Chapter 40
FORTY
SAVANNAH
I guess the amount of times I climbed in and out of Logan’s window over the years came in handy, because that’s exactly how I escaped the cottage.
I knew everyone would argue about me heading back to the dorms, and I honestly wasn’t in the mood to deal with it, so I did what any sane person would do—I waited until I was alone, climbed out the window and ran.
Okay, so maybe not sane, but what other option did I have? I felt like a goddamn zoo exhibit, being stared at as though I’d either bite someone or run away at any moment.
I guess in a way, they were right, because I did run.
I just… I need to be alone. I’ve been in that cottage for over a week, taking the time to heal as best as I could, but I need more than to heal physically.
I need time to process the fact that sooner or later, Harley’s going to find out the truth—it’s inevitable.
I need to process what happened to me and what I did.
I need to come to terms with the fact that I killed someone, and instead of calling the cops, they got rid of the body.
Lana, I understand. She’s always been… different, and it stands to reason Cole would go along with anything she would want, but Harley? That’s taking me longer to make sense of.
Why would he implicate himself like that for me? I can’t understand it.
Don’t get me wrong, even though I absolutely shouldn’t be, I am glad things happened the way they did. If they had gone to the police, my father would be the first person they notified, and then it would be me ending up somewhere in an unmarked grave.
So yeah, I’m grateful. Confused and slightly disturbed, but still grateful.
I’m sure my father will realize something went wrong sooner or later, but I’m hoping he just thinks the guy he paid up and left, rather than it having anything to do with me. It’s a solid bet.
I go the long way home, not wanting to walk past the alleyway because I’d much rather continue to be numb to everything than feel it all.
The tension drops from my shoulders as I reach my building and let myself inside, reveling in the feeling of peace that washes over me at the familiar surroundings.
My dorm is the one place on earth that is mine. I don’t have to pretend or walk on eggshells; I can just be me without fear of repercussions.
I head up the stairs, hyper vigilant. This may be my safe space, and I doubt my father would send someone to my dorm since it could leave witnesses, but everything is still raw, and I’m not about to just walk around without paying attention to what’s happening.
I finally get to my floor and open the door to my room, breathing a sigh of relief when I see the familiar surroundings.
I decorated in tones of grays and blacks, modern furniture and artwork, nothing too bright, but making sure the place isn’t dull, either. This is the first place that I’ve ever felt fractionally safe, the first place that felt like mine.
Sure, my father pays for my accommodation, but he’s never been here. He’s never even set foot on campus, which is exactly how I like it and hope to God it stays that way.
I take off the jacket I borrowed from Logan’s closet, leaving me in a pair of leggings and a shirt that Lana had insisted I wear, and head toward the bathroom for a shower. Only, when I get farther into the room, I realize I’m not alone.
Sitting in the chair in the corner of the room is a woman with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, wearing a pantsuit and a soft smile on her lips. I’ve seen her before and know exactly who she is because Harley is the absolute double of her.
But what fuck is she doing inside my dorm?
“Mrs. Thorn,” I murmur hesitantly and take a step back, only now realizing I left my phone in the pocket of a jacket I’d just hung up.
“Savannah,” she says warmly, and I’m caught between being polite and getting the fuck out of here. Years of training to be the perfect daughter coming back in full force, and I have to fight myself to not give in and just put on the dutiful mask.
Whatever reason she has for being here, it can’t be good. How could it be when she’s literally broken in?
She must know where my thoughts are because she sighs and says, “I’m not here to hurt you or threaten you or whatever it is you’re thinking. I’m only here to talk, and to, hopefully, help you, if you’ll let me.”
She… she wants to help me?
How on earth could she possibly help me, and why? Does she not know what I did to her husband? To her son? To her family? Fuck, I went sneaking around her house and stole documents from her husband’s computer, and she’s here to help me? It doesn’t make any sense.
Still, there’s something in my gut that’s screaming at me to trust her.
I take a seat on the couch, making sure I’m far enough away from her so that I can reach the door if I need to and wait to see what she has to say.
She doesn’t keep me waiting long. No, she reaches to her side and grabs a folder from her bag, leaning forward to place it on the table between us.
“These are all the files I’ve compiled on your father.
They contain everything I could find, and while I’m sure there’s more out there beyond my reach, this is the most I could gather in such a short amount of time.
Included is the blackmail he used against my husband, though I made sure to leave out your involvement.
I don’t know the depths of what he’s threatened you with, but I hope this can help you in some way. ”
I’m… stunned.
Absolutely speechless.
I’d heard rumors about the type of person she was. That she was nothing like other people in our social circles, but I didn’t expect this, and it just doesn’t make any sense.
“You’d implicate your husband, just to help me?
If I took this to the press or police”—I nod towards the folder—“couldn’t he be arrested?
If it was big enough for him to quit his career, then it can’t be good.
My father clearly used whatever evidence there is as blackmail, and yet, you’re just handing it over for me to use however I please? ”
Mrs. Thorn tilts her head to the side, her brows creasing in a way that looks so much like Harley, it makes my breath halt. “You didn’t read the files you stole?” she asks, and I swallow thickly.
No, I didn’t read them, because I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to be implicated in my father’s affairs more than I already was.
I shake my head silently, and a small smile curves her lips. “The files you stole wouldn’t necessarily be bad for my husband, Savannah. It’s me they would implicate.”
That… makes even less sense.
“And yet you’re giving me everything I need to make it public? Why would you do that?”
Silence.
She studies me before flicking her gaze around the room.
Her attention settles on the picture I have above the mantle.
It’s a picture of a Ferris wheel, to represent both the best and worst times of my life.
I fidget in my seat, pulling on the sleeves of my shirt, and she brings her attention back to me.
“My son sees something in you, and I trust him. So, if implicating myself to help you is what I have to do to make him happy, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
My heart stalls, and my breathing picks up. “Does he… does he know about all of this?” I ask, wondering if this is why he’s suddenly had a change of heart and has been almost friendly to me, rather than the usual flares and hate-filled looks.
“I think he suspects there’s more to the story than what he knows, but he hasn’t gotten to the truth. Harley won’t find out from me, Savannah. That’s something that needs to come from you, and you alone.” She smiles mischievously and stands. “I hope I’ll see you soon.”
I nod mutely, in a daze, as she gathers her things and lets herself out.
I don’t know what just happened. It feels surreal, and while I’m sure there’s plenty of things that could help me in that folder, I won’t be using it.
How can I? I’ve already done enough to the Thorn family, and I’m not about to make things even worse.
But I do need to do something.
I can’t let my father continue doing the things he’s doing. I just need to find a way to stop him that will benefit everyone.