Page 49

I knew it. I knew I shouldn’t have let her walk in here on her own. I’m a fucking idiot for waiting even a second to follow her. My fists clench at my sides as I watch Savannah struggle against Mark’s grip, knowing I can’t do anything.

Not yet, at least. Not with Luke’s loyal dogs sniffing around, just waiting for an excuse to tear me apart. If I make one wrong move. We both go down.

“Ah, Cade,” Luke drawls out. “Was wondering when you were gonna come storming in acting like a white knight.”

“Get your fucking hands off her right now.”

I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill them all, and I’m going to burn this fucking place down for the sole fact that any of them thought they had the right to touch Savannah.

“Cade.” Her voice is soft, laced with desperation. Her eyes meet mine as she struggles against Mark, and in them, I see everything. The fear. The helplessness. The silent plea to save her.

I’m coming, Pretty Girl. Just give me a little time.

“Sorry, Bright. She’s a little busy. Gotta get her ready to go behind Door Number One tonight. It’s a full house unfortunately, so there’re no spots left for you.”

My jaw tightens, and I swear I’m two seconds away from losing my shit completely. “Let her go.”

He chuckles. “Why the hell would I do that when she’s my main attraction?”

I don’t think. I move.

Without taking my eyes off her, I storm across the bar, hell-bent on getting her the fuck out of here and making sure she never comes back.

Savannah’s scream slices through the air. High-pitched and choked, it’s the only thing that snaps me out of the haze.

Mark’s yanking her arm, hard enough to make her body jerk unnaturally, like a rag doll caught in a fight it didn’t start.

“Let her go, Luke,” I bite out, rage flooding every vein. “Or I swear to God, I’ll torch this fucking place down.”

Luke pouts his bottom lip with a smirk. “Aw, you really do care about her, don’t you? Shame you forgot she’s my property.”

“You don’t own her.”

“And you think putting a ring on her finger means you do?” His cackle is jagged and cruel. “That’s cute, but I thought you were smarter than that.”

His gaze sharpens. “You remember what I do to people who touch my property, don’t you?”

I don’t answer, but my jaw clenches at the things I’ve seen him do to people. Luke notices.

“Mhm,” he hums. “But you know, I don’t think breaking your jaw would be nearly as fun…”

His eyes flick to Savannah.

“…as breaking hers.”

She whimpers. It’s soft and all I see is a shattered, broken girl which fucking guts me. She doesn’t deserve this.

“Doubt she’d look so pretty without all those perfect little teeth,” he sneers, then adds with a smirk, “Though I guess it’d make it easier for her to suck cock. Silver linings, right?”

Savannah lets out a strangled squeal as Mark yanks her upright by the throat. Her sneakers drag against the sticky floor and she coughs out a gasp.

Her eyes. Fuck.

They’re huge, glassy, and swimming with terror. Panic dances behind them and pain flashes across her face so fast it makes my gut twist.

That’s it.

That’s the moment everything inside me fractures.

I don’t see Luke. I don’t see the guards.

I see her.

Just her.

The girl who slept in a car for months because she refused to live with that asshole. The girl who is struggling to survive because she has too much damn hope in people. The girl who’s kissed me like I was the only thing keeping her alive when it’s the other way around.

My hands curl into fists at my sides. My blood pounds so loud it drowns out everything else. I can barely think straight through the rage, the helplessness. I want to lunge forward, tear Mark off her, knock Luke’s smug face into the bar, and not stop until he forgets his own name.

I don’t in fear they’ll follow through with their threats. Instead, I swallow every ounce of pride and rage and say, “How much?”

“What?” Luke asks.

“How much to get Savannah out of here for good?” I ask coldly, staring him down.

Luke grins before pouting his lips out and contemplating his answer. “One hundred twenty-five thousand dollars.”

“Excuse me?”

He lets out a low, mocking laugh. “You heard me. One hundred twenty-five thousand dollars.”

“That’s not possible. She was living in her damn car when I met her. There’s no way she owes you that much.”

Luke shrugs, unaffected. “Well, that’s the thing about interest. It compounds.

” His smirk widens, eyes flashing with amusement.

“If you want her out of here for good, that’s what it’s going to cost.” He pauses, letting the words sink in before delivering the final blow.

“Wouldn’t want something bad to happen to her before she pays it off. ”

When Savannah squirms again, I clench my fists, thinking about how I could break every fucking bone in Luke’s body right now. I want to, but the only thing stopping me are the two linebacker-sized bodyguards he has with him twenty-four seven.

I have no doubts that if I say the wrong thing, if I so much as breathe out of turn, they will be on me in an instant, dragging me out of here while Luke watches with that smug grin, knowing he’s already won.

And if that happens, there’s no guarantee Savannah will be safe.

No guarantee he won’t make her pay for my mistakes.

So I hold my ground. I need to be smart about this. Because right now, Luke holds all the fucking power. I grind my teeth, forcing my expression into something neutral.

Luke tilts his head, studying me like a cat playing with a trapped mouse. Then, as if he’s been waiting for this moment, his smirk deepens. “There is another option.”

I don’t blink. “What option?”

“No, Cade,” Savannah sputters out before Mark tightens his grip on her throat.

Fuck it. I need to protect her.

I move across the bar. I don’t give a fuck what they do to me, but just before I get to Mark, Cal holds me back.

“Get the fuck off me.”

“Please.” Another muffled and strained cry from Savannah.

Luke watches her with no emotion on her face. “It’s cute that you think you’ve got any say in this, sweetheart. You never did. I just let you think it.” Then he looks at me. “Your fiancé here is the one with the real power. Not you.”

Luke leans back against the bar. “Now, like I was saying… there’s another option.”

I hate the way he just dismissed her. I hate that I can see Savannah struggling and I’m powerless to do anything about it.

I glance at Savannah. She’s still now. The fight has gone out of her body, but not her eyes. Her eyes are still on me.

I lift my chin, staring him down. “What is it?”

“One more fight.”

My stomach drops. I knew it. I fucking knew it. I knew coming anywhere near this place would leave us fucking trapped.

“I told you,” I grit out. “I’m done. I don’t fight anymore.”

“I remember.” He taps his finger on his temple. “But if you want to save her. This is the only way. One night. One fight. You win and she’s clear.”

“No.”

“Well, then I guess Savannah can pay her own debt.” Luke signals to Cal. “Since he doesn’t want to play ball, you can take him out.”

“Who do you want me to fight?” I ask, my voice tight. Luke doesn’t set fights unless he’s sure of the outcome. He’s not just looking for entertainment, he’s looking for blood.

Mine, specifically.

“You’ll find out on the night, but I think Savannah will be very excited by the opponent.”

The fuck does that mean?

My mind races, clawing for another way, another option that doesn’t put me in the ring at the mercy of whatever monster he’s lined up for me.

There has to be something else. A way to outmaneuver him, to shut this whole operation down, and make sure he never lays a fucking hand on Savannah again.

But with the weight of his goons holding me back and with Savannah being choked to her last breath, I can’t see a way out that doesn’t end in blood.

“Take her upstairs, Mark. He’s not interested.”

Savannah sucks in a harsh breath as Mark lets go of her throat and manhandles her.

“I’ll do it,” I bite out with closed eyes. I shouldn’t have said it. I shouldn’t have fucking said anything, but I can’t think of any other way of getting Savannah out of this. “One fucking fight, and you leave her alone for good.”

“Cade. No,” Savannah yells.

I don’t listen and when Luke holds his hand out, I accept, staring him down. “Glad to do business with you. You’re going to make me a lot of money.”

I don’t listen.

I don’t look at her.

I look at Luke and take his outstretched hand, committing to a deal I have no intention of honoring. I just need him to believe it so I can get Savannah the fuck out of there and safe. Once she’s at home, I’ll be able to think clearly enough to figure out a new plan.

“You can let her go,” Luke commands, and Savannah drops to the floor and hauls herself upright on shaking legs and stumbles to my side.

I wrap my arm around her, thankful that she’s in my arms, and lead her to the door, not looking back. I’m getting her the fuck away from this asshole if it’s the last thing I do.

“Oh, and Cade. There’s one other thing.”

“What?”

“If you run, you know I’ll find you.”

I don’t say anything because I don’t trust myself.

“And if I can’t find you…” Luke clicks his tongue. “I’ll go through your friends and family. Maybe I’ll start with Madison. She seems like a sweet girl. Guys would love her here.”

He steps closer, his voice sickeningly calm. “Maybe I’ll tie Dash up and force him to watch her work for me. Then he can see how much she could really earn.”

I grab Savannah’s hand and shove the door open, rage boiling in my chest. The cold night air smacks into us, sharp and unforgiving, but it does nothing to cool the fire raging inside me.

My jaw clenches so tight I feel it crack, my pulse hammering against my skull.

How fucking dare he threaten my sister and best friend.

Savannah’s fingers tighten around mine, and it’s only then that I realize she’s shaking. She’s scared, and something I’ll never admit to her is, I’m scared too because for the first time in years… I don’t know how this ends.