Page 72 of Fighting for Scarlett

“But that doesn’t mean …” Scarlett’s words trailed off as she saw where they were. Panic gripped her in a vice. “This isn’t the way back to the apartment.”

It looked like …

But no.

It couldn’t be.

Could it …?

No.

Tate wouldn’t do that to her.

He wouldn’t.

But the conviction in his words rang through her mind.

Maybe …

“This looks like the way to Prey,” she said nervously. Tate wouldn’t take her back there when he knew exactly what would happen to her if he did. There was absolutely zero chance that the building wasn’t being watched by every law enforcement, and security agency in the country. As soon as she set foot out of the car, she’d be in handcuffs.

Tate wouldn’t do that to her.

He wouldn’t.

He couldn’t.

Betraying her like that would damage the fragile trust they were building possibly beyond repair.

“Whatever it takes to keep you safe, Scarlett,” he said, voice hard and uncompromising, reminding her more of the man from the Mexican jungle than the one she’d spent the last couple of days with.

“But they’ll arrest me as soon as we get there,” she whispered, already knowing she was fighting a losing battle.

“You said you understood that your safety was my top priority,” Tate said.

“That was before I knew you wanted to get me arrested.”

His jaw clenched together so tight she was surprised his teeth didn't crack. “I don’t want you arrested, but I do want you safe. Raul’s orders have changed, now he wants you dead, at least, this way you’ll be safe.”

“Until he uses a contact in prison to kill me while I'm alone and unprotected.” She wasn’t going to be any safer in prison than she was out of it. And in there she wouldn’t have anyone at her back. She’d be truly on her own.

Again.

Always alone.

“You’ll be kept in solitary away from the other prisoners.”

“Yippee.” Like that made it any better. If he thought she was going along with his plan then he was crazy. Totally crazy.

Yanking her hands free from his grip, she unsnapped her seatbelt at the same moment she lunged toward the door. She’d rather take her chances running on her own than be arrested and imprisoned.

But the door handle didn't move.

Apologetic blue eyes met hers in the rearview mirror as Tate’s arms curled around her, holding her tight against him.

“Sorry, Scarlett. I hope you know how much I hate having to do this. But I want you alive so I can have a future with you.”

“There is no future if you do this,” she said, meaning it with every ounce of her being.

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