A single bullet // M.C ✔️

86

The usual warm and inviting home felt cold and distant as I stood rocking back and forth in my heels, struggling to gather the courage to knock on Alex's door. I was uncertain if he was home or if I was simply intruding on his wife's and Austin's usual weekday routine.

Alex had been fortunate to find a charming small home near the outskirts of New York. It was a perfect little family home, except for the slightly decaying bricks. The wooden door and windows had recently been freshly painted in a dull grey, and a few flower pots had been placed on their porch by our mother. Little benches and a few toys were scattered in the front patch of grass, which they were fortunate to have. This indicated that at least two people were home, as Austin had been out playing earlier.

"Auntie Ni!" I hadn't even realised the door had unlocked and in front of me my nephew stood with a glimmer in his eye before he threw his arms around my legs.

"Austin!" I cheered back bending and crouching the small distance to pick him up, placing him on my hip and lightly bouncing him. "Is your dad home?"

"He's in the office," so he was just ignoring my messages. Another one had been sent to his phone just to warn him I was on my way and I urgently needed to speak to him. I completely forgot the possibility of Austin and Jane being home.

"Momma!" Austin's voice jolted me out of my thoughts as he gently wriggled in my arms, silently pleading to be set back down on the cold, hard concrete floor.

"Austin, what do we tell you about opening the door?" Jane's soft voice flowed through the air as she rounded the corner, wiping her floury hands on her apron, giving Austin a small pointed look. "And clean your toys up, you know we don't leave them outside alone,"

"It's Ni though, Momma, not a stranger," Austin's chubby hands gripped the side of my leg pressing his cheek into my thigh smiling cheekily,

"How about you go find Daddy Bubs?" Jane never let her eyes stray from me, sending a small sense of nerves through my body with the look she was giving me. I couldn't pinpoint the emotion, but I knew there was anger and disappointment mixed in there.

"Ok!" Austin ran back into the house as Jane stepped closer, so she was outside closing the door securely with a small click behind her.

"Why are you here?" Her usual calm and peaceful voice snapped, harsh as she moved her reddish hair into a bun. She pulled a few baby hairs and face-framing pieces out.

"I'm here to see Alex," I fidgeted slightly, unsure of her reaction and why it seemed quite harsh. Granted, I did drop the three of them, but it wasn't any reason to be treated like a complete stranger.

"Why?"

"Nicky?" Alex's voice boomed as he opened the door and met his wife outside. He locked Austin in the building and turned to face me, his eyes harsh and unforgiving. "What do you want?" His voice was like fire, cutting through me and burning me, causing me to nearly recoil into myself.

"I need your help-," he scoffed loudly, cutting me off and letting my train of thought stop.

"You need my help," he repeated in disbelief, shaking his head. "Fucking unbelievable."

Frozen in my spot, I let my eyes flicker between Jane and Alex, trying to figure out what I did to deserve this speaking to.

"Alex-,"