Rebuilding A Home

One Door Closes, Another One Opens

As the women quickly approached, Olivia spotted Jerry's Volvo parked in front of the house. She cursed, her hand smacking the passenger side door before thrusting it open. Legs carrying her as fast as they could inside the home, Olivia knew there was no chance in hell Bobby would keep his word and wait for her to return.

As soon as she burst through the door, Olivia spotted Jerry on the floor with Bobby hovering over him, an accusatory finger pointed in the brother's face as Bobby loudly threatened to kill him.

"Bobby, no!" Olivia yelled, stopping at the living room door frame. Bobby didn't bother turning to look at her, but she could see his shoulders tense upon hearing her voice. Angel stood behind Bobby, his usual mean gaze staring down at his older brothers while Jackie sat on the couch; his leg bounced rapidly as the scene terrifyingly unfolded in front of them.

"Angel's gonna ask you some questions, and brother, I shit you not, the time for lying is over," Bobby continued.

"We know you're lying about your business, and we know you got mixed up with some gangstas," Angel finished.

"Hold on -" Jerry pleaded, but it was too late; he had pissed Bobby off to the point of no return.

"Stay down!" Bobby kicked Jerry back to the ground as the man tried to get up. Jerry scuffed, not being able to believe what was happening. He peered over to Olivia, who stood frozen at the doorway, one hand over her lips, the other over her stomach.

For a brief moment, Olivia wondered if she really wanted to put a child in such an environment. This wasn't how a family was supposed to act together; there was supposed to be compassion, love, and understanding. Not hate, blame, and betrayal.

As Jerry spoke up to defend himself, Sofie tugged on Olivia's sleeve, directing her to the dining room. Sofie sat Olivia down, instructing her to stay away from the hostile situation, despite being able to watch everything from where she sat. Regardless, Olivia nodded, feeling lightheaded. Sofie took it upon herself to venture to the kitchen to get the woman a glass of water.

Hearing the doorbell overhead, Olivia's thoughts immediately halted; who could be visiting this early?

Olivia watched Jackie reach the door - the others preoccupied.

But something didn't feel right. Something in her gut said there would be much more drama than anticipated.

"Bobby!" Olivia yelled out. Giving her a quick glance, the woman knew they were thinking the same thing.

"Jack!" Bobby turned to see his little brother was nowhere to be found.

"Jack!" Running after Bobby, Olivia stopped - frozen - as soon as a heavy gunshot rang.

"Liv, get back!" Bobby yelled as he pushed her behind the bookshelf.

Gunfire started blazing through the house, and everything in the interior fell apart from the bullets. Bobby hid behind the bricks, Sofie behind a wall, and Angel ran up the stairs while Jack was left on the ground outside, yelling for his family. All Olivia could hear was Jack's voice, screaming BOBBY repeatedly; each time, her heart broke.

"I can't breathe." Olivia began hyperventilating, almost feeling as if her throat was closing. As picture frames continued to fall from the wall beside her, all the woman could do was stare at her reality unfolding. Everything she learned from the police academy and her time at the job disappeared - leaving her mind completely blank on the steps to take to protect herself.

"Jeremiah, where are you going?" Olivia heard Sofie yell. Her eyes finally moved to find Jerry running toward the back of the house. Quickly, her blood began to boil, her blood pressure rising. Everything happening was entirely his fault, all because he got involved with the wrong people.