His Reflection

Chapter Nine • The Bridge

EDWARD

"So, you said your brothers both have something they're into. What about you?" Marie asked, as we walked.

"Umm...I don't really have one," I admitted. "I've tried lots of things, but I'm just really good at anything."

"I'm sure there's something," she said. It was exactly what I expected her to say, that's what everyone said. Textbook answer.

I tried to keep my emotion out of it, because I didn't want to come across as whiny and pitiful. "There's not, but I've accepted that." I said nonchalantly. I did have my looks going for me, but that wasn't something I wanted to say out loud. My brothers also had that.

"Oh... well that's not a bad thing. I don't have anything in particular that I'm good at either." She smiled.

"Well you're good at listening," I gave a half shrug. I'd been talking her ear off anytime we were together.

"And you're good at talking," she giggled, tucking a bit of her blonde hair behind her ear. She was honestly so pretty without even trying.

"Okay, that's fair. I guess that's my thing," I laughed a bit. I wish it wasn't my thing.

What was I going to tell Marie? I obviously couldn't tell her everything. What could I tell her? I could mention the drug deals I guess, maybe that would be enough to keep her in the know, but not enough to cause major consequences. I really didn't want her to know how we were literally at the top of the chain.

She doesn't need to know the extent the ring goes to. Nor does she need to know that we work for our dad, who is technically employed as a pharmaceutical scientist, but is predominantly a drug lord.

My dad. He's a big deal in the drug trafficking industry. He does a lot in the UK and has been training us to take his position that he holds in the US. Though, only one out of the thee of us would eventually take over. He was watching like a hawk to see who would be the best fit to continue his legacy. He treated it as if he was going to be passing on the family business or something. I don't understand all of it honestly, so I'm not sure if I even have a chance at it. I don't know what else to do with my life though, so I'm trying to get better with this. I want him to be proud of me, and I want to be chosen for once in my life.

I was pretty deep into my thoughts as we walked up to our destination.

"Wow... this is beautiful." She said softly, as we stepped onto the old bridge over the lake that separated us from the range of mountains across the other side.

"Yeah, it was actually one of Niall's favorite spots."

"It was?" She asked, a glimmer of tears starting to gloss over her eyes.

I nodded, getting a little emotional myself as I remembered all the times I found him out here.

"This... this is where they found him, isn't it?" She whispered.

Obviously she'd seen the videos of the location from the news or online somewhere. I hadn't even thought of that, I just wanted to find a peaceful spot, and knowing Niall spent a lot of time here I assumed would be comforting. I didn't take the part where he died there into account.

My brothers are right. I'm quite literally, an idiot.

"Shit.. yeah it is. We can go somewhere else... I wasn't thinking-"

She grabbed my arm. "No, let's stay. I'd like to experience whatever it is that's special about here. Obviously there was a reason Niall would have come here all the time."

"C'mon," I replied, as we both sat down on the edge, letting our feet dangle over the water. "I think he liked it here because it's so peaceful. There's hardly ever anyone around."