**Chapter 8: Shadows of the Past**

Nick sat on the couch, his mind reeling with questions and concerns. Judd's words had left him feeling uneasy and uncertain, and he couldn't shake the feeling that his brother was hiding something from him. He got up from the couch and walked over to the window, staring out into the night. The streetlights cast long shadows on the sidewalk, and Nick felt like his own life was being cast into shadow. As he stood there, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned to see his mom walking into the room, a concerned expression on her face. "Hey, sweetie, is everything okay?" she asked, noticing the look on his face. Nick hesitated, unsure of how much to tell her. But something about Judd's words had left him feeling like he needed to know more. "Mom, what do you know about Andrew?" he asked, trying to sound casual. His mom's expression changed, and she looked away for a moment. "Not much, honey," she said, her voice hesitant. "Just that he's a friend of yours, I guess." Nick raised an eyebrow. His mom wasn't telling him the whole truth. He could see it in her eyes. "Mom, come on," he said, trying to press her for more information. "Judd just came in here and started asking me questions about Andrew. What's going on?" His mom sighed and sat down on the couch, patting the spot next to her. "Nick, I don't know how much to tell you," she said, her voice low. "But I think it's time you knew the truth. Andrew has a... complicated past, okay?" Nick's curiosity was piqued. What did his mom mean by "complicated past"? He leaned in, his eyes locked onto hers. "What kind of complicated past?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His mom hesitated, looking around the room like she was checking to make sure they were alone. "Let's just say that Andrew has been involved with some people in the past," she said, her voice low. "People who aren't exactly... reputable." Nick's mind was racing. What kind of people was his mom talking about? And what had Andrew done with them? He felt a sense of unease wash over him, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know more. But his mom's next words changed everything. "Nick, I'm telling you this because I want you to be careful around Andrew. He's a nice guy, and I think he cares about you. But there's something you need to know. Something that could put you in danger." Nick's heart was racing as he waited for his mom to continue. What was she going to tell him? And what did it have to do with Andrew? He leaned in closer, his eyes locked onto hers, and waited for her to reveal the truth.