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“Nope, there’s only one man like Brooks. But he was a Marine. He may have some single friends. Who knows?”
“Don’t tease me, Savannah. Better yet, tell me when I can meet your mountain man and his Marine friends.”
“I don’t know where he is, to be honest. He took off while I was in the shower and didn’t leave a note.”
“He probably wants to surprise you with a wedding ring or something.”
Holy shit. Really? I mean, I have no doubt in my mind that Brooks is in this for the long haul, but marriage after only one weekend? That seems completely insane. Not only that, but Brooks’s entire life is here. He has a business and employees that are depending on him. If I’m not able to get my stepfather off my back, how the hell is this going to work? I won’t ever be able to leave this house. Will Brooks be able to live like that for someone he just met?
“I can practically hear the gears turning in your head. Whatever you’re thinking, ignore it. Everything is going to be okay. It might take some to figure it out, but it will be okay. Right now, stay put and enjoy your happily ever after. Not everyone gets one.”
“How do you always say the right things?”
“I’m your best friend. I know things, and I know you.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.” I sniffle, getting choked up knowing I may not see her again.
“You better not start crying, bitch. If you cry, then I’ll cry. Ain’t nobody got time for tears.” She sniffles. “Saying goodbye to you the first time was hard enough. I’m not doing that again. You’re stuck with me.”
“Like a fungus.” I giggle before taking a deep breath and getting my emotions under control. “You’re right. As long as Hunter doesn’t know where I am, everything is going to be okay. Besides, I have Brooks to protect me.”
“Don’t rub it in,” she mumbles, probably hoping I wouldn’t hear her. “Well, be safe and tell this Brooks to let you up for air sometimes so you can call you best friend. I won’t call you again after this just to be safe.”
“Maybe that’s a good idea. I love you, Lisa.”
“Love you too, Savannah,” Lisa responds without hesitating before ending the call.
I send up a silent prayer of thanks, thanking the powers the be for putting Lisa in my life before checking my missed calls and messages on my phone.
I freeze when I see the text messages from an unknown number. It must be Hunter. There isn’t another person on this planet that would send me a text message like that. The last thing I want is for him or his friends to find me.
I need to have that talk with Brooks. I push off the bed and head for the stairs.
Brooks and I have a lot of things to talk about before we can move forward with our relationship. Mainly the shit that’s going on with my stepfather. There has to be a solution that doesn’t involve me going to jail. If not, then so be it. I want to start my life with Brooks, and none of that can happen until Hunter is off my back.
Just as I reach the final stair, a new text message alert comes in from the same unknown number.
I always knew that pussy was going to be amazing. Now I get to be fifty grand richer and rid of you at the same time. Lucky me.
What the fuck? Fifty grand richer? What is he talking about?
I know the lawyer said Hunter won’t be given access to the money unless I was dead or signed it over, and neither of those things has happened. Where in the hell is he getting that kind of money from?
“Brooks,” I gasp as the realization hits me.
Brooks isn’t out buying me a ring. He’s going to pay off Hunter to ensure I’m safe. I don’t know whether I want to smack him or kiss him. But either way, I need to figure out a way to town before it’s too late. I can’t let Brooks turn over his hard-earned money to a scumbag like Hunter.
I shove my cellphone into my back pocket before running up the stairs, grabbing my shoes, and sliding them on. My only vehicle is broken down a few miles away, but here’s hoping I can hitchhike into town. I highly doubt I’ll be able to get an Uber all the way out here.
As soon as I fling the door open, I almost run smack into the deputy from this morning.
“The whole department has been looking for you, little girl,” she says with conviction before gripping my arm. “You’re under arrest. You have the right—”
“I get the basic gist of it, but I really need you to take me into town. Like now.”
I don’t have the patience to deal with this nonsense. Brooks could be lying in a ditch right now, for all I know. I need to get to him as soon as possible.
“Perfect for you. The station is right in the center of town,” she says with a forced smile as she leads me toward her cop car sitting at the top of the driveway.
