15. Chapter Fourteen Savannah
Chapter Fourteen: Savannah
One Hour Ago…
Watching Rhys walk away as I sit on the private plane bound for San Diego makes my heart crack right in two.
Sadness washes over me, and my vision swims with tears.
How did I let him sneak into my heart and penetrate it so deeply?
I can’t explain it, but he just disappeared from my sight, and I miss him already.
I miss him with a fierceness that borders on scary, because it proves I’ve fallen so much harder than I realized.
He left it up to me, and I made the decision to leave.
The only person I should be upset with is myself.
Doubts swirl around in my head, and I question whether I made the wrong choice.
Should I be on a flight to Istanbul right now instead of San Diego?
Did I just mess up the best thing that ever happened to me?
“Shit,” I whisper, glancing up to see the flight attendant by the door. We haven’t left yet. Maybe there’s still time.
Without thinking too hard about my crazy decision, I unbuckle my seat belt, about to stand up and demand she let me off, when I realize she’s opening the door, not locking it.
I hesitate, wondering what’s going on. With a confused frown, I glance out my window, trying to see, but my view is obstructed by the wing. Then my heart soars. Maybe Rhys came back for me!
The door swings outward and my hopes crash when I see several unfamiliar men board.
I’m about to ask what’s going on, but press my lips together when the man clearly in charge pins me with a narrowed look.
He reeks of wealth, from his fancy, perfectly-tailored suit to his sparkling diamond tie tack and the large expensive-looking watch on his wrist. Touches of gray flash at his temples, and if it weren’t for his cold stare, he might be attractive.
“Hello, Savannah. I know we haven’t officially met yet, but I’m Adam Voss. I believe you snuck into my home uninvited and helped steal a very valuable book. Mrs. Peacock. In the library.” He sends me an arrogant, all-knowing smirk. “Correct?”
I swallow hard. Shit. This is so not good.
I’m deciding how to play this off, when he shakes his head and motions for me to come forward.
I don’t know much about the billionaire, but I can already tell he likes to be in control and deliver orders.
The men on either side of him appear ready, even eager, to jump and do his bidding.
I also get the feeling Voss likes getting his way and can be extremely lethal when he wants to be.
“Don’t bother lying to me. I saw everything on the security footage. I know you were with Laurent, that fucking useless traitor,” he grumbles. “But he’s going to return my property—in exchange for your life.”
I am so out of my league. I definitely didn’t sign up for this.
I’m supposed to be going home, getting away from Laurent’s world of mystery and danger.
But apparently that’s not happening, so it’s time to pull it together and put on a brave face.
Harper told me some crazy stories about the trouble she experienced while hiding out with Ryland’s team, and she managed to think on the fly and escape danger unscathed. Now I need to do the same.
“My life doesn’t mean anything to him,” I bluff. “In case you aren’t aware, he just left me. He chose the sapphire over me.” I hope my lies really are lies. I also hope Voss believes what I’m saying.
He seems to be considering my words for a moment then shrugs. “If I were you, I’d hope that’s not true. Otherwise, you’re already dead.”
Fear twists my insides, and I need to escape. Fast. But before I can try to bolt past them and get off the jet, the flight attendant closes the door and locks it. “What’s going on?” I demand, standing up. “I want off. Now.”
Voss strides over, using his taller and bigger frame to try to intimidate me. But I stand my ground, refusing to show how much my nerves are jangling. “You’re not getting off this jet until we land in Turkey.”
“What?”
“You heard me. We’re flying to Istanbul to find the sapphire.
” His hand covers my shoulder and he shoves me back down into my seat.
Leaning down so we’re at eye level, he locks gazes with mine and, in a low, icy voice, he threatens, “Now buckle up, little thief. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. ”
With shaking hands, I quickly grab the ends of the lap belt and snap them together.
“Prepare for departure,” the flight attendant announces, and begins to bustle around, making sure everything is in order and like she isn’t aiding in my kidnapping.
Before I know it, we’re barreling down the runway and taking off into the cloudy sky. I’m clutching the armrests so hard my hands start hurting. Loosening my grip, I jolt when the pilot’s voice blasts through the speaker system, informing us the flight will be just under twelve hours.
Great. Slumping down in my seat, I try to control my rising panic and force my brain to think rational thoughts.
But I keep coming back to one unnerving, very terrifying fact—if Rhys doesn’t bring Voss the book, I’m going to die.
And even if Rhys comes to my rescue and follows through with the trade, Voss still might kill me and Rhys.
Glancing over at Voss, I study him more closely.
The easy way he reclines in the seat across from me.
Like he’s used to getting everything he wants and doesn’t have a care in the world.
I suppose that’s true when you have billions of dollars.
Everything comes far too easily, and he’s surrounded by people telling him yes all day.
Screw that. I’m going to make this whole thing as difficult as possible. I refuse to be another yes man in his life, meekly bowing down and accepting whatever fate he chooses to dole out.
No, I’m going to fight and stay alive, no matter what it takes.
Chewing on my lower lip, I rack my brain, trying to figure out my best way out of this. Currently, there’s no way to escape since I’m trapped on an airplane. But I can start to come up with ideas which might prove useful later. Ways to outsmart Voss and his hired thugs. Ways to protect Rhys.
If he comes.
Please, let him come.
But even as I’m thinking it, I remember his words loud and clear.
I’m no hero.
I completely disagree with that statement, and I know he’s going to prove me correct when he shows up in Istanbul. I’d be willing to bet my life on it.
Once we’ve been in the air for a while, Voss turns toward me, pulling out his phone. “Let’s call your boyfriend and fill him in,” he announces, and my heart climbs up my throat. It barely rings once before Rhys answers.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Laurent. I’m sitting here with your girlfriend and we decided to give you a call.
” I’m holding my breath, gripping the seat cushion.
“I’m going to offer you a deal,” Voss continues coolly, “and I suggest you take it. Otherwise, I promise you things will get very messy. Especially for Ms. Grant.”
“Let me talk to Savannah,” he demands.
Voss stands, reaches down, and yanks me out of my seat. His hand squeezes my wrist, deliberately cruel and rough, and, I swear, I can feel the bones grinding together.
I let out a pained yelp. “Rhys!”
“Leave her alone!” he yells through the phone, forcing Voss to pull it away from his ear with a low curse.
“Listen closely, Rhys,” Voss bites out. “Savannah is taking a little detour with me, and if you haven’t already guessed, we’re heading to Istanbul.
You’re going to meet us there with the book you stole from my library the night of the masquerade.
Don’t try to deny it. Your man missed a security cam, and I caught you both on the footage. ”
Rhys doesn’t say a word, neither confirming nor denying what we did.
“If you don’t come to the address I text you by noon tomorrow, your lady friend will blow up into tiny little pieces. Just like her restaurant did. A shame, too, because she is lovely.” Voss’s gaze rakes down my body, and I try to twist out of his iron hold.
My restaurant? He’s the asshole who destroyed it? Fury ignites, but I conceal it, forcing myself to remain calm and level-headed. That’s the only way I’m going to escape this situation unscathed.
“Don’t you touch her, enculé,” Rhys growls. I abruptly stop trying to jerk away, stunned by his tone. I’ve never heard him sound so fierce. So deadly. “Understand, motherfucker?”
“Bring the book,” Voss hisses then hangs up. He lets go of my wrist, shoving me, and I stumble against the edge of my seat.
“Where’s the meeting?” I ask carefully. The more intel I have, the better.
I’m also trying to slow down my rapid breathing and focus on something other than how Rhys sounded like he wanted to jump through the phone and beat Voss to a pulp.
We both need to keep our heads on straight, and Rhys was anything but logical.
A part of me knows it’s because he’s upset by the turn of events.
Is it also because he’s worried about me?
Yes, I know he’s worried. Underneath his gallant and debonair facade, there’s a loyal and protective man. And he’s coming for me. I know it. Without a doubt.
Voss relaxes, sitting back down in his seat. “What does it matter? I’m sorry to say it’s not going to end well for you.” His thin lips curl up in a nasty smirk. “But that’s what happens when you’re a prying little peacock. I clip your fucking wings.”
Think fast, Savvy. Make him change his mind or you’re dead.
“That would be a mistake,” I say carefully, a plan coming together in my head. If I can make him see my worth, see that he needs me, maybe he won’t kill me. At least, not right away. Not before I have a fighting chance to get out of this.
“Oh? And why is that?” He sends me a bored look.
“Because you don’t have all the clues to the sapphire’s location,” I taunt, going out on a limb.
The truth is, I have no idea what he knows.
He might have copied the pages in the book and deciphered all the clues already.
“And no one is more familiar with that story than me. I’ve probably read it a thousand times, and it still took me a second to realize the Mad Hatter’s poem was wrong.
” I give him a nonchalant shrug. “But if you’re so smart and I’m so worthless, I guess you’ll figure it out by yourself.
Hell, an intelligent man like you probably beat little ol’ me to it.
I bet you’ve known the sapphire’s location for days, haven’t you? ”
He shifts in his seat, looking incredibly annoyed. Yet also intrigued. “You figured out it was Istanbul?”
“Immediately,” I declare, waving a dismissive hand through the air.
“I assume you did, too since that’s where we’re heading?
” A muscle flexes in his cheek, and I have to bite back a laugh.
He’s freaking clueless. “What I don’t understand is why you want Laurent to bring you the book.
If you copied it and figured out all the clues—”
“I only copied half of it,” he grates out.
My eyebrows shoot up. “Oh! Well, then, you’re going to need a little more than that.
Since there are multiple clues and all.” I send him a pleasant, very satisfied smile, as I sit back in my seat and turn my focus out the window.
Taking attention away from a man who demands it is going to piss him off. At least, that’s what I’m banking on.
“No shit.” I don’t look back over at him, but I hear the dry, very annoyed tone in his voice.
Pressing my lips together so I don’t laugh, I continue gazing out at the sky. The man may have a ton of money, but I’m beginning to question his intelligence. Despite all the books I saw in his massive library, I’m beginning to wonder if he’s ever bothered to read a single one.
He clears his throat. “Maybe I misjudged you. Perhaps you’re turning out to be more useful than I first realized.”
Ya think, asswipe? Instead of saying what I really think, I turn back to him and feign surprise. Playing right into his enormous ego. “Who? Me?”
“If you’re that familiar with the story—”
“I am.” Firm and confident, playing a part I’m not entirely sure I feel.
“Then maybe my plans just changed.”
“How so?” I ask, unable to hide the suspicion from my voice.
“Once I get the book back from Laurent, I’ll kill him instead of you. And then you can find the rest of the clues in the story that will lead me to the sapphire.”
Oh, no. My stomach sinks, and I bump around in my seat as we hit a pocket of turbulence, feeling absolutely ill. What did I just do?