Chapter 33
SAVANNAH
My anxiety reached down my throat and twisted up my insides. My stomach is literally in knots.
As I got myself ready for the Rose and Gold Gala, I pumped myself up. My self-talk was perfectly faultless. I worked hard on my makeup and hair, and I’m proud of the results.
Then I came out of the glam den, aka my bathroom, and found a massive box with a bow on my bed. A peek inside showed me it was a brand new dress from Hunter, despite him pointing out the other night that I already have three, and a new pair of pumps to match.
It’s a gorgeous garnet colored dress with an A-line silhouette and a plunging neckline. The back has a similar deep V leaving my smooth skin exposed.
When I finally exited my room, I found all three of them dressed in black tuxes and bow ties. I’ve never been a woman who needed to see her man, or men in my case, in formalwear, but it’s safe to say that has changed.
I was on cloud nine, but then we got into the limo, and all of that bravado went right out the window. I’ve been a mess on the inside ever since.
The drive to the venue isn’t nearly long enough. As we get closer, I see flashes of light and shouts from people who I quickly realize are the paparazzi.
I clutch Hunter’s arm in a death grip. “You didn’t say anything about a red carpet and cameras.”
“What’s wrong with cameras?” Rory sits forward in his seat next to my left.
“Everyone will see,” I say in a whisper.
Hunter’s eyes squint in confusion. “See what?”
My hand touches the center of my chest. “Me.”
“We’re not afraid to be seen with you, Trouble,” Luke says earnestly. His eyes are wide, conveying his seriousness.
Rory reaches forward, covering my knee with his hand to offer me comfort. Hunter wraps his arm around me, releasing my grip, and leans in close. With his lips to the side of my head, he whispers, “It’s a privilege to be seen with you, Heartbreaker.”
“What if—” I start.
“Time to shine,” Hunter interrupts as his door is opened from the outside and he steps into the cold.
Using Hunter’s hand, I follow him out of the backseat. I’m blinded by the numerous cameras snapping pictures of us. I almost miss Hollis Calder and his team surrounding the limo.
No wonder people wear sunglasses on the red carpet.
Hunter places my hand in the crook of his arm and guides me forward. Rory and Luke follow closely behind us.
“Reed, who’s your new girlfriend?”
“Bishop, look this way!”
“Ellis, smile over here!”
The cries of attention are endless. Thankfully, Hunter never stops. He keeps moving forward until we’re inside the building.
I finally take a deep breath, hoping the worst of it is over. “Please tell me there isn’t going to be any dancing.”
“I don’t want to lie to you, Heartbreaker,” Hunter says with humor in his tone.
I lightly pinch his arm in scolding. “You’re supposed to make me feel better, not add to the fear.”
Hunter stops, and Rory and Luke stop as well.
Hunter turns me toward him and cups the sides of my neck.
“You’re stronger than that. You don’t need me.
Chin up.” He nods at me, then comments, “Besides, I know you like to dance when you go to clubs. You’ll be fine here.
” As quickly as we stopped, Hunter has us all moving again.
“Being able to drop to the floor is a far cry from the waltz,” I grumble.
It’s a good thing I was able to breathe a second ago because the wind gets knocked out of my lungs as we enter the ballroom through an extravagant floral archway.
Silver, with touches of white and baby blue, fills the room.
White roses and hydrangeas, crystal candelabras, mirror accents, silk fabrics, and silver finishings cover the entire space.
Everyone in the room is dressed to impress.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many diamonds and luxury watches in my life.
Even the wait staff look prim and proper in their matching attire as they work their way through the crowd with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
“Wow,” I breathe. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah,” Hunter responds, matching my tone.
I feel Hunter’s gaze on the side of my face. When I turn to him, his eyes make my heart jump. I’d melt into a puddle right here if I weren’t holding on to him.
Luke clears his throat. “Coventry. Two o’clock.”
“Shit,” Rory curses softly. “Double shit. He sees us.” I feel a hand on my back, urging me to walk to the left. “Abort mission. Abort mission.”
My eyes scan the crowd, trying to figure out who this Coventry person is. Instead, I spot someone else. “I thought Hollis and his team were going to be discreet.”
“They are being discreet,” Luke comments from behind me.
“Then they need to work on their camouflage.” But as soon as the words are out of my mouth, all three of the men disappear, blending in perfectly. “Never mind.”
“We only hire the best,” Hunter says plainly.
I look up at him with my brows knit together. “But you hired me.”
Hunter nods. “I know.”
We make the rounds, interacting with various philanthropists and executives.
Most dismiss me as brainless arm candy, but Hunter is quick to work me into the conversation.
One CEO offered me a job when Luke told him about some of the software I had written.
And when the man’s eyes dipped to my chest, I excused us quickly, afraid all three of my men were going to massacre the CEO.
A woman speaks into the microphone at the front of the ballroom, announcing the dancing portion of the evening, and a small string quartet begins playing. I try to make my way to the side of the room, but Rory steps in my way.
“May I have this dance?” When he notices the hesitation on my face, he reassures me, “I got you, Dream Girl. I won’t let you trip or fall.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. “Okay.”
Rory leads me to the center of the room, where other couples have started to dance. He places my left hand on his right shoulder, takes my right hand in his and holds it to the side, and moves his other hand to the small of my back. The skin to skin touch sends a shiver up my spine.
He takes a step to the side, and I follow his lead. Pretty soon, we’re dancing, swaying side to side, and I glance down at our feet, amazed that I haven’t crushed his toes.
“You look absolutely stunning tonight,” Rory compliments.
“Thank you,” I reply politely.
“You can’t leave me, Dream Girl.”
My head snaps up. “Why would I leave?” My own question and its implications shock me, but the scare quickly morphs into content.
Why would I leave? I’m happy—probably happier than I’ve ever been in my life.
As Rory gazes at me, my chest warms.
“May I cut in?”
Turning toward the deep voice, I find Luke waiting with an offered hand. Rory transfers my hand to Luke’s and steps back. I easily fall into the same rhythm with Luke as the string ensemble plays another soft tune.
“Thank you for coming with us tonight,” Luke starts. “I know you were reluctant but came anyway.”
“I wasn’t given much of a choice.” I shrug, brushing off his comment.
Luke searches my face. “If you really dug your heels in, we would have caved. I think you know that.”
The thought had occurred to me, but part of me wanted to experience this with them. I wanted to see what it was like to dress up and enjoy a night out with them.
“Maybe,” I admit. “But it’s been fun, despite the little complaints I’ve made.”
“Again, thank you.” Luke stops us and places a light kiss on my forehead.
“May I?” Hunter appears next to us.
Luke mimics Rory’s movements from earlier, placing my hand in Hunter’s and stepping away.
Hunter pulls me into his body, holding me closer than Rory and Luke did.
He doesn’t say a word, telling me everything he needs to with his actions.
The way his eyes hold me in a trance, the way he guides my body to move with his, the way his firm grip allows minimal space between us.
His actions tell me that he needs me.
I return his plea with my answer with my compliance, my gentle touch, and my desperation.
I need you too.
When the song finally comes to an end, everyone stops and applauds the musicians. Hunter and I follow suit. Then the champagne and copious amounts of water I drank while getting ready catch up with me.
“If you’ll excuse me for a moment.” I turn in a circle, searching for the restroom.
“You’re not leaving my side, Heartbreaker,” Hunter argues.
“I have to pee,” I reply urgently.
“Calder will take you.” Hunter lifts his hand and makes a small motion with his fingers.
A few seconds later, Hollis appears beside us, almost causing me to jump out of my skin. He’s eerily quiet for such a large man.
“This way, Miss Foster,” Hollis says politely.
“Thank you.” I nod. I don’t know how he knows where I need to go, but I’m not questioning it. Whatever gets me to a toilet faster.
When we get to the door with the stick figure woman on it, Hollis moves to the side. “I’ll be right here.”
“Thank you,” I tell him as I hurry through the door.
Inside the stall, I realize that going pee in a freaking gown is more difficult than it should be.
How are women supposed to hold this much fabric while doing their business? This is why we normally go to the bathroom in packs.
My chest clenches at the thought, reminding me that it’s been far too long since I’ve seen Blake. I make a mental note to text her and finish up in the stall.
I’m washing my hands when I hear, “You.”
My hands pause under the faucet as I blink. Looking in the mirror, I see someone standing behind me by the door. “Hi, Clara.”
She pushes off the wall where she was leaning and approaches, glowering at me. Her words come out a bit slurred. “You must think you’ve won.”
“Excuse me?” I ask as I dry my hands on a paper towel and toss it in the trash.
Clara places a hand on the counter like she can’t stand on her own. “Showing up here with all three of them drooling after you.”
I flinch, exhaling sharply. “What? They weren’t—”
“You mean nothing to them,” she spits at me and holds up a finger. “I give you one more week, and then they’ll throw your ass out on the curb with the rest of the trash.”
“You need to leave,” I respond firmly.
“I know who you are, Savannah Bartlett. You’re not fooling anyone.” My body freezes at her use of my father’s last name. I don’t know how she figured it out. “You don’t belong here. You’re the daughter of a psychopath. You’re probably just as crazy as he is.”
Her words are like a slap in the face, and I don’t plan on sticking around to let her do it again. I push past her and dart out the door.
“Savannah?” I hear Hollis call out to me, but I ignore him. “Shit. We have a situation…” I assume he’s talking into his hidden microphone, but I don’t bother to listen to the rest of his commands.
I’m out the main doors and back on the red carpet when the flashes blind me again. I hold my hands up in an attempt to shield my eyes. But this time I don’t have Hunter to help me through the leeches.
“Ms. Bartlett!”
“Ms. Bartlett, over here!”
“Savannah, look to the camera!”
I shove my way through, not caring about the people I might be hurting along the way. They don’t care about my privacy, so I don’t care about their comfort.
There’s a jerk on my arm, and I’m pulled up short. “Long time no see, Savannah.”
My eyes adjust, discovering a microphone shoved in my face. Blonde hair and bright red lips come into view. “Sherry,” I reply curtly. Behind her, a cameraman points his camera directly at us.
Sherry Jenkins is the lowest of the low. She’s the definition of self-serving. She used to corner me anywhere and everywhere when John was on trial. I thought I saw the last of her when he was found guilty.
Guess not.
“Would you mind answering some questions?” Sherry moves the microphone closer to my mouth.
I push her hand away. “I’m not taking any questions at this time.”
She raises the microphone again, despite my answer. “Does Hunter Reed know who you are? Did you tell him that your father is the infamous serial killer, John the Baptist?”
Shaking my head, I struggle to keep it together. My hands flex at my sides, desperate for my knife. “Get out of my way.”
Sherry acts as if I haven’t spoken at all. “Did you lie to Hunter Reed to get to his money? Is it true you made him take you on a shopping spree where you spent tens of thousands of dollars?”
Her questions throw me off balance. Falling for her trap, I respond, “What? No.”
“Out of the way, Sherry,” a voice growls from behind me, and a set of familiar hands engulf my arms, pulling me back into a rigid body.
“Hunter Reed,” Sherry acknowledges. “Good. I have some questions for you, too.”
“If you say a single thing about Savannah on the air, I will sue you for slander,” he threatens.
“You know that’ll never hold up in court. Slander cases hardly ever rule in the plaintiff’s favor,” she retorts with a laugh.
Rory steps forward, appearing at my side. His sneer is directed at Sherry. “Maybe not. But it’ll be a long, arduous process with lots of lawyer’s fees. We have the means to drag it out as long as we live. Do you?”
Luke pushes someone aside and stands next to me. “Think before you speak, Sherry Jenkins. We have the best law firm in the city on retainer.”
Sherry’s jaw works back and forth, and she finally steps aside.
“We’re leaving,” Hunter says in my ear.
“Thank God,” I respond as Hunter steps around me, guiding the four of us to a black vehicle idling at the curb.
One of Hollis’ men stand at the rear door and open it for us.
The middle seats and back bench of the car face each other.
Hunter and I take up the back bench, while Rory and Luke occupy the middle seats.
I haven’t even buckled myself in when the car peels away and merges with traffic. The tears begin to fall, and my hands shake, making it impossible to see my seatbelt.
“We got you, Trouble,” Luke whispers as his hands cover mine, and he buckles my seatbelt for me.
Hunter wraps an arm around me and pulls me into his side. “I’m so sorry, Heartbreaker.”
“It’s okay to cry it out, Dream Girl. We’ll be here to help you pick up the pieces.”
Trusting them to follow through, my heart shatters.