“Oh no,” Ridge whispered as Granger busted out laughing.
Right then, Savannah turned and saw him. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled broadly as she put a platter of chicken wings down at a table. Until her eyes dropped to his shirt, then her smile faded and she crossed her arms over the giant tiger paw on her T-shirt and shook her head.
This wasn’t good. Ridge had heard of houses divided, but he didn’t know if this relationship could work now. His cousins teased him as Savannah made her way over to the South Carolina side of the bar.
“I should have guessed after Harper and Tinsley pulled out their South Carolina gear. You were almost perfect,” Savannah said with an exaggerated sigh before kissing him.
Ridge kissed her back. His fingers danced around the exposed skin at her waist, causing her to tense. He loved the feel of her against him. The way she fit against him. The way his . . .
“Go Cocks!”
Ridge pulled back as Gator yelled at the television.
“I have to get some more food out. I told Harper I’d help her. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t mind. It’s very nice of you to do.”
Ridge still couldn’t bring himself to let go of her.
“Then sit with your family, and I’ll come join you once things slow down.”
“Granger—” Ridge turned to find that his friend had left him and was now firmly over on the Clemson side high-fiving Skeeter. “Well, Granger has something to show you. We’ll talk when things slow down.”
“Did Kale find out who hired that man?” Ridge felt her go tense under his hands again. Only this time in fear.
“Not yet. He said he’s working on it.”
Savannah went up on her toes and kissed him quickly one more time. “I’ll be back as soon as possible. Love you.”
“I love you too. Even if you are a Clemson fan.”
Savannah’s laughter was music to him as she headed back to work. Now it was time to wait. Wait to see if she knew anything about that picture. Wait to see if Kale found out anything more. And wait to see if South Carolina could pull off the win.
24
Savannah’s feet were killing her. The game had just started and she had lost count of how many times she’d been back to the kitchen to get some deep-fried frog legs, chicken wings, pizzas, or burgers. Harper had told her that it was a big day. She’d brought in help to cook the food but hadn’t found any waitresses. Tinsley had volunteered, and Savannah thought it would be a good distraction. Well, her aching feet were a great distraction.
Savannah ducked, dipped, bobbed, and weaved her way through the crowd, delivering food while Harper poured drinks and Tinsley delivered them. Both sides of the bar were yelling and screaming as the game went on.
Savannah jumped as someone grabbed her wrist. She put her hand to her chest when she saw it was Granger.
“Sorry,” he yelled over the crowd. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to see if you have a moment to take a break yet?”
He let go of her wrist and Savannah looked around to see if anyone else was about to order. It appeared as the start of the game had caused a shift of focus from beer and wings to football. She was sure she’d be swamped at halftime.
“Yeah, I think so. Let me just get Ridge.”
“Meet me outside. It’s too loud to talk in here.” Granger saw her nod and got up from the table and began working his way to the front door.
Savannah was about to get to Ridge when she saw he was already standing and heading her way. He pointed to the front door and Savannah nodded. They both followed in Granger’s wake and made their way out front.
Granger held the heavy door open for them, and when she took a step out into the fall air, Savannah felt completely relaxed. The door closed and the loud pounding noises fell to a dull whisper with the occasional muted cheer.
Savannah collapsed onto the bench next to the bar and groaned. “I haven’t waitressed since high school. I don’t remember it being so hard.”
“I’ll rub your feet when we get home tonight,” Ridge said, sitting down next to her and putting an arm around her. He pulled her against him and kissed the side of her head.
“Promise?”
“Promise,” Ridge chuckled as he squeezed her again.
Savannah looked at Granger and prepared herself. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
Granger pulled out his phone and held up the picture of her. “Can you tell me about this picture?”
Savannah looked at herself. It was a picture from her birthday party six months before she filed for divorce. “That’s from two years ago. It was my twenty-sixth birthday. What you don’t see are the two women my arms are around. They’re the ones I found in bed with Penn.”
“Who took the photo?” Granger asked as she leaned back into Ridge’s embrace.
Savannah took a deep breath and looked skyward as if that would help her recall. She took the phone and really studied the picture. The events of that night flashed through her head. She saw at the bottom of the picture the faint glow of candles and remembered. “This was right before I blew out the candles on my cake. This could have been taken by anyone. There were close to one hundred people at the party Penn put on.”
“Any guests who’d want you dead?”
Savannah shook her head. “I’ve been wracking my brain about that and can’t think of anyone with a reason to kill me. Further, that picture was online within minutes of it being taken. That’s how I recognized it. It was in all the society articles.”
She saw Granger’s lips tighten and put away his phone, and Savannah felt as if she’d failed him. This was his lead, and she’d just chewed it up and spit it out.
“It’s okay. We’ll get to the bottom of this one way or another,” Ridge said as if trying to reassure both her and Granger.
Savannah looked up at Granger. “I’m sorry. I wish I could be more help. I hate feeling so useless.”
“It’s not your fault,” Granger told her. His head turned to watch an SUV slow down as it drove toward them. “I will work—”
All of a sudden, Granger vaulted toward her as the sound of firecrackers went off. Granger grunted and slammed forward, landing on the flowers next to her as the pop pop pop sound rang out.
Savannah wanted to ask what was happening, but only a scream came out as Ridge pulled her off the bench, shoved her behind a car, and covered her body with his. “Stay down!” Ridge yelled as the sound grew louder as the SUV stopped. Glass shattered above them and Savannah realized it wasn’t fireworks.
A second later, Ridge rolled off of her and crawled to Granger. He pulled at Granger’s legs, drawing him off the planter. Granger groaned and cursed as he came to again. “Come on, Granger,” Ridge yelled at his friend as he pulled him next to Savannah. “Put pressure on the wound.”
“Shit,” Granger hissed as Savannah shoved her hands against the bleeding hole in his side.
Savannah was still in a suspended state of disbelief. Someone was on the other side of the car shooting at them. Her heart pounded, her hands shook, but then there was Ridge. He grabbed Granger’s gun from his hip, stood up, and fired. He didn’t think twice. He didn’t flinch as he stood up among the flying bullets and his hands were steady as he emptied the magazine.
“Mags. They’re at the small of my back,” Granger grunted as Savannah helped roll him onto his side. Gone was the nervousness. It was replaced with anger. Granger had jumped in front of her and had been shot for it. She reached under the back waistband of his pants and was surprised to find two magazines in a hidden belt at the small of his back. She never would have known they were there unless she felt for them. She pulled them out and handed one to Ridge who ducked behind her as the bar door flew open.
“What the hell?” Gator yelled as a shot was fired at the door. “No way, buddy. It’s a commercial timeout and I ain’t missing my game.”
Gator pulled out a large hunting knife, and with a flick of his w
rist sent it flying at the half-open window of the SUV. Savannah heard glass shattering a moment before a barrage of heavy glass beer mugs went flying from the bar.
Ridge clicked the mag in place and began firing as the SUV tore off down the road.
Savannah wasn’t watching, though. She had pulled up Granger’s shirt and paused. A foot-long scar ran down his side. Right in the middle was a bleeding hole. Savannah looked on one side and then the other. “The bullet went through your side,” she told Granger as she ripped her shirt off and wrapped it from one side to the other, pressing so hard she thought Granger was going to pass out.
“How bad?” Granger barely groaned as people began bursting out of the bar.
“Blood is a nice bright red and the wound is very close to your side. I think you got very lucky. Thank you, Granger. You saved my life.” Savannah felt the tears pressing against her eyes as Ridge squeezed her shoulder in silent support.
“Couldn’t let my friend’s future wife die, now could I?”
Savannah swallowed hard as Harper, Kord, and Ryker were by his side. Tinsley ran out with a stack of napkins, lifted Savannah’s hands out of the way, and cringed. “Sorry, Granger.” And then pressed hard against the wound.
Granger roared as Ryker and Trent held him down, and Harper stroked his head softly as if to calm him as Ridge picked Savannah up and started looking her over for injuries.
Gavin had run by them a second ago but now reappeared with a black medical bag next to him. “Let me see.”
Tinsley stepped back and Ellery gripped Tinsley’s hand tightly in hers as they watched Gavin work. A young woman with golden skin and sun-kissed blonde hair pushed her way through to kneel next to Gavin. Together they worked side by side. It was as if she read his mind and handed Gavin what he needed before he knew it.
“Who is that?” Savannah whispered as Ridge worried about Savannah’s bleeding knees.
“Sadie. She’s Gavin’s nurse.” Ridge stood stiffly by and held her. It seemed like forever, but it was only minutes.
Gavin looked up and found Ryker. “Get your SUV. We’re taking Granger to Charleston.”
“We’ll go with you,” Ridge told them. “Savannah needs to be patched up.”
“What?” Savannah only then looked down at herself. There were glass shards in her legs, and her knees looked as if she’d been in a bike wreck. And that wasn’t counting her hands and arms. She’d gone numb as soon as Granger was shot and hadn’t felt a thing yet.
Ryker took off running and seconds later his SUV slid to a stop. Kord was already running for his cruiser as Trent, Ridge, Gavin, and Gator lifted Granger into the back of the SUV. Gavin and Sadie climbed in next to him and Trent took the front seat.
“Come on. We’ll ride with Kord,” Ridge said, gently pushing his hand at the small of her back toward the cruiser with lights flashing.
“Let’s go!” Ryker yelled out as Savannah and Ridge slid into the back seat of Kord’s cruiser. Kord flipped a switch and sirens sounded as he took off toward Charleston with Ryker right behind him.
Ridge held Savannah tightly against him. He’d seen the shards of glass sticking out of her legs and had instantly wanted to rush her to the hospital, but his friend had saved Savannah’s life and he knew his injuries were more severe. They had to make sure he was taken care of first.
They didn’t talk during the whole car ride to Charleston. Kord was flying and Ridge didn’t want to distract him. He also knew that Granger was like Kord’s big brother. Kord’s jaw was tight. His grip on the wheel was tight. He was struggling to keep his emotions in check.
He shot through downtown Charleston at a dangerous speed. Cars slammed on their brakes and some even jumped the curb onto the wide sidewalk to get out of the way. Ridge glanced behind him and saw that Ryker was no more than five feet behind them with his lights flashing and leaning on his horn.
Ridge held Savannah tightly and looked down at her. She was biting her lip so hard it looked ready to puncture. Silent tears streamed down her face. Her hands clutched her legs above her knees so hard her fingers were white, and she was cutting off circulation in her legs.
“Savannah?” he whispered questioningly to her.
“It hurts,” she gasped and then bit back a sob.
“It’s okay to cry, sweetheart.”
Savannah shook her head. “Not when Granger is shot. Not when he saved my life. He comes first. Promise me you’ll get him inside first.”
“We will,” Ridge promised before tightening his grip on her as Kord slammed on the brakes. They had finally arrived.
“Go get Granger!” Savannah yelled on a sob. Kord was already out of the car and Ridge nodded and hurried out as well.
A stretcher was already being rushed out from the hospital. Standing there in all her glory was Olivia Townsend, directing doctors, nurses, and staff as if she were the head of the hospital.
She strode out behind them as everyone worked to get Granger loaded onto a stretcher. “You take the best possible care of him or I swear I will have the funding for the hospital cut by morning!” Her eyes calmly ran over each person one at a time. “Where’s Savannah?”
“In the cruiser,” Ridge answered as his heart ached watching his friend being wheeled into the hospital.
Olivia was already striding over to the cruiser. She opened the back door and immediately began ordering people around again. “We have another one. Get a gurney now! She joins Sheriff Fox in the secure area. No one, and I mean, no one gets through without being approved by me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” a nurse agreed as Ridge rushed to help Savannah from the back of the car.
“You poor thing,” Olivia said quietly as she held Savannah’s hand. “Tinsley called me. She told me what happened. I’ll make sure you’re safe while you’re here.”
Ridge was shocked as Charleston police fell in to surround them. They were safe. For now. But someone was very tired of Savannah being alive. Ridge kept his hand on her shoulder as they were moved to the secure area. He knew he had to do something and fast.
25
Ridge had held his breath as Savannah was stitched up. Six stiches here. Eight there. And then there was the horrible process of cleaning out the dirt, gravel, and glass from her hands, arms, and knees. She was such a mess they’d given her morphine along with numbing the area so they could work.
Ridge had kept his hand on her the entire time, but all Savannah wanted to know was how Granger was. “Please, go check. They’re almost done here.”
She was exhausted and in pain, but Ridge left her. “Trent,” he said as he approached the small waiting room that had been put aside for them. “Can you sit with Savannah while I check on Granger?”
“Sure thing,” his cousin said and stood up.
“Let us know, will you?” Ryker asked as he shot a look at Kord. The young man looked ready to break apart at any hint of bad news.
“I will.”
“I’m coming with you,” Olivia said in a tone that left no room for argument. She stood and straightened her pink pencil skirt and white blouse. Ridge nodded and Olivia joined him as they walked, security nodding their approval. They were on the approved list.
“How is Savannah? I would like to see her too,” Olivia asked quietly as they walked toward the small nurses’ station.
“In pain, but she’s only concerned about Granger.” Ridge paused and looked over at the tall knockout who had both beauty and brains. “Thanks for doing whatever it was you did to get us a secure area.”
“Your sister can be quiet fierce when she wants to be. I believe she’s the one who made it happen. She called Ellery’s friend, Mrs. Elijah F. Cummings.”
Ridge chuckled at that. The old woman was the grande dame of Charleston society. “What did Tibbie do?”
Olivia grinned. “What didn’t Tibbie do? She had the president of the hospital and the hospital’s top surgeons and doctors out of their game watch parties and here in under fifteen
minutes. I just made sure everyone was ready for Sheriff Fox and Savannah.”
“I think you did more than that, and it’s appreciated,” Ridge told her as they stopped at the empty station.
“It sounds silly, but I like your family and your town. After helping Wade and Darcy, I feel as if I’m a small part of it all somehow. And I won’t take an attack against my family sitting down. Now, what more can I do to help?”
“I’m about to do something illegal,” Ridge finally said. He knew the second he saw Savannah hurt he knew what it was. He was going to kill the person behind this. “Keep me out of jail.”
Olivia looked and him and gave one brisk nod. “I’ll do my best.”
“Can I help you?” a nurse asked as she came out of a room.
“We want to check on Granger Fox,” Ridge told her.
“He’s waking up from surgery, but I’m sure you can see him for a minute.”
“How is he?” Olivia asked.
“Luckily, the bullet missed the critical organs. The surgeons got him all cleaned up and now he’ll start recovery. It’s not fast, but he will fully recover.”
“Thank you,” Ridge told the nurse who pointed out the room Granger was in.
Ridge and Olivia approached the door and heard a doctor talking. Ridge pushed open the door slightly and quietly they walked into the room.
Ridge heard a small gasp from Olivia and looked at her. Her eyes were wide and Ridge turned to follow their direction. Granger was on his back and was mostly nude except for a sheet over one leg and his privates. And on full display were two wicked-looking scars from his car accident in college.
“Get her out of here,” Granger snapped as the doctor moved and Granger caught Olivia staring at his scars.
Lasting Shadows: Shadows Landing #3 Page 16
