Seychelle thought it over, frowning, her teeth biting down over and over on her lower lip. “I think, if her parents cooperated, we could make it work, but honestly, Savage, we’re running out of time. He’s got her to the point where she might really harm herself. She’s very confused.”
“Then let’s not waste any time. You make the call. I’ll just sit here, hold you and listen. If they aren’t receptive, I’ll call Czar and we’ll move her somewhere she’ll be safe. I promise, baby, we’ll get her out of the situation.”
“Thanks for believing me when there’s no proof.”
“I don’t need any proof other than your word. You went into the house. You saw her. Take the phone and make the call. See what they have to say.”
She took his phone, glancing over her shoulder at him with a look he didn’t deserve but wished he could see for the rest of his life. Her knight in shining armor. More than that. She looked at him like the sun rose and set with him. He didn’t deserve it, but he wanted to see it every damn day—for the rest of his life.
SEVEN
The call to Sahara’s parents was met with joyful tears that turned to worry once they heard everything Seychelle had to tell them. They indicated they would drive out as soon as they could get someone to watch over their farm. Savage took the phone and quietly made arrangements to have them come to the Caspar Inn, where Brandon would have no inkling that Sahara’s parents were anywhere close.
Nearly two weeks later, when Sahara’s parents were in Caspar, Seychelle visited Doris and casually found out when Brandon had last been by the house to see Sahara and if Doris had noticed any kind of a pattern to his visits. Doris was very chatty. She said Brandon wouldn’t be around for another couple of days, but he would be checking on Sahara soon enough. Immediately, Seychelle texted Savage, who let his club know. They contacted Sahara’s parents to come immediately. Members of the club escorted them to Sahara’s home.
Seychelle went to visit Sahara while Savage sat with Doris, ensuring that she didn’t contact Brandon, just in case he had programmed her to let him know if Sahara had any visitors. Sahara hadn’t seen Brandon for almost two weeks, and she was much more amenable to packing a small bag.
When her parents came to the door, Sahara had a total breakdown and Czar carried her to the car and put her in it. She was surrounded by the club members, so it was difficult for anyone driving by on the road to see what was going on. Savage had asked Doris for a cup of coffee, and she was in the house when Seychelle emerged with Sahara. By the time Doris returned, the car was gone, escorted out of town by the club members, and Seychelle was seated once more on Doris’s porch.
They could only hope that Brandon didn’t find a way to contact Sahara or that she didn’t try to go back to him. Later, Doris told her Brandon was worried that Sahara had run off. Her phone had been left behind and he had no way to contact her. He asked Doris if she’d seen anything. She mentioned that Seychelle had visited with Sahara. Seychelle knew Savage was concerned that Brandon might come to the cottage, using her visit as an excuse.
Still, as worried as Savage seemed, Seychelle knew she’d lost him. It wasn’t like Savage didn’t come every night. He did. She’d wake up to him stretching out on her bed, his arm slung around her waist, and everything in her would settle, but they were back to being just friends. There were no more sinful, dirty lessons. He was very, very careful with her.
She knew he cared for her, but he had backed off, making it clear she gave him peace, just like when they’d first met. He liked spending time with her. He even needed it. She knew better than to let him stay with her, but he was so tempting. It wasn’t just his body, and he was rock hard—all of him—just apparently not for her.
She wasn’t going to live a long life. That was the bottom line. She didn’t have that advantage. There wasn’t a rosy future for her. When Savage had asked the question about whether or not she would rather be in a comfortable relationship and have children or have a man love her wildly, she knew she wanted to be loved. She needed to be loved. She wanted to love someone with insane, crazy intensity. She’d found that man. She knew she had.
Savage deserved to be loved. He didn’t think he did. She could see into him, into a place where he was vulnerable, a place he didn’t even see because he kept it locked up so tight. Somehow, when she’d saved his life, they’d made some kind of connection she couldn’t explain, and she didn’t even care to, but she knew he was a good man and that he could have been the right man for her.