24. Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Declan
K enzi, worn out from her day, dozes off in the back seat during the trip home. Turning off the engine, I climb out and go around, unbuckling her from the car seat. Savannah approaches the door of her cabin, while I cradle Kenzi in my arms, relishing in the warmth of the setting sun on our skin. She enters a few seconds before me, and as I approach, I hear a piercing scream coming from inside.
Sprinting with all my might, I burst through the door and find Savannah kneeling on the floor, her hands clasped over her mouth, tears streaming down her face, clutching a baby photo of Kenzi.
My heart races as I survey the room, broken furniture and shattered glass is strewn everywhere, a chilling tension hanging in the air. Every surface in the kitchen is covered in fragments of broken dishes, and worst of all, a heartbreaking sight that brings tears to my eyes, shreds of torn pictures of Kenzi litter the floor. Moving as quickly as I can, with Kenzi still in my arms, I walk through the house, inspecting the damage. With every step I take, my heart thumps in my chest; I’m filled with dread about what awaits me in Savannah’s bedroom. The scene that greets me is utterly chilling—her clothes scattered across the floor, torn and shredded.
Savannah follows behind me, a gasp escaping her mouth at the sight. Tremors course through her hands as she reaches out, her cheeks streaked with tears. “Give me my daughter.”
My heart races as I feel a sudden urgency to have her by my side, fearing the unknown dangers that await us. The urgency in my voice rises as I whisper, “We are going to leave as soon as we can.”
Tears continue to stream down her face as she speaks, her voice choked with sorrow, her words a jumbled mess of heartbreak and despair, “No, I need to leave town. I have to take Kenzi and run, Declan.”
It breaks my heart to see Savannah in such a panic; I realize, in this moment, I need to take charge. She’s not leaving me because I’m going to take care of her.
“Baby girl, stop and listen. I’m going to help you, but you need to calm down.”
The sternness of my tone must wake Kenzi, because I watch powerless as her eyes widen in terror as she blinks away the sleep. Tears stream down her chubby little face, and her tiny body trembles with fear .
“Stay here and hold Kenzi. I need to call Mason.” My voice drips with the authority that I know she responds to, as my hands delve into my pocket to retrieve my cell phone.
Savannah clutches at her chest, her body shaking, tears streaming down her face in a torrent of pure anguish. “He’s coming to kill me. I’m dead. Please take care of Kenzi,” she pleads, and her shoulders slump in defeat.
“Look at me, Savannah. I won’t allow you to die, and I’m going to protect you. You aren’t running. I’m calling Mason, but I need you to stay calm and sit with Kenzi. His officers will be here soon, but we don’t know where there might be someone hiding. Don’t leave this spot,” I instruct her as I guide her to sit down on a chair in the room’s corner. She’s now holding her daughter and concentrating on soothing and calming her, so I calculate I have a few minutes before she freaks out again.
Putting my phone to my ear, I wait for Mason to answer the phone.
“Hello. Sheriff Walker speaking.”
“Mason, I need you to come to Savannah’s,” I bark. “Someone broke in and destroyed everything in her house.” As I walk around the room, staying close to Savannah and Kenzi, but observing the damage, glass crunches under my feet.
“I’m recruiting additional men for her protection,” Mase relays, worry evident in his voice. He knows as well as I do, her safety is hanging by a thread. “We’ll leave them stationed outside wherever she’s staying, to watch for the son of a bitch.”
“She’s going to be staying with me, so have them meet us there later.” My plans for her to move in just became imminent.
“I’m on my way, Dec.” He hangs up and I turn back around, seeing a huge butcher’s knife sticking out of the center of the bed. The mattress is slashed all over, but the knife there makes it look more ominous.
Pacing the length of the bedroom, back and forth, I wait for my brother and his officers to arrive. Once they do, I quickly inform them that Savannah and Kenzi are heading to my house with me. It’s not safe for a small child with all the broken glass and a butcher’s knife in the mattress. There’s no way I’m touching anything or starting cleanup until they check for that son of a bitch’s fingerprints. I know he did this, and Savannah knows it, too. That’s why she stares off into the distance, tears streaming down her face.
Overflowing with feelings of protectiveness, I perch on the arm of the chair that Savannah is sitting in and wrap my arms around her and our little girl. Trying to comfort her while Mason asks questions and takes a report. As soon as he finishes, I try to gather together what I can that belongs to Kenzi, so she has clean clothes and some toys to take with us. There is a squad car in front of my cabin, and the officers wave us on our way into my house.
Preparing Kenzi for bed, we dress her in one of the few pieces of her clothing that wasn’t ruined. There was no way in hell I’m putting our daughter in the bedroom away from us tonight, so we put her in my bed between us. Then, Savannah and I take turns having a shower, and I give her a pair of jogging pants and a T-shirt I bought for her. I’m thankful that I’ve bought her so many clothes, since the ones at her house were all ruined.
As we settle into bed, Savannah holds Kenzi in her arms, and I lay behind her wrapped around her tightly. That way I know both my girls are safe as we sleep.
No one is coming into this house and taking what belongs to me. Tomorrow, I’ll catch up with Mase and make plans, but tonight, I’m prepared to protect both of them with my life if I have to.
The next morning, the sound of Kenzi playing fills the kitchen as I brew the coffee and prepare a delicious breakfast. Savannah’s hands shake as she carefully fastens Kenzi’s buttons, her eyes darting around the room, afraid of what might lurk in the shadows. We have to go out and find them some more clothes and Kenzi needs some toys. I’ve already purchased a lot for Savannah, wanting her to stay at my house, but I didn’t know Kenzi’s sizes and what was appropriate for her age. The room that I fixed for her is pink and princessy but there are still things she needs. The idea of a man sinking to such depths as to ruin his own child’s possessions gives me goose bumps.
Mason’s knock on the door echoes through the silent house, causing both girls to tremble in fear as their breakfast remains untouched. They are both worried Derek might come to the house, but I assure them that the lunatic wouldn’t be knocking on the door. I also remind them that the police have a patrol car in front of our house.
A somber expression fills Savannah’s face as she quietly catches on. “Mason,” she whispers, her voice trembling, “I have to know… if it has anything to do with me, please tell me.”
Mason gives her a serious stare but says nothing. Savannah huffs in frustration.
“I’ll fetch you some coffee,” she says, her voice quivering, her hands shaking as she reaches for the mugs, dreading the conversation that awaits.
A flicker of sorrow crosses Mason’s face as he glances in my direction, silently expressing his longing for us to talk away from Savannah and Kenzi’s presence.
“I’ve got information on Derek. He’s on leave from the police department. The new captain there has noticed some things, and he’s on probation. He’s coked out and has to get off the drugs in order to keep his job. Word is that the new captain is cleaning house. Whole department’s corrupt by the sounds of it.”
“So that’s how he has time to be in Magnolia Falls,” I murmur.
“Yep, and I found out he’s staying at The Lavander Inn downtown,” Mason adds.
“We need to talk, Declan, about me getting back to work,” Savannah interrupts.
“Savannah, I told you that you don’t need to work. You can stay at home, and I will take care of you.”
Tears well up in her eyes, her voice chokes with sorrow as she insists, “I’m not someone who takes advantage of others. I’ll pay my own way, Declan. With all of our stuff destroyed, I need to work even more than before. Since you cost me the job at the bar, I’m stuck at the diner.”
Mason pipes up, “Declan, you have that office you’ve been saying you were going to hire someone to clean up and run. What about having Savannah do it? You need someone reliable, and I’m sure she’s capable of filing the bills, organizing them, and recovering money from the unpaid ones. Dusting and cleaning up the office, getting it back into shape. It would pay enough.” He glances at Savannah. “You wouldn’t have to work two jobs or extra shifts anymore. It would help Declan make more money if you were there, getting the bills paid and the phones answered. He has no idea who’s paid him and who hasn’t. I bet you’ll find a lot of money he’s owed that has been lost in that mess.”
Savannah’s face lights up at the thought, which makes my heart swell. I love this woman. She and her daughter are the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“Savannah, that would be perfect! You would answer the phone, file the piles of bills that are lying around, and clean it up. Best of all, you will be with me, and I won’t have to think about that jerk ass at the diner hitting on you.”
As she catches sight of my pout, Savannah’s giggles bubble forth like a joyful melody. “You don’t have to worry,” she says softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, “I won’t ever accept Chet or anyone else’s advances. It seems I really like this big, burly lumberjack guy.”
“Good, because you’re mine, and he better get that through his head, or I’ll get it through to him with my fist.” My voice comes out in a growl.
“I need to work a notice out for the diner. I can’t leave the Parkers hanging. So, I’ll give them two weeks’ notice, and then I can help you out in your office.” Her soft hand touches the side of my cheek. “Okay?”
“Okay,” I concede reluctantly.