“We are going to have to keep an eye on him.” Blade says as we both watch him take a seat at the back.
“Ya I will make sure he’s good. We can always sic the girls on him to cheer him up.”
Blade looks at me, shaking his head, laughing while he heads inside. “Damn Ghost, what did he do to you to suggest that? You know damn well the women like to torture him.”
I shrug my shoulders, smiling right back at him. “He hugged my woman a little too long.”
“Possessive asshole.”
“Like you're any better when it comes to Hailey.”
He looks at me before smiling. “Touche fucker. Come on, everyone is waiting. Let’s just hope Ian isn’t stupid enough to do something today.”
I take my seat, not having a good feeling about this. Let’s just hope my feelings are wrong and Scarlett will continue to besafe.
Scarlett
I’ve been working for a few hours now, and it feels so good getting back into a routine. Everyone who has come in has been so happy to see me. Grandma Silvia and I have had an amazing time gossiping about what’s been new around town. She swears that someone has been coming in at night and taking stuff. Just some basic essentials like bread and peanut butter, but she can never be too sure. So, Colton and Grandpa Owen have set up a camera and put in extra security measures around the store to see if they can catch the thief.
They never had use of them before, as it's such a nice town that everyone trusts everyone. Alex, the prospect, has been standing guard in the corner of the store. I asked him if he wanted to sit down, but he politely declined. Saying he has a better vantage point standing at the back so he can see the entire store. Anyone who's come in doesn't even seem bothered about why he would be there; they just smile and wave.
My phone has been buzzing with messages from the girls telling me we need a girls' night soon. So I told them all about Kira, and we have added her to our group chat. We have plans to meet up next week. We definitely need this time. I miss just hanging out together. From what she's said, Crow sat outside her salon, making sure they were safe. I can't wait to see how that turns out.
Grandma Silvia comes out of the stockroom, wiping her hands on her apron, looking a little frustrated. “Is everything okay, Grandma Silvia?”
She fixes her hair and plasters a smile on her face. “Oh yes, Tink, everything is fine. I just found this note on one of the shelves in the back saying sorry for taking the bread and peanut butter and that they will find a way to pay me back. I just don't understand who could be doing this. It looks like a child's handwriting.” She gets a sad look in her eyes as she passes me the note.
Sure enough, it's scribbled quickly, as if they didn't want to get caught. Clearly, whoever this person is, is going hungry. “How sad. Let me send a screenshot to Ghost. Because Madison has been having something similar happen at the cafe. I have a feeling it's the same person.”
“I just hope it's not some young person in trouble.”
I quickly send the note to Ghost.
Scarlett: Grandma Silvia just found this note. I think the same person that's been breaking into Madison’s cafe has been doing it at the general store. We think it might be a child.
Ghost: Ya Madison found something similar as well. Don't worry, babydoll, we will figure this out and help them.
I put my phone down and look at Grandma Silvia. “The guys are going to figure this out. Whoever it is, we will help them.”
“Well, isn't that nice? My own daughter will help a stranger but not her own flesh and blood.”
My body freezes at those words as my dad emerges from the back room. He spits out the word daughter like it's venom.
“Dad,” I whisper his name in fear. How did he even get in here without being seen? He's lost weight and doesn't look healthy — worse than what he looked like before. I can see Alex creeping closer with his gun drawn as he places his phone back into his pocket, and I know he just called in backup.
“Ian, you're not welcome here. I suggest you leave now while you still can,” Grandma Silvia spits out while she looks at my dad with so much hatred.
My dad sneers at her while pointing his finger at her. “You shut your mouth, you old bitch. You're one of the reasons she got it into her head that she can have better. She has cost me enough trouble, and I came to collect. I have a debt to pay, and she will bring me a good dollar amount.”
I freeze hearing him say those words. Reverting back to the scared little girl who used to hide, too afraid of the beating I knew was coming.
Grandma Silvia doesn't back down. If anything, she gets angrier. “I would like to see you try to take her from us because you won't get far, Ian. Before you could even reach the door, you would be dead.”
My dad's face goes red as his hands shake, and he reaches into the back of his pants and pulls out a gun. Pointing it right at Grandma. “Try it, Silvia. Because I've got nothing left to lose. And you in the back can stop fucking moving because you take one more step and I shoot them both. Now, Scarlett, we are leaving here. Let's go.”
He looks widely around the store, his gun unsteady in his hands. I know the guys are coming, but I think it will be too late. It's up to me to end this. To end the nightmare, too many people have been hurt because of him. He's no longer my father and hasn't been for a long time. I look at Grandma Silvia, and she sends me a reassuring smile, telling me without words that I can do this. So without my dad noticing, I reach under the counter and grab the gun I know she keeps there, dropping it to my side and waiting for my moment.
“Let's go, bitch.” He looks around, still pointing the gun at Grandma Silvia, not even looking at me, and I know this is my one chance.