Page 62 of The Aries Alliance
Fire filled her eyes.
“How did it get this way then?”
I pumped my hands and rubbed my chin.
“Whoa. Slow down.”
She reached for my hands.
“You’re going to say something, right? Straighten everything out? Clear my name?”
My mind raced as I weighed the timing and the pros and cons of what Scarlett asked me to do. If I spoke up too soon, they’d have my tail out on the street. I was a staff member, so unlike Scarlett, I would be gone by the end of the day.
“I need more time to gather information and think about how to move forward.”
“More time for what? I don’t have time.” Scarlett’s eyes pierced mine as she beat her chest with her hand.
“To figure out what to do.”
“Protect me! Youknowme, War.” Scarlett screamed my name.
“I need time to sort through everything.”
“No, you don’t!” She punctuated every word.
Her breathing became labored.
“They’re going to slaughter me, my reputation, and everything I’ve worked for. Help me. Please.”
Scarlett’s voice descended into a whimper as I took several deep breaths.
“Rest and let me figure this out.”
Scarlett’s strong voice filled the room.
“If you don’t do right by me, I will tell everyone who you really are. I can’t go through this again.” Scarlett’s wild eyes frightened me as she jumped out of bed and reached for her clothes.
As she slipped on her red sleeveless midi dress, her eyes shot fire at me. I forced myself to remain calm, despite my desire to shout back in frustration.
“Let me call my sister to talk to you. I’ll call Val too. One or both of them can stay with you for the rest of the morning.”
Since Scarlett and I exchanged the number of key contacts with each other, I searched for Val’s number and called it.
“Is my girl okay?” Val’s shrill voice rang through my phone’s speaker.
Since Scarlett now stood before me still as a statue, I held the phone between us and spoke into the microphone.
“Val. Can you come to my house and take Scarlett home? Something has come up, and she doesn’t need to be alone right now.”
“Like what? What’s wrong? I want to hear Scarlett’s voice right now. Girl, if you’re safe, talk to me.”
I held the phone to Scarlett’s lips, which quivered.
“I’m here. I’m okay.”
“What’s going on then?”
Val asked several questions about Scarlett’s well-being. She answered each of them meekly and appropriately.
