Page 112 of Savage

Once we’re both inside and the door closed, I sigh in relief.

Stef burrows against me like she’s afraid that if she lets go for even a second, I’ll disappear. She’s still mumbling apologies that sound drunken, and she feels even more fragile than she had when I’d first… acquired her.

Chase gets into the driver’s seat, Drake into the passenger seat. They’re both silent as Chase starts the car and begins driving us out of the neighborhood.

“We probably should’ve just finished him off—” Drake begins.

“Shut up,” Chase interrupts. “I don’t want to know anything about it. We were helping Hunter find his wayward girlfriend. Whatever happened was self-defense. If you think you need a lawyer, I’ll put you in touch with one.”

Maybe once I’ve ensured that Stef is safe and healthy, I’ll call somebody. Not a lawyer, though. No, I doubt Dylan is stupid enough to try to report me. I’m Senator Savage’s son, and no cop would dare touch me anyway.

But part of me isn’t satisfied. Dylan needs to suffer more.

I’ll call Giulio Pavone instead and let him deal with it.

Stef whimpers in my arms, and I press another kiss to her head. “Shh. I’ve got you,” I whisper.

She blinks her eyes open, looking at me. Her eyes are still glazed, out of focus, but her fingers curl around my shirt. “You came,” she whispers back, her voice trembling.

“Of course I came,” I answer. “You’re mine, aren’t you? I’m not sharing you with anyone, let alone some filthy, disgusting piece of trash like him.”

She shudders. “I’m…” She swallows thickly. “I’m trash too.”

My breath hitches. I’d called her that, hadn’t I. I’d told her she was trash, worthless, a drain on society.

“No,” I say quickly, pressing more kisses to her head. “You aren’t. I wouldn’t want you if you were.”

I want to say more, but I’m very conscious of Drake and Chase sitting in the front of the car, both being extremely quiet. Anything I want to say should be said in private, without them listening in.

Stef sighs, finally seeming to calm. She’s still trembling, but she isn’t babbling any longer. It doesn’t take long for me to realize she’s fallen asleep, safe in my arms.

I close my eyes. I almost lost her.

I can’t lose her.

I refuse to lose her.

CHAPTER 28

Stef

I don’t want to wake up.

I don’t want to open my eyes.

I don’t want to move at all, not when Hunter’s arms are wrapped around me. I know I need to, but I feel safe in his arms—safe, though at the same time, I’m worried that when I fully come to my senses, he’ll have come to his and he won’t want me anymore.

But I have to face reality, so I slowly open my eyes and look at him, terror seizing me and making it impossible to speak.

Hunter is asleep.

I didn’t expect that, and some of my tension deflates as I stare at his sleeping expression. He looks so… kind.

I know he isn’t kind. I know he’s cold and cruel, but when I look at his handsome face, right now all I can think about is how he came for me. He saved me from Dylan.

I glance down at my wrists.

He saved me from myself, too.

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