Page 23 of Savage

Savage obliged, the tool sailing through the air in a perfect arc. “Nice catch, man,” he grunted, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

As he worked, Savage felt a familiar sense of camaraderie wash over him. These men understood him in a way so few others could. They'd seen the horrors of war, felt the weight of loss, and now fought daily battles against visible and invisible wounds.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, Savage's heart rate quickened as he saw Jay's name on the screen.

“Gotta take this,” he muttered to Phantom, stepping away from the noise.

“Speak to me,” he answered, his voice gruff with anticipation.

Jay's voice crackled through the line. “Hey man, I've got that info you wanted. You're not gonna like it.”

Savage's grip tightened on the phone. “Just tell me.”

“That loan Savannah took out? It came from The Rejects. Savage... she's in deep with some really bad people.”

The world seemed to tilt on its axis as Savage processed this information. The Rejects were notorious for their brutality. IfSavannah owed them money… It explained everything. Why she was so jittery and looking over her shoulder. It wasn’t an ex she was running from; it was a rival motorcycle club.

“I’m looking into Tim as well. There are some major inconsistencies in his background that the new human resource manager should have caught. I’m calling her when I get off the phone with you. I’ll let you know what I find out. It could be a coincidence, or he could be one of them sent to spy. If that’s the case, they know where she is… and they could be coming after her at any moment.”

“Thanks, Jay,” he managed to say, his mind already racing with implications. “I owe you one.”

Savage's jaw clenched as he pocketed his phone, his mind a turbulent sea of conflicting emotions. The weight of his duty to the club pressed down on one shoulder, while his growing feelings for Savannah tugged insistently at the other. He ran a calloused hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.

“Everything alright, brother?” Phantom called out, concern etching his weathered features.

Savage forced a tight smile. “Yeah, just club business. Nothing I can't handle.”

But even as the words left his mouth, doubt gnawed at him. Could he handle this? The Rejects were no joke – they'd leave Savannah in pieces if she couldn't pay up. He took out his phone and texted her.

Savage: What are you up to, sweetheart?

Savannah: Changing sheets in a guestroom. These sheets cost more than a week’s pay. Did you need something?

Savage: No. Just thinking about you. Don’t forget to text me when you leave work and head this way.

Savannah: Okay.

Satisfied that she was currently safe, he tucked his phone back in his pocket. Damn. He couldn’t wait for the okay to turn into a yes, Daddy. He picked up a nearby sledgehammer, the familiar weight grounding him as he rejoined the work. With each swing, Savage's thoughts swung between loyalty and protection.

“You seem distracted,” Mad Dog observed, pausing to wipe sweat from his brow. “The little girl from the playdate giving you trouble?”

Savage grunted, throwing his weight into another swing. “She's not giving me trouble. She's in trouble.”

“Ah,” Mad Dog nodded knowingly. “And you're torn between helping her and protecting the club.”

The sledgehammer connected with the wall, sending a shower of plaster raining down. Savage turned to his friend. “What if they're one and the same?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “What if protecting her is protecting the club?”

Mad Dog clapped a hand on Savage's shoulder. “Then you do what you do best, brother. You fight like hell for both.”

Savage nodded. He’d fight like hell alright. He'd unravel Savannah's secrets and face down The Rejects in the process if he had to. The Watchmen, their partners, and now, Savannah was his entire life. He’d protect them or die trying.

CHAPTER 9

SAVANNAH

This morning was rough. It was getting harder and harder to avoid Savage's direct line of questions. When he’d knocked on her door, she’d been happy to see him. After getting dressed, she’d hurried downstairs for a cup of coffee before leaving for work. Surprised to see a spread of food on the side buffet table that early, Savage explained many of the guys got up early for work. After filling a mug with coffee and a plate with a bagel and a couple of pieces of bacon, she’d sat across the table and avoided, to the best of her abilities, the questions being shot at her.

He'd been concerned about her ex coming to track her down and possibly putting her or the others at risk. But there was no violent ex-boyfriend. No, the people after her were far, far worse. He definitely wouldn't let her hang out with them if he knew. Shaking off the thoughts of Savage and the littles she'd become friends with, she smoothed her hands over her new housekeeping uniform and took a deep breath. Anxiety swirled in her stomach as she approached the doors of the side entrance of Mountain View Ski Resort.

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