His forehead dropped to my shoulder again, breath shaking this time. He stayed there longer than he meant to. Longer than he would’ve if anyone else was watching.
“They kept the lights on,” he muttered. “All the time. Makes it harder to tell how long it’s been.”
My jaw tightened.
I shifted my stance, taking more of his weight without comment. He noticed anyway. He always did.
“Didn’t think you’d be the one carrying me out,” he added hoarsely.
“Yeah,” I said. “Well. Don’t get used to it.”
That got a real laugh out of him. Short. Painful. But real.
Scout swallowed hard. “You brought the whole fucking circus, huh?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I said.
His hands shook as the cuffs fell away. He sucked in a breath like it hurt just to exist.
“Easy,” I murmured. “We’ve got you.”
He leaned forward suddenly, forehead knocking into my shoulder, breath hitching hard. His fingers curled into my vest like he needed something solid to hold onto.
I wrapped an arm around him without thinking.
“You’re alive,” I said, voice rough. “You did good.”
He pulled back just enough to look at me, one eye swollen, the other blazing.
“They didn’t break me,” he said hoarsely. “Tried. Didn’t work.”
“I know,” I said.
Cap knelt on Scout’s other side. “Can you walk?”
Scout snorted. “I’m not dying here if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Good,” Cap said. “Because we’re leaving.”
Brutus helped Scout to his feet slowly. Scout swayed, then straightened, and slightly winced in pain.
“They moved people through here,” Scout said immediately. “Women. Kids. Not all at once. They keep them confused.”
I felt the familiar cold settle in my chest.
“We know,” Cap said. “We got Amanda back.”
Scout’s head snapped up. “She’s okay?”
“She fought,” I said. “She survived.”
Something like relief crossed his face, quickly buried under anger.
“They’re not done,” Scout said. “This place was a stop. They were prepping another move.”
Scout’s fingers tightened briefly in my vest, like something had just snapped into focus.
“They don’t keep people long,” he went on. “That’s the point. Different locations. Different handlers. Keeps everyone disoriented. No one stays long enough to know the pattern.”
