Glory- A Riverdale Sequel (Sweet Pea)

6. Caraphernelia

I sat on the guest bed of Betty Jones' guest room with my head in my hands and frowned at Sweet Pea as I tried to comprehend the phone call he was making across the room. I know Zeke was freaking out because Abby was texting me, asking if everything was ok. I held up my phone to show Pea and mouthed "do you want me to tell her the truth?"

Sweets thought for a moment, then nodded as he continued telling Zeke, "Some dangerous people have resurfaced. They're threatening Allyson, but I don't want Izzy anywhere nearby in case blowback reaches Seaside. You're being looked after, but I'm not sure it's enough. Get our baby out of there and be safe. Don't even tell me where you take her. It's best I don't know. I can't protect her from where I'm at, Zeke. This is why we kept her with you two."

I saw the pointed look Sweets gave me as he paced and began typing something similar to Abby but made sure to add that this was a precautionary measure- even if it was just to comfort her. Sweets began instructing Zeke on how to properly pack the gun where he could get to it if he needed it, but a police officer wouldn't find it if he got searched. I heard him repeat himself a few times and frowned. This was an area where I knew neither Zeke nor Abby was totally comfortable, as they had never even held a gun until we took them with us to a shooting range a couple of months prior. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried, but our present situation made this a necessity.

When Sweets finally hung up the phone, I glanced up and asked, "Zeke's got this, right? He followed your instructions and knows what to do?"

Sweet Pea nodded and knelt down next to me, "Baby, this is purely a preventative measure. I'm not thinking Izzy will even be on their radar because you're the one that escaped, and you're the one that turned on them. Bella is an innocent, Ally. But I don't need us to be even remotely worried about her, especially because I have to focus on protecting you."

I nodded numbly, and Sweets pulled me closer as he whispered, "From now on, you're not out of my sight. I won't let them get you. I promise."

I was about to respond when we heard the door open, and John- John shouting, "Daddy, motorcycle VROOOOM!" and Jughead chuckling at his son's enthusiasm about bikes.

Jughead had officially been released from the hospital- and while we were relieved to see him at home, we knew this was the beginning of a very long lockdown. We had to be sure our witnesses made it to the trial date, and we couldn't trust the sheriff's department to help us.

We sat in the guest room in one of our comfortable silences and accepted our new normal. Sweet Pea was calm and sure that we could handle this. I tried to be brave for him, if only to show him that I trust him and his ability to protect us. I couldn't fight the sinking feeling that we were just playing into yet another Hiram Lodge trap, and that not all of us would get away unscathed this time. Another storm was brewing in Riverdale, and this time I was standing on a lightning rod, watching it come.