My heart slammed against my ribs, but my grip on the pepper spray didn't waver. The lock would hold. It had to hold.
Behind me, Christine was crying. Riley had her arm around her.
Another crash. Warren's shoulder hitting the door. The lock rattled but stayed secure.
Then Gage's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding.
"Sheriff's department! On the ground NOW!"
Sounds of struggle—Warren shouting, something crashing against the wall. Gage's voice again, harder: "I said DOWN!"
Dell's voice crackled over a radio: "Dispatch, this is Deputy Fuentes requesting backup at—"
"Stop resisting!" Gage. Furious now.
The sounds of the fight echoed up the stairwell. Grunting. A thud. Metal clicking—handcuffs.
Finally—after what felt like hours but was probably seconds—Gage's voice came from right outside the door.
"Lacey. It's me. Open up. He's in cuffs."
My hands shook as I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Gage stood in the stairwell, chest heaving, uniform disheveled. Dell was behind him, holding Warren in handcuffs. The man's face was red and sweating, eyes wild and completely disconnected from reality.
"She's mine!" Warren lunged against Dell's hold. "She dances just for me! We're together! Tell them!"
"Shut it," Dell said flatly, hauling him back.
I looked past them. The first-floor bathroom window was shattered, glass scattered everywhere.
That's how he'd gotten in.
"Everyone okay?" Gage's eyes scanned me head to toe, checking for injuries.
"We're fine." My voice sounded stronger than I felt. "Door held. He couldn't get through."
"Good girl." Something fierce and proud flashed across his face. He looked past me at the students. "Ladies, I apologize for what you just experienced. Deputy Fuentes is taking Mr. Hodge into custody. He'll be formally charged with breaking and entering, stalking, attempted assault, resisting arrest, and multiple probation violations. The judge will order a mandatory psychiatric evaluation tomorrow. He won't be getting out."
"I love her!" Warren screamed as Dell pulled him toward the stairs. "She performs for me! Only for me! We're together!"
"Keep moving." Dell's usual friendliness was gone, replaced by cold professionalism.
They disappeared down the stairs. A moment later, the main entrance opened and slammed. A cruiser door closed with finality.
My students were already gathering bags with trembling hands.
"I'm so sorry—" I started.
Maya cut me off with a fierce hug. "Don't. You kept us safe. That door held because of the lock Sheriff Coulter installed. And you were ready with pepper spray." She pulled back, eyes wet. "You did everything right."
The others echoed her—quick hugs, shaky reassurances. Even Christine managed a small smile.
"See you next week?" Riley asked.
"Yeah." My throat tightened. "Next week."
Within ten minutes, I'd walked everyone to their cars in the gravel lot. Watched their taillights disappear. Made sure each one drove away safe.
