Page 74 of Saved By the Officers

“Is it a room with a two-way mirror?” I asked, hating how weak my voice sounded as we continued down a long hall.

“No, but there is a video camera. We’ll all watch from the feed in the next room. Since he’s not a violent criminal, we agreed to this concession from Mr. Graves.”

“I don’t like it,” Shade grumbled, his deep voice seeming to bounce off the plain white walls.

“Me neither.” Trap hooked a finger into the waistband of my pants and pulled me to a stop. Turning me to face him, he lowered until we were eye level. “Sweetheart, we can turn around and walk away. You don’t have to do this. He’s responsible for his own actions, and if the agency kicks you out for not cooperating, you’ll still be fine. You have us.”

My heart swelled with love for these two men.

“But we know you can do this,” he continued. “You’re so fucking strong to even be here. If you want to meet with that piece of shit, then we keep walking. If you don’t, then we turn around. It’s your choice, sweetheart. And we both support you one hundred percent no matter your decision.”

Leaning forward, I wrapped my arms around Trap’s shoulders and nuzzled my face against his neck. It wasn’t very professional considering we were in the heart of the Houston FBI office, but I didn’t give two fucks.

“I can do this,” I whispered.

“We know you can,” Shade said, fingers skimming up and down my spine. “But that doesn’t mean you have to.”

Stepping back, I released a slow breath. “Yeah, I do. I won’t be able to move on if I don’t do everything I can to help those girls. I won’t let him manipulate me into taking any of the blame for what he did, but I can hear him out. Maybe if he hears it from me, that I won’t take the responsibility for his actions regarding the downfall of the company, then he’ll be more amiable to hand over the information the FBI needs. Maybe, maybe not, but I at least have to try.”

“Such a brave, good girl,” Shade said against my ear, making me shiver. Memories of him saying those words last night while he fucked me senseless against the hotel bed after Trap removed the plug he made me wear the whole trip to Houston shot a wave of desire through my veins, my stomach fluttering at the idea of repeating it all again tonight.

A throat cleared, dousing ice water over my rising desire.

Turning back to a now-blushing Agent Carleigh, I nodded. “Let’s do this.”

Each step, every turn down a different hall, had the ball of dread growing in my chest. I could face Barrett, but it didn’t mean I was looking forward to it. There was nothing left to say between us. I needed him to sign the divorce papers and realize we were done, had been for a long time.

When Agent Carleigh stopped in front of a nondescript wooden door, he waved a key card in front of the scanner, and a buzzer sounded. The clank of a metal lock disengaging followed.

“If you want out, just say the word, and we’ll break the fucking door down to get you,” Trap said.

Shade pulled me in for a tight, lung-crushing hug before kissing my forehead.

Shaking out the tremble in my fingers, I faced the door and nodded to Agent Carleigh. He shot me a wary look before turning the knob and pushing the door open. I swallowed hard and stepped over the threshold, my eyes immediately locking with Barrett’s.

I barely registered the door closing behind me, the lock engaging once again. Willing my heart to slow, I inhaled deep through my nose.

“Barrett,” I said, proud of how my voice didn’t shake.

“Georgia,” he said, voice as smooth and confident as ever. “You look fantastic.” His light green eyes slowly traced along my body, making me shiver in disgust. He smirked like he assumed he still had an effect on me. “Come, have a seat.”

I flicked my gaze up to the video camera in the far corner where the wall and ceiling met. Seeing it settled some of my rising panic. Grabbing the back of the metal chair, I pulled it out from beneath the basic table, the sound of the legs scraping over the floor bouncing around the small square space.

Perched on the edge of the chair, I folded both hands on top of the table and forced myself to meet Barrett’s eyes once again.

“You wanted to meet with me. I’m here.” Fingers spread, I fanned out my hands in a gesture that he needed to get to it before I changed my mind. “What do you want?”

His head tilted, and a fake-as-shit confused look pinched his features. The urge to punch him in the face was so strong I pulled my hands beneath the table and sat on them to keep from doing just that.How the hell did I live with him as long as I did?

“What do I want? I want you to tell the FBI that you knew what was going on.” I blinked, the anger coursing through my veins making sweat build along the back of my neck. “If you admit to some fault and they lessen the charges against me, then I’ll tell them everything I know.”

“No.” The single word was clipped and forceful. “You know I wasn’t aware of what you were doing, that I had no part in your embezzlement of company funds.” I raised a hand to tick off the charges against him. “Of selling upcoming project knowledge and company intellectual property to competitors.” That one made me madder than the embezzlement. “And—”

“You got something out of that, though,” Barrett said with a snakelike grin.Fuck, how did I ever marry this asshole?“I got information, and you got me. A win-win.”

“I think it’s hilarious that you consider yourself a prize,” I said coolly. His brows dipped, a flash of anger flaring behind his eyes. “That you’re admitting to taking advantage of my desperation for a connection with my husband shows just how fucked-up you are. Not that I didn’t know that already based on the pictures I found on your computer of you screwing underage girls.”

Barrett’s face flushed red. I smirked, crossing my arms and leaning back in the chair, feeling confident for the first time since I entered the room. Apparently, he didn’t realize my time away from him helped me grow a backbone. I wasn’t the quiet introvert programmer anymore. I was strong, I was brave, and I had people who loved me in my corner.

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