Chapter 4 - A Mother’s Wrath on the Highway
The four-hour drive to Trevor’s suburban neighborhood felt like an eternity. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in ominous shades of bruised purple and dark gray as I pressed my foot down on the gas pedal. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. My mind raced with horrifying worst-case scenarios: What if we were too late? What if the men had already returned?
When I finally pulled into Trevor’s neighborhood, my heart leaped into my throat. The street was quiet, lined with manicured lawns and suburban homes, but parked right in front of Trevor’s driveway was a sleek, unmarked black sedan. Two unfamiliar men in dark jackets stood on the front porch, ringing the doorbell insistently.
I didn't hesitate. I drove my car right up onto the front lawn, cutting off the sidewalk, and slammed on my brakes. The tires crunched loudly against the decorative landscaping as I threw the car door open and stepped out.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing, lady?” one of the men shouted, turning around with a scowl.
“Get away from that door!” I screamed, my voice echoing down the quiet street with a fury that startled them both.
At that exact moment, the front door swung open. Trevor stood in the doorway, looking pale, exhausted, and terrified, while Mallory peeked out from behind him, clutching little Maisie and Nolan tightly in her arms. Nolan’s eyes widened in sheer shock when he saw me standing by my car, holding the laminated journal high in the air.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Trevor stammered, stepping onto the porch. “How did you—”
“You absolute fool!” I cut him off, marching straight up the walkway past the two thugs who momentarily stepped back, stunned by my aggression. I pointed a finger directly at my son’s chest. “You lied to me! You dumped my grandchildren in my house while you played hero with dangerous criminals, and then you brought them right back into the line of fire!”
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“Mrs. Ashford, you’re interfering in business that doesn't concern you,” the taller of the two thugs stepped forward, grabbing my arm roughly. “Turn around and get back in your car before—'
Before he could finish the sentence, the wail of approaching sirens shattered the quiet night air. Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the entire street as three unmarked federal and state police cruisers swarmed the driveway, blocking the black sedan completely. Arthur had kept his word; he had sent the state police alongside federal agents directly to our coordinates.
