I froze when I heard it.
"You're free to go."
Just like that.
Free?
The word didn't feel real. It didn't even feel like it belonged to me. My pulse pounded in my ears, and for a moment I couldn't even breathe. My eyes moved slowly to Victor. He stood beside the officer, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable. Calm. Controlled. Like he hadn't just walked in and rearranged my entire fate.
"How?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
No one answered.
Aaron moved first. He stepped toward the officer, asking questions, confirming details. I couldn't hear what they were saying; the sounds of his words felt muffled, swallowed by the rush of adrenaline pounding through me. My pulse was deafening in my ears.
Victor didn't look at the officer.
He looked at me.
And I couldn't read him.
