5. Savvy
Chapter 5
Savvy
25 weeks
I wake up the same way as I do every day. I didn’t get to meet whoever I was supposed to meet. I was crying too hysterically as I clutched my baby’s ultrasound photos after trying to claw the good Drs. jugular out. Dr. Kiefer gave me a shot of something, after Max held me down, then carried me to bed. I remember him covering me up and kissing my forehead. I remember thinking how odd it felt having another man kiss my forehead in that way. It made my skin crawl, but it also made me realize that Max cares for me in some way. I have used it to get out of this room daily for the last week.
I used the same tactics that worked on Bash when I started figuring out exactly how he wanted his perfect little pet to be. Max isn’t much different, other than he has his emotions in check, except when I push the envelope.
I know he wants something from me. He won’t act on it, but I still use it to my advantage to get what I want and need. I don’t know if I’m ever going to get out of here. He has shown me most of the house now, I think. He promised he would take me outside today if I promised to dress accordingly. Now that he knows I’m not suicidal, he has unlocked the windows so I can get fresh air. There has been a slight chill in the air lately. I know I’m losing track of time. The days seem to go by more quickly now that I’m getting out of this room.
I stay close to him like he prefers, always holding his hand, unless he lets it go. Today I’m going to try a new tactic and see how he reacts. I sit up, waiting for the lock to click like it does this time every morning.
Like clockwork the lock clicks, and the door opens with Max pushing in a cart with dome covered trays on it. My mouth waters as he lifts one of the domes and the smell of bacon hits my nose. I roll out of the bed and get my slippers on as I grab my robe.
I turn towards him after I wrap myself in my robe and tie it. “Would you like to have breakfast with me? I know I have been a little quiet since the ultrasound, but I can’t get the images out of my head that some man I don’t know will deliver my baby and take him away from me. I would really appreciate the company, then maybe we can take a walk outside like you promised.” I flutter my eyelashes while I place a hand on my belly as I cast my eyes back down.
“It would be my pleasure, Savannah.” Max places all the food on the table by the window and pulls out my chair for me to sit. I do, nodding and saying, “Thank you.” I cast my eyes down and place my hands in my lap.
“Eat sweetheart. You are going to need your strength if you want to go on that walk.” His smile widens as I place the white linen napkin in my lap and start placing different things that sound good on my plate.
“This looks lovely, thank you.” I say again, this time I look up at him and cast my eyes down as soon as they meet his grey eyes that look less cloudy today.
“You can look at me sweetheart, I’m not going to hurt you. I already told you, I’m not the bad guy here.” Max seems genuine, but I saw the way Dr. Kiefer reacted to him, raising his voice to her the way he did, and he told her as he carried me back to my room that her punishment would be severe. I know a Dom when I see one, and he may be worse than most if he has this much control over himself.
“If you’re not the bad guy, then who is?” I ask as I take a bite of the bacon egg and cheese waffle sandwich I made. “ Pass the syrup, please,” I say with my mouth full. My eyes roll in the back of my head at the flavors that hit my tastebuds.
Max laughs a genuine laugh, putting the syrup in a small bowl for me to dip my sandwich. “Oh my God, do you know what the best thing in the world would be for lunch?” I moan as I take another bite dipped in the maple syrup. I lick my fingers, making sure I get all the stickiness off.
“What would that be?” he asks, watching me like I’m the most amusing thing he has ever seen.
“Hear me out. French dip and Swiss cheese debris po boy with pickles and remoulade sauce on the side. Oh, and curly fries with Cajun seasoning! Oh, can you order it out? The chef here is obviously not from Louisiana. I swear nothing I’ve had has any flavor.” I say as I roll my eyes.
“I’ll see what I can do sweetheart. No lettuce or tomatoes for you, correct?” he asks with a sly grin.
“Yeah, I don’t like those, no onion either. How did you know that?” I ask a little taken aback.
“I know more about you than I do anyone else in this world.” He gives a small smirk.
“Well, that’s not fair. I don’t know anything about you.” I reply as I shove another bite in my mouth.
“My name is Max, I’m here to take care of you and make sure your baby is taken care of. That’s all you need to know about me. For now.” He lets me know that he will tell me more if I continue to be good.
I take a long drink of apple juice and decide to just be myself without letting him know that I will slit his throat the first chance I get.
“I see you prefer sausage to bacon. Orange juice to apple, and you don’t like fruit or coffee. Am I close?”Apparently not talking to anyone for so long and being good all the time has me blabbering about anything .
“Yes, but I actually do drink coffee, just not this late in the morning.”
“Do you have better coffee than what you bring me? If you knew me, you would know I prefer coffee with chicory and I like sugar. Give me more sugar for the love of all things holy, let me just have some sugar.” I rant like the spoiled brat I am.I miss sitting with my best friends every morning making breakfast and drinking our coffee. As much of it as I want! Not this one cup a day bullshit. Who in the hell can live on one cup a day?
Max can’t control his laughter. “I’ll make sure you have a nice dessert with dinner tonight, how about that?”
“I’ll take what I can get! This baby wants sugar.” I reply with a smile as I rub my belly, noticing he actually has a nice smile when it’s not forced.
“I get it now. Why Bash was so obsessed with you, I mean I have pictures of you back then, with him, and even before that. I knew you were beautiful, but you are way more than that aren’t you, sweetheart” He is still chuckling slightly when he realizes he just made a mistake and stops.
“So, you know Bash huh? What about my sister, Lottie? Did you know her?” I take another bite to hide my expression, hoping I hit a nerve, and that he buys I missed that he has stalked me since before Bash.Plus, if he knows Bash, and me, then maybe he knew Lottie.
“I knew him, yes. Don’t be coy about the fact that you killed him, it was an epic exhibition to watch. You should be proud of what you did. Lottie is not up for discussion, ever.” He finally smiles wide after laying down the law about my sister, also letting me know that he knows everything.
“Well, I guess it’s not my secret to keep anymore. So that’s why I’m here?” I finally ask the one question that the answer will tell me my fate.
“Yes, and no. I couldn’t care less about what you did to Bash, he was a disgrace, and we all knew it. They definitely picked the wrong twin with that one. Things would have been vastly different if they had picked Christian from the beginning. You actually did us a favor, he was becoming sloppy and leaving too many messes to clean up. The only thing mother is pissed about is that she didn’t get to kill him herself. She was impressed with the lengths that you girls went to get the job done, even using your own mothers’ connections.”He has a devilish grin, like I’m missing something as he cocks a brow.
“Your mother? Is she by any chance the queen?” I smile, letting him know that I know things too. I think.
“You are a smart one. What do you know about the queen and what she does? Or have you not figured out who she is yet?” His eyebrows are raised as if he expects me to know the answer.
“I know she is ruthless and traffics women to the highest bidder, but not before they are trained to be the perfect pet. No, I haven’t figured out who she is yet.” I know my face is showing my annoyance.
“This is a game, sweetheart, and you need to get brushed up on who and what is controlling the board. We can talk more about that on our walk. I want to know what the one thing is, that would bring you joy, that I can actually give you right now. Besides food, what else would make you smile?” He looks like he really is trying to be a good guy.
“Music. That’s the easiest way to bring me joy, sadness, and every other emotion there is. I love music more than anything, besides books, but you’ve got that one covered obviously.” I give up something about myself as I wave my hands, pointing around the room lined with shelf upon shelf full of books.
“I’ll see what I can come up with. You get ready for the day, and I will come back to get you in thirty minutes.” He replies as he stands up. He bends down to kiss my forehead and I still, until he moves out of my bubble, and walks out of the room.
I let out the breath I was holding in and sigh as I get up from the table to go shower. I rush through the task of making myself presentable while only thinking of two things. Who the Queen is and why Max has watched me before anyone in New Orleans knew I existed. Or so I thought. But why? She is Max’s mother. Why would I know who she is in the grand scheme of things? I just don’t understand what I’m missing.
When I come out of the closet, Max is waiting at the table by the window looking at his phone. Thank God I get dressed in the closet. He looks up after I stand there with my eyes cast down and my hands clasped down in front of me for at least ten minutes. Bash used to make me wait like this. He was not to be disturbed when he was doing something, I had to wait until he acknowledged my existence. Same game, different player. I know how to be the perfect pet. I was trained by the ring master.
“Sweetheart, you look lovely. I love your hair down like that. It’s nice to see you putting yourself together and wearing all the clothes I picked out for you. You are looking pale though, let’s go get you some sunlight, I know it’s what you crave most.” His smile reaches his eyes and for the first time I see a bit of light in them as he extends his hand out for me to take. I also notice for the first time that he reminds me of someone, but I can’t figure out who. I take his hand, pretending to be happy to give him this small gesture. Inside, I’m screaming.
“Thank you for picking out clothes that I don’t hate. They are comfortable and most are what I would have chosen.” I’m actually being honest on that one. I just didn’t realize he was the one who chose them.
“I have watched you for years now. I know you, Savannah.” The way he looks at me makes me feel like he thinks we are a couple or something. It’s not lustful but loving in a way.
What the fuck? He gives more away as he lifts my hand to his lips, kissing it softly then continuing to finally walk out the door and down the stairs. Did he want me to hear that earlier and that’s why he repeated it, to make sure I understood. This is a game; he has said that more than once. The Queen runs the board because she is the most powerful. How am I connected to her?
“Are you excited to get outside?” He asks, giving me a questioning look.
“Of course, I am.” I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to go outside. I counted six guards today. Yesterday there were nine. All dressed in suits, all carrying weapons. This place is locked down. Do they really think I’m going to take on this many people with guns while pregnant? My husband could. I smile to myself knowing he will burn this place to the ground when he finds me.
The moment he opens the huge wood double doors a cool breeze mixed with sunlight hits my face and I can’t contain my happiness. I just stand there itching to go out the door, but I wait for him to tell me it’s okay, I don’t move until he does. That’s what a man like him wants, a shadow that only does as he says, while looking like a perfect doll. I chose knee high black boots, black leggings, and a baby blue collared shirt with a black and navy-blue long cardigan. The whole outfit reminds me of an American girl doll I saw once. Figured it was fitting.
He finally moves, assessing my body language as he does, testing me. I already know all the answers, I’ve done this before, or does he not know that part? I follow him outside and can’t hold in my giggle when I’m drenched in the warmth of sunlight. I close my eyes, tilting my head up and soaking it in, letting out a breath, and taking in a long breath through my nose.God, I have missed this. The sun is almost like a power source for me. I’ve never gone this long without being able to go soak it up.
“Where my window is, I never get full on sun, this is amazing, thank you.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, I shouldn’t have kept you inside for so long. As long as it doesn’t get too chilly, we can do this every day.” He looks down at me, and I notice a freckle next to his right eye that I hadn’t before. It’s lighter than… Christians… Same dark curly hair, slightly similar features. The eyes threw me off, but I’d bet when I meet the Queen, his mother, she has the same eyes. Sins dad has lighter eyes than him. It can’t be. She is dead. He has to be a cousin or something. Christian never talked about other relatives besides his dad and his uncle in Georgia.
I gather my thoughts attempting to not let it show on my face, “That would be amazing,” I smile, but I can’t seem to make it genuine. Not when I think I just figured out who the Queen is.
A car pulls up just as we start walking towards the back of the house. Max stops and smiles, turning us around towards the cute AudiR8. The windows are blacked out so I can’t see who is in the car, but I can hear Taylor Swift singing, “Red,” the base is thumping, making me smile to just hear a familiar song.
“Would you like to meet a piece of the puzzle, sweetheart? Max smiles down at me, but it’s a mischievous looking smile. Not sadistic, but almost boyish.
“Do I really have a choice?” I ask, not knowing if I should want to meet this person or not.
“No, but I like to hear what you come up with for answers.” He chuckles.
I hear the car door open and look up as Max pulls me towards the car. I see long black hair pop out of the car and a girl bouncing over towards us. She is a little shorter than me and looks like a teenager. When we get closer. She removes her big black sunglasses and I stop dead in my tracks. My jaw drops when our eyes meet. It’s almost like seeing myself as a teenager. Max stops when I freeze like a statue, realizing I’m stunned.
“Come on, don’t you want to meet your niece? MJ, this is your Auntie Savannah. Savannah, this is your niece Magnolia June. Come along with us to the barn, Fiona should be joining us shortly.