Chapter Thirty-One
Savannah
The warehouse nearly vibrates with the combined hum of engines and the frenetic energy of people moving with quick precision. The second the SUVs pull into the lot, Rylan opens my door and helps me out. My legs feel like jelly. My entire body trembles from the adrenaline dump that hasn’t quite dissipated.
Declan is the first to step out of the lead SUV, his face grim but uninjured. Behind him, the rest of the team follows, each one scanning the area with sharp eyes. Declan approaches us, his gaze flicking over me briefly before settling on Rylan.
"The Castillo guns are handled," Declan says flatly. "No casualties on our end, but they’re down two men. That’ll slow them for now."
Rylan lets out a breath, and pulls me into his arms, his strong biceps wrapping securely around me. It’s only when his steady hold calms me that I realize I’m trembling. "Good," he replies curtly. "Any idea what their next move is?"
"Not yet," Declan admits, his expression darkening. "But they’ll be back, and they’ll come harder next time."
I clutch Rylan’s shirt, my fingers digging into the fabric as if it’s the only thing keeping me upright. My head throbs, and it feels like I’m drifting in a thick fog. The conversations around me blur into an indistinct hum, but Declan must notice something’s off. His voice cuts through the haze briefly, just enough for me to catch his words: “She holding up?”
"She’ll be fine," Rylan says, though his tone is softer when he looks down at me. "Won’t you, mo stóirín?"
I nod, though my voice refuses to cooperate. The world feels too loud, too sharp. I just want to disappear.
Declan sighs, crossing his arms. "I think you two need to get out of here for a bit. Let things cool down and give us time to figure out what the Castillos are planning."
Rylan stiffens. "I’m not leaving you shorthanded."
"We’ll manage," Declan snaps. "But you dragging her into another firefight isn’t an option. Take the jet and go."
"Where?" Rylan asks, his jaw tight.
"We’ve still got the house on the coast," Declan says with a shrug. "It’s quiet, secure, and off their radar."
Rylan hesitates. His green eyes scan Declan’s face for any hint of doubt. Finally, he nods. "Fine. But you call me the second anything changes."
Declan claps him on the shoulder, then waves to the team to start clearing out. Rylan turns back to me and raises his hand to cup my cheek. "Everything is going to be ok, Savannah."
I blink up at him, too exhausted to argue. "Okay."
The jet is sleek and luxurious, but I barely give it a second glance as Rylan helps me settle into one of the plush leather seats. The hum of the engines is oddly soothing, a constant background noise that dulls the sharp edges of my thoughts.
"Get some rest," Rylan murmurs, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "We’ll be there before you know it."
I nod, my eyes already drifting shut. The stress, the fear, the adrenaline—it all crashes down on me at once, dragging me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Rylan
I watch Savannah as she sleeps, her breathing steady but her body still visibly tense even in unconsciousness. She’s been through hell tonight, and I hate myself for not keeping her out of it.
Declan’s words echo in my head. Get out of town. Let things cool down. It’s a logical plan, but logic does little to calm the storm raging inside me. The Castillos won’t stop—not until they get what they want. And what they want is her.
Leaning back in my seat, I glance out the window at the endless stretch of night sky. The island will give us a reprieve, a chance to regroup. But it won’t stop what’s coming. Nothing will, not until I’ve put an end to this war.
Savannah stirs slightly, her head tilting toward me as if she senses my presence even in sleep. My chest tightens. She doesn’t know it yet, but she owns every piece of me—my heart, my soul, everything I thought I’d never give to anyone. I’ll fight for her, no matter the cost.
For now, though, I let her rest. Tomorrow will bring more battles, but tonight, she’s safe. And that’s all that matters.