“Logan.”
I hold my breath and watch Derek’s eyes squeeze shut.
“Yeah, one second.” He looks at me and holds out the phone. I don’t want to take it, I can’t, but…
“Cole?” My voice gives away how much I miss him.
“Savannah,” the worry is thick in his voice, “what the hell are you doing?”
“Ending this.”
“It’s not the way!” he nearly shouts.
My anger surfaces. “Right, and you getting taken by The American again is?”
Silence.
“I heard you talking at the camp, Cole. I can’t go through that again. It’s time I finish this. I love you more than anyone or anything, so it’s time I get the answers. I deserve it, but without anyone else putting themselves in danger for me.” He attempts to say something, but I cut him off. “I’ll be all right. I’m just going to figure out who’s blackmailing my father so I can find out who is actually behind my kidnapping.”
“No, Savannah, you don’t—”
“I’ll be home tomorrow night. I love you, Cole.”
I quickly hang up, turn off the phone, and hand it back to Derek, who is wide-eyed.
“Problem?” I ask, feeling a new sense of strength. I knew I could do this. I have to do this, for Cole and me to move on with our lives.
“Not at all.” Derek smirks briefly and goes back to looking out the window.
“Here.” Derek gives me a tiny cell phone that fits inside a small pocket in my dress. It looks like a remote I had for the Apple TV back in my old life. “Just in case we get separated, speed dial one is me, and two is Cole. You don’t have to look, just feel where the buttons are.”
I nod and feel for the little buttons until I am familiar with how to press them. I’m still not sure what the hell I’m going to say when I see my father.
We are in a café across the road from my father’s office building. I’ve changed into a black Ponte sheath dress with heels and stockings. I have to look like I belong in the corporate world so Derek and I can walk in and not stand out. Derek’s connections got us in contact with a woman on the tenth floor. She’s going to meet us downstairs and walk us in so we don’t have to give a name to the front desk, and then we can bypass security. We don’t want anyone knowing I’m here.
“Put these on.” Derek hands me a pair of thick-rimmed glasses. I do, and Derek shrugs on a trench coat over his dark blue suit, and then he helps me into mine.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yeah…yes, I am.” I try to produce a brave smile, but I’m a mixture of fear and, strangely, excitement.
We step outside, letting the freezing New York air swirl around us. Derek links arms with me and helps keep me from slipping on the black ice as we cross the street.
A woman with a friendly smile greets us at the door and speaks to us like we are old friends. Security eyes us but says nothing as the woman puts on a good show for them. I keep my head down, and my scarf wraps around most of my face. As soon as we step into the elevators, Derek thanks the woman and hands her an envelope. Hush money.
People shuffle in and out as we rise through the building. Finally, we reach the tenth floor, and she turns and leans up to my ear. I stiffen at her closeness and notice Derek reaches for something but then stops when he sees she’s just whispering.
“October TMZ, top left corner. You’re not the only one making it in the media.” She gives my arm a small squeeze and disappears out of the elevator doors.
I’m confused by her comment, but I memorize what she said so I can deal with it later. Derek looks at me, puzzled, and I shake my head, needing to prepare myself for what is ahead. Besides, we don’t have time to talk, as the doors soon open to the twenty-sixth floor.
Oh, shit.
As much as I’m bundled up, I am cold, and I feel the hairs rise on my arms. Derek and I stop to see if Luka is in his office. His door is closed, so my guess is he is in a meeting. We move on, and before I can think, Derek opens my father’s office door.
“Mayor Fox?” Derek says in a direct voice.
My father’s gray eyes look up and lock with mine.
Holy…