He smiled dismissively and stepped toward the side window near the door.

That was when Javier and the guards moved into position, stepping onto the porch through the side entrance.

“Please step away,” Javier instructed firmly.

Ryan hesitated, clearly surprised to see security present. He tightened his grip, trying to project confidence.

It didn’t work.

The guards acted quickly and professionally, separating him from the object and guiding him safely to the porch floor. The bat slid away. Javier restrained him and spoke calmly.
“Do not move. Authorities have been contacted.”

Claire let out a shaken sound and backed away, hands covering her mouth. For a brief moment, I saw the younger sister I used to protect—the one who hid behind me when we were kids.

I opened the door, keeping my hands visible.
“He came here with an object that posed a risk,” I said. “And you were with him.”

When officers arrived, they reviewed the footage and asked if I wanted to proceed with formal charges. I said yes without hesitation.

Claire tried to explain that Ryan was under stress and hadn’t intended harm. One of the officers gently but firmly clarified that showing up with a weapon made the situation serious.

Then my mother, Diane, arrived. She didn’t ask if I was okay. She didn’t acknowledge the evidence. She accused me of tearing the family apart over money and insisted I should have signed to keep the peace.

Javier handed the object to the officer as evidence. Seeing it laid out clearly caused my mother to pause—briefly.

“Ryan is family,” she said. “It was only three million.”

Only.