Page 41 of Savage

“Tank! Where did you come from? I thought you were on a mission with Elite!” Trinity jumped up and rushed to give the biggest man she’d ever seen a hug.

“That’s Delilah’s fiancé,” Emilee explained. “He’s not in the club but he’s best friends with a lot of the club members and super close to Lucky.”

“Your Daddy asked me to stop by and keep an eye on things,” Tank told Trinity. “Got here at the right time. Do not get involved in any of this, any of you. No one is going to text Lily anything you wouldn’t normally. Do you understand me?”

A chorus of yeses rang out, including Savannah. She didn’t have Lily’s number, but she definitely wasn’t about to argue with the giant standing before her. Before anyone could say anything else, the doors to the clubhouse burst open. Savage strode in, flanked by Lucky, Irish, and Arrow. Their faces were grim but triumphant.

Savage’s eyes locked onto Savannah’s, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “It’s done.”

Lucky stepped forward, his deep voice filling the room. “The Rejects fell for it. Just like we planned, they tried to ambush us during the ride.”

Arrow chuckled, shaking his head. “Idiots thought they had us.”

Savage took over, his tone serious but proud. “Dax and the DEA were ready. They hit them hard. Zeb and his crew walked right into the trap.”

“What happened?” Trinity asked, her eyes wide.

Lucky leaned against the table, arms crossed. “They came in guns blazing, thinking they’d take out the officers and leave the club vulnerable. What they didn’t know was that half the DEA and Dax’s team were waiting, armed to the teeth.”

“They got every single one of them,” Irish added. “Zeb, Tim, and the rest of the Rejects are in cuffs now. No one got away.”

“Was anyone hurt?” Savannah asked.

“None of ours, no.” Savage replied.

Savannah felt a rush of relief, her breath coming in short, shaky gasps. “It’s over?” she whispered. “Is it really over?”

“Almost,” Savage said, his voice gentle. “Dax recommended you call your sister and niece. He wants them here in Grand Ridge, at least until Zeb is locked away for good. He still has contacts, he might act out of pure rage.”

Savannah nodded, already pulling her phone from her pocket. “I’ll call them right away.”

“Let them know a couple of men in full motorcycle club gear are on their way. Slash and Blade are both en route to pack them up.” She nodded and made the call.

“Sis, I can’t explain everything right now, but two men are on their way to your house. Their names are Slash and Blade. I need you to pack some stuff and go with them. They are going to bring you here to me. I’ll explain once you are safe. I took out a loan to pay for mom’s medical bills and funeral and ended up owing some dangerous men money. I know you have a job and everything but it's life or death.” She expected her to argue and fight, but surprisingly she didn’t.

“I’ve felt like we were being followed recently. I was afraid it was Kayleigh’s dad or their family. I saw some men…” Nicole paused for a beat. “How much should I pack? How long will I be gone?”

“I don’t know. We will figure it all out once you get here,” Savannah said. She paused and looked at Savage. “Did they take one of the vans?” He nodded. “You can pack quite a bit if you want. They are picking you up in a SUV.”

After ending the call with her sister, she stood up and rushed over to Savage. He picked her up in a huge bear hug. It was okay. Everything was going to be okay. Her sister would be here soon, and Zeb was in custody.

“It’s over,” he murmured into her hair. “You’re safe now.”

For the first time in months, Savannah felt all the tension leave her body. She melted into his embrace.

CHAPTER 16

SAVANNAH

The sun coming through the windows woke Savannah. She really needed to encourage Savage to get some darker curtains to hang up in his room. Although, in the last month, she’d come to realize he woke at dawn no matter how dark the room was. His room at The Clubhouse was pitch black and he still woke right before sunrise. His biological clock was set to military time, he’d told her. Didn’t mean she wanted to wake up that early. Unlike Savage, she preferred to sleep in. She nestled deeper into the warmth of Savage's embrace, his strong arms wrapped protectively around her. For a moment, she lay still, savoring the feeling of safety that enveloped her. Her new normal was feeling safe and cherished instead of fearful and anxious. She’d really gotten used to it, although sometimes she was afraid it was a dream and she’d be woken abruptly at any moment.

Savannah's mind drifted to the whirlwind of events that had brought her here. The fear and uncertainty that had plagued her just last month seemed distant now, replaced by a tentative peace. She absently twirled a lock of her hair, a habit that surfaced when her thoughts raced. It was a welcome change from biting her nails. Savage constantly grabbed her hand andheld it tightly whenever she’d start chewing on them. Twirling her hair seemed to be more acceptable to him.

“What are you thinking about, sweetheart?” Savage asked.

"I never thought I'd feel this... secure," she replied. As she took in Savage’s rugged features, she realized again how lucky she was. She traced the faint scar on his jawline with her finger.

"Secure is an interesting word for it. I have another word," he said huskily.

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