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“Oh, I like that much better.” She yawns, her eyes drooping shut slightly. “Thanks for not killing me.”
“I could never do anything to hurt you, sweetheart. You’re mine.” I chuckle softly as I watch her fall right to sleep.
I don’t know what it is about this girl, but I feel in my heart that she is the other half of my soul. I know it makes not one lick of sense. I’ve spent maybe a half an hour with her and know absolutely nothing about her, but Savannah is mine. Now I need to figure out how to tie her to me in every way possible before whatever problems she has come knocking at my door.
CHAPTERFOUR
SAVANNAH
“Icalled you for help.” Tears stream down my cheeks as my last hope of returning to my normal life disappears.
When I woke up before the sun this morning with Brooks’s large body curled around me, his arm was wrapped tightly around my waist. Every time I moved, he’d pull me tighter into his chest. It was like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let me go. It took me almost an hour, but I wriggled my way from underneath his arm.
I had plans to make him breakfast as a thank you for not killing me, but then I remembered the date. Today is my eighteenth birthday. Instead of being out celebrating with my friends, I’m running from my stepfather, who wants to sell me to the mob to pay off his debts. Happy birthday to me, right?
Instead of getting started on breakfast, I called my lawyer’s office, hoping to find a solution to my problem with Hunter, but it seems Hunter had other ideas.
At some point, he noticed I was missing and called the lawyer overseeing my mother’s will and told them I had lost it. He claimed I attacked him and trashed the house after stealing a handful of valuables, along with Lisa’s brother’s car. So not only is Hunter looking for me, but so are the police. I’m never going to make it to college or any of the things I planned for my future.
“Your stepfather said he’ll drop the charges if you returned home,” the lady says in a syrupy-sweet voice. “You need help, Savannah. Please come home and let Hunter help you.”
“The only Hunter wants to help me with is taking my inheritance!” I screech as I try to catch my breath.
I don’t have anything. Money, my childhood home, my future…all of it has gone down the drain because my stepfather doesn’t know how to make better decisions. I’ll never be able to apply for a job or get an apartment because as soon as they run my name, right back to Hunter, I’ll go.
“Hunter can’t touch your money,” she responds. “It was a stipulation in your mother’s will. He can never have access to your money unless you are dead or sign it over to him.”
Thank goodness for small favors, I guess. Although I don’t have to worry about him getting control of my inheritance, I have to worry about him killing me instead. If you’d asked me a year ago if I thought Hunter could do something like that, I’d have said you were crazy. Everyone tried to warn me with their horror stories about stepparents, and I didn’t want to believe them, but it seems my mom must have known something was up or there wouldn’t be all these stipulations to ensure he doesn’t get a penny of that money.
“Can you tell me where you are, Savannah? Are you hurt?”
“No. Goodbye,” I bite out before slamming the phone down on the receiver.
I need to figure something out, because I can’t stay here with Brooks. I refuse to put him in danger when someone comes looking for me. Not to mention that I entered this place without permission. If Brooks wanted, he could call the cops, and I’d be right on my way back to Hunter. I can’t let that happen.
I should’ve run right out the front door the moment Brooks found me sleeping in his bed, but there was something about him that called to me, making me feel safe for the first time since before my mother died. I don’t know what I was thinking when I flirted with him. I don’t know a damn thing about men other than what I’ve read in books or seen on television. I’ve never had much interest in boys my age and found myself gravitating toward older men. I have a feeling it’s the sprinkles of gray hair around their temples that get me. A sign of sophistication that boys my age don’t have, something that only comes with age.
Pain radiates through my chest as I quickly head up the stairs and hear the shower running. Thankfully, Brooks is in the shower, so I don’t need to explain why I need to leave. If things were different, I could see myself staying here with Brooks, spending my days lazing around on the large porch waiting for him to come home, cooking dinner and snuggling up with each other in front of the fireplace I noticed in the living room this morning.
I scurry into the room and search my bag for a clean pair of pants. I don’t need to waste any time. I need to get out of here before Hunter or his friends come looking for me. Just as I’m pulling my pants up, Brooks steps into the room.
His bright smile falls as soon as he notices what I’m doing. “Where are you going?”
I freeze as all the blood rushes to my ears. I could tell him everything right now, but my mind goes blank as my eyes rake down his body. He has tanned skin with intricate tribal-looking tattoos covering his left shoulder and running down his arm and the side of his neck. I lick my lips before pulling the bottom one between my teeth as I take in his lickable abs, wanting to lean over and lick the droplets of water off his skin. My skin itches as I remember his beard scratching against my skin as he gave me my first kiss last night.
“I…I…” I stammer as my chest rises and falls quickly while I search for the right thing to say to him that will get him to let me leave.
He continues to stand there, staring at me and saying nothing. For the first time in my life, I want to know what a man is thinking.
Is he going to stop me from leaving? Call the cops?
No matter what he’s thinking, I need to get out of here before someone finds me. I’d never be able to live with myself if something happens to him.
“I need to get out of here.” I reach down, grab my bag, and try to skirt around him, but he grips my arm tightly. “Please, just let me leave.”
“No,” he says with conviction before shutting the door behind me and leading me back toward the bed. “Have a seat, Savannah.”
“I really need to go.” I push up off the bed and try to bolt a second time, but he steps in front of me, blocking my exit.
