Page 49 of Torment

Scarlet, Hunter, and Riggs got into the first vehicle. According to James, people were always more likely to choose the second or third vehicle. He compared it to when you used public bathrooms at the mall or wherever. Most people never used the first toilet cubicle, or the last, and just skipped right to the middle cubicles. Why? Who the fuck knew. The human mind was a strange and wonderful place.

Hunter got in right behind Scarlet, and Colton slammed the door shut.

Scarlet was starting to get real nervous. Panic was already starting to fill her lungs instead of oxygen.

“So just for the sake of clarity,” Colton started. “We’ll be doing another switch two blocks from the attorney’s office. Once we do the switch, I’ll phone the attorneys and tell them due to the sensitivity of it all, there’s a last-minute change in location to a restaurant around the corner from them. Brent probably has all the entrances to that building covered by now.”

Scarlet just nodded. Hunter didn’t say a word.

“Our security team is already set up at the new location. We’ve had people scout the building since yesterday, checking everyone who enters and exits. If we follow the plan, this should go down smoothly.”

And then Hunter snorted.

Colton glared at him. “Got something to say?”

“I still think your plan sucks.”

Colton leaned back in the seat and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Do you?”

“Yeah, I do. You’re underestimating the fucker. I don’t think you get how resourceful this son of a bitch really is. In seven years he has always managed to find her, even with you lotwatchingoverher. And he also tracked us to my apartment, and to my friend’s house in Winnetka. Again, you’re underestimating him.”

“I assure you, we’re not. Like I said, every security measure is in place. We just need to stick to the plan.”

Hunter also sat back in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck. He was nervous…or annoyed…or both.

Colton reached for his earpiece. “We’re entering the underground parking to do the switch now.”

Scarlet’s stomach started to churn, and her palms were sweating. Her knee also started to go apeshit, moving up and down like crazy.

Hunter placed his hand on her knee, stilling it. She looked up and into his eyes.

“It’s okay. I got you, Scar.”

His words were meant to reassure her, to make her feel safe. And they probably would have if it wasn’t for the concern she saw in his eyes. There was no doubt about it—Hunter Keaton was nervous as fuck.

The van came to a stop and Colton reached for the door. “Let’s make this quick.”

Hunter grabbed Scarlet’s arm and basically pulled her out of the van, dragging her toward the four-door black Mercedes. There was already a man holding the back door open for them, and Hunter all but shoved her inside the car, jumping in behind her.

God, the adrenaline was pumping through her veins and she could hardly take a breath in a bid to settle her vigorously beating heart.

Colton got in on the other side of her, his hand clutching the weapon at his side. The minute his door shut, the car started moving.

Fuck. Scarlet felt like she was about to throw up. “You guys are aware that I’m claustrophobic?”

Hunter placed his hand on her knee. “Just breathe, kitten.”

“I’m making the call.” Colton pulled out his phone and dialed the number to the attorney’s office.

Scarlet’s mind went completely blank after that. She could see Colton’s lips move but she couldn’t hear a damn thing. All she heard was the thrumming of her heart echoing inside her head. Like she could hear every pulse, every swoosh her blood made through her veins.

There she was, sardined between two men in the back of a car…on her way to meet the one man she had spent years running from.

Just another day in the life of Scarlet Woods.Or Blanchette Wolfe.

“You okay?” Colton asked softly.

Scarlet stared at her fidgeting hands. “Yeah.”

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