20. SAVANNAH
Chapter twenty
SAVANNAH
S unlight streamed into the spacious playroom, lighting up the roof of the model house that stood proudly on the floor. Savannah meticulously arranged her dolls in various rooms of the miniature home, each member of the foster family smiling and content. It was the kind of sanctuary she had dreamed of as a child, and here it was, brought to life by Blake's skilled hands.
The doll house was a gift he’d given her the day they moved in—a replica model of the house they lived in. It felt good to play with her little foster family dolls, giving them the life she’d always dreamed of so that she could share in their joy.
"Everything is perfect," she whispered to the dolls, tucking a strand of curly auburn hair behind her ear as she leaned down to adjust them. She smiled at the thought of finally having the safety and love she craved.
Of course, every now and then, she felt a pang of sadness for Mia, who hadn’t found happiness like her, but Savannah would never stop searching for her. And maybe, one day, she’d find her friend and be able to help her find happiness like this.
A sudden vibration against her wrist pulled her from her reverie. Glancing down, she saw the image of a bat on the screen of her watch—her very own "bat phone" that Blake had gifted her. The message was clear: she was needed in the office.
"Must be important," she muttered, curiosity piqued. The corners of her lips curled upwards, anticipating a possible intimate moment with Blake. He never tried to initiate anything sexual with her in the playroom, but that didn’t stop him from calling her to him for those daily three orgasms they’d agreed upon.
She set the dolls down at their tiny dining table so they could eat some lunch while she was gone, then she sprinted toward the office.
Her heart raced as she burst through the door, green eyes searching for any sign of a romantic surprise. But there were no candles or rose petals; instead, she found Blake, his imposing figure hunched over a laptop, blue eyes serious and focused.
"Daddy?" she asked tentatively, trying to figure out whether this meeting was about work or something else entirely.
"Sit down, Savvy," he commanded gruffly, not looking up from the screen. His tone left no room for ambiguity—this was business, not pleasure.
Savannah took a deep breath, trying to quell the disappointment that threatened to dampen her spirits. "What's up, Blake?" she asked, forcing herself to focus on the matter at hand.
"Your investigative report," he said, finally lifting his gaze from the laptop to meet hers. "It's going viral, Savvy. There's a flood of emails and phone calls coming in. People are really connecting with it."
Her eyes widened. “You serious?”
She had worked so hard on the report. Ever since the gala event and all the chaos that followed, she had been desperate to release her story, to tell all that she knew, but with Blake’s help, she had learned to be patient. She had researched her story thoroughly and made sure every single word she wrote in it was watertight. She had detailed everything she knew about the trafficking ring, the Lucifer Club, the dirty cops, and the alderman. Of course, the story of the alderman’s corruption had already broken, but nobody knew quite how deep it went. The alderman had done everything in his power to cover it up, but Savannah had exposed it all in one trailblazing article.
"Seems like people are especially connecting with those profiles you wrote.”
Savannah nodded, pleased. She had written several accounts of the escaped and missing girls. She wanted people to remember that, at its heart, this wasn’t a story about a rotten councilor or a bunch of jerks in positions of power. It was a human story. About real women. Women who had suffered terribly.
“The story about Mia . . . it's resonating with everyone,” Blake continued.
"Really?" she breathed, grinning. It felt good to know people cared. But mixed with the exhilaration was a twinge of anxiety; she hadn't expected her work to garner this much attention.
"Yep," Blake confirmed, a proud grin spreading across his face. "And there's more—you've been asked to appear on TV to talk about it."
"TV?" Savannah's eyes widened in surprise, but then she shook her head firmly. "No, Blake. I can't do that. This was never about fame or fortune. I just wanted to tell the women’s stories."
Blake's expression softened, understanding dawning in his blue eyes. "I know, Savvy. But think about it—this could help spread awareness even further."
She hesitated, torn between her desire to keep a low profile and the potential impact such exposure could have. Finally, she let out a sigh. "I'll think about it, okay? Just . . . not right now."
"Fair enough," he agreed, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand in support. "You did an incredible job, Savannah. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Blake," she whispered, her heart swelling with gratitude for his unwavering support.
Blake got up from his laptop and went over to hug her. It felt so good to be in his tight embrace. "We should celebrate, pumpkin," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "You've done something amazing here."
“Celebrate how?”
“I think it’s about time we threw a party in our new house, don’t you? A fancy dinner. Some parlor games for the Littles . . .”
She grinned. She hadn't considered celebrating but now that Blake mentioned it, the idea of a dinner party and some games sounded like a great way to unwind after the emotional journey she'd been on.
"Absolutely," she said. "Rosie would love it," she said, her voice laced with enthusiasm. Rosie had been such a rock for her during this whole experience, and she couldn't wait to include her new friend in the festivities.
"Of course, she's always up for a good time," he agreed, chuckling as he imagined the lively banter between Rosie and the rest of their friends.
"Although," Savannah mused, a mischievous glint in her eye, "we probably shouldn't seat Rosie and Nash together. They've been arguing like cats and dogs lately."
Blake's laughter rumbled through the room. "I noticed that too. You know what they say—there's a fine line between love and hate. Maybe they just need to get naked together and fuck it out of their system."
Savannah snorted, shaking her head. "As entertaining as that might be, I doubt Nash would ever go for it. He's too much of a gentleman."
"True," Blake conceded, his smile fading slightly as he recognized the seriousness behind her words. Despite their playful jokes, they both knew that relationships were delicate things and sometimes the deepest connections were forged through pain and adversity.
"Anyway," Savannah continued, her voice brightening again, "let's focus on the party. We'll have good food, great company, and some outrageously silly games to keep things interesting."
"Sounds like a plan," Blake said.
“I’m gonna send a group message right now!” Savannah's finger hovered over her phone screen, but as she looked at it, a new email popped into her inbox. The subject line read: "Potential Lead on Missing Girl."
"Blake," she called out urgently, "look at this."
He leaned over her shoulder. "What have you got?"
"An anonymous tip," she replied, scanning the message. "Someone read that profile of Mia in my news story. They claim they spotted someone who matches her description in a strip club downtown. With a tiger tattoo on the back of her neck, just like Mia. They've even attached security footage."
"Could be a trap," Blake warned, his protective instincts kicking in.
"Or the break we've been waiting for." Savannah's heart raced as she studied the grainy image of a girl resembling Mia. "Either way, I can't ignore it. I have to find her, Blake. I owe her that much."
Blake rested a hand on her shoulder, understanding the depth of her commitment. "I know, Savvy. And I'll be right by your side, every step of the way."
"Thank you," she breathed, taking a moment to absorb his unwavering support. Her resolve hardened, she typed a response to the anonymous sender and hit 'send' with determination. "If Mia is out there, we're going to bring her home."
"Damn right, we will," Blake agreed. His hand reached for Savannah's coat on the rack, and his eyes locked onto hers in a silent promise of unity.
Savannah paused. “What about the party?”
Blake shrugged. “I think the party would be a lot better if Mia was there to enjoy it too, don’t you?”
Savannah nodded, smiling. She watched as he held her coat open, the gesture both tender and commanding, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Stay close to me today," he instructed, pulling her coat over her shoulders. She could feel the weight of his gaze, heavy with concern and determination, and she welcomed it. It reminded her that she wasn't alone in this fight.
"Always," she agreed, slipping her arms into the sleeves. She met his eyes as he adjusted the collar. Together, they would face whatever dangers lay ahead. For justice. For love. For Mia.
"Ready?" Blake asked, his deep voice resonating in the small space between them.
"More than ever," Savannah answered, her resolve unwavering. She reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers in a show of solidarity.
"Let's go find your friend," he said, leading her out the door and into the night, the air thick with anticipation.
As they ventured together into the darkness, Savannah couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of hope. No matter what they faced, she knew that Blake would be by her side, ready to fight for those they loved. And that was all she needed to keep pushing forward.
***