13. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Declan
W hen I walked into the Greasy Skillet the other morning, I heard the asshole behind the counter asking my woman out. That’s right, Savannah is mine. She is unaware of how beautiful she is and how every man in her vicinity stares at her. Chet and I are going to have words. He’s going to keep his eyes off Savannah and his mouth shut. If he brings his pencil dick anywhere near her, I’ll shove his ass into a woodchipper, and no one will ever hear from him again.
While I was texting a friend who is a private eye and specializes in spy tech, I noticed Savannah watching, rolling her eyes, and getting jealous because I’m sure she assumed I was texting a woman. Her getting jealous over me made my dick harder than I’ve ever been, and it proves that I’m doing the right thing, even if some would consider it extreme. It also tells me she’s feeling this intense pull between us as much as I am.
When I leave the diner, I stop by Savannah’s car, which is parked in the parking lot. Adding the GPS tracker to her car, I can’t help smiling to myself. All I think about day and night is her, and at first it pissed me off. Now, I’ve accepted it, embraced it even.
I asked her for her phone number, and she straight-up lied to my face. She said she didn’t have one, but I know that’s a lie because I’ve seen her cheap burner phone lying on her nightstand. Since she doesn’t know I’ve been inside her house, I can’t exactly admit that I know she has a phone, but she’ll know soon. I don’t plan on hiding my obsession much longer.
That reminds me, I need to get her a better phone. I also want to check with Mason and see what he’s found out about this Derek guy, the man who is haunting Savannah in her nightmares.
Sending my brother a quick text, I tell Savannah to bring me a coffee to go so I can hit the cell phone store. I want her to have a way to contact me in case she or Kenzi need anything. The cheap gas station burner phone just won’t do. My girls are going to have the best of everything.
In the store, I grab the nicest cell phone available. It’s pricey. Over a thousand dollars, but money isn’t an object for me. Ever since my family fell apart, I have thrown myself into my lumber company, and I’ve made a lot of money. I program my number, Mason’s number, and my mom’s number into the phone. Then, I head over to the sheriff’s station to talk to Mason.
My brother’s dream as a kid was to be a cop. He moved up through the ranks and then over to the sheriff’s department, where he’s now the town sheriff. He’s a good man, and he’s also loyal to his family, so I know I can trust him to help me keep the girls safe. The only rift that ever came between us was Lisa. He hated her from the beginning and kept warning me. Of course, I got pissed off, but he was right all along.
“What did you find out, brother?”
“Declan, you aren’t going to like what I’ve found.”
Mason’s eyes meet mine, worry etched on his face. I can tell by his expression that the information he’s found on Savannah will not be easy to hear.
“Savannah is married. Her husband, Derek Anderson, is a police detective in the town that is listed as her previous address. The Parkers here in town are paying her cash and there is no paper trail. Did you know Mom is taking cash for rent on your cabin?” Mase pauses, expecting me to comment, but I merely raise an eyebrow. He huffs and continues, “He’s put out a missing person report on both his wife Savannah and his daughter. A BOLO and a stop and hold have both been issued. If she gets stopped by any cops outside of my office, she’s going to be held until he gets here. He claims Savannah is mentally ill and poses a danger to the child, Mckenzi Anderson. He even got a judge to sign the emergency custody order. If he shows up, we must hand over the little girl, and he wants Savannah admitted into a psychiatric hospital until he gives further instruction.”
No one, absolutely no one, is going to dare to even think about putting my woman in a psychiatric hospital. “Mason, Savannah isn’t crazy. She’s petrified. I’ve witnessed her nights of torment, where she thrashes violently in her sleep, pleading desperately for safety. I’ve heard her scream his name, her voice trembling with fear and anguish.”
Mason’s brows furrow in confusion; when he responds, his voice is filled with disbelief. “What on earth, Declan? How could you possibly know what she says in her sleep?”
I lower my eyes in shame because I’ve given away too much.
“My God, are you stalking this woman and her kid?” I don’t think I’ve ever seen the look on my brother’s face that I’m seeing right now. The air in the room feels heavy with tension as he fixes his gaze on me. The cloying, uncomfortable silence broken only by the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.
Not able to bear seeing the worry and disappointment etched on his face any longer, I desperately attempt to explain myself. “I wouldn’t exactly call it stalking. I’m watching out for them… while they sleep.” Even as I hear the words come out of my mouth, I know I sound crazy.
“Declan, listen to me. This situation is like walking on thin ice. You can’t afford to develop an emotional connection with a married woman, little brother. It’s a risky path to tread, like dancing on a tightrope with the wind howling in your ears.”
“She’s not fucking married, or she won’t be for long, because this motherfucker has hurt those girls and I’m going to kill him for it,” I declare, my words filled with rage.
“Remember, brother, I’m still a cop. You can’t say things like that to me.” He sighs and scrapes a hand down his face.
“You never let me forget, Mason, but hear me on this. If that motherfucker touches Savannah or her daughter, I am going to rip him to pieces.”
Mason’s eyes flash with worry as he throws his head back and growls. “FUCK! You are in too deep already.”
“She’s mine, and that little girl is mine to protect. Whatever this detective asshole is playing at, he’s lying. Savannah is not mentally ill. She’s fucking traumatized. She loves that little girl, is an exemplary mother, and I’m going to make sure that he doesn’t find them. And if he does, I’m going to be here to protect them, no matter the cost. ”
“There’s been talk and speculation that he’s involved in some shady activities, casting doubts on his credibility as a police officer. There were complaints filed by civilians that Derek used his authority as an officer to coax them into sex. One woman called the police because she was being beaten by her boyfriend. When Derek arrived, the boyfriend had taken off. Derek threatened this woman, saying he would go to court and make sure that she lost her one-year-old son to this creep if she didn’t have sex with him. And get this, the report was buried.”
Shaking my head in disbelief at what I was hearing, I realize I have my work cut out for me if Derek Anderson has someone covering up his crimes in the department. It must be someone higher than he is for them to bury an allegation that serious.
“I will do what I can to cover Savannah’s existence here in Magnolia Falls, but with his resources, he is going to find her.” The look on Mason’s face is grim, and I know he’s right.
“Thanks, Mase. Just give me time to find out her secrets and to come up with a way to protect them.”
Mason pins me with a serious expression. “Declan, if we do this, you have to be all in. You can’t change your mind later. There are things that could put us behind bars and those two girls in serious danger.”
“Savannah and Kenzi are mine, Mason. Mine to protect, and I’m all in. She doesn’t know what’s coming for her, but that woman is going to have my ring on her finger, my last name, and my baby in her as soon as I can convince her she’s mine.”
“I’m glad to see you looking alive again, little brother. I’ll do whatever I can to help you and protect your girls.” He gives me a reluctant nod as I leave.
I can’t believe it! The woman I’ve been sneaking in to watch sleep and following around town is fucking married. I’m becoming more obsessed with her by the day, and she’s married to another man. That won’t work for me. I need to figure out how to get rid of this Derek so Kenzi and Savannah can become mine officially. And more importantly, so that they are both safe from whatever he’s done to scare them.
Deciding that I need to see Kenzi and Savannah at all times, I get the latest and best camera equipment. Going inside the cabin that she rents from me, I get to work installing the cameras. If that dirty motherfucker comes near them, I will know and be able to come and keep them safe. This is the story I keep telling myself to justify my actions.
The phone has been set up already, but I’ve added a tracking app and cloned the number so I can see all the messages Savannah sends or receives, as well as listening in on any phone calls she makes. If that woman thinks she’s going to be calling her husband, she’s in for a big surprise. There won’t be any men in her life except me from this point on, and when I’m able, I’m going to fuck the rest of them out of her memories. My cock will be the only one she remembers.
I have to be careful with Savannah because it’s clear that she’s fragile and traumatized, but when it’s safe to fuck her, I’m going to fill her with my cum and make sure she gets pregnant again. Kenzi will love being a big sister, and I can’t wait to see Savannah’s belly grow and her body change. It makes me hard just thinking about her filling out and being pregnant with my kid.
Shaking those thoughts off, I try to focus on what I’m doing.
Once the camera equipment is all in place, I go into Savannah’s room and start rifling through her drawers and closet. I find three other men’s shirts besides the one she wore to bed last night. Fuck that. These shirts are getting burned, and she’s never wearing another man’s clothes against her delicate skin again. I take them out but replace them with my own. She’s mine even if she doesn’t know it yet.