Ari tugs on dad’s sleeve. “What’s happening, daddy?”
“I don’t know, Squirt. Just stay here,” he tells her, clutching onto her a little tighter before stepping protectively in front of me and Jackie despite not needing to. I mean, the grocery store is right next door to the clothing store but we’re far enough away not to be in any immediate danger. I think anyway. Though, he can’t help it. I guess it’s just a father’s basic instinct to protect what’s his from the unknown.
Before I know it, the local news reporters are turning up and setting up cameras. A lady in a pair of sweats quickly brushes through her hair, puts on some lipstick, and a blazer over the top of an old worn-out shirt before stepping in front of the camera. Clearly, she didn’t expect to be working today. She looks as though she had way too much to drink and just got out of bed, but whatever story this is, it’s got to be a big one.
Looking around, taking in the magnitude of this raid, it becomes clear that this has got to be about Anton, but I can’t quite work out why the hell they’re raiding a clothing store. Noah had said that Anton had some kind of warehouse, and this…well, this certainly isn’t that. I hope they don’t have the wrong place because, with this shit all over the news, Noah is going to be in a world of trouble.
We hear shouts and screams coming from within the store as a row of police officers stand outside, guns drawn, ready and prepared to protect themselves and the people around if it comes down to it.
The people standing around the grocery store and in the streets stand motionless, staring on, waiting and wanting to know what the hell is going on inside that store. I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall right now.
It takes three minutes for two of the SWAT members to come back out of the store and I suck in a breath as they stand with Anton, handcuffed between them.
“They got him,” I murmur in disbelief as dad’s hand finds my forearm. Giving me the support he thinks I need, but truth be told, I don’t need anything. All that’s running through me is relief. Relief for not only me but for Noah as well. If they’ve got him and they’ve found the right place, this could all be over. Noah and I are safe and our futures can be whatever we want to make of them.
It would all be over.
I watch on as the two SWAT members transfer Anton over to a couple of cops. I instantly recognize them as the two who had shown up at Noah’s door only a few days ago- Langston and Thomas.
I don’t doubt those two will be getting some kind of bonus this year, maybe a promotion to go with it. People have been trying to take down Anton Mathers for as long as I can remember and here, these two have finally done it. Well, I’m hoping they’ve done it.
I’m assuming there will be some kind of trial and Anton isn’t exactly afraid of being a slimy bastard. I’m sure he’s going to try and pull every string necessary to wipe his hands clean of this and get back to business, and if that happens, we all better watch our backs.
Anton is carted across the road towards the rows of police cars which is when his head snaps up, his eyes lock directly on mine and it’s almost as though someone had specifically told him exactly where I was. Either that or he’s been watching me for so damn long that he can just sense when I’m around.
His eyes narrow on mine and I raise my chin, letting him know that he can’t hurt me. No matter what he does, I’ll always come out on top. I see it in his eyes that he’s trying to work out if I had anything to do with this. He takes in my family standing around me and the old pick up filled with groceries and I hope to God that he must know that my being here is coincidental.
I knew nothing about this clothing store and I’m wanting to curse out Noah for not telling me about it. On the inside it looks just like any other clothing store, but if I’d known there was something more to it, I would have looked a little closer and busted him myself.
Shit. I can’t believe I was in there just the other day.
Anton is put down into the police car and I can’t help but wish that Rivers was here to see this. I hope that those reporters got that on camera because I plan on saving it for him. It’s something he needs to see and hopefully will help to heal something within him. Maybe he’ll finally believe that it truly is safe for him to come home and start building a proper life. He can move on from all the bullshit of his past and create a life for him and Tully. You know, if she’ll take him back. It looks like Spencer is planning on worming his way into her heart and if Rivers isn’t careful, he could risk losing her altogether.