Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Savannah
I can’t believe he fucking tracked me.
Okay, I can, if I think about it. It’s not really out of character at all, but I can’t believe I let myself fall for anything that even resembled love, because I know now, he doesn’t love me. He doesn’t trust me. He kept me as his little pet, someone he could manipulate and control, but no more.
Not with these stakes.
I’m not the kind of person to sneak around.
I hate leaving him a note, but I know Thayer.
If I tell him to his face that I need space and time to think things over, he’s not going to let me leave.
He won’t let me go out on my own, no matter what security measures I take, because he doesn’t believe that I’d be safe.
He’d wrap me in bubble wrap if he could.
And I have a lot to think about. Oh, God, so much to think about. It isn’t just me anymore.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to quell the rising tide of emotion that threatens to strangle me. I draw in a breath and let it out slowly and think about my options.
I have no idea where I am, so leaving scares me. He blindfolded me when we came here, so I don’t know our exact location, but I do know we’re in Corsica.
I call Nicolette, but the call goes to voicemail. I consider calling Fabien, but I don’t know if he’s more loyal to his brother or his wife, so I don’t trust that option, either.
After the doctor left, I had some decisions to make.
I pause before leaving the closet, thinking about what my next steps should be.
Ignoring all the little trinkets and mementos of our play, and the way the whole closet smells like Thayer, I wonder what would be the easiest way for me to leave.
Then I remember what Nicolette told me. Fabien has a large stash of secret identities, for him and for her.
If I could get my hands on one of the fake ID’s, I could take a flight.
My mind races with possibilities and plans.
I’ll have to get away from here, whether I walk or somehow con my way into getting a ride. From there, I have to get to Paris.
The garden.
I could get to the garden from here and access GPS with a burner phone, call a ride, and head to one of the hotels in Corsica. I know which ones the Gerards own and which ones they don’t. Even if there was someone watching my every move, as he seems to think there is, I can sneak out that way.
No. I need to get to Paris, where I have more options. It’s not hard to get to Paris from Corsica. The biggest obstacle is actually leaving Le Luxe.
I hate sneaking, and would much rather just face this head-on, but I know how he is and what he’ll do.
I feel like I’m going to be sick, and this time I can’t blame the hormones. After everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve shared—and now the news I got today that will change everything—it feels as if I’m leaving a part of my own heart behind.
I know that I can’t trust feelings, that I need to rely on the next best logical move.
Gain clarity.
Step away.
Stay safe.
It’s time.
Just as a precaution, I wear one of my wigs and decide to take one of the weapons from the closet.
I slide the slim pistol he’s taught me to use in the side of a boot, in a little holster he’s had fashioned for that exact purpose.
I’ve never been allowed to use it without him, but I’m ready.
I find a stash of cash he’s got tucked into a bedside drawer and slide it into my bra.
For the love of God, I can’t believe he tracked me.
No more. No more.
I walk with purpose and confidence, so no one stops me on the way to the library, not a soul coming between me and my mission to escape.
Escape, like I’m a caged animal. I stifle the sudden need to cry.
I look around me with a growing sense of loss. I don’t want to leave the comfort and security of Le Luxe. I don’t want to leave Thayer.
I like it here.
To think… I thought I loved him.
On the way to the library, I casually walk by the bank of offices on the first floor, near one of the playrooms. I know Nicolette told me her change of clothes, and the disguises and false identities, were close.
Bingo. Feeling like a kid escaping from a store with a candy bar, I find one that looks closest to my disguise and slide the false passport into my pocket.
When I reach the library, I close the door behind me.
Sirens wail outside.
Sirens?
From the doorway I can see police vehicles surrounding the entrance to Le Luxe.
Oh, God. Have I made a mistake coming here?
Why is my first thought of Thayer?
I remind myself that I don’t need him to protect me. I can take care of myself.
At the sight of the police officers exiting their vehicles, my mind goes back to that night. I can still see the man they killed, crumpled and sprawled on the ground as blood seeped out of him onto the pavement, taking his life with it.
This isn’t a casual visit but a raid.
“Savannah?”
I look over my shoulder to see Cosette enter the library.
Shit.
I paste a smile on my face. Ugh. I have to get rid of her. “Hey. What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry,” she says, her face drawn as she shakes her head. “I’m really sorry.”
I give her a curious look. Why is she apologizing?
Movement outside catches my attention. Moments later, my heart leaps into my throat when I see Thayer being taken out in handcuffs. He has a look of stoic but grim determination on his face. Lyam prowls behind him, his phone to his ear.
Seeing him like this—helpless, under arrest—confirms my worst fear. He isn’t a man I can trust. Thayer can’t keep me safe anymore. This time, I allow myself the momentary weakness of shedding a tear. I wipe my cheeks and turn to face Cosette.
I stare for a moment, unsure of what I’m seeing. Cosette behind me, trembling, a syringe poised in her hand, ready to strike.
Adrenaline surges through me. I knock the syringe from her hand on instinct. She screams and sobs.
“They’ll kill him, Savannah, kill them all!” she chokes. “You have to let me!”
“Let you kill me? Oh hell no. What the fuck, Cosette? This isn’t you!”
“It’s—it won’t kill you, I promise.” Yeah, she’s not talking me into that.
When I shake my head at her, she lunges for me and I duck just in time, sending her sprawling onto one of the sofas.
It’s been a while since I’ve taken self-defense, but I remember the basics.
I don’t want to hurt her, but I can deflect.
Cosette isn’t a fighter, and she doesn’t want to hurt me either, but whoever “they” are have convinced her she has to. With my heart threatening to pound out of my chest, I launch myself at her.
“Please,” she begs as she falls to the floor. I feel sick. I don’t notice the syringe is back in her hand until she tries to stab me with it. No.
I have to get out of here.
I lift my arm and deflect her. When she stumbles, I elbow her, trying to ignore her cry of pain. I hate this, but I have to get out of here. I wrestle the syringe out of her hand, hold her, and feel tears blur my vision.
She said it won’t kill me. It’s for sedation then.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, before I sink the needle into her neck, shove her away, and run. She falls to the floor with a cry.
I yank the handle that leads to the garden, but it’s locked. I’m desperate to get out as Cosette stumbles behind me, coming after me. She sinks to her knees, her head wobbling from side to side.
“They’re going to kill me,” she whispers. “They’re going to kill us all. I’m sorry. I’ll cover for you as long as I can.” She sobs openly, falling forward on her hands.
I remember the passcode to Thayer’s lockbox and enter it as quickly as I can. I stifle a sob when the door opens. The date of his father’s death leads me out of here.
The garden’s vacant, but not far from here I can see the police cars. The flashing lights. Uniformed officers talking in clipped tones. I hide in a crouched position until they’re gone, scanning my surroundings.
I’ve hardly been out here. I don’t know where I am.
I call Nicolette on the burner phone again, but it still goes to voicemail. My stomach clenches in fear. Where is she?
In the distance, I see a sleek black car pull up to the curb and an elegant couple dressed in formal attire steps out. My heart races. They have a driver.
I wait until they enter Le Luxe before I jog to the car. The driver stares at me in shock when I point my gun at him.
“Get out of the car,” I say in a rush of words, “and I won’t hurt you.”
Ugh, I feel absolutely terrible threatening anyone at all. It feels so unnatural. “And I promise you’ll be compensated,” I add as an afterthought. I think of Cosette, Thayer being taken, Nicolette, and my need to stay safe, and a rush of adrenaline surges me forward. “Now!”
He leaves in a rush as voices shout behind me. I slide into the driver’s seat, my hands quaking as I think about what I have to do next, drive into the unknown. Fend for myself. Leave everything behind.
Does this complicate things with my sister? How could it not?
But first, I have to get away.
The first thing I notice is that Le Luxe is set behind rows and rows of tall pines, their evergreen needles forming a veritable wall behind which the club hides. The second is that I’ve never seen this place before in my life.
My heart’s in my throat when I gun the engine, the need for speed propelling me forward. Thankfully, the luxury car handles like a dream, as I take turns with quick jerks of the wheel. The yells of the people behind me fade as I pick up speed until I get to a main road.
Silence. Nothing but the hum of the engine and an open road before me.
I’m too wound up and anxious to cry, but I give myself permission to release a shuddering breath.
It doesn’t help.
I look around me and realize I’m alone. Completely and utterly alone. The road in front of me blurs. I swipe at tears and will myself to stay calm, to stay focused, and to get the hell out of here.
Hours later, I pull into the outskirts of the airport parking lot with a plan.
The entire time, I waited for someone to chase me down, for sirens or even a helicopter to come after me like I’m their most wanted criminal.
But no one came. I’m not exactly a getaway driver, so I assume either the couple whose car I stole doesn’t want to pursue me, or someone stopped them.
My heart aches and my stomach rumbles.
I call Nicolette again but get no answer.
It’s about seventeen hours to drive from here to Paris, and it involves a ferry. The longer it takes me to get there the more of a chance I’d be caught. At this point, I’m not even sure how many people are after me.
I need to get to Paris alone, without help.
Flying is the quickest option, but if anyone’s after me and boards a plane with me, I have no means of escape. I also can’t take any weapons on a plane.
So I decide to drive. I feel like a fugitive as I rely on caffeine to propel me forward.
I can do this.
I have to.
I abandon the car before I board the ferry and thankfully make it aboard with no one following me. I scroll through the phone to try to see why Thayer’s been arrested, but I see nothing.
I send Nicolette another text.
No response.
Hours later, I’m almost to what I’d call home.
I close my eyes, pretending to sleep on the ferry, and try to formulate a plan, but my thoughts keep going back to Thayer and Nicolette.
My family.
I hoped landing in Paris would give me some measure of reassurance, but I’m sorely disappointed. I still feel bereft.
I should be here with Thayer.
Thayer.
Why did they take him? I hate that I’ve left him in Corsica, but I’ve almost made him up in my mind to be a sort of superhero, who can handle anyone or anything that comes his way.
Thayer can take care of Thayer.
Still, I hate that I’m running. I want things back to where they were, where they should be.
I check my messages when we pull into dock, and my heart swells when I see a reply from my sister.
Nicolette:
Savannah! Where are you?
I can’t hide things from my sister, but I don’t trust her not to tell her husband.
Me:
I had to leave. What is happening? Is Cosette okay? Thayer?
Nicolette:
OMG, girl. Thayer’s been arrested for the murder of the officer!!!!
My heart thumps wildly in my chest. She hasn’t answered about Cosette.
They had him framed for the murder of the officer.
No.
“Hey. Excuse me, are you going to move or what?” A grumpy middle-aged man with a bushy moustache scowls at me.
I move out of his way and go to a vacated part of the lot.
I scan my surroundings, looking all over the place for some kind of a threat, but I’m not Thayer or his brothers.
I have no idea what I’d even be looking for.
I duck into a bathroom stall, seeking momentary safety.
Nicolette:
Where are you?
Me:
I can’t tell you. I’m safe.
Nicolette:
You have to tell me where you are. Now.
My stomach flips uneasily.
Something doesn’t feel right. Nicolette didn’t answer my question about Cosette, and she doesn’t text like this. Has Fabien taken over her phone?
I decide to test it.
Me:
I told you I’m safe. I need some time alone. Just make sure that someone takes care of Blubbers, okay?
Nicolette:
Of course. Now tell me where you are.
Anger flashes through me. I narrow my eyes at the phone.
My fish’s name is Van Gogh. Who the hell is this?
Did they take my sister? Have they hurt her?
I send a quick text.
Me:
Call me
No response.
I exit and look around me. It appears I’m alone, that no one’s followed me.
Have I made a mistake leaving Corsica?
The Gerard family home is in walking distance of the ferry.
I wish it was the sanctuary to me it once was.
I walk down a shaded part of the Seine, trying to sort this all out and breathe deeply.
Freaking out right now solves nothing, so I have to stay in control. I can freak out later when I’m alone.
Does Fabien know Nicolette’s been compromised?