Our Little Happy Ending

Chapter 5: A Shadow of the Past

Life with Dimitri brought a sense of stability and security that I hadn't experienced in years. The girls settled into their new school, making friends and thriving in their classes. I found a job at a local café, and while it wasn't glamorous, it paid the bills and allowed me to provide for my family.

But amidst the newfound peace, there were whispers of the past that refused to stay buried. One evening, as I was closing up the café, I noticed a shadowy figure lingering outside. Instinctively, my hand went to the panic button under the counter, but before I could press it, the figure stepped into the light, revealing a face from my past.

It was Marco, a former associate from my days working in the underground casino scene. His presence sent a shiver down my spine, dredging up memories of a life I had worked so hard to leave behind.

"Hello, Savannah," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Long time no see."

I forced a smile, trying to keep my composure. "What do you want, Marco?"

He sauntered closer, his gaze lingering on me in a way that made my skin crawl. "I heard you've been doing well for yourself. Got yourself a nice little setup with that cop, huh?"

I tightened my grip on the counter, my heart pounding in my chest. "What do you want?" I repeated my voice barely above a whisper.

Marco leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "I want what's mine, Savannah. And I'm not leaving until I get it."

Panic surged through me as I realized what he was after. The money I had stolen from the casino on the night I fled town. Money that had funded our escape and kept us afloat in the years since.

I glanced around frantically, searching for a way out. Just then, the bell above the door chimed, and Dimitri walked in, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him.

"Savannah, is everything alright?" he asked, his hand instinctively reaching for his gun.

Before I could respond, Marco lunged forward, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me towards him. "Stay out of this, cop," he snarled, pressing a knife against my throat.

Dimitri's expression hardened, his hand tightening around his gun. "Let her go, Marco. You don't want to do this."

But Marco only laughed, his grip on me tightening. "Oh, but I do, officer. And if you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of my way."

I held my breath, praying for a miracle as the standoff unfolded before me. At that moment, I knew that the shadows of my past had finally caught up with me, threatening to unravel everything I had worked so hard to build.