Page 3 of Savage

"Not me," Lily said. "I'm going to go say hi to Tim and get another drink."

Lily knew Tim? Savannah didn't have time to think much about it before Emilee was saying her name again. "How about it, Savannah?"

"Sure! I'd like that."

They'd been kneeling together next to the huge dollhouse for a few minutes and Savannah almost forgot why she was here. It shouldn't have been that easy to slip into the role of a six-year-old girl, but it'd been oddly simple. What surprised her more was how much fun she was having.

Savannah's ears perked up as Makenzie squealed, "Oh! Em, did you hear about the club's charity ride and cook off next weekend?"

Emilee rolled her eyes, but there was a glimmer of excitement beneath her sarcasm. "How could I not? Arrow's been obsessing over the budget for weeks. Apparently, the clubhouse needs new smokers and grills, or at least, that's what the guys are saying. Arrow swears the ones they have are fine."

Savannah's heart raced. This could be the information she needed. "Arrow?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"My Daddy," Emilee explained, a hint of pride in her voice. "He's the club's treasurer. Takes his job way too seriously, if you ask me."

Makenzie giggled, "At least yours isn't constantly strategizing. Irish is always in 'VP mode'."

Savannah's mind whirred, connecting the dots. She'd hit the jackpot – the treasurer and vice president's littles, right here. She couldn’t have planned it better if she’d tried.

"That sounds... intense," Savannah ventured, her voice carefully neutral. "Do they bring work home often?"

As Emilee launched into a playful rant about Arrow's spreadsheet addiction, Savannah found herself genuinely laughing. The girls' energy was infectious, and for a moment, she almost forgot why she was there.

"What about you?" Makenzie asked, tilting her head. "You said you were looking for a new place? Do you think you'll find something soon?"

The question snapped Savannah back to reality. She swallowed hard, her fingers absently tracing the hem of her dress. "I'm... not sure," she admitted, the truth of her words weighing heavily. "My mom passed away recently – cancer. I'm staying at a long-term hotel while I figure things out."

The playful atmosphere shifted. Emilee's sharp eyes softened, while Makenzie's brow furrowed with concern.

"Oh, sweetie," Makenzie breathed, reaching out to squeeze Savannah's hand. "That must be so hard."

Emilee nodded; her usual sarcasm replaced by genuine worry. "And you're all alone at some sketchy hotel? That's not safe."

Savannah felt a lump forming in her throat, touched by their concern even as guilt gnawed at her insides. "I'll be okay," she managed, forcing a smile. "I'm tougher than I look."

But as she met their eyes – Makenzie's filled with compassion; Emilee's with a protective glint – Savannah realized she was treading dangerous waters. These girls weren't just potential sources of information anymore. They were becoming real, withrealfeelings andrealkindness.

An hour later and the colorful play area blurred into a kaleidoscope of pastels as Savannah lost herself in a game of Candy Land with Emilee and Makenzie. Her fingers trembled slightly as she moved her gingerbread man across the board, but her giggles were genuine.

"Your turn, Savvy," Emilee chirped, using the nickname they'd already given her.

Savannah's heart warmed at the easy camaraderie, even as her conscience pricked. She drew a card, her green eyes widening. "Ooh, double purple!"

Makenzie groaned playfully. "No fair! You're totally cheating."

"Am not!" Savannah protested, sticking out her tongue. The childish gesture felt both foreign and strangely liberating.

As they played, Savannah's gaze darted around the room, cataloging faces and snippets of conversation. Her mission never fully faded from her thoughts, a constant undercurrent of tension.

"I’m hungry! It’s snack time!" Makenzie announced suddenly, grabbing Savannah's hand. "C'mon, newbie. We'll show you where the good stuff is."

They wove through the crowd; Savannah's senses on high alert. The scent of leather mingled with sweet fragrances as they approached a table laden with treats. Savannah's mouth watered at the sight of brightly frosted cupcakes. Baked goods were definitely her kryptonite.

"Girls," a deep voice rumbled behind them. "Do your Daddies know you are raiding the snack table without them?"

Savannah whirled around, her breath catching as she found herself face-to-face with the most imposing man she'd ever seen. Broad-shouldered and tall, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through her.

"Don’t worry, that's just Uncle Savage," Emilee said, grinning. "He looks scary, but he's a big softie."

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