Page 36 of Freeing Savannah

CHAPTER 12

In a breathtaking galaxy of gold,the ornate chandeliers glittered overhead, their light reflecting off the polished floor and creating a glamorous atmosphere. The reception hall of the U.S. Embassy in Prague buzzed with polite laughter, clinking glasses, and murmured diplomacy. Savannah stood near the curved arch of the tall windows, her dress still heavy with the heat of the stage lights from the Rudolfinum, where she and the others had just finished another performance.

After the sickness that had hit her like a speeding truck, she was mostly back to normal. The doctor had given her anti-nausea medication that had helped tremendously. A persistent fatigue and weakness, the unwelcome souvenir of her illness, weighed heavily upon her.

Sawyer hadn’t left her side, which she found both sweet and embarrassing. Losing your lunch in front of the man you were attracted to wasn’t her idea of a good time. He’d taken care of her, making sure she had plenty of Vienna’s version of Pedialyte to drink and rehydrate her. But she could see something in his eyes that worried her and made her think this hadn’t been just a random stomach bug.

Maybe she was just paranoid, but she wasn’t taking any chances. If she had a water bottle or drink, she wasn’t leaving it unattended.

Despite the illness, she had to keep going. The show must go on, as they say. People were counting on her and she’d hear it from the Senator if she had to cancel.

The performance at the Rudolfinum had gone well. No mistakes, despite the tremble in her hands and the lingering weakness. But the moment she’d stepped through the embassy’s polished doors, a different type of weight settled on her chest.

She hadn’t been back since the incident.

She swallowed, glancing toward the hallway where, two years ago, a man had waited for her after a chamber recital. Just a fan, they’d said. Obsessed but harmless. He’d grabbed her wrist and whispered that she belonged to him before security dragged him away. Nothing had happened, not really. But it had taken months to shake the invisible imprint of his fingers off her skin.

Tonight, though, she wasn’t alone.

Sawyer stood not far behind her, eyes sweeping the room with the quiet intensity that made her feel safer than she cared to admit. He looked sharp in his suit, the same steady presence he’d always been. Her anchor in high tide.

But her stomach turned cold when she spotted the tall, silver-haired man standing across the room.

The Senator.

Her pulse stuttered. He wasn’t supposed to be here. He’d been there the last time, too. And never once had he shown her any sympathy after the incident. She been left trembling and scared, a state that had only worsened when he chose to berate her instead of offering the comfort she’d so desperately needed. Even from him, despite the considerable bitterness she harbored toward him. She should have known not to expect any kindness from him unless it was in front of the cameras. Her mother hadbeen married to him for nearly two decades, and he’d never once shown her any care or compassion.

Realizing she was frowning, she shook off her bitter memories, pasted on a smile, and moved through the crowd, accepting a congratulatory nod from a diplomat and a compliment from a cellist before the Senator intercepted her with surgical precision.

“You look tired,” he said flatly, not bothering with pleasantries.

“Good evening to you too,” she murmured, forcing levity into her voice.

He didn’t smile.

“Your engagement with the Italian delegation was weak,” he said under his breath, herding her toward the edge of the room where the music faded and no one could overhear. “The ambassador’s aide told me you seemed distracted. You’ve had how many concerts now? And I’m still waiting for you to speak like someone who understands the value of this tour.”

She stiffened. “I’ve been doing my best. The schedule’s been intense, and?—”

“You always make excuses, Savannah.” She pressed her lips together in a thin, tight line. It figured he’d cut her off before she could tell him she’d been sick. “You’ve always hidden behind that fragile introversion of yours. Do you want the world to think you’re nothing more than a girl with some talent but no substance?”

Her throat closed. The air felt tighter, the walls closing in just like they had that night. She opened her mouth, but the words caught.Some talent? She had more than just some talent. People had called her a savant. The most accomplished musician of the age. It wasn’t just “some talent.”

She was so angry she could scream. But then, Sawyer appeared at her side, calm but with steel beneath the composure. “Senator, I think that’s enough.”

The Senator barely turned his head. “I don’t remember inviting your opinion.”

“I’m not your staff,” Sawyer said, voice low. “I’m here to protect her. And she doesn’t need this kind of pressure right now.”

The Senator’s jaw twitched as his narrowed gaze moved to Sawyer. “I tried to have you replaced. Did you know that?” he said with a sneer, his gaze cold enough it made an involuntary shiver race down her spine. “Told Flynn Condor I didn’t want an operative with . . . your history. But he said all his men were assigned elsewhere. Lucky you.”

Savannah’s mouth went dry.

Sawyer didn’t flinch. “My boss trusts me to do my job. Maybe you should too.”

The Senator’s eyes narrowed further. “You’re a distraction. Always have been. And she doesn’t need distractions. She needs discipline. Focus.”

“Your daughter,” Sawyer said, sharper now emphasizing the word “daughter,” “needs someone in her corner. Maybe try that for once.”

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