Page 14

Savannah skitters past me out of the room before I can even get my bag packed, and I curse. How many times is this girl going to do this to me? How many times am I going to let her get away with it before I pin her down and make her listen?

All because I mentioned her boss. I knew better than to do it, but I couldn’t help myself.

I’d come to class angry about Luke, ready to question her about everything and all the theories I had, but that went out the window when she smiled at me.

One flash of those green eyes and I turned into a fucking teenager with a first crush.

He’s got her on the hook. I know how this guy operates. I’ve been on the receiving end of his ‘loan’ proposals before. Once, he offered me one that would have me paying off a debt from him until I was in my fifth year of hockey. Thankfully, I wasn’t desperate enough to accept it.

Could I say the same for Savannah, though?

She seemed like the type looking for any kind of break and when Luke slithers into your life, it’s hard to say no to the diamonds he dangles in front of you. By the time you realize they’re just glass, you’re already buried in debt up to your eyeballs.

When she sat down and gave me a weak hello, I knew this conversation was going to need more time, so I planned on waiting.

Unfortunately, I only waited for all of two minutes.

Like I said, I can’t help myself with her.

She’s a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and I want to peel back every single layer until I find the truth underneath.

After stuffing my things into my bag with zero regard for organization, I follow behind Savannah as she practically sprints across campus, her oversized hoodie flapping behind her like a surrender flag.

I’m not going to let her get away this time.

I need to confront her about what I know, and this is the best time to do it.

I’ve got a free night, save for walking Stanley, but I don’t think finding out what’s going on with her will take too long.

Just a quick conversation that might change both our lives forever. No big deal.

Making sure to stay several steps behind her, I stick a Carolina Catfish baseball cap on and pull it down to cover my eyes.

If she looks back, I hope she won’t recognize me, though I feel like a stalker in a bad movie.

The things I’m willing to do for this girl who can barely look me in the eye are questionable.

I’m either completely whipped or completely insane. Maybe both.

When she gets into her car, she sits in the front seat for several minutes and her fists grip the steering wheel like it’s the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.

She’s either having a full-blown crisis or struggling to start the car, but when I hear the engine sputter to life I know I don’t have much time.

I slide into my own car and follow two vehicles behind her at all times.

I’m not too worried about losing her since I’m pretty sure I know exactly where she’s going, and the idea of her climbing onto that stage with men throwing dollars at her while they undress her with their eyes makes my blood simmer just below boiling point.

What if someone tries to take things a little too far? Who’s going to protect her? No doubt Luke will let it happen. He’s an asshole like that. She needs me. I need to be the one to protect her.

When she turns, I don’t know if I should be happy or sad.

Behind Closed Doors.

As I expected.

I park in between a couple of cars, trying to look inconspicuous. Then I pull my phone out of my pocket and send Madison a text.

Cade: Baby B. Is there any chance you could look after Stanley tonight? I’ve got something urgent to deal with. You can stay over.

Madison: Of course! I was already on my way with the polar bear costume I got for him.

I shake my head, almost regretting giving her a key and unfiltered access to my dog. If I come home and he’s wearing a tutu one day, I’m going to kill her. However, that’s not what’s important right now. Getting the truth out of Savannah is.

She pulls her hair into a ponytail before opening the door to the club, which doesn’t open for another hour, so I’ll have to wait before I make my entrance.

Thrumming my hands on the steering wheel, I decide to do something useful with my time.

First, I use the doggy cam Madison got me, the one I mocked her relentlessly for, to check she’s arrived yet.

When I see her absolutely destroying Stanley’s diet by showering him with treats and letting him sniff the polar bear costume, I switch it off before I have to witness my dog’s complete humiliation at the hands of my sister.

Then I open a browser and type in ‘Savannah Barnett.’ I’m not expecting much to come up since her phone doesn’t look like it can handle the internet, but I have to at least try.

Nothing comes up.

No social media. No random newspaper articles about her.

Nothing.

And I guess she likes it that way.

But it does beg the question, how is she getting through college with the lack of presence?

Come to think of it, I’m surprised she’s even able to attend.

Luke treats his girls like commodities, which means they don’t usually have lives outside of this place.

In his eyes, she’s his property and he’s being kind letting her go to college.

I’m assuming it’s something she’ll have to pay back later.

When six o’clock rolls around, I get out of the car and make my way to the entrance.

Tipping my hat forward, I open the door, and the smell of stale beer and bad decisions immediately assaults my senses.

Memories of the last time I was here flood back, and the taste of blood floods my mouth.

Cracked ribs, two black eyes. I was beaten to a pulp for merely making the mistake of showing interest in one of Luke’s “investments.”

Maybe I’ve been knocked in the head too many times because to anyone else, this is a suicide mission.

Henry’s not even here to help drag my broken body out this time.

I inwardly laugh at how obsessive I’ve become about this girl.

She doesn’t look at me. She’s clearly trying to push me away, but I’m still fighting for her and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Luke’s at the bar, watching one of his girls on stage. Thankfully, it’s not Savannah, so I make a point to listen out for ‘Scarlett Cherrywood’ as I walk over to the bar.

“Cade,” Luke drawls out my name as he takes me in, looking smug as shit. “Surprised you’d come here after last night. Thought you might’ve grown a brain between then and now.”

“Last night? The only thing memorable about last night was winning against Brighton U on national television.” I keep my tone casual, not wanting to show him any kind of emotion at all.

He raises his brows. “Mhm. Still. You think stepping in here is a good idea? Last time you left with your face looking like raw hamburger.”

“Thanks to you.”

He chuckles, folding his arms. “It’s not my fault you keep looking at one of my girls like she’s water and you’ve been wandering the desert for forty days.”

Savannah. That’s who I was looking at.

“Seducing her outside of the club didn’t work, so now you have to try your luck here again.” His words drip with mockery. “Desperate isn’t a good look on you, Bright.”

I rest my hands on the sticky bar, leaning in until I’m close enough to smell the cheap cologne masking his even cheaper ethics. “How else is she going to know I’m interested?”

His grin grows wide at the confirmation. As if he needed it after our conversation yesterday. The only reason I’m overtly staking my claim on her now is because I want him to know there’s someone looking out for her and if he doesn’t treat her well, he’ll have me to answer to.

Luke leans back, filling a glass of beer, and pushes it my way. I don’t acknowledge it. I just stay staring at his sinister grin, threatening him with a look.

“She’s one of our most requested girls, you know? I can’t have her at a game when she could be earning me thousands of dollars here.”

“Thousands?” I raise a brow, skepticism dripping from my voice.

Savannah is gorgeous and everything I’m desperate for.

However, I don’t believe for a single second guys like Beardy McBeardson are paying thousands a night to see her endearingly awkward dancing.

Not when she looks terrified the entire time.

“I’m just making a point. You’re not the only one who thinks she’s special.”

I clench my jaw, holding back on punching the shit out of him. The mere idea of other guys thinking they have a shot with her sends me into a tailspin it shouldn’t.

She’s not mine even if I think she might want to be.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yup. When that girl’s on stage, all those idiots over there can’t take their eyes off her. Throw money all over her even though she can’t dance for shit. Girl’s hips have them mesmerized, though.”

“Mhm.”

“Kind of the way you memorize people when you’re in the ring.”

I heard the distinction. Ring not rink, and I know what’s coming next.

“You haven’t been on my lineup in a while. If you ever want another match, let me know. I’ve got the perfect opponent for you. I think Scarlett would love to see you beat him down.”