Page 40 of Ferocity

“I guess not, considering we haven’t heard back from Marcus.” She knew he'd call when he had an answer, but the waiting game was killing her. Add in her sister's announcement and she fretted.

Hard.

“It's why I am here. We just got the call. Well, scratch that, Dave got the call. I'm just the messenger. We're a go. The warrant has been drawn up and signed by the judge and as soon as Marcus can, he'll be turning it over to the police department to have her picked up.”

It couldn't come soon enough. “She's leaving tomorrow.”

He nodded. “Heard. What if she's not leaving to find a lion but leaving to try to get away before the shit hits the fan? Remember she was supposed to get another loan.”

Scarlett waved him off. “Benji said they'd continue as if nothing had happened to keep the scent off Victory and Maisie. Only after my sister is arrested would the other come to light.”

“Never know with her though,” he replied.

“True. Again.” Scarlett deflated in her chair. “Maybe she is bluffing. Maybe this lion is an excuse so if something went down while she was gone, I'd be her alibi.”

“Or her scapegoat.”

“Well, we know what's coming. I guess one of us should call Dave and let him know the update.” She picked up her phone prepared to do it herself since Maisie had told her the plan, but Kenny stilled her.

“I'll do it. I'll call him. Why don't you go relax or something.” He winked at her. “We haven't been exactly easy with you over the last few days.”

He was right, they hadn't been. She hadn't received so much attention since her accident and even then, it'd been bad attention. Nonetheless, a nice soak in her tub and a nap would be amazing. The snowpack was sticking, and it caused a deep chill to settle in her bones. She couldn't get warm enough as it was unless she was snuggled deep within her blankets, between her men. “Sure. A bath sounds amazing right now.”

“I'll come get you after I talk to Dave and we figure everything out.” Kenny stepped away from her allowing, her to exit her office.

“You'll come get me.” She looked up at him.

“Of course.” He nodded. “Now get your sweet ass into your tub, missy. That's an order.”

Goosebumps spread across her skin at his tone. Of all four of them, he and Timothy had a startling command to their tones that demanded she follow everything they told her to do.

“Aye, aye captain.” She gave him a mock salute before hurrying to her apartment.

The minute she opened her door and saw the picture Samantha drew her the other day, the excitement of her lover's words, bled from her body. When Maisie was arrested, her niece would be left to pick up the pieces. The girl would be left parentless for an indeterminate amount of time and it broke something inside of Scarlett. She understood what it was like to be without parents and she never wanted Samantha to feel an ounce of shame or the inadequacies she did as a child then as a teen when her parents died. Of course, she had zero doubt, she wouldn't take Samantha in and protect her. Men or no men, Samantha deserved to grow up in a loving, caring home. Scarlett would do the best she could to provide it. Still, with Maisie out of the picture, Samantha would need all the support she could get.

Scarlett spent one more minute staring at the smiling faces leaping off the page of her niece’s artwork then continued down the hall to her bathroom. In a few hours, maybe a day all of their lives were going to change. The turmoil of the trial might bring to light others in their small community who commit heinous crimes, especially in the wildlife refuge community. It might also have ill effects on the bank she used, due to Victory's mishandling of funds. She could list more complications from the pending indictments she was sure of it, but it wasn't here nor there. She only needed to worry about Samantha andHearts and Paws.Nothing else.

When she stepped into her bathroom, she turned on the tub and began filling. She undressed and for the first, in a long time, stared at her body. Her face, she realized, later on, hadn't been the only place for scars. She had two on her side, full claw marks from Jager and one puncture wound near her heart. Later, she found out, after she woke in the hospital, the reason it'd been so hard for her to breathe had been due to her punctured lung, not the amount of blood filling her mouth. She spent several weeks in the hospital healing and relearning how to breathe and move again.

Now, they were pale, jagged lines contrasting her dark-brown skin though she still had a visceral reaction to them. When the tub was filled how she liked it, she slipped into it and moaned. Muscles she hadn't realized were tense and sore spasmed and released, relaxing her. She leaned her head back against the soft padded edge and closed her eyes. Kenny was right, she needed this.

“Scarlett! Wake up!”

She blinked several times. The water had gone cold and her fingertips were pale and pruned.How long have I been here? She glanced up at the form looming over her and frowned.Timothy? Why is he here?

“There you are.” He shook his head. “Only been trying to wake you for five minutes.”

“How long have I been asleep?” She ran her hand over her face and recoiled from the cold. “Can you give me a second to warm up?”

Timothy pointed to the shower. “One step ahead of you.”

“You're a Godsend.” She kissed him then and climbed out of the tub. “I guess I was more tired than I thought. What's going on?” She stepped under the heated spray and groaned. Slowly the numbness of the cold water washed away.

“They picked up your sister,” he said, handing her a towel when she stepped out. “She was on her way to the airport with her husband.”

“What?”

He nodded. “Yep, gets even better too.”

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