast for when he woke up.
As I cracked eggs into the pan, a sense of unease gnawed at me.
The car outside felt like a harbinger of doom, and I couldn't shake the foreboding that settled over me like a heavy blanket.
But for now, I needed to push those thoughts aside and focus on giving Julian a semblance of normalcy.
Whatever happened, I'd protect him. Always.
Unable to stop fixating on the car, I threw on my coat and stormed outside, determined to get to the bottom of the black Lexus and why the hell it had been parked outside my house all night.
Crossing the street, I rapped on the window, holding my breath as it rolled down, revealing a striking, mysterious tattooed man with captivating dark eyes staring back at me.
“Can I help you?” he asked, a grin spreading across his face, showcasing the barbell in his tongue as he licked his lips.
“Yeah, why have you been parked outside my fucking house all night?” I growled, ignoring his undeniable beauty, remembering the last time I let my hormones cloud my judgment.
As I leaned closer to his car, I discreetly attached a tracker near the side mirror, hoping it would at least give me a clue of where he went when he left. If he found it after, fuck it. At least I’d have a lead.
"Isn't this a public place?" he countered, infuriating me.
"I don't give a damn if it's a public place. You're making me uncomfortable, and I want you to leave," I retorted, the anger rising within me as I found myself obsessively counting each breath I took.
The man's smirk never wavered as he reached for something in the passenger seat, holding it up for me to see. "Just delivering a package," he replied, but his words only fueled my suspicion.
"I don't believe you. Get lost before I call the fucking cops," I snapped, crossing my arms.
I knew he didn't believe I'd actually call them, and, frankly, I didn't believe the words that had just left my mouth either, but I maintained a stoic expression, refusing to show fear.
The stranger's grin finally faded, and he rolled up the window without another word, driving away—never producing the alleged package.
As I watched the black Lexus disappear, the unease lingered. Turning on my heel, I went back inside to find Julian and Brady waiting for an explanation.
“Where did you go, Fallon?” Julian asked, rubbing his sleepy blue eyes.
“Outside to check on something. Why don’t you ever call me auntie?” I asked curiously, just realizing I’d never heard him say it.
He shrugged, avoiding my gaze, making me think he was hiding something, but I didn't push him. “I don’t know. I just don’t want to call you that,” he finally said, scooping a forkful of eggs into his mouth.
Brady gave me an odd look, but I waved him off and headed for the coffee, needing a jolt before I got to work plotting my revenge.
“Everything alright, Fallon?” Brady spoke softly, joining me on my walk to the coffee pot, making sure Julian didn’t overhear.
“I’m not sure. There’s been a car parked outside since War left last night, and the man just seems…shady; I don't like it,” I whispered, keeping my head down as I silently counted each breath out of habit. “Make sure Julian stays inside today. I don't want him being seen.”
He nodded, giving me a worried look. “You're freaking me out, sis,” he said, his voice full of concern.
“Yeah, I’m freaked out too. I think Foley found us…”
As I reached the counter—tapping seven times with the tip of my pinky—I paused, contemplating the mysterious car, and the chilling realization struck me: This wasn’t over. This was just the beginning. And I was the one who was going to uncover the truth, no matter what it took.