Page 35 of Out to Find Freedom

I shook my head, not having a goddamn answer.

“She’s protecting you from them,” Travis said.

“She is,” I said, my tone rough. She didn’t know me, know what I was capable of, and yet she wanted to protect me because she feared I’d be hurt by those fuckers. I could get her out. Ihadto get her out.

“Are you going to reply?” Violet asked.

I wanted to. Wanted to tell her she was crazy if she thought I’d listen and wouldn’t do anything, but that’d just make her worry. I didn’t want that.

“I’ll leave it,” I told them.

“For now,” Travis added.

“Yeah, for fuckin’ now.”

“What do you think she meant by being free one day and in one way or another?”

That part I didn’t like. It left my gut coiled in worry.

No one said anything for a moment.

Until Travis did. “We’re all thinking the same thing. She’s either going to run somehow or die trying to get free.”

“It won’t happen,” I snarled.

Violet stood and came to my side, placing her hand on my arm. “No, it won’t. I’ll go get the things you need.”

“Sweetheart,” Travis called. “If you leave now, it’ll look suspicious. As far as they know, you two have”—his upper lip rose—“fucked. I’ll go out and get the items. I’ll catch a cab when I’m far enough away. I’ll just need the keys.”

“Shit, you’re right.” Violet nodded, handing her keys over. Travis gave her a quick kiss to the temple and left. I knew he’d get out and away without being seen. He had skills.

“I hate waiting,” Violet said, heading back to the chair.

She wasn’t the only one. If I didn’t get some type of answer to any of my questions soon, I’d fucking lose it.

Chapter Twelve

Warden

It’d been about an hour, and I was back to pacing the damn floor in the tiny fucking room. Travis should be back soon and then at least I’d have something to do while setting up the system. I rocked my head side to side to try and lessen the tension in my neck, but it wouldn’t let up. I’d been up and down the stairs a million times to see if I could see or hear anything from next door, but it was quiet.

When there was a knock on my front door, Violet looked up from the computer and met my gaze. “I don’t know,” I told her curious eyes. We both made our way out of the room, down the stairs, and to the front door.

“Wait,” Violet whispered before I could open it. She undid a couple of buttons on her shirt, ruffled her hair. “In case it’s them, we need to look like we did it.”

Christ, she was right. I quickly pulled off my tee and threw it towards the couch. She nodded. I grabbed the handle, thinking I had to fucking invest in a peephole, and opened the door.

Butch’s eyes came to me from the open doorway when I swung the door open. He opened his mouth to talk but snapped it closed. He looked at me, over my shoulder, to me, then back over my shoulder. When his eyes shot back to me, he asked, “You got a death wish? Does Travis know about this?”

Rolling my eyes, I ordered, “Just get the fuck in here.”

Shaking his head, he stepped in. When he was clear of the front door, I closed it.

“What is this?” Butch asked, gesturing with his hand to Violet and then me.

“You seriously think I would go there?” I demanded.

“Hey.” Violet glared.

---