Chapter 105 The Raid

Chapter 105 The Raid
(Three days later)

I laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Occasionally, my eyes drifted to the bedside clock.

Thirty minutes to nine.

My stomach churned with apprehension.

A few months ago, I would have been happily waiting for this to happen.

But now—

Now it felt like a slow unraveling I couldn’t stop.

I rolled from side to side, trying to find a good position… all to no avail.

My mind drifted to everyone.

Nicole, Finley, Abel…

I was going to lose all my friends.

And lastly—

Him.

Fuck.

Why did it have to come to this?

“You really let yourself go, this time Mara.” I scoffed bitterly.

Tears prickled at the back of my eyes and soon enough… they rolled down without restraint.

I don't know how long I laid curled up in bed, crying.

But somewhere along the line—

Sleep took me.



I shot up in bed.

Immediately feeling a forlorn prickle on my skin

A distant sound drifted into my ears.

Faint at first.

Then clearer.

Voices.

My brows furrowed as I pushed myself up, listening.

It wasn’t coming from inside the house.
It was outside.

I slipped off the bed, my feet meeting the cold floor, and moved toward the window. Pulling the curtain aside just slightly—

My breath caught.

Cars.

Too many.

Black SUVs lined outside the estate gates, engines humming low like restrained beasts.
Red and blue lights flashed in controlled bursts, reflecting off the polished metal gates and the walls surrounding the compound.

Men moved with precision.

Dark suits.

Tactical vests.

Earpieces.

Some stationed outside, others already filing in.

A crowd had formed—staff, guards, a few residents from nearby wings—held back, murmuring in confusion, fear… curiosity.

My pulse spiked.

It’s started.

The thought landed heavy in my chest.

I didn’t realize when my hand dropped from the curtain.

I didn't realize when my feet started moving.

By the time I stepped into the hallway, the house was already awake.

Doors open.

Whispers.

Footsteps.

Drawn toward the front like everything else, I followed.

The grand doors were open.

And beyond them—

The estate gates.

Wide open.

Letting them in.

A convoy rolled forward slowly, deliberately, like they owned the ground beneath them. More men stepped out as the vehicles came to a stop, their movements calm, practiced.

Not rushed.

Not frantic.

Just… certain.

I stepped outside.

The morning air hit me, cool against my skin, but it did nothing to steady the storm inside me.

Then I saw him.

Ronan stood at the foot of the steps, already dressed, already composed—as if he had been expecting this exact moment.

A few men approached him, not with weapons drawn—but with authority that didn’t need it.

One of them stepped forward, pulling out a badge.

“Ronan Callahan.”

His voice was even.

Professional.

“We need you to come with us to the station.”

No shouting.

No force.

Just a statement.

Around them, everything held its breath.

Ronan’s gaze lingered on the badge for a second.

Then lifted.

Scanning.

Taking it all in—the vehicles, the men, the perimeter already secured, the quiet control of it all.

“I do hope you have a warrant for barging into my home like this.”

The man didn't respond, he simply brought out a paper and handed it to Ronan.

He stared at it for a moment.

Then—

A faint, almost humorless smile touched his lips.

“Figured it’d be something like this,” he murmured.

My chest tightened.

The agent didn’t react.

“Sir.”

A pause.

“Turn around, please.”

Silence stretched.

Then Ronan complied.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Finley moved forward but a click of the gun had him stopping.

“Do not act foolishly, young man.” An officer said.

“You fucking bastard,” he gritted, finger clenching and unclenching at his sides.

“Enough, Finley.” Ronan's voice boomed.
“Do as these gentlemen say… that is an order.”

Finley's gaze lowered, shoulders sagging in defeat, as he stepped back.

The soft click of metal closing around Ronan's wrists echoed louder than it should have.

I flinched.

Everyone in the house stared in shock.

“The following names will be called, and an arrest has been issued for you all too.” Team leader Lance said as he stepped forward.

His eyes drifted around the crowd, finally meeting mine.

Sadness filled his eyes as I ripped mine away, slowly searching till they landed on him.

He turned around, his gaze lifted—

And found mine.

Time stilled.

There were no words.

But there was recognition.

Understanding.

And beneath it—

Something that made my throat tighten.

Because this wasn’t just an arrest.

This was the beginning of everything falling apart.

He didn’t look angry.

Didn’t look surprised.

Just… certain.

Like a man finally meeting the truth he had been walking toward his entire life.

They guided him forward.

Past the steps.

Past me.

Close enough that I could hear the quiet exhale he let out.

Close enough that, for a brief second—
I thought he might stop.

But he didn’t.

He kept walking.

Escorted toward the waiting vehicles.

I didn't hear all the names that were called or people that were being handcuffed till it reached Nicole and Finley.

Their faces looked devoid of any emotion, so I couldn't tell if they were angry or surprised.

They pulled them away and I found myself instinctively reaching for them.

Nicole turned to me with a small smile.
“It's okay.” She mouthed.

I whimpered, staring as the doors opened.

Engines started.

And just like that—

They began to leave.

Orderly.

Efficient.

Like they had only come to collect something that already belonged to them.

I stood there long after the last car disappeared beyond the gates.

The crowd slowly broke apart.

The estate fell back into a silence that felt… wrong.

Whispers filled the air as someone rushed to calm the raging crowd.

Phones rang, voices mumbled all around me, but I felt—

Empty.

Like something vital had been removed.

My arms wrapped around myself without thinking.

And as everyone was quietly confused about what was going on.

I found myself struggling to hold back my sobs.

And somehow—

It had already happened.