Page 39 of Savage

Before Savage could answer, a faint crackle of static cut through the silence, followed by Tim’s voice. Savannah knew all the Watchmen nearby with an earpiece in could hear him. Jay had explained the technology earlier that morning.

"Zeb, listen up. The bitch came through. We've got intel on a secret ride. I want every available man ready to move. We'regonna hit 'em hard and fast. When this is done, we’ll make an example out of them. Everyone will know what happens when you mess with us."

Savage's jaw clenched, his eyes hardening as he listened. Savannah watched the change come over him, fascinated by the shift from Daddy to warrior. He looked scary as fuck.

"Well," she said, her heart racing. "Sounds like it worked?"

Savage nodded, a grim smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Hook, line, and sinker, sweetheart. Tim walked right into our trap."

"I can't believe it actually worked," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted around, half-expecting Tim to materialize and catch her in the act. She’d been looking over her shoulder for so long, it’d become a habit.

Savage's hand moved to her thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You did good, Savannah. Real good. I’m proud of you sweetheart."

She looked up at him, searching his face for any sign of deception. But all she saw was genuine approval, and it made her heart swell. "I... I trust you, Savage. And the club. I know I shouldn't, I haven’t known you very long, and I’m entrusting you with the people I love most in this world, but I do."

His blue eyes softened for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. "That means a lot, little girl. More than you know."

Savannah bit her lip, guilt gnawing at her insides. "But I still feel terrible. Lying, deceiving people... it's not who I am. It’s been impossible to do to you and the others here, but it was even hard to lie to Tim. After everything he’s done to me, it still didn’t feel right. Like, it kinda feels like sinking down to his level.”

Savage cupped her face in his large hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Sometimes, we gotta do things we don't like toprotect the ones we care about. You're doing this for your sister and niece, remember?"

She nodded, drawing strength from his words and touch. "You're right."

Savage smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “You ready to go?”

She nodded, and he started the car, pulling out of the lot and back toward the clubhouse.

CHAPTER 15

SAVANNAH

Savannah sat on the worn leather couch in the Spartan Watchmen clubhouse, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. Across from her, Trinity, Makenzie, and Emilee sat in a cluster, their expressions mirroring her own apprehension. The usual buzz of the clubhouse was gone, replaced by an eerie quiet that made every creak of the building seem louder.

“Do you think they’re okay?” Makenzie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“They’re fine,” Trinity said, though her tone wavered. “They’re The Watchmen. They’ve been through worse. Remember all of them are combat veterans. They’ve been to war and back, a few times. They know what they are doing.”

Savannah wished she could share Emilee’s confidence. Her stomach churned as the minutes dragged on, her mind cycling through worst-case scenarios. She knew they had a solid plan—Savage had gone over it with her a dozen times—but the idea of the men she’d come to care about walking into danger made her chest tighten. How in the hell did military spouses do this? Firefighter spouses? Knowing their partner was headed into danger all the time? It would give her an ulcer.

The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to echo through the room, each second stretching into an eternity as they waited for news of the ambush. Savannah's palms grew clammy, and she wiped them on her leggings.

"God, what's taking so long?" Emilee muttered, running a hand through her hair.

Trinity's eyes darted to Makenzie. "Relax. No news is good news, right?" Savannah noticed the leadership role Trinity took among the other girlfriends. She was quite a bit older than all of them, and the girlfriend to the club’s president, but it was more than that. She showed respect and care to everyone and in return, they gave her the same. Savannah could see her taking on an older sister role.

“So, Savannah, how’d you get mixed up in all of this?” Mackenzie asked suddenly.

The question hung in the air, heavier than Savannah had expected.

“Seriously, Kenz?” Emilee shot daggers at the other woman. “Didn’t our Daddies say not to push the issue? We weren’t supposed to know she was involved and wouldn’t have if you hadn’t been snooping.”

“Makenzie! I know for a fact you were told to leave Savannah alone and let her come to you when she was ready,” Tater scolded from across the room. For a minute, Savannah had forgotten he was even there. He wasn’t the only one, of course. The officers had gone on the ride, but many of the other members were on guard, just in case they decided to ambush not only the riders, but also the clubhouse itself. “What do you think your Daddy is going to say when I tell him?”

“Please, Uncle Tater!” Mackenzie said. “Don’t tell him.”

“It’s okay,” Savannah said, glancing down at her hands. “I was going to tell them all about it sooner than later anyway.” After she spoke, she felt the weight of their gazes, their curiosity.She couldn’t blame them—they deserved answers. She opened her mouth to tell them and then snapped it closed again. She could hear her heart beating in her ears, her mouth became dry as cotton. She swallowed hard, fighting the urge to flee.

“No pressure,” Trinity said, coming to sit down next to her. “Really. You can tell us when you are ready.”

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