Chapter 309

“Dad, get the women and Mayor Pratt away from the windows,” Victor told Harry before turning to Heather. “Please take the family to the rec room to finish their meal.”

Heather nodded and led the family out of the room.

“Benson, can we put something against the windows in case they throw anything else?” Victor asked.

The way he stayed calm and protected the most vulnerable among us was a sign of a true leader and another reason why I loved him.

“I’ll check, sir,” Benson said and hurried from the room.

Amy was determined to go outside and face the mob. She pulled her arm from my grasp and headed for the front door.

“Amy, no,” I said as I tried to stop her from going outside. Something had set the crowd off, and they were getting far too dangerous.

“I have to do something, Daisy,” Amy insisted. “Did you see the terror on those kid’s faces? They deserve safety and comfort.”

“I agree,” I said. “But let the police deal with the protesters. They stepped over the line by breaking your windows. You can have them arrested and make them pay for the damage.”

Amy stopped to consider my words until we heard the mayor speak to his wife. He was worried about losing campaign money from wealthy donors.

“I must consider revoking the shelter’s permits.” He shook his head sadly. “I wasn’t aware of the local opposition to this place.”

“No!” Amy cried and rushed past me. She made it out the doors to face the angry mob before anyone could stop her.

I had to follow her.

The crowd had gone silent when she stepped outside. But as I joined my best friend on the small porch, angry whispers joined to make a hissing sound.

One male voice stood out from the rest. I couldn’t see his face in the crowd, but the pure hatred in his tone stung my ears.

“Don’t let them get away with putting Beta and Omega criminals in your neighborhood,” the man shouted. “They say the shelter is for displaced families, but it’s a lie. They’re moving the dregs of society to live next to your homes.”

I tried to identify him or who he was standing with as Amy began to speak.

“None of you showed up at the city council meetings to get more information about the shelter,” she began. “And most of you signed my petition to allow the shelter to open on Lycan Square.”

“Don’t listen to the dirty hybrid,” the strange man called from behind the crowd. “She’s trying to make a fortune while the criminal low-lifes in her supposed shelter will rob your homes. Your women and children won’t be safe.”

“That’s a lie,” Amy proclaimed. “Folks coming to this shelter will be good people who need short-term assistance and guidance to become self-sufficient. No dangerous criminals will be allowed in this shelter.”

“You are the liar,” the man declared. “Let us inside right now to see who you’ve got in there.”

“Daisy, I can’t let them harass that family,” Amy whispered.

“And once they are inside, who knows what they’ll do,” I told her. “They could destroy the interior of the house.”

“As I told everyone in this neighborhood before, tours of the facility are available to any of you who make an appointment,” Amy announced. “However, I’m not allowing an angry mob inside the manor.”

“You know what I’m saying is true,” Amy continued. “Why are you letting strangers from outside of Lycan Square stir you up until you commit violent acts like breaking windows and frightening children?”

Amy’s words shamed them into silence. Some members of the mob began to back away from the manor.

I heard Victor arguing with the mayor when Justin came outside and stood behind Amy. A moment later, Victor and the mayor were in the doorway.

“I should apologize to these good people,” Mayor Pratt blustered. “I wasn’t aware of the objections to the shelter. Perhaps you should move it to a different location.”

Amy had tears rolling down her cheeks, and Justin pulled her into his arms.

But then Aaron Archer pushed his way out of the manor. His eyes were angry.

“Julian, you always coddled whoever you thought would give you the largest donations,” he said to the mayor. “But you’re backing the wrong horse now.”

He touched Amy’s shoulder and gave her a smile before he began speaking to the crowd.

“Everyone in this neighborhood knows me,” Aaron told the mob. “We’ve gotten along for years ... even when murderers and criminals lived in this house with me.”

There were gasps and snickers from the crowd.

“My granddaughter is opening this facility to help people,” Aaron declared. “Stop listening to the voices trying to stir up trouble and listen to your hearts. I still live in this house, and I can assure you that there is nothing to be afraid of here.”

“You say that now,” the neighbor to the right of Archer Manor called out. “But how do we know you won’t move criminals into the house?”

“I won’t accept anyone with a violent criminal record,” Amy said. “It wouldn’t be safe for the families staying here.”

“They lie!” the man hiding in the back of the crowd called out. “Let’s push our way inside and see what’s going on for ourselves.”

“You, hiding behind the mob you incited, come closer and speak to us,” Victor said. “Stop being a coward, and let us see your face.”

“Rush the front door!” the voice demanded. “They can’t stop us all.”

“No, don’t do it,” Aaron said. “He’s not one of us, and he’s using you for his own agenda.”

“Aaron is right,” another neighbor told the others. “I’m finished listening to the stranger. This isn’t his neighborhood. Why is he here?”

“Let’s return to our homes,” the first neighbor suggested to the others. “We’ve been foolish enough this evening.”

As the rest began walking to their homes, he came onto the porch.

“Peter, why did you join the mob against my granddaughter?” Aaron asked him. “We’ve never had a problem between us.”

“Aaron, I’m sorry,” Peter said. “We shouldn’t have listened to someone who doesn’t live here. But he was a smooth talker.”

“Come inside with us for coffee and dessert,” Amy suggested. “I’d love for you to see what we’ve done with the manor.”

“I’d like that,” Peter said. “My wife would too.” He waved to a woman on the sidewalk, and she joined us on the porch.

“Peter, who threw the brick and the rock?” Aaron asked. “The dining hall windows are smashed.”

“I’ll tell you about it inside,” Peter replied. He looked over his shoulder at the dispersing crowd.

I saw a man who looked familiar ducking into the alley across from the manor. “I know him from somewhere,” I mumbled.

Our group moved inside as the police arrived. They spoke briefly to Victor and Mayor Pratt before talking to the few people still on the street.

Amy hugged Aaron. “Thank you. Your words saved the shelter.”

“I should have done something to help my son when he and Deirdre knew they were going to be parents. My inaction made you lose your mother. I’ll do anything to make that up to you now.”

Heather brought the young family back into the dining hall, and Benson instructed caterers to serve the apple pie and ice cream with coffee or milk.

All the guests seemed to be enjoying themselves again. It was a happy time with everyone toasting Aaron and Amy.

“I guess I was wrong,” Mayor Pratt admitted. “The shelter will continue to have my support.”

Peter and his wife, Jill, spoke with the young family. Peter saw their desire to live normal lives and offered the husband a job at his construction company.

After dessert was eaten, everyone continued to chat happily until another family arrived looking for help. It was a single mom and her two little girls.

While Amy handled the paperwork, Heather offered to get them fed and settled for the night.

Things were going so well that it was a harsh reminder when the police came inside the manor to speak to us.

“According to many witnesses, the brick and the rock were thrown by the same person who instigated the riot,” a police detective explained.

“Who was he?” I asked. He looked familiar.

“His name is Josh Cameron,” the policeman replied.

“The son of John Cameron?” Victor asked.

“I believe he is,” the cop answered.

The instigator of the riot was the son of my old enemy, John Cameron. He was the same man who tried to steal Wilson, Inc. from my family.

It couldn’t be a coincidence. A bolt of panic shot through me. Was John still in prison for his crimes against me?