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)
“You don’t think we did that?”
“Oh, we did. But I believe in extra precautions whenever possible.”
I nod and text Hawk quickly.
Any news?
Nothing yet, but she seems in okay spirits.
Good. I’ll keep in touch. You ping me if anything happens.
Will do.
Leif and I head to his car. I take the passenger seat as he pulls up information on his phone.
“I’m accessing some resources,” he says. “It’s usually pretty quick.”
I wait. The minutes seem like hours.
Until—
“Eureka,” Leif says. “Miles McAllister’s address in Austin. A gated community with a lot of security, of course. His father, Declan McAllister, has even more security, but I’ve got the addresses. And I’ve gotten through tight security on more than one occasion.”
“Where do we go first?”
He continues to fiddle with his phone. “First I’m checking flight manifestations to Vegas, and other places where you can get married quickly.”
“Good. What if they’re traveling under aliases?”
“Got that covered.”
Okay, then. I don’t ask any more questions. If Leif’s got it covered, it’s covered.
“Nothing on the flight manifests,” he says. “So we check the younger McAllister’s house first, right?”
“I don’t know. You said his father’s got better security.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m thinking that’s where we go then.”
“It’s your call. Your woman.”
Damn.
My call? So if I’m wrong, I may not find Savannah in time?
I rub my temples and then the back of my sore neck. “I don’t know, Leif. I don’t fucking know.”
Leif pierces me with his ice blue gaze. “What’s your instinct? Say you’re back on the inside, and you’re in this predicament. What is your instinct telling you to do?”
“The father’s house.” I say without hesitation.
“I’m on it.”
Leif plugs the address into his GPS, and we’re off.
36
SAVANNAH
We arrive at Declan McAllister’s home. A servant answers the door and lets us in.
Maggie McAllister, Miles’s mother, greets us. She’s a beautiful woman in her early sixties, but she’s meek and quiet.
Miles kisses her cheek. “Hello, Mother.”
“Miles.” She looks at me. “Savannah, how nice to see you again.”
I don’t speak.
“My mother is speaking to you,” Miles says.
Again, I don’t speak.
“Damn it, Savannah. Say hello to my mother.”
I will not obey him. I refuse. He can force himself on me. He can force this marriage. But I will not take orders.
And I pay for it.
With a blow to my head.
Before I know what’s happening, I’m on my knees in the marble foyer.
Maggie helps me up. “It’s easier to just obey,” she whispers in my ear.
I look at her—really look at her. She was no doubt married off at a much younger age than I am now. Probably eighteen, which is when they wanted me.
The look on her face is one of pure resignation. Understanding of her lot in life. Of the role she’s been hired to play.
Not hired, rather, but forced.
It’s her way of telling me to accept my fate. To play the role.
All my needs will be taken care of.
This I know. I will live in luxury…as long as I know my place.
To be the trophy wife of Miles McAllister. The wife that binds the McAllister and Bianchi families together.
I rise to my feet and stare at Miles, fire in my eyes.
Still I say nothing.
“You’ve chosen to play the hard way,” Miles says. “I expect by morning you’ll change your tune.”
Yes, I’m sure I’ll be raped tonight. Violated in the worst ways. Probably beaten. But only where no one can see bruises.
Maggie takes my arm. “Come on, Savannah. Let’s get you a hot beverage.”
I don’t want a hot beverage.
But by the grace of God, Miles doesn’t follow us.
Maggie takes me to the kitchen. “Boxy, could you prepare some tea for Ms. Gallo and myself?”
“Certainly, ma’am.”
Maggie gestures to a seat at the table. “Please.”
Why not? She’s trying to help me, after all. I sit.
“Would you like something other than tea?” Maggie asks.
I don’t say anything.
“You can talk to me, my dear.”
“Can I though?” I finally say. “Anything I say to you will go straight back to Miles.”
Maggie sits down next to me. Then she does something totally unexpected. She takes one of my hands in hers. “I love my son.”
I simply nod.
How could anyone love Miles McAllister?
“You will understand that one day. One day when you have children of your own.”
I don’t want to have children of my own. Not unless they’re Falcon’s children.
But she’s right. I’ve chosen my fate. I will have children of my own with Miles unless I can figure out how to get out of this—once Falcon is in the clear, that is.
“You may not love your children’s father,” Maggie says, “but you will love them. I understand that it’s hard to imagine that now, but you will eventually see that I am correct.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, so again I say nothing.
“I know how you’re feeling. I’ve been where you are. Your mother has been where you are. Try to look on the bright side. All your needs will be met from now until the day you leave this earth. You’ll live in riches beyond your wildest dreams.”