Page 25 of Voyage with the Reclusive Billionaire

“Why does it matter?”

I lean toward her, eyes narrowed. “I would like to know the name of the girl trying to ruin Corvan’s life.”

The blonde laughs then and shakes her head. She says, “Let’s get something straight here. I could give two shits about Corvan Thorn. Or about you, Eliza. But I care about J. She can be shitty sometimes, but I came here willingly. For her. His life—” she gestured to Corvan with a jerk of her head— “Means nothing to me. But I would do anything for Jade.”

“Including this.” I gesture to the open air around us. “Applying for a job on a cruise specifically so you can get close enough to one of her exes to try to get some dirt on him. And what does that get you, hm?”

She stares at me for a long moment before saying, “I get why you don’t understand. You’ve never met Jade. But ask your… boyfriend. She’s the kind of person that once you lose, you don’t get back. And you’ll try damn near anything trying to change that.”

My eyes flick to Corvan when he laughs. “When I lost Jade, I didn’t want her back. Even this, you, is a lot fucking closer to her than I’d rather be.”

“Watch it,” she snaps. “She’s my sister, you asshole.”

My jaw dropped.

A muscle in Corvan’s jaw feathered—the only sign of surprise he will show. He swallows thickly, then says, “You’re Savannah.”

She let out a shaky breath. “So she did talk about me back then. That’s nice to know.”

Corvan turned to me and explained under his breath, “Jade mentioned her a few times. Told me how they’d had a falling out because of something Savannah did back when they were in college. But that’s all she’d ever say.”

“So you’ve never seen her before?”

He shakes his head. “Not even a photo.”

“As nice as this is to hear, I’d really like it if you guys left. Or bought something.”

“And I’d really like it if you stayed the fuck away from us,” Corvan gritted out.

“Not happening,” Savannah snapped back. “You are my last chance at having a relationship with my sister. If I bring her evidence of you being… what you are, then she forgives me. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted. She’s my baby sister. I fucked up, I know that, but… I’ve missed her. I still love her. And I’m better now. Clean.”

Clean.

A reformed addict.

Drugs, alcohol, gambling, I don’t know, and I don’t particularly care, either. But I get her motive, at least. She’s not doing this for nothing. She’s doing it for love.

My gaze flickers to Corvan as the thought crosses my mind. I get that, at least. I get that, when you love something, you’d do anything to have them. To keep them.

“You can’t justify ruining Cor’s life just to get back into hers,” I say softly.

“You’re right,” Savannah says, nodding once. “I can’t justify it. But I’ll do it anyway.”

Corvan slid one hand over to mine. Brushed his fingers against my knuckles. “You’re not going to find anything,” he said, voice confident. “There’s nothing to find.”

“You don’t need to bother lying to me,” Savannah said. “Jade knows the truth, and I know the truth. But truth means nothing in this world if you can’t back it up.” Savannah leaned over the bar. “So keep your feathers locked up tight, Corvan Thorn, because my eyes are on you. Always.”

Chapter twelve

Eliza

We’ve only just walked out of the bar, feeling more hopeless now than we did before walking in, when a vaguely familiar face appears in front of me.

It takes a minute for me to place her, but when I do, I can’t stop my smile. I remember the energy she brought to the table that night when we’d all had dinner together. Fun, cheery, like we’d been friends forever.

Sylvie.

“Eliza! I’ve been hoping to catch you again.”

---