The Mafia's Undoing-Chapter 149: Dangerous Proximity

Three months.

It’s been three months since I left Tony. Since I walked away from the man I love to protect my brother.

Three months of building a new life in this small town that was two hours away from Manhattan.

The simple, quiet, safe life.

Or so I thought.

I was at the grocery store on my usual Saturday morning shopping trip. I was in the produce section, selecting apples and trying to remember whether Elliot preferred Granny Smiths or Gala apples, when I heard my name.

"Katherine! Hi!"

I turned to see Pete Anderson, my former high school boyfriend, who now lived in my neighborhood.

"Hey, Pete."

"Fancy meeting you here." His smile was genuinely warm.

"I do live here. I kind of have to buy groceries."

"Fair point." He looked at my cart. "Cooking for one?"

"Two. Elliot lives with me occasionally when he visits from school."

"Right, your brother. How’s he doing? Is he fully recovered?"

"Yes. He’s back at Columbia and most times commutes from here."

"That’s good." He paused, then continued. "Listen, I was wondering, you know, Mandy keeps asking about you. Would you maybe want to come over for dinner this week? It’s nothing fancy, just pizza and a six-year-old who thinks you’re the coolest person ever."

I should say no and keep my distance, but his daughter Mandy was adorable.

"Sure. That sounds nice."

His smile widened. "Great. How about Wednesday?"

"Wednesday works."

After he left, I stood there with my apples, wondering what I just agreed to.

Flowers arrived on Tuesday.

The doorbell rang, and a delivery person arrived with a beautiful bouquet. They were sunflowers and daisies, looking cheerful.

The card read: "Just brightening your day. Looking forward to Wednesday. -Pete"

I stared at them and became conflicted.

Pete is nice, kind, and safe. Definitely, everything Tony wasn’t.

And it’s a shame I felt nothing for him. No flutter, no excitement, no spark, just... appreciation for a thoughtful gesture.

I called Dr. Nina Cole. My therapist. We had resumed sessions remotely I moved here.

"Katherine, how are you?"

"Confused. There’s this guy, Pete. He’s interested, I’m... not. I don’t want to lead him on, but I feel like I should be."

"Why should you be interested?"

"Because he’s perfect. He’s a single dad. Good man, safe and perfect to have a normal life with. Everything I said I wanted."

"But?"

"But he’s not Tony."

Silence, then Dr. Cole responded: "Katherine, you’re grieving the loss of your relationship. The life you had and the future you imagined. You can’t force feelings, especially when your heart still belongs to someone else."

"How much time? It’s been three months."

"However long it takes. There’s no timeline for healing. For moving on."

"So what do I do about Pete?"

"Be honest. With him and yourself. If you’re not interested, don’t lead him on."

After we hung up, I was still staring at the flowers.

I should be interested in Pete. I should want this safe, normal life.

So why do I still dream about Tony every night?

Wednesday came, and I went to dinner at Pete’s apartment.

He lived two buildings over on the ground floor. It was small but homey.

Mandy answered the door. "Miss Katherine!"

She launched herself at me, and I caught her, laughing.

"Hey, Mandy! I missed you!"

"I missed you too! Daddy’s making pizza. The kind you can put your own toppings on!"

Pete appeared in an apron; he had flour on his hands. "Sorry. She’s been watching the door for twenty minutes."

"That’s sweet."

Inside, it’s clearly a single dad’s space, with Mandy’s toys everywhere and art projects on the fridge, featuring photos of father and daughter.

No trace of Mandy’s mother since Pete removed all evidence.

We made personal pizzas. Mandy creates a masterpiece with every topping available, and I go simple - Margherita.

Pete made easy, natural conversation that didn’t seem forced.

"So what really made you move here besides being close to your brother’s school?"

"Fresh start, I needed a change."

"From New York? That’s a big change."

"Yeah. Big city life wasn’t for me anymore."

He didn’t push and did not ask about Tony. He probably must have seen enough in the news.

After dinner, Mandy insisted I read her a bedtime story.

We curled up on her bed, she picked three books, and I read them all.

Her room is pink with princesses and unicorns painted everywhere. Innocent and safe for a child.

"Miss Katherine, do you like my daddy?"

The question caught me off guard. "Your daddy is very nice."

"Yeah." She replied. "He talks about you a lot. Says you’re pretty."

The child’s honesty was disarming. "That’s very sweet of him. And you’re pretty too," I tickled her nose.

"Do you think he’s handsome?"

How do I answer this? "Your daddy is a very good-looking man."

"So you do like him!" She said, delighted.

"Mandy, sweetie, it’s more complicated than that."

"Why?"

"Because adults make everything complicated."

She considered it. "That’s silly."

"You’re absolutely right. It is silly."

She fell asleep mid-sentence in the third book. I tucked her in and kissed her forehead.

She’s precious, sweet, and innocent.

Everything a child should be.

Pete was standing in the doorway, watching. "She adores you."

"She’s easy to adore."

"So are you."

I should have deflected, changed the subject, but I just smiled politely.

Over the next two weeks, Pete became a constant presence.

He wasn’t pushy or aggressive. Just... there.

On my regular Wednesday visit to the coffee shop, he was coincidentally there when I arrived.

I jog in the park on Saturday mornings, and he was there, walking Mandy.

We were always running into each other frequently at the grocery store.

He’s kind and attentive, everything a woman should want, and I wondered why I felt nothing.

Worse, I kept comparing him to Tony. And Pete loses every time.

Tony never had to try. Never had to pursue. We just... combusted.

Instant chemistry, immediate connection - dangerous and intoxicating.

Pete is safe, stable, and predictable.

Everything I thought I wanted.

So why does it feel so wrong?