Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I raise my eyebrows when Falcon drives up.
He gets out of the car and stalks toward me, his eye on fire. “What are you doing out here? You’re not safe.”
“See that black car?”
He looks. “Yeah. Who the hell is it?”
“It’s Earl. My bodyguard, compliments of my father.”
Falcon furrows his brow. “Why didn’t you invite him in?”
“Not my house.”
“Savannah, come on. As long as you’re staying here, it’s your house.”
“I wasn’t sure.” My voice is small and shaky.
“To be honest, I’m glad he’s here. I assume he’s vetted?”
“My father wouldn’t have hired him if he weren’t.”
“I’ll go talk to him. Ask him some questions. I’ll make sure he’s okay.”
“Thanks, Falcon. I’d appreciate that.” I herd the dogs into the house, and about fifteen minutes later, Falcon comes in, followed by Earl.
Earl is the size of a tank, of course, and he’s dressed all in black. Not great for the Texas heat.
I should have invited him in.
But who the hell can I trust? I can’t even trust my own father to keep me safe.
But I can trust Falcon.
Falcon will move the earth to keep me safe. He’s already proved that.
“Earl, this is Savannah.”
Earl nods. “Ma’am.”
“Hi, Earl. I’m sorry I didn’t invite you in.”
He shrugs. “Not a problem, ma’am.”
Earl is armed with a gun on a belt holster, and he probably has another on his ankle or strapped to his chest. Falcon no doubt checked.
“You trust him?” I ask Falcon.
“Hell, no. But I don’t trust anyone my people don’t vet. He won’t be staying here. My guy will.”
“Mr. Gallo asked that I—”
“I don’t give a fuck what Mr. Gallo wants,” Falcon says harshly. “He lost his right to have a say when he tried to marry his daughter off to some miscreant. You’re here to meet Savannah. She needs to feel safe here.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Earl says. “To keep her safe.”
“And you can do so from a distance.”
“I need to be near her. What if someone breaks in?”
“I have my own people,” Falcon says. “People my father and I trust implicitly. And that’s not you.”
“Have it your way.” Earl turns toward the door. “Can I get a glass of water, at least?”
“Sure. Follow me.” Falcon leads him to the kitchen.
They continue to converse in low voices. I can’t make out what they’re saying.
I don’t hear a faucet running, and I know Falcon doesn’t have any bottled water.
Interesting.
They return, and Earl heads back out to his car.
“What was that about?” I ask.
“He’s on the up and up,” Falcon says, “but I’m still not letting him stay inside.”
“Whatever you say.”
“He’s on a twelve-hour shift. There are two others who split the job, so they’re all twelve on and then twenty-four hours off.”
“Okay.”
“I’m letting them stay on the property, Savannah—in their cars—and I’ll have someone stay in the house. Any extra protection is not a bad thing.”
I nod, gulping.
Falcon’s phone buzzes, and he grabs it out of his pocket. “Yeah, Dad?”
Pause.
“Fuck. I’ll be right there.”
He shoves it back in his pocket, a look of pure terror in his eyes. “I have to go.”
My pulse starts racing, and my skin chills. “Where? What’s wrong?”
“Raven’s sick. She’s back in the hospital.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Vannah, you need—” He stops, clearly thinking. “All right. Come with me.”
The hospital gives me the creeps.
Ashley died here.
And now Raven’s back.
We hurry to the sixth floor, where Raven has been admitted.
“Dad!” Falcon races toward a handsome older man with graying blond hair and deep blue eyes.
Mr. Bellamy gives Falcon a quick embrace. “Falcon. Thanks for coming.”
“Where’s Mom?”
“Inside, with Raven.”
He grabs my hand. “This is Savannah Gallo. Vannah, my father, Austin Bellamy.”
I shake his large hand. “Hi, Mr. Bellamy.”
“Savannah.” Mr. Bellamy’s blue gaze softens. “I’m sorry for all you’ve been through in the past few days.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, so I simply nod.
Falcon says no more as he scurries into Raven’s room.
“She’ll be okay, right?”
Austin Bellamy’s eyes are dark rimmed. “We don’t know anything yet.”
“What happened?” I blink. “If you can talk about it, I mean. I don’t want to interfere.”
“She’s running a slight fever and she has a bruise on her leg.”
“Just one?”
“Yes, but when a person has leukemia, any bruise needs to be investigated.”
“I understand.” I swallow, my throat feeling constricted. “Falcon loves her so much.”
“We all do, Ms. Gallo.”
“Call me Savannah. Please. I…” I grab his hand. “I don’t know your family at all, and in many ways, I barely know Falcon. But it’s obvious how close you all are. I’m… I’m so sorry. I’m…”
“Don’t feel like you have to say anything.” He gently pulls his hand away from me. “Sometimes there are no words.”
He should know. I peek into the room. Falcon sits with a woman, presumably his mother. She’s beautiful with skin a shade darker than Falcon’s and long dark hair that’s pulled into a ponytail at the back of her neck.