Free The Torrent (The New Agenda Series Book 4) by Simone Pond

to use against her. The odds of ever seeing Christian again quickly evaporated.
    The women approached the lounger, Miss Parker keeping the infamous stun wand aimed at Grace’s neck. Miss Adams yanked her right hand and locked it back into the chair, making sure it was extra tight.
    “Enjoy your stay. It’s gonna be a long one.” She grinned with those horribly crooked teeth.
    *
    Morning came quick. Grace sat in the lounger, waiting for someone to enter and deliver more bad news. Her right hand throbbed from the tightness of the strap. It would take a miracle of miracles to rectify her situation. With this newest offense, she probably added years to her sentence. She might not ever see Christian again, and it’d be a long time before she’d see her father or Lucas. If her mother came out of the mainframe, Grace wouldn’t be around to welcome her home. She had reached her bad decision quota.
    The door opened. She took her time glancing up, expecting to see a gloating Miss Adams. Instead, her father and Lucas stood dressed in full military attire. Was this her last miracle? Despite the crappy circumstances, she beamed at them. Especially Lucas. He looked a little older and more chiseled. Time on the Outside had hardened up the Insider. But still, nothing could take away his inherent handsomeness. He was walking perfection. All she wanted was one kiss.
    Her father stood before the lounger, glaring. “Grace.”
    “General Strader.” She straightened up.
    “Looks like you really messed up this time,” he said.
    “But I still have a trial to present my case, don’t I? This is a democracy, regardless of whatever Faraday is up to.” Her gaze drifted to Lucas. “Hello, Officer West.” She wanted to appear professional, but couldn’t hold back her smile.
    Lucas stared straight ahead, his expression rock hard.
    Joseph frowned at his daughter. “Whatever minuscule case you had going for you is out the door now.”
    “But you’re here to help me, aren’t you?” she asked.
    “Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that,” Joseph said.
    She hoped he was joking. He had to help. After all, he was the General of the West Coast Region. His credibility held water.
    “Why are you here, then?”
    “Faraday subpoenaed us,” he said.
    “For what?”
    “Character witnesses,” Lucas chimed in.
    “So he’s going to turn my family and friends against me? He can’t do that. You guys wouldn’t turn on me, would you?”
    Joseph remained reserved and businesslike. “We can only report honest accounts of your past behavior. Faraday’s building a case that you’re a danger to society. He’s arguing that you make decisions based on emotional motives and that you’re incapable of following the rules.”
    “Or cooperating with others,” Lucas added.
    Why were they being so harsh? She needed them on her side, but they were tossing her to the wolves. Grace struggled with the wrist straps, wishing she could break free and run out of the room, leave the city center and go hide in Cari’s village. But she was trapped. She’d have to face her consequences like an adult—preferably a levelheaded one who could handle the situation with some grace.
    “He’s a clever bastard, using you all against me. I’ll never get Christian back. I’m not sure why Faraday wants him so badly, anyway. It’s not like he gave a rat’s piss for the other infants. Why my baby?”
    “Grace.” Lucas moved closer to the lounger and knelt down, touching her shoulder and sending shivers down her arm. “He’s not your baby.”
    She tried to move away, but the metal straps cut into her wrists. “Just go away, both of you. You don’t know anything!”
    Lucas stood up and adjusted his collar, trying to get some air into his uniform. “We are trying to help, Grace. We wanted to find someone to represent you, but your trial with the council doesn’t work that way. You have to represent yourself. It’s going to be up to you to convince them to