Chapter 14 #3
“They sign nondisclosure agreements when they join,” Thayer says. “And failure to abide by the agreement brings…” he pauses. “Serious consequences.”
So they rely on the Gerard family name to ensure safety and anonymity. I make the logical conclusion that fear of Thayer has a lot to do with this.
“There’s no real way of being completely bulletproof.” His grip tightens, and I feel the hidden implication. Which is why I’m here.
“Get Milo on the phone,” Thayer says.
“No need.” Lyam clears his throat. “I had him brought here.”
Thayer gently puts me on the floor in front of him. “I’m going to have a talk with him.”
“Thayer,” Fabien says in a warning tone. “Don’t overdo it.”
Thayer shrugs. “Of course not.”
Even Lyam’s on his feet. “Thayer, for real, man—”
“I said I won’t overdo it,” Thayer replies. “Now you two do your fucking jobs. My sources say they went after our old stomping grounds. They found no one there but they asked around. Likely knew that we’d relocate.”
“Did anyone tell them anything?”
“We don’t know. Savannah, you’ll come with me.”
Nicolette pales. “Thayer, you can’t take her with you. Not if you’re going to—if you’re—”
“I’ve got this, Nicolette.” Thayer’s voice is like ice. I stare at him and then my sister on the screen. “She’ll be safe.”
Nicolette cringes and looks at Fabien, who gives her an impassive look.
Oh, lovely.
“Can I have a word with my sister?” I ask.
Thayer growls but nods. “Yes, of course. Take it in there.” He jerks his chin to the glass-paneled room.
“Thank you,” I whisper. I take the tablet with me.
“Hey,” I say warmly to her after I close the door.
She looks at me with concern. “You okay?”
“Of course. I’m fine. I just wanted to talk to you about something.”
“What’s that?”
I look over my shoulder and head to the bathroom.
I sit on the side of the huge tub and cross my arms. “Can you… tell me…” I look over my shoulder and listen.
Thayer’s in deep conversation with Lyam and neither are paying any attention to me.
On the other side of the tablet, Fabien’s left the room.
“Why do they call him Le Sauvage?” I whisper.
“I’ll tell you what I know if you answer me an honest question,” she retorts. I grumble but nod.
“Okay, fine.”
Please don’t ask me about sex, please don’t ask me about sex.
“Are you two a couple? Or are you… keeping things just… friendly?” She squirms uncomfortably. Then we’ll get right down to it.
“Couple. Anything else?”
Nicolette’s eyes widen. “Oh, God. Are you serious?”
“Nicolette,” I say seriously. “Listen, we don’t have time to talk about this, but I just want to remind you I’m an adult, okay?”
Cringing, she blows out a breath. “Okay. Alright, yes, yes, I know, you’re an adult. And I love Thayer like a brother, it’s just that—well, like you said. They call him The Savage.”
I look over my shoulder to see if he’s there, but it looks as if he’s given us privacy. I ask her in a rush of words, “Tell me what you know.”
She bites her lip. “Okay, alright, so… lemme think. Well, they say he’s the first to show loyalty and bravery in a showdown. Like he will take the side of whoever’s cause he supports no matter the consequences.”
So that sounds commendable, not damnable.
She continues. “He’s been known to outwit police officers in a high-speed chase. He drives like a damn demon.”
I nod. Haven’t seen him drive yet but I’ve seen the demon-thing alright.
But none of those things are savage.
She speaks in a hushed whisper all in a rush, trying to tell me quickly.
“He once firebombed an enemy’s private property. The crime? Sex trafficking.”
Almost heroic, if you ask me—
Her voice gets even quieter. “He’ll ruthlessly punish
people he thinks deserve it.”
My belly clenches. You don’t say?
“He once… tortured someone to death and left him tied to a flagpole outside an enemy hideout as a warning. The guy he punished was a rapist.”
Now we’re getting into some savagery.
“He drowned an early recruit who betrayed his family in the Seine. And once, when someone came into Le Luxe without permission, with the apparent intent to harm one of his girls? He violently interrogated him. I didn’t see it, but I… heard it.” She shudders.
I have to ignore the surge of jealousy at the phrase one of his girls, but it almost makes me gloss over the whole violently interrogated thing.
“You forgot throwing the trafficker off the roof,” says a deep, not very amused voice, behind me. “I’ve also kidnapped various people for ransom, and once set a car on fire when the motherfucker who double-crossed my mother was still inside. Hmm. What am I forgetting?”
Nicolette squeals. “She asked, Thayer, and you be nice to her!”
Thayer shakes his head. “Jesus, Nicolette. I’ve had enough of this.” He crosses the room to me and shuts off the tablet. “Conversation over.” He tosses the tablet across the room. It crashes against the wall and shatters.
“Thayer!”
I stare at him, not sure what to say. My heart beats so fast I feel faint.
Without a word, he grabs my hand and yanks me to the other room. Lyam’s gone.
I’m alone with the man called The Savage.