As we made our way back to my place, I quickly sent Archer a text, updating him on my whereabouts.
"Go home to my place, Adele. Must I have that little house of yours bulldozed before you move in permanently, Honey?" Archer's playful response made me giggle.
"I will go there only if you are coming home," I teased in my text.
"I am, love, okay?" His reply warmed my heart.
"Okay. I miss you," I typed, expressing my longing for him.
"I miss you more," he sweetly responded. Leaning back in the comfortable back seat of the car, I let out a sigh, contemplating the idea of moving in with him.
The thought of it made me want to discuss it with Jade and Tiffany. It had been quite some time since we had all gotten together for lunch; lately, our interactions were limited to chat messages.
Excitement bubbled inside me as I hastily typed and sent the message to our group chat with Jade and Tiffany. "He asked me again to move in with him!!"
"Again?!" Tiffany's response was quick, followed by a shocked emoji from Jade.
"Oops, sorry, I thought I mentioned it already," I replied sheepishly. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind, with establishing my new business and resigning from my previous job, not to mention trying to recruit my former team members. It was no surprise that I had forgotten to update my friends amidst the chaos. Besides, shuttling back and forth between Archer's place and mine had its own challenges, especially since he wasn't too fond of the constant movement. He wanted me with him, and I loved being there, but his busy schedule often meant he wasn't around.
"Yes! I knew it! Dan Dan Dan Dan, Dan Dan Dan Dan! Here comes the bride, here comes the bride…" Tiffany playfully hummed the wedding march melody in response to the news.
Jade tried to initiate a video call, but I declined, shooting glances at Chad, who sat in the passenger seat of Archer's massive Jeep, and Sam, who was behind the wheel.
"Sorry, I can't speak, I'm not alone," I quickly typed and sent the message.
"Well, what did you tell him?" Jade inquired, typing in all caps, which made me stifle a giggle.
"I told him we should ease into it…."
"You did what?!" Tiffany joined in, also typing in all caps, clearly astonished.
"He wants me to give up my apartment! That's a little too fast, I think…" I responded via text.
"Are you kidding me?! Don't you love this guy? Don't answer that. We know you're head over heels in love with him. Why are you holding back? Is something wrong? Did he show any red flags?" Tiffany added her concerned thoughts to the chat.
"Thanks for that question, Tiff," Jade chimed in, "is there something you need to tell us?"
"It's nothing. I just want him to be absolutely sure. I really love my house here, and if I give it up and it doesn't work out…"
"Ha! So this is like some jitter," Tiffany playfully remarked.
"It's okay to be a little scared to take that major step, Hun, especially with a man that's that loaded and with that face and body! Oh, my God!" Jade wrote, adding some humor.
"You will be a nut job not to be a little scared. I know I will be. But it's obvious he cares about you. Don't jinx the union before it even takes wings," Tiffany advised.
With a sigh, I responded, "Alright girls, I gotta go. Talk to you later. Thank you, love you loads!"
(the chat message)
Me: He asked me again to move in with him!!
Tiffany: Again?!
Jade: 😲
Me: Oops, sorry, I thought I mentioned it already. These past weeks have been crazy, with the new business and all. Plus, the back-and-forth between Archer's place and mine is giving me a headache.
Tiffany: Haha! You've got a love shuttle.
Me: Yeah, kinda. But he's busy a lot, and I can't just stay there when he's not around.
Tiffany: Dan Dan Dan Dan, Dan Dan Dan Dan! Here comes the bride, here comes the bride… 🎶
Jade: Trying to video call… Can we talk?
Me: Sorry, can't chat, not alone right now.
Jade: 😒
Me: Anyway, I told him we should ease into moving in together...
Tiffany: You did what?! 😲
Me: He wants me to give up my apartment! That's too fast, don't you think?
Jade: Yeah, girl, you love him, right?
Me: Of course, I do! It's just... I want to be sure, you know? What if it doesn't work out?
Tiffany: Don't be jittery. He's crazy about you! 🥰
Me: I know, but it's a big step. I love my place too.
Jade: Girl, he's rich, and you're in love. It's a win-win!
Tiffany: Yeah, don't overthink it. You'll be fine.
Me: Thanks, guys. I gotta go now. Love you both!
Jade: Love you too! 😘
Tiffany: Talk later! 😘
And just then, the screeching of tires outside distracted me from the chat.
My heart skipped a beat when three black Jeeps suddenly surrounded us, two in the front and one at the back. Men dressed in black military-like gear emerged from the vehicles, donning bulletproof vests, dark shades, and caps. They were quick to display their Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) badges and pointed guns at us, ordering us to exit the car.
"Chad?!" My voice trembled with panic as I sought reassurance.
"Calm down, miss," Chad replied, trying to maintain composure while his phone rang incessantly.
"Get down now!" The men outside shouted, attracting the attention of passersby who began to watch the unfolding scene.
"What's going on? What do they want?!" My panic escalated, and confusion clouded my mind.
"Yes? Okay," Chad responded into his phone, his attention divided as the men forcefully opened the car doors.
"Don't be scared, Miss Adele. Boss will come for you," Chad reassured me, unlocking the door.
Suddenly, everything happened at once, like a chaotic blur. I was forcefully shoved against the car and painfully handcuffed. Chad was overpowered by about five men, while more circled around Sam, preventing them from reaching me. In the midst of the commotion, one of the men forcefully opened the trunk of our Jeep and retrieved several tightly wrapped plastic bags containing a white substance.
"What the hell!" Sam protested, accusing the men of planting the drugs. His anger only earned him a brutal slam to the ground, with a gun held to his head.
"Madam, you are under arrest for the possession of hard drugs…" The man behind me started reading my rights, pushing me towards the Jeep behind ours.
"Chad!" I screamed, terrified by the sudden turn of events. "Let me go!" I pleaded, but everything unfolded too rapidly as if it were a meticulously planned operation.
Before they could force me into the back seat of the Jeep, police cars arrived at the scene, surrounding the DEA agents. About two dozen uniformed policemen emerged from their vehicles, brandishing their guns at both me and the DEA agents.
"Identify yourself!" The men shouted at each other.
"DEA agents! Lower your weapons!" The DEA agents holding me hostage retorted.
"There's no way in hell you are taking her anywhere on my watch. If you want her, follow me to my precinct," an older policeman declared, walking up to the DEA agents. The situation was chaotic, bordering on madness.
"You are impeding the work of federal agents!"
"And I say have your boss come find me! Hands off now!" The police officer yelled back defiantly. The men holding me hesitated, realizing they were outnumbered.
With a curse, the one holding me shoved me towards the policeman, who quickly steadied me, glaring at the men behind me.
"This way, Miss," another policeman approached, removing my handcuffs, and swiftly guided me to one of the police cars. As soon as I was safely inside, the police officer drove off, leaving the frustrated and enraged DEA agents behind.
My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn't make sense of what was happening.
"Are you okay back there, ma'am?" one of the police officers asked.
I nodded, swallowing hard, and whispered, "Yes, thanks." My voice trembled with fear and uncertainty.
A few minutes later, we arrived at the police station, and I was promptly taken to an interrogation room. The police officers offered me water, but my hands were shaking uncontrollably as I took a sip. The cuffs had left painful imprints around my wrists, and the sight brought tears to my eyes.
Left alone in the room for what felt like an eternity, the door suddenly swung open, and to my surprise, Archer walked in, followed closely by Henry Street.
"Archer!" I cried, relief flooding through me. I rushed into his open arms, seeking comfort and reassurance. He held me tightly, his face buried in my hair.
"I'm sorry, love, forgive me," he murmured softly.
"Archer?" I pulled back slightly to look into his eyes. "They found…"
"I know. I need you to do something for me. Follow Henry out of here. He'll take you to your apartment, and wait for me there. Okay?"
"But..." I began to protest.
"We can't talk here," he whispered near my ear. "I'll see you at home, babe." I nodded, feeling a mix of numbness and confusion. The events replayed in my mind like a haunting loop, along with Archer's past warnings, "I'm sorry, love, forgive me," and "I'm a bad man," echoing in my thoughts.
As Henry gently pulled me away from Archer and out of the room, I glanced back to see Archer's eyes filled with a multitude of emotions—anger, pain, frustration, and guilt. I tried to deny the possibility that he might be involved in anything sinister, but the evidence was becoming harder to ignore.
While being escorted by Henry, I grappled with my conflicting thoughts. Could Archer really be involved in illegal activities? I desperately wanted to believe there was some kind of mistake, a misunderstanding. But the events of the day kept playing in my mind, leaving me bewildered and torn.
"Get in, please, Madam," Henry urged, his voice tinged with urgency and anxiety.
I obeyed, slipping into the car as he closed the door and quickly took his place behind the wheel. Through the rearview mirror, I saw him glancing back, seemingly relieved with what he saw. I turned to look, and my heart sank when I spotted Victor Donovan stepping out of a mini limo. Archer's father exuded an aura of power and authority, his face partly hidden under a dark sunshade and a bowler hat.
With about six guards accompanying him, Victor Donovan strode confidently into the police precinct. I caught a glimpse of Chad with him. The car started moving, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.
The reality of the situation weighed heavily on me, and I couldn't escape the fear and uncertainty that enveloped my heart.