Page 34 of Savage

Savage's chest swelled with pride at her words, even as his anger towards Tim intensified.

"Savannah, listen to yourself," Tim said. "They're manipulating you."

"No, Tim, I did what you told me to do," Savannah cut him off firmly. "I got close to them; I’m in the inner circle now. I need you to trust me on this. I’m right where I need to be to get the intel you want. The good stuff. The information they only tell the people they trust."

“Fine. Whatever. But I’m expecting information, and I expect it tonight, Savannah. Do you understand what I’m saying to you? Tonight. Or the girls get hurt.”

The girls had to be Savannah’s sister and niece. She looked at Savage, and his heart about broke. Fuck him. Fuck Tim. Fuck Zeb. Fuck The Rejects. He’d destroy each one of them for causing his little girl to look at him like that.

“I got it. I promise. I’ll have something for you. Meet me at the park tomorrow morning? Savage said something about a meeting, I can sneak away. The same bench we met the morning of the playdate.”

“Yeah. I can do that. Don’t forget, Savannah. You owe us and we will collect on this debt.”

As the call ended, Savage pulled Savannah into his arms, his voice a low rumble. "You did good, little one. So good. Daddy is so damn proud of you."

Savannah melted against him. "Thank you, I couldn’t have done that if you weren’t sitting here with me."

Savage cupped her face gently, his eyes softening. "Today, you're going to let go of all that stress. Today, I'm your Daddy, and you're my little girl. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes... Daddy," she whispered, the word sending a shiver through both of them.

CHAPTER 13

SAVANNAH

She was sitting in Savage’s kitchen, watching him prepare breakfast like it was any old day. His large hands deftly cracked eggs into a sizzling pan, the kitchen filled with the aroma of bacon and coffee. She wanted a cup of coffee, badly, but Savage,no Daddy, she corrected, had said little girls don’t drink coffee. Their glazes met when he glanced over his shoulder at Savannah, who was perched on a high bar stool at the counter, swinging her legs back and forth.

"Almost ready, princess," he said, his gruff voice softened. "You hungry?"

Savannah nodded eagerly. "Yes, Daddy," she replied, really getting into little headspace. She was new to all of this, outside of the playdate at The Citadel, but she enjoyed it, and as she was finding out, really enjoyed it.

Savage plated the food, then sat down beside her. He speared a bite of fluffy scrambled eggs with a fork and held it to her lips. "Open up, baby girl."

Savannah hesitated for a moment, her cheeks turning hot. This was new territory for her. But as she met his steady gaze, she felt a wave of calm wash over her. She opened her mouth, accepting the bite.

"Good girl," Savage murmured, his praise sending a warm tingle through her.

As he continued to feed her, Savannah found herself relaxing into the role. Her worries about her debt, and her sister, and how the other girls were going to judge her – they all seemed to fade away.

"What shall we do after breakfast, baby?" Savage asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

Savannah's eyes lit up thinking about the fun she’d had playing with the girls at the playdate. "Can we color? And play with dolls?"

Savage chuckled, a rare sound that made Savannah's heart flip. "Of course we can. Whatever my princess wants."

Later, as they sprawled on the living room floor surrounded by crayons and coloring books, Savannah found herself humming contentedly. Savage watched her nearby with a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Stay in the lines, sweetheart," he reminded her gently when she got a bit too enthusiastic with her purple crayon.

Savannah pouted playfully. "But Daddy, it's more fun this way!"

“Okay then Princess, color however you want.”

A few minutes later, she realized she had to go to the bathroom. She jumped up off the floor and ran to the bathroom.

“Savannah!” Savage yelled after her. “Walk!” He caught up to her as she was settling on the toilet.

“I had to go potty!” She covered her mouth with her hand. Potty? Did she just say potty?

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