Page 148 of The Elusive Billionaire
I’ve never seen my future so clearly, and for once, it’s filled with happiness. It’s filled with Savannah Monroe, and I’ll burn the world to the ground before I allow some shithead like Riley DeVane to take that from me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
SAVVY
“I’m not stayingcooped up in the house, Grey. I won’t give him that kind of control. Happiness has worked hard on the fair, and for whatever reason, they made me a big part of that. There’s not a chance in hell I’m going to skip it because Rileymightdo something.”
“It’s not a question of if, Monroe, it’s when.Whenhe’ll do something. To you.” Grey’s frustration makes his tone harsh and demanding, but this isn’t a corporate office where he’s the dictator—it’s my life.
“I won’t hide from this fight anymore, Patch.” I square my shoulders, putting space between us. “I can’t do it. I don’t want to be the woman who hides from life anymore.”
“Is that what you think you’ve been doing?” He tilts his head as though I’m an exotic zoo animal. “Because that’s not what I see. I see a woman who picked herself up when tons of shit fell on her. I see a woman who rebuilt herself bigger and stronger than before. But we’re not dealing with a handsy bartender here. We’re talking about a potential stalker, someone with nothing left to lose. Someone who will attempt to hurt you—someone who already has.”
“And you really think that he’ll get through the entire freaking town? Come on, Grey. You’re not thinking logically. The opening ceremony is tomorrow. I’ll be surrounded by hundreds of people. I’m going. End of story.”
“What if the Harringtons say it’s too dangerous?” He’s so damn stubborn.
“They’re on your payroll, so I’m sure they’ll say it’s too dangerous because that’s what you’ll tell them to say.”
God, I’m tired. We haven’t been in the house for more than five minutes, and he’s already pushing my buttons.
“If I tell them you’re in charge, that you make the final call, do you promise to do what they say?”
After Grey set me down at the kitchen island and made me avocado toast with a fried egg, he pulled his lucky coin from his pocket.
Over and over again, it weaves through his fingers while I think.
“I won’t interfere,” he says. “If you do everything they say, I won’t override your decisions.”
“Fine. I’ll listen to them, but missing the fair is out of the question.”
Horns blare, and before I can explain, Grey has a large kitchen knife in his hand, and he’s standing between me and the door.
“Put that away before you hurt someone. Jesus.”
He doesn’t move. “What the hell is going on?”
I drop the last half of my toast to the plate and stand. “That will be the homecoming court from the high school.”
Grey lowers his arm but doesn’t release the knife. “Come again?”
Leaning over him, I grab the knife and set it on the counter. “Come on, I’ll show you. No need for a knife, Sirius Black.”
He frowns at the reference. “I thought Sirius was a bad guy?”
My jaw drops open. “Did you not read the books? Sirius was Harry’s godfather. He protected him.”
Grey’s face breaks out into a beautiful smile.
“What now?” I groan. His carefree, happy smile makes me uneasy.
“At least you acknowledge that I’m trying to protect you.”
“You’re a mess. Let’s go. The kids will be looking for you,” I say.
He flinches, and it makes me laugh as I drag him through his home and open the front door.
Cars fill his long, somewhat disfigured driveway as last year’s homecoming king and queen walk up the steps arm in arm.
