Page 117 of Fallen Empire

“Okay, we can order something in,” Jaxson offered, pulling out his phone.

“Jaxson Westbrook,” Millie warned, turning on her heel. “You are not my father. I am going to get breakfast. It’s two blocks down, and I’ll be right back. Don’t tell me I can’t—”

He cut her off before the storm could hit. “Fine. At least call ahead so it doesn’t take as long.”

“I’ll call on the way down.”

They stood toe to toe for a breath, neither backing down, until she finally turned back around and disappeared down the hallway. A moment later, she returned with her purse in one hand and her phone in the other.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, and then she was gone.

Leaving me alone with Jaxson.

“You want some water?” he asked, eyeing me carefully.

I wasn’t sure if he sensed the shift in my mood or if he was just trying to be helpful. Either way, I appreciated it.

I reached forward and grabbed one of the bottles he’d placed on the table earlier, noticing the plate with two pieces of toast. “Yes. That shower was amazing, but it did leave me a little thirsty. The hot water gets… hot.” I grabbed a piece and took a bite.

“I can turn it down if you want.”

“No, it’s a good thing. I love showers that nearly boil your skin off.” I smiled faintly, trying to lighten the air between us. I took a few more bites and set the toast back down, not wanting to spoil whatever breakfast Millie was on her way to get.

He hesitated, then cleared his throat. “Savannah, I want to talk to you about your inheritance. I’ve been thinking—and I want to know your thoughts on selling the houses in Alabama. Yours and your parents’.”

I blinked, caught off guard. I hadn’t really thought about any of that.

I’d been too busy trying to survive to worry about real estate. Too focused on breathing to care about what blood money had paid for what. And maybe that was all it was now—houses built with a legacy I wanted no part of.

But before I could answer, his phone rang. He pulled it to his ear. Someone already speaking on the other side.

“What do you mean she’s gone?” Jaxson stood as he said the words, venom dripping from each one. The hair on my arms stood up. Panic crawled up my spine like ice water.

Millie? No. It couldn’t be her. She had just left.

“Are you sure?” Another pause. Then—

“Fucckkk,” he roared.

I was already on my feet, inching closer, trying to hear whoever was on the other line, trying to make sense of what was happening.

“I’ll figure it out,” Jaxson snapped. “Millie just left to go—”

He cut off. A deep roar echoed through the phone. It was Ben.

“I’ll call her and get her back now.”

Another beat of silence.

“Yeah. Okay. Thanks. I’ll be there soon.”

He turned, and didn’t realize how close I’d gotten. His body slammed into mine and pain shot through my chest like lightning.

“Damn it. Shit. I’m so sorry,” he said, hands steadying me. “Savannah, baby, are you okay?”

I opened my eyes, breath caught in my throat. “Yeah. Sorry, I—”

He cut me off. “Baby, don’t apologize. Here, sit down.” He helped me back to the sofa, kneeling in front of me.