Chapter 10 - The Ashes Settle
The heavy glass window beside us shattered into thousands of tiny, glittering pieces.
I didn't feel any pain in my chest.
I opened my eyes and saw Brett drop to his knees, screaming in agony.
Blood was rapidly pouring from a massive wound in his right shoulder.
An off-duty police officer, who had been attending the gala as a guest, stood at the end of the hallway with his service weapon drawn.
The officer kicked Brett's gun away and pinned him forcefully to the marble floor.
I immediately dropped to the ground and pulled June out of the stroller, holding her tightly to my chest.
She was crying, but she was completely unharmed.
Within minutes, the hotel was swarming with local police and screaming ambulance sirens.
Brett was arrested and loaded into an ambulance under heavy armed guard.
Eleanor was handcuffed and dragged away in her ruined designer gown, screaming about her lawyer.
Tessa fully cooperated with the police, handing over a hidden flash drive containing all the proof of Brett's massive financial crimes.
The stolen charity money was successfully recovered and rightfully distributed to the actual families who lost their homes in the wildfire.
Six months later, I officially won sole physical and legal custody of June.
I bought a beautiful, small house near the ocean, far away from the dangerous mountain woods.
We were finally safe, breathing clean air, and living a life full of peace and genuine love.
The nightmare of Brett Keene was finally over forever.
On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, I received a certified package in the mail with no return address.
I opened the small box to find a silver crowbar and a red baby blanket.
May you like
Beneath them was a handwritten note that read: "He wasn't the only one who wanted you dead, Natalie."
I looked out my kitchen window and saw a dark truck parked silently across the street.
