CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR – TRAPPED IN BETRAYAL

"Who are you?" Clara demanded, her voice trembling slightly but her chin held high. The first man chuckled, a harsh, grating sound. "The welcoming committee, ladies. Seems the vicar here has a nose for sniffing out trouble." Scarlett's mind raced. The vicar's strange demeanor, the prolonged wait – it was all a setup. But why? How did Randall know they were here? "Randall Crawford," she spat, her voice laced with venom. "This is his doing, isn't it?" The second man stepped forward, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Bingo. Seems Mr. Crawford wasn't too keen on you poking around his little operation here." Panic clawed at Scarlett's throat, but she forced it down. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her fear. "What operation?" Clara demanded, her voice a mixture of anger and confusion. The first man snorted. "Like you don't know. But that's beside the point. Now, what do you say we have a little chat?" He lunged forward, his hand outstretched to grab Clara. Scarlett