Ray pointed to another car that held Alicia and Alana’s parents. “He was holding them away from the scene until it was safe. I think Alicia was going to charge at Cora, gun or no gun.”
Noah kissed Alana’s forehead. In two minutes she would be surrounded by her family. He wanted one second to let her know how he felt.
“I love you so much, Alana. Let me go and take care of Cora. Her ass is spending some time locked up, fancy lawyer or not.” He was serious about this. She needed to learn Daddy’s money couldn’t get her out of everything.
“I’d like to tear her blonde locks out. Let’s see how tough she is without a gun,” Alana growled, making Ray and Liam laugh.
“Settle down, my warrior princess. I’d like to shake some sense into her myself, but…” He sighed. “She needs help, and she is going to get it. Hopefully far away from Red Hook.”
Noah walked over to read Cora her rights. It was hard to have any sympathy for her despite her obvious mental health problems. She tried to kill Alana and almost succeeded. What kind of cold-blooded bitch did that?
Chapter 22
Alana sat at her house surrounded by her family. She was relieved to hear from Noah that Jeremy and Cora were being transported to Morehead to stand before a judge and be formally charged. Cora’s father had a team of lawyers meeting them there. As long as they were not in Red Hook, she would leave their fate in the hands of the law.
“Noah said Mr. Stanton agreed to hire a lawyer for Jeremy,” she told her family. They were all seated in the living room. Ray had a bandage over his eyebrow and was texting Millie.
“Send her a picture,” Alicia teased him, but she was snuggled against him as if to make sure he was okay. “She’ll get all mushy over your tiny, barely visible cut.”
“Tiny? I’ll have you know it hurts like hell. I was unconscious. I deserve some TLC,” Ray argued.
Mrs. Garcia rolled her eyes but ignored her two arguing children.
She held Alana’s hand tightly. She had cried at the scene when she found Alana safe and sound. “I am just so happy it is over now. I hope she goes far away from here and never comes back.”
Ray looked up. An aggravated look was spread across his face. “Drake said he overheard Mr. Stanton saying he didn’t think it wo
uld be good for their family name to live here anymore. He is right. This is already all over town.”
“All he cares about is his own image. No wonder the daughter is so vain and spoiled,” Mr. Garcia grumbled. “I say good riddance. I don’t want them here. A lot of people were already turning against them when they found out Cora was behind the robbery.”
Alana silently agreed. It would be too hard for her to have to see Cora in town on a regular basis. If she ever got out, that is.
Alana yawned. She had heard enough about Cora. She just wanted some sleep. “I am exhausted. I am staying here tonight. Noah will be up all night with all this mess going on. I’ll sleep better here at home.”
Noah had called her and wanted her to stay at his house with Liam and Adam, but she just wanted a good night’s sleep. Now that it was all over, she didn’t know what came next for them. She had been staying with him for protection, but he never mentioned making it permanent. He mentioned love, and she believed him. She felt it when she was with him, the little things he did, like making sure she ate, the way he held her at night. She felt a little unsure of what the future held. He never mentioned marriage, and although she wanted it, she refused to pressure him. Getting hurt showed her life was short, and she had to grab happiness by the horns if she wanted it. She would wait for Noah to let her know what the next step for them was.
Emotionally it was just too much to handle for one night. She just wanted to fall into her bed and rest her turbulent mind. Tomorrow things would look clear.
“Okay, darling.” Mrs. Garcia leaned over and kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Tomorrow we all sleep late, and I will make breakfast. I expect you here tomorrow,” she warned Ray.
Ray stood up and hugged his mom. “I will be here, I promise. I never pass up your cooking.”
Alana lay in bed snuggled under the covers. It didn’t take long for her eyes to grow heavy and close. Tomorrow everything would look brighter, she hoped.
* * * *
Noah knocked on Alana’s door the next morning. He had been at the station until really late last night. There had been so much to take care of.
He had missed having Alana right next to him, but he understood she wanted to be with her family after the evening’s horrible events.
Cora and Jeremy were out of his hands and were standing in front of a judge to be charged. Jeremy already had pleaded guilty and would be testifying against his cousin. Cora would be evaluated. He hoped she got some time, but his main concern was that she stayed far away from them and his town.
Now that Alana had no one after her, he wanted her to know how serious he was about their relationship. He wanted to marry her. If she still had doubts about his intentions, he would wait, but he wanted to be engaged. Feeling like a schoolboy picking up his date for the evening, he wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans.
Ray opened the door and ushered him in. The family was seated around the dining room table.
“Good morning, Noah. Hungry?” Mrs. Garcia asked with a friendly smile. He felt the pressure in his chest lighten. They were accepting him into the family, and he was humbled by it.