Page 28 of Savage

“What about Savannah?” Lucky asked.

“She’s mine.”

It wasn’t the first time that night she’d heard him say those words. If her panties got any wetter… she’d look like she peed herself. She immediately felt ridiculous. Who got turned on in the middle of a situation like this? What the fuck was wrong with her?

It’s because you feel safe.

The thought hit her like a ton of bricks. The situation was dire. Her sister and niece were on the line. Yet, being here, with Savage, she felt deep down that everything was going to be okay. It was all going to work out. It was peace she really needed. She shifted from foot to foot, wondering how much longer she had to stay in the corner. Suddenly, she wanted to go back to the couch and be lifted into his arms, cuddled into his chest… His words cut through those wishes and she turned completely around to face him.

“I need you to get the DEA involved,” Savage was saying to Dax.

“Who is that?” She asked. Savage ignored her question and made a turnaround motion with his hands. “We’ll set Zeb up at the location Savannah gives him. You’ll have your sting, and we’ll clean up the rest.”

The man on the other end agreed, sounding eager to put an end to The Rejects influence in the area. She stared at Savage, mouth wide open.

DEA? Who was he talking to? Panic swelled in her chest. Zeb would kill her if the cops got involved. Savage wouldn’t be able to keep her safe when they found out she’d betrayed them to the cops.

“He said no cops!” She squealed out.

“Savannah,” a voice came from the speaker. “I need you to listen to me. My name is Dax Allard. I’m a friend of Savage’s and a detective with the Grand Ridge Police Department. I also work on a special team as a consultant with the federal government. I promise you; we will get Zeb, and he will never threaten you again.”

Savage stood and stalked over to her. “I told you to turn back around.” He took her gently by the shoulders, turned her front towards the corner and swatted her behind once, causing her to jump.

Ouch! She rubbed at the lingering sting.

“Hands at your side,” he ordered.

Finally, Savage called Jay, she recognized his voice right away. He’d been incredibly kind to her at The Citadel. “Tim’s not alone,” Savage warned. “The Rejects have someone else in town. Keep him on the bartending rotation at The Citadel. If you fire or confront him, it could blow Savannah’s cover. We want them to think she is still playing ball and take the bait she gives him. We don’t want to tip him off.” Jay agreed and promised to inform Phantom and the rest of Valhalla of the situation with The Rejects without giving away too much information. A few extra eyes and ears on the town’s safety.

Still in the corner, Savannah listened to every word, amazed by how seamlessly Savage orchestrated the chaos. Unlike Zeb’s threats, his authority didn’t frighten her. It steadied her. But guilt gnawed at her. This was her fault. If she’d just found another way, the girls wouldn’t have to be locked down, men wouldn’t be having to come up with a battle plan.

When Savage finally called her back over, she turned and approached slowly. He reached for her hand, pulling her close.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked, his voice gentler now.

She hesitated, then confessed, “I feel so guilty. For everything. For putting you in this position. For the girls being locked down. For?—”

Savage cut her off with a finger under her chin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. “There’s a solution for that guilt,” he said softly.

Her breath caught, her heart pounding as she stared into his eyes. She knew, without him saying another word, what he meant.

CHAPTER 11

SAVANNAH

“There are a couple types of spankings, sweetheart. Spanking you because you need it, or because I want to be the same as disciplining you. I’m going to spank you now, not because I am disciplining you. Did you lie to me? Yes. But you lied to protect your sister and your niece. Starting right now, there will be no lies between us, Savannah. Only truth. I can’t protect you if I don’t know what is going on. Do you understand me?”

“Y-y-es,” she stuttered. “I understand.”

“This spanking is about release, sweetheart," Savage said. "A way to let go of the guilt and fear you've been carrying."

Savannah swallowed hard, her throat tight. Part of her wanted to run away, to escape the intensity of this moment. But another part, a part she barely recognized, needed to surrender to his care.

"I... I don't know if I can do this," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Savage leaned forward, his massive frame dwarfing her. She knew she wasn’t a small woman, and had known for years she needed a man big enough to go toe to toe with her. Well, she’d definitely found it with him. "You can do it, sweetheart. All youhave to do is surrender to me. I’ll take it slow. First, we need to establish a safeword."

"A safeword?" Savannah shouldn’t be confused. She’d read about them in her research. She just assumed Savage wouldn’t give her one. He seemed to want to be completely in control at all times.

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