Page 13 of Fighting for Scarlett

Traitors had no conscience, they were out for self and self alone, and Tate was looking forward to watching the look on Scarlett’s face when she realized this time she wasn’t coming out on top.

Just as he noticed the thinning of the trees and the shape up ahead of them that looked like a large building, he heard the unmistakable sound of the whir of helicopter blades.

As he watched, a helo rose above them, taking off into the sky away from what was quite obviously Raul Castillo’s hideout.

Damn.

The man was escaping.

Had they somehow tripped a sensor, alerting those in the mansion that someone was approaching?

Seemed possible given the timing.

Double damn.

Was Scarlett also on that helo?

Shouting orders into his comms to his team, Tate took off at a dead run toward the mansion ahead of them.

They were approaching the building from what looked to be the back because he could see a large pool and an outdoor dining patio area behind the large wire fence. A fence that was likely electrified.

As he broke through the tree line, someone immediately began shooting at him.

It took him less than a second to identify the direction of the shooter and fire off a round of his own.

A faint thud told him he’d hit his target and dropped the body, so he spared no more time on the guard. He had to find a way over that fence because he saw her.

Scarlett.

Standing naked by the pool.

Had the woman been out there, lounging around and enjoying herself, when they’d set off the alarm?

Looked like her buddy Raul had left her to the wolves and fled.

Not that he was in any way aligning himself with the weapons dealer, but in this moment, he sent up a silent thank you that Raul had left Scarlett behind when he left.

“Not so nice when someone betrays you, is it now, sweetheart?” he whispered as he snagged a branch and tossed it at the fence. Sparks flew as it hit, and with his assumption about the fence confirmed, he ran toward a nearby tree.

There was no time to figure out how to get the electric fence turned off, he had to get in there and get Scarlett before she fled.

Why wasn’t she running?

She was just standing there by the pool.

Frozen in shock?

From what he knew, Scarlett had zero field training. Maybe she was overwhelmed by the shooting going on around her and didn't know what to do.

It took him mere seconds to climb up the tree closest to the fence. He’d have to jump, hope he missed the barbed wire topping the fence, and it would be at least an eight-foot drop, but he didn't have any other chances.

He wasn’t letting Scarlett get away.

Flinging himself forward, Tate jumped from the tree, somehow managing to clear the top of the fence, and landed with a bone-jarring thud on the other side.

“I’m over. Going to get target,” he informed his team as he took off toward Scarlett.

It wasn’t until he got closer that he realized why Scarlett wasn’t moving.

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