Page 81 of Fighting for Scarlett

His smile was warm and reassuring. “You ready to get out of here?”

Relief literally stole her strength and she dropped to her knees as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I … I'm … free?” she asked through her tears.

When he knelt before her on the dirty linoleum floor, no concern for his expensive suit, Walter’s smile was so gentle that her weeping intensified. It had been so many hours that she had been without a soft smile, and the wounds of Tate’s betrayal were so raw that, without thinking she reached out, wrapped her arms around the lawyer’s neck, and held onto him as she sobbed.

Walter didn't stop her, he just held her until she cried herself out, then helped her stand and held out a bag to her. “Why don’t you change and I’ll take you home.”

Home.

Not to Prey.

She wasn’t sure what that meant.

This was a Prey lawyer, so it had to mean they’d been working this whole time to get her out. But why wasn’t he taking her straight there so she could find out what evidence they had that had proven her innocence?

Deciding she’d wait until she was dressed and they were out of there before she started peppering Walter with questions, she nodded and took the bag, opening it as he left the room to give her privacy. As badly as she wanted answers, she wanted out of there more. There was only so long she could take being trapped in a small cell, memories of being locked up in Raul’s dungeon mingling with the horrors that could be awaiting her in prison, and she had well and truly reached that limit.

It didn’t take her long to change into the jeans and sweater that someone must have packed for Walter to bring with him. The clothes were hers, as were the sneakers she shoved her feet into, and the coat she shrugged on.

It warmed her a little to know that her friends hadn't given up on her. They’d packed her clothes, and she bet anything that Lucy, Ella, and Cassie were waiting for her at her house.

Just because she might not ever wind up with a husband and kids of her own didn't mean she had no family. By the time she was dressed and opening the door, she was sorry she’d ever doubted her Prey family.

Of course, they wouldn’t give up on her.

“You ready to get out of here?” Walter asked.

“More than,” she replied.

Half worried this was all some dream or some sort of trick and expecting the worst, Scarlett was surprised when nobody stopped them as they walked through the precinct and out the back door into a quiet parking lot.

The fresh air felt so good against her cheeks, and she dragged in a huge breath.

Free.

She was free.

If she was out, that meant the real mole had been identified and she was in the clear. While she didn't have to worry about being arrested again, she did still have to worry about Raul Castillo. The man would remain a threat until he was apprehended.

Anxious to help in whatever ways she could to make sure that happened, Scarlett turned just as Walter jammed something into her neck.

Just like that, the terror beginning to ebb roared back to life.

“What did you …?” her question trailed off as the world began to spin around her and she lost control of her body, slumping forward into Walter’s arms.

“I'm sorry, Scarlett. I didn't want it to end like this, I truly didn't.”

The words were cold comfort as unconsciousness swirled around her, and she knew that the next time she opened her eyes she would once again be a prisoner. This time of Raul Castillo.

January 19th

10:37 A.M.

“Dean Webster got his brother out,” Gumby announced, looking up from his laptop.

“Got him out how?” Tate asked, rubbing at tired eyes. He hadn't gotten any sleep last night. The only time he’d tried to lie down and get a little rest, dreams of Scarlett weeping and asking him why he’d betrayed her had haunted him. He’d functioned on less sleep than this during an op, but he knew he wasn’t running at the top of his game.

That could get Scarlett killed.

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