“Son, I see you didn’t come alone,” Peter said, still smiling. “Hello, Toni. It’s been a very long time. You haven’t changed a bit. You look great.”
“Stop shoveling your bullshit, Peter.” The old anger at being betrayed by him erupted inside her, but an even more powerful emotion took charge—the need to find her Restin. “Where is my son? Where is Restin?”
“Toni. Toni. Toni,” he said in that familiar condescending way of his. “I guess you have changed.” He looked past her. “And you brought reinforcements with you. Who are these two?”
“My friends. Stop stalling. Where is Restin?”
“He’s here. Safe. With me. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough guest rooms for you and your friends. Joel can stay but you three need to go.”
“What do you want with me and Restin?” Joel asked. “You’ve not been around our entire lives and now you show up? Why?”
“I have my reasons, son. And once your mother and her friends leave I’ll be happy to tell you everything.”
She glanced over at the three men with machine guns. Where was Timothy? Was he inside yet?
Peter was in charge. That was very clear. Stealing her inheritance had only been the beginning for him. Also clear. He was neck-deep into criminal activity. Again, crystal clear. And he had Restin.
She’d been married to the asshole. She knew what made him tick. He was arrogant and full of himself. That certainly hadn’t changed.
Peter stepped up to her, Joel, Zane, and Maddox, standing less than two feet in front of her. Moving forward in her direction, he said, “You really do look great, Toni.” He reached out and touched her arm. “Better even than when we were married.”
“Don’t touch me.” She jerked her arm back.
“Oh, honey.” He reached out again.
“Didn’t you hear the lady?” Zane glared at Peter. “She told you not to touch her.”
The lying bastard held up his hands and stepped back. “You haven’t introduced me to your friends, Toni.”
“That’s not necessary. I want Restin and we are leaving.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Leron.”
Peter’s three thugs raised their weapons.
“What the hell are you doing, Peter?” Joel shouted.
“You just don’t understand, my boy. This is going to benefit you and Restin. You just need to stay with me.”
“I’m not staying with you,” Joel said indignantly. “Ever.”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Zane and Maddox slowly reach inside their jackets.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Peter stated flatly. “Unless you want to be carried out of here on a stretcher.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Mr. Swift.” Timothy’s voice rang out from somewhere above in the building or on the roof, but Toni couldn’t see him.
Peter’s men raised their guns in the direction Timothy’s voice had come from and began firing.
As Zane and Maddox pulled out their guns that Timothy had given them, without any hesitation, she instinctively grabbed Joel, forcing him down. The very next breath, Joel twisted around, placing his body over hers.
“Mom, don’t move.” He was protecting her.
Leron fell to his knees from a bullet that clearly had come from Timothy, who was still invisible. The other two men started running, and Zane and Maddox rushed after them.
When Timothy came out of nowhere and appeared on the second floor balcony, Zane and Maddox tackled the two men to the ground, knocking their machine guns out of reach.
She looked at Joel. “Are you okay?”