“No,” Cole answers simply, “it’s frankly not enough.”
“Okay, Savi.” Derek enters from the hallway. “You ready to go?”
Cole’s eyes narrow in on him. He is still furious at Derek and knows they will be having plenty of words after this is over. His instincts were right when it came to Derek Rent. He still doesn’t trust him, and he hates that he still has to use him at all.
“You keep her safe, Rent,” he says, pushing his finger hard into his chest, “or I’ll personally take you out.”
“Cole,” Savannah hisses, squeezing her body in the space between them. “Please, let’s just go before they decide to put any more devices on me.” She turns to look at Cole, trying to act brave, but he can see she’s scared. He wants nothing more than to take her home and lock her away in his bedroom and keep her safe from everything. “I’ll see you soon.” She kisses him on the lips softly, but he swipes his tongue inward, tasting as much of her as he can. She squeaks, making him kiss her harder. Finally, he pulls away and lets her catch her breath. “Cole?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re going to have to let go.” She glances down at his cast-iron grip on her hips.
“Right.” He steps back, watching Derek walk her out and unknowingly into the lion’s den.
“I don’t get it,” Keith says, appearing at his side. “I knowweare under orders not to tell her anything, but areyoureally going to let her go in blind?”
“I know Savannah, Keith. If she goes in knowing who is behind all this, she’ll charge them like a pissed off bull. It’s safer for her to be her normal innocent self. They’ll be less apt to harm her if she truly doesn’t know anything.”
Keith huffs. “I sure saw it before she left. I should’ve gone with my gut and followed her.”
“No,” Cole shakes his head, “you did the right thing, and we were able to catch up with them.”
“Perhaps, but she’s sure as shit not known for her lying skills.”
“Certainly not, and I love that about her,” Cole admits.
“Me too.”
Suddenly, they both feel their conversation is getting awkward, and they start moving about. “Right, well, let’s get this over with.” Cole sits down at the table, watching the computer monitor.
“Well, fuck me,” Mark hisses from the window, staring down at the street, a pair of binoculars glued to his eyes. “Logan, you’ll never guess who’s here.”
Savannah
I walk nervously down the sidewalk, my arm looped through Derek’s, on the way to meet my father. It is starting to snow. I try to act normal, I really do, but after being surprised by Cole and the guys and being lit up like a Christmas tree with trackers, mics, and video equipment, I feel a nervous dance going on in my stomach.
“Maddison, my niece,” Derek starts, “she reminds me so much of my sister. She has these big brown eyes like the cat from Puss in Boots.” He laughs. “All that little girl has to do is look up at me, and I turn all mushy. I’m visiting her after we get back home, and I’m going to take her to Disney World. She loves Sleep In Beauty. I’ve ordered her that princess dress from the movie. I’m soon to be her favorite uncle.”
I can’t thank him enough for chatting. I know he is doing it for me. I even forgive him for messing up the Disney character’s name and manage to smile at him. I really need something to focus on because I do feel like I want to puke. The love he has for his niece is obvious. “That’s really sweet of you, Derek. I wish I had an uncle like you growing up.”
“Well, my sister and I were really close growing up. She practically raised me, as my parents worked a lot. I want to be a good uncle to her daughter. Besides, I doubt I’ll ever have a kid, so Maddison is about as close to a daughter as I’ll get.”
“Why would you say that?”
He shrugs. “I love my job too much to give enough time to a woman.”
“Oh, please, you just haven’t found the right one yet. When you do, things will change.”
He lets out a long breath. “You may have a point. I thought Logan was going to be a lone wolf up on his mountain until you came along.”
“I’m happy,” I smile up at him, “and you will be too someday.”
“All right, enoughchick chat.It’s showtime.” He holds the door open for me. “No matter what happens up there, Savannah, I’m right there with you.”
“Thanks, Derek.” I squeeze his arm, happy to have him with me, and extremely happy now that Blackstone is watching and listening.
We ride the elevator up to the penthouse. The doors open, and there is my father wearing his usual black suit with a glass of scotch in his hand.