by Emma Renshaw
He turns toward me, knife in his hand, and I scramble back to the table where he left the camera and guns. He reaches me before I reach the table. I was so close, if I could have made it a few more feet and reached up, I would’ve been able to grab a gun. Aiden raises the knife over his head, ready to plunge it into my heart. I kick his feet out from under him. I scramble to a crouching position as he lands hard on the concrete. The knife flies from his hand. I scramble for it, not looking back.
I register a shot ringing through the air before I feel the burning pain in my shoulder. I scream out in agony, crawling the last foot toward the knife. I secure it in my hand. Aiden is rising to his feet, coming toward me. I struggle to stand on my own two feet, but I make it.
He steps right in front of me, gun hanging loosely at his side. The knife is hanging loosely at mine. I’m in nothing but the bra and panties I put on this morning. His eyes remain on mine and mine on his, wondering who will act first.
I duck at the same moment he fires the gun in my direction again. My ears are ringing. I use my crouching stance and his shock that I was able to move fast enough to tackle him to ground. He falls on his back, the gun firing before he can raise it in my direction again, and I use every bit of strength to stab him in the wrist.
Aiden’s hand opens around the gun, and I bat it away. He reaches his hand up to my throat, squeezing at the same time I lift the knife above my head, plunging it into his throat. He removes his hand from my throat, still staring at me. I push the knife deeper. I don’t watch his blood pour out of him, trying to find anywhere to look but at him dying or my shaking blood covered hands. He’s making gurgling sounds. I plunge the knife deeper, and my vision starts to blur.
I fall to my side, eyes closing. They feel so heavy. I’m trying to keep them open, to see if he’s still alive. I can’t tell. Everything is fading, blackness pouring in from all sides. Over Olivia’s screams, I hear a whoosh of breath. I pray Aiden’s soul has left his body, before I succumb to the darkness.
49
LIAM
We arrive just a couple blocks from the warehouse. I scan the area but don’t see any other cars. We must have beaten Maddox and his backup. James is hurtling down the road, trying to get us to the right warehouse. The only sound in the car is our ragged breaths as we close in on the warehouse. That sound stops when a shot rings out. The SUV slows for a fraction of a second before James pushes the pedal even harder. Another shot rings out when we pull on the street.
We’re scanning the numbers on the buildings, looking for the right one. The sound is echoing off the metal, making it hard to pinpoint the exact location. I jump out of the car when James slams on his breaks. We each bring a gun in front of us before busting through a door. I still haven’t taken a breath since I heard the first shot ring out.
I see two chairs in the middle. Olivia is in one of them. Josh pushes me out of the way, racing toward her. The other chair is empty but has pools of blood around it. I want to vomit, thinking that is Savannah’s blood. I’m standing rooted, scanning the rest of the warehouse, looking for Savannah and Aiden. I see the bed pulled in the corner of a room with a handcuff dangling from the iron headboard. There’s blood coating the white metal. My insides tighten even further, my heart racing. It’s a cruel joke that I don’t see Savannah in person, but her face is surrounding me on every wall of the place.
“There,” Olivia cries out. “By the table over there.”
Olivia is sobbing while Josh tries to undo her restraints. Hudson is clearing the area as James and I rush to the table, and as we edge around it, I see the puddles of blood. That’s when I see Savannah. I run toward her.
“Savannah,” I say when I reach her, searching her neck for a pulse. “Baby, wake up.”
I roar, “Get an ambulance!”
“Fucker is dead. Savannah killed him,” James says quietly behind me. I didn’t even think to make sure he was dead. I want to bring him back and kill himself, but at this moment, I will do nothing but make sure Savannah is alive. I finally feel the pulse in her neck; it’s weak, but there.
I rip off my shirt, pressing it to her stomach. James comes around on her other side, doing the same to her shoulder. I don’t know how many wounds she has, but she’s coated in blood. There’s even dried blood around her mouth.
“Baby, please, wake up,” I plead with her.
“Maddox and ambulance will be here in ninety seconds,” Hudson says from above us. Two more shadows approach.
I finally break my eyes from Savannah to look up at my sister.
“I’m okay,” she whispers. “Savannah saved me.”
I nod, turning my eyes back to my girl. The woman I love, the one I was too stupid to tell. I know she can’t hear me, but I tell her, anyway. “I love you, baby. I love you so much. Fuck, Savannah. Wake up.”
I hear boots stomping in the floor. I don’t look up for Maddox’s arrival. He came in silent, just like he said.
I want to fight when the EMTs take Savannah from me, but I know she needs them if she’s going to survive. She can’t—I stop that thought before it crosses my mind. She will survive. I have plans for us.
50
SAVANNAH
M y eyes feel so heavy, I can’t open them, but I hear noises around me.
Beeping monitors.
Quiet sniffling.
Soft female voice.
Is that my mom? Are my mom and dad here?
What’s happening? Why am I so tired?
Everything hurts.
Why can’t I open my eyes?
I want to smile when I feel lips press against my palm with Liam’s quiet murmur, “Please, wake up, baby.”
I want to tell him I’m trying, but I’m sucked into the blackness again.
51
LIAM
“I t’s been three days, Doctor Monroe. Why isn’t she waking up?” I demand.
Savannah’s dad is holding her mom as she quietly cries. I’m clutching one of Savannah’s hands, while her mom clutches the other. I didn’t think I would meet Savannah’s parents, Daniel and Ashley, this way. I didn’t think my words to her father would be, “I’m going to marry your daughter when she wakes up.”
But, here we are. Huddled around Savannah’s bed where she’s been in a coma for three days. I’ve gotten to know her parents over quiet whispers in that time. We’ve prayed together for Savannah to wake up. None of us have left her bedside, except to use the restroom.
James has been standing or sitting in the corner since this morning. He slipped in quietly and took his place in the corner. He’s been missing for the past few days. He hasn’t taken his eyes from Savannah and has stayed silent.
My family and Savannah’s friends are coming as often as they are allowed to stand vigil with us.
Olivia quietly cries in a corner every time she enters the room. She begs for Savannah to wake up, apologizing that Savannah chose to save her. Josh holds her in his arms. I tell Olivia every time that I won’t allow anything except for Savannah to wake up. Nothing else is acceptable.
My family provides the four of us with food, but none of us can eat. I can’t eat until I see Savannah’s emerald eyes shining at me.
“Her body is healing. Her brain waves are good, but her body needs to heal. She will wake up when she’s ready.” Dr. Monroe patiently repeats what he has been telling us for days.
He leaves the room without another word. He’s told us the same thing over and over, but I demand to know every day. Each day that passes, I become more worried.
Two days later, I’m pleading with Savannah to wake up. “Come on, gorgeous. You have to wake up. I’m going to have Hudson build us a new house. We can fill it with puppies and babies.”
I press a kiss to her palm, resting my head on the side of the bed..
“Babies?” I hear quietly murmured. Ashley and I jump up, hovering over her. “Savannah,” we both whisper.
Savannah’s eyes slowly open, landing on mine. “Liam,” she sa
ys, tears springing to her eyes.
I lay a light kiss on her lips. “You’re okay. You’re okay.” I mutter over and over.
Savannah looks away from me to her mom. Her eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “Mom?”
“Yes, baby, Daddy and I are here. We’ve been here, baby.”
“What happened?”
I freeze, not prepared that she wouldn’t remember what happened.
“It wasn’t a dream, was it?”
I run my hand over her head, kissing her forehead. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, no it wasn’t, but it’s over now.”
Tears fill her eyes,.“It’s over?”
“Yes. You ended it,” I tell her.
Savannah’s dad steps up. She cries with her parents, happy to be out of her nightmare. I page the doctor, waiting for him to come check her out. Savannah says she is in pain and thirsty. Her voice is raw.
“We’ll let everyone know you’re awake,” Ashley says after the doctors leave the room.
James steps up to her when they leave the room. He leans down, kissing her cheek and whispering in her ear, “Damn proud of you, girl.”
Tears spill over the edges of her eyes again as they look at each other. “Thank you, pop tart.”
We all look when the door of the room opens. Maddox steps in. “I heard you were awake.” He smiles softly at Savannah. “I came to speak with Liam and your parents about what we’ve found so far, but I’ll come back after you’ve rested more.”
“No,” Savannah says. “Please I need to know everything. He—Aiden said he had friends watching me.”
Maddox nods. “He had computers at the warehouse. We found evidence that two friends on the outside were helping him while he was in prison. We also found the cameras at both your houses.”
Savannah starts sobbing quietly. “Have you found them?”
Maddox sighs, looking down at the floor before meeting her eyes again. “They’ve gone missing.”
My gaze shoots to James. He doesn’t meet my stare, only continues to watch the exchange between Savannah and Maddox until he leaves the room.
James presses another kiss to Savannah’s forehead. “We’ll talk later.”
I follow him out in the hall after promising Savannah I would be right back. “You weren’t here for almost three days.”
James stares at me without saying a word. I hesitate, looking around before asking quietly, “Will the friends ever be an issue?”
“No. They’ll never bother her again.”
I soak in what he’s confirming. “Thank you.”
He gives a small nod. “Get back to your girl.”
52
SAVANNAH
“I ’m fine, Liam. I can get dressed by myself,” I mutter.
“The doctor said to take it easy.”
“Putting on yoga pants is hardly strenuous activity.”
Liam doesn’t listen, insisting on helping me, anyway. He’s bent down on a knee. I stare at him in wonder. My dad told me Liam’s first words to him when Liam stepped out of the room one day. Liam hasn’t said anything. I’m bursting at the seams to tell him I love him. I also haven’t mentioned again that I heard him talking about building houses and filling it with puppies and babies.
We’re going home to the same house, technically living together. Liam found a new place for us. James and Hudson, with the help of Maddox, tore through both houses, finding the hidden cameras behind furniture and in the walls. None of us ever want to go back to those places. Liam put his house up for sale, and Harper and I canceled our lease, even accepting the penalty.
Liam rented a house for us, inviting Harper to live with us until we’re all settled. It will probably be a while before Harper and I find a new place. I lost my job since I didn’t show up that day I was kidnapped. Apparently, The Witch doesn’t find that a proper excuse. I’m terrified I won’t have an income coming in, but I’m tired of living quietly. I’m ready to start my business once I’m healed.
Liam looks up at me from bended knee. He told my dad he wants to marry me. Not able to hold it in any longer, I blurt out, “You told my dad you were going to marry me.”
He smiles his signature grin. “I did.”
“Then why?”
“Why what?” he asks, lips twitching. He knows what I want.
“Why haven’t you said it?”
He stands, leaning into me, kissing me deeply. His tongue tangles with mine. He pulls free, cupping my face. “Gorgeous, I love you. I wanted to do it special since it took this fucking long, but I was stupid, again. I should have told you before all this. I should have told you the moment you woke up. The only special thing I need is you. I fucking love you.”
Tears fall down my cheeks. I wrap my arms around his neck, bringing his mouth back down to mine. “I love you, too. I love you so much.”
Liam sighs. “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that from you. Never wise up to the fact you’re too good for me.”
We kiss again. Tears are streaming down my face. He pulls away from me, resting his forehead against mine.
“Gorgeous, I am so fucking proud of you. I’m in awe of you. I will worship you for the rest of our lives.”
“Is this your proposal?” I ask.
“No, baby. It’s not.”
“Do you want to build a house and fill it with puppies and babies?”
“I want it all with you, gorgeous.”
Liam carries me into the house, refusing to let me walk up the steps of our new place. I yelp when our families and friends yell welcome home when we get inside. Everyone I love and care about is in one room. I can’t help the happy tears that fall. I rose from the ashes, soaring into a new, incredible life.
EPILOGUE
SAVANNAH
Six Months Later
“Where are you taking me?” I ask Liam.
Liam woke me up early this morning, insisting I get out of bed. Once I was dressed, he strapped a blindfold around my eyes.
“Not telling. It’s a surprise.”
I smile, hoping it’s a proposal. I’ve been patiently waiting for Liam to ask me to marry him. Okay, so I’m not exactly waiting patiently. Each time he took me out somewhere, I’d ask, “Is it going to happen now?”
He’d smile, telling me, “You’ll just have to see.”
I stopped asking a month ago, wondering if my constant questioning was what was keeping him from proposing. We’re still living in a rental house, unsure of where we want to go next.
Harper moved out two months ago, finding a cute condo down the block from her shop. We both cried when she left. She still brings baked goods to every girls’ night.
Around the same time Harper moved out, my parents moved to Austin, both of them stating they were tired of living hours from me and were ready for a new adventure. It’s been wonderful having them so close. My mom has been helping Katie and Olivia with their business since Olivia was put on bedrest. She’s due any day now. I love seeing her so pregnant, belly so full. Olivia and I share an unbreakable bond now. I’ve brought her to every girls’ night, and since her start of bedrest, our girls’ nights are now spent in her and Josh’s bedroom. Poor Tanner doesn’t know it yet, but he’s having a baby sister.
Liam helped me start my boutique marketing company, Phoenix, one month after I was released from the hospital. Harper insisted her store be my first contract. I’ve slowly built my business. I’ve been working out of our house, but with my growing client list, it’s time I start searching for a space. Natasha has promised to join me when I can pay her a salary.
Liam’s Jeep slows to a stop. “Hold on, gorgeous.”
I hear him get out and shut his door. He opens my door, helping me to my feet.
He guides me to a certain position, then comes behind me. He kisses my shoulder. “I love you, Savannah. You amaze me every day. I’m so fucking lucky to have you.”
My heart starts racing, getting ready for the moment I think is coming.
“I love you, too
,” I tell him. My voice sounds wobbly. I swallow, trying to hold back the tears pricking my eyes.
“I’m excited to watch you grow your business.”
Grow my business? That is not where I saw a proposal going.
Liam whips off my blindfold and whispers, “Surprise.”
When my eyes adjust to the sun, I see a small building with a black awning. My Phoenix logo is bright against the black background. I gasp, my hand coming up to cover my mouth. I turn my head to look at Liam, but he’s dropped to a knee.
“Wh—wh—what?”
He smiles his sexy grin. “You’ve been asking for so long if this is the moment. It’s finally the moment, and you don’t know what’s happening?”
Liam grabs my hand, bringing it to his mouth to kiss. “Savannah, you are my world. I’ve seen and loved every facet of you. You are my strong warrior princess. I’m thankful you let me be by your side as you fight your way through life. I’m not giving you up for anything. Your chance to realize you deserve something so much more than me is gone.” He laughs, and tears are streaming down my face. “I will spend every moment of our lives worshipping you and being what you need. I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m telling you, you are.”
“Barbarian,” I whisper. “I love you.”
“Forever, gorgeous. I’ll love you forever.” Liam slides a stunning vintage ring on my finger. The round diamond is flashing up at me—the band is diamonds that creates ovals in a pattern. I gasp when I look at it. I wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him passionately. Our tongues clash.
“I can’t wait to fuck my fiancée,” he whispers.
“Barbarian,” I say again, in my most loving voice.
Liam’s phone rings in his pocket, but he ignores it, standing, backing me against the door of my new office building. My legs wrap around his waist, and I don’t care that we’re outside in the middle of the day.
