Branded: Savannah: Sisters Bound By Blood

by Karen Kelley

  "I know you work at the bar on Saturday nights, but there's a late night movie playing. Would you like to go with me after you get off shift?"

  "I would enjoy going to the movie with you. Thanks for asking." He waited for her to go inside and lock her door before he left.

  That's when the loneliness hit her again. Yes, she had fun with Jeff, and she'd enjoyed being in his company, and if she hadn't met Breaker first, then he might have had a chance. But she had met Breaker first.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Breaker went to the apartment first, carrying his bag with him. The bar was going full swing. He glanced at his watch. It would be closing time soon. His pulse began to race at the thought of seeing Savannah again. He'd stayed away a few days to give her time to adjust to everything that happened.

  As soon as he opened the door, he sensed a difference. He carried his bag to the bedroom and set it on the end of the bed. Everything looked the same in here. The bed was made, and all his things looked neat and tidy.

  He left his room and walked to the one Savannah had stayed in. The bed was stripped and the sheets were neatly folded. His gaze scanned the room. There was nothing of hers in the room. This was what he'd sensed from the moment he came inside. Savannah no longer lived here.

  Cold chills washed over him. What if she wasn't working at the bar anymore. Had she gone so far as to find another job? There was only one way to find out.

  He left the apartment and hurried down the steps. He walked in through the front. Rayan looked up and smiled as she set a tray of drinks on the table.

  "Glad you're back," she said. "We missed you."

  He wanted to ask if that included Savannah. Angie came in from the back, saw him, and smiled. He walked toward her as he looked toward the opening to the grill area, but all he saw was the top of Shorty's head.

  "Nothing major happened while you were gone," Angie said. "I put some receipts on your desk."

  If nothing major happened, did that mean Savannah was still working here?

  "I had no doubt that everything would run smooth with you in charge," he said. "I think I'll just pop in and let Shorty know I'm back." Before she could say anything else, he went through the swinging door, heart pounding in his chest.

  He breathed a sigh of relief as Savannah walked out of the storeroom with a jar of pickle slices. When she looked up, their gazes met. For a moment, he drank in the sight of her. It felt as if he'd been gone a month, rather than a few days.

  "Oh, you're back," she said. "A good trip, I hope."

  "Yes, it was. Productive." It wasn't, but he wasn't going to tell her that. All he'd been able to do was think about her.

  She nodded, smiled, and then started to turn away.

  "You moved out." Damn, he hadn't meant it to sound like he was accusing her of committing a crime.

  "Yes, the duplex on the other side of Rayan came open, so I rented it. It works out great because I can ride to work with her until I can get a driver’s license of my own and a vehicle."

  "That sounds good." That sounds good? No, it had sounded ridiculous. He didn't want her in the duplex. He wanted her in the apartment with him.

  "Did you get lost?" Shorty asked as he came around the corner. He took one look at Breaker and smiled. "Good, you’re back, and all in one piece."

  "I just got in."

  "You planning on those pickles jumping out of that jar and onto them burgers?" Shorty asked Savannah.

  She laughed. The sound musical, washing over him like rain on a warm day. They both went back to the prep and cooking area. Savannah took the warmth with her, and all he felt was cold inside. Maybe he would have a chance to talk to her later this evening. He wanted to make sure she was okay. Really okay. He knew he could have handled everything differently.

  Maybe if they took it slow, started dating, or something. It would still give her a chance to live her own life.

  He made his way to his office and tackled some of the paperwork on his desk, but his mind kept drifting to other things, and every one of them included him with Savannah.

  Dammit, he could see the change in her already. It was as if she was maturing right before his eyes. Growing into the woman he knew she could be. Full of confidence about who she was. No, he didn't want her to be that scared young woman when he'd first met her. He didn't want her to need anyone.

  Yeah, that was a lie. He wanted her to need him, but not to survive, only to love. Damn, he’d made a mess of everything. For the next hour, he wondered if he even stood a chance with her now. He buried himself in catching up on business.

  He kept glancing at the time on his phone. When he knew they would be gathering at the roundtable, he left his office. He was looking forward to being in Savannah’s company again. But as he walked toward the table, a stranger leaned against the bar.

  "Can I help you?" he asked.

  The man straightened. "You must be Breaker," he said. "Everyone speaks very highly of you."

  He was still confused. "Okay."

  The man laughed lightly. "I'm sorry. I'm Jeff. A friend of Rayan’s."

  That explained it. He relaxed. Rayan must have a date. He studied the man for a moment. After all, Rayan was a good friend of his. More like a sister sometimes. Jeff was nice looking. The kind of guy that women found charming. The guy looked harmless enough.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said.

  "Rayan introduced me to Savannah, and we’ve been seeing each other. We’re going to the movie tonight."

  The blood in his veins slowly began to frost, then turn to ice. He didn't like Jeff. Not one bit. He looked him over again. Yeah, he was charming, all right. The kind of guy that Savannah would easily fall for.

  "Hi, Jeff. Sorry to keep you waiting, but I wanted to change out of my work clothes for our date tonight," Savannah spoke behind him.

  As she waltzed past him, he got a good look at her. She wore a pale yellow dress that he was pretty sure she bought a few weeks ago. She’d never worn it for him, though.

  The next thing he knew, the door was closing behind them. What the hell? Could she dismiss what they had that easily?

  "Your food is getting cold," Shorty said.

  It seemed as if a fog has suddenly surrounded his brain. He automatically walked over to the table and sat in his usual seat, staring at the burger and fries in front of him. They talked all around him as if it was nothing for Savannah to go out with another man. Where the hell was their loyalty?

  "We went driving yesterday, and Savannah did real well," Shorty commented.

  "I quizzed her on the test, and she aced it." Angie took a bite of her burger.

  "I can't believe how much she has grown since she came here," Rayan said. "I know Jeff likes her."

  Breaker’s foot began to tap beneath the table.

  "Are you okay?" Shorty asked. "You seem upset about something."

  "What in the world would I be upset about? I'm doing great, just great." He picked up his burger and took a big bite, and then began to chew. Yeah, he felt damned great. Wonderful, in fact.

  What the hell were Jeff and Savannah doing? Did he really take her to the movies? He knew the kind of man Jeff was. His kind could charm a snake if he wanted. There was no telling what he would do to Savannah. She was still too innocent when it came to men. He gripped his bottle of root beer and took a long drink, then almost choked when he thought about Jeff kissing her. He’d kill him. If he touched her in any way, he would definitely kill him.

  He suddenly came to his feet, the chair sliding back at least three feet from the force. Without saying a word, he stormed out of the bar. He took the steps two at a time on the way up to the apartment.

  Once there, he began to pace as images of Jeff and Savannah together, in each other's arms, filled his mind. He needed something more potent than root beer. He started opening cabinet doors until he got to the one he needed. He pulled out the bottle of whiskey and splashed some into a coffee cup, then downed it in one gulp. The liquid burne
d all the way down his throat. He poured some more into the cup, then swallowed it.

  He began to deflate. Hell, wasn't this what he wanted? For Savannah to figure out who she was? She couldn't do that unless she was on her own. He raked his fingers through his hair. But did it have to hurt so much?

  "God give me strength," he mumbled and poured himself another drink.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  "The pot is about to boil," Rayan said.

  "That it is," Shorty agreed.

  "I was beginning to wonder if it ever would," Angie spoke up. "How long has it been? A week and a half?"

  They'd all just gotten to work. Breaker's pickup hadn't been out front when they arrived.

  Savannah nibbled her bottom lip. "Are we sure we want the pot to boil?" She knew who they were talking about.

  They were all tiptoeing around Breaker. He was like a bear that had just woke up after hibernating all winter long, and there was no food. As long as he didn't eat any of them, they might survive. She was afraid they were pushing him too far.

  "Are we doing the right thing?" she finally asked.

  "You are doing exactly as he wanted," Shorty reminded her. "You're getting on with your life. Next week you'll take your driver's test, and we'll go looking for a car."

  "I miss him," she said. "If this is what having a life is all about, then it only feels like half a life without him in it. Maybe I should just tell him how I feel."

  "After everything we've done," Angie said. "Don't you dare. He has to realize that on his own."

  Rayan walked over and hugged her. "Don't you worry, he might be a little slow figuring it all out, but I have no doubt he'll come to his senses soon enough." She went back to wiping off the counter.

  The front door was flung open. They jumped when it bounced against the wall. Breaker stood in the doorway. He came inside, kicking the door closed. He walked straight to her, stopping only about a foot away.

  "Was there something you wanted to say?" Savannah asked, trying to stay calm.

  He frowned. "Yes, there’s something I want to say. I don't like you dating other men. I don't want you dating Jeff anymore. He seems nice, but he's not the man for you."

  Butterflies began to flutter inside her stomach. "You're right, he isn't the man for me. He's a friend, but nothing more than that."

  His brow creased. "Then why the hell are you going out with him?"

  He was acting like dating someone else was all her fault. Something inside her snapped. "Because I want to make you happy! That's what you wanted!" She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  He looked confused for a moment. “I was wrong.” He raked his fingers through his hair. "Dammit, I just wanted you to be independent. To make choices without any interference from me, but I don’t want you to date anyone else.”

  “Neither do I.”

  He frowned. “Why not?”

  "Don't you see, you're the only man I want. I knew it from the moment I first saw you. I just didn't realize it at the time."

  He visibly sighed with relief and pulled her into his arms. “Good. I’d hate to litter Louisiana with the bodies of men who got fresh with you.”

  She laughed, loving this side of Breaker. And she did love him so much, with everything in her. Heart and soul, she loved this man

  Epilogue

  Two months later

  Savannah washed the last plate, rinsed it, then put it in the drainer. It seemed like a lifetime ago that they were in the swamp and that Marco was chasing them. Maybe that was the way it was supposed to feel. She could finally live her life, and this was exactly where she was supposed to be.

  Breaker had insisted she keep her place, and they go out on dates. He wanted her to have choices. She sighed. He would always be the one she would choose. Besides, he was either at her place all the time, or she was at his apartment. She was finding out that men could have strange ideas.

  "Grab your basket of food, and we'll take it to the roundtable, baby girl," Shorty said as he hung up his apron and left with his basket.

  The more she was around Shorty, the more she felt as if he was the kind of father she’d never had. She had a feeling he sort of thought of her as the daughter he’d never had since he didn’t have any children of his own.

  "I'm right behind you," she said as she took off her slightly damp apron and hung it on the peg. She grabbed her basket of food and headed to the front. They were all there, talking and laughing, but waiting for her. This was her family, but out there somewhere, she had two sisters that she would never forget. Someday, she knew they would all be together again. For now, she felt blessed having this new family and being surrounded by their love.

  Everyone was at the table. Breaker was still standing. He motioned for her and Shorty to have a seat.

  “Before we get started on our meal, I just wanted to say a few words,” Breaker began, then drew in a deep breath then looked right at me. “When I saw you in the restaurant that first night I felt something. It wasn’t just that you looked so frightened. It was something more. Then, the more I got to know you, the more I fell in love with you. I’ve never felt like this until I met you.”

  Her heart began to pound as he reached into his pocket, then dropped to one knee in front of her. He opened the black velvet box, and a diamond winked up at her.

  “Will you marry me?”

  She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked.

  She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “It’s a yes.”

  Angie, Rayan, and Shorty began to cheer and clap their hands. She was happy Breaker had included them in his proposal. It made their small family even closer.

  “A church wedding,” Shorty said.

  “Absolutely,” Angie agreed.

  “With lots of flowers.”

  “We’ll have to go into New Orleans to shop for a wedding dress,” Angie said.

  Rayan and Savannah looked at her and began to laugh.

  Angie frowned. “I like to shop…sometimes. Especially when it’s this important.”

  Savannah could see it now. Shorty would walk her down the aisle. Angie would be her maid of honor and Rayan, her bridesmaid. As she walked toward the minister, Breaker would be there waiting for her.

  Breaker's phone rang, and her heart skipped a beat. She hoped he wasn't going somewhere. He looked apologetic.

  “Answer it,” she said.

  He nodded, then walked to the other room. He was only gone a few minutes. When he returned, he didn't seem any different, so she relaxed again.

  “Stay with me tonight,” he said.

  She nodded.

  They said their goodnights walked up the stairs to the apartment. She started toward his bedroom, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the sofa.

  “You’re leaving,” she said, disappointment filling her.

  “What?”

  “The phone call.”

  “That? No, but it was Carter.”

  “You are leaving. Going on a mission that will put you in danger.”

  “No, I’m not going anywhere. You know I’ve had Carter searching for your sisters. I don’t want you to get too excited, but he might have a lead on Jade.”

  Her heart began to pound, and the room swayed. Breaker grabbed her until she was steady again.

  “Jade?” she whispered.

  “It’s just a lead, but the best one he’s had so far. Still, it might not pan out. I just wanted to keep you in the loop. Either way, don’t give up. We’ll find them.”

  She threw her arms around his neck and held him close. She knew, no matter what happened, she would always have Breaker at her side.

  But that night, as she lay in his arms, she closed her eyes and dreamed about Jade and Rena. Someday, they would find each other. When they did, her life would be complete.

  I hope you enjoyed Branded, Savannah's story.

  Continue reading for a sneak peek at. Forgotten, Jade's
story.

  Forgotten

  Chapter One

  Jade flinched as thunder rumbled so loud it almost felt as if the house shook. A moment later, the faint sound of rain pelted the tin roof. The small window in the basement wasn’t completely boarded, so they could see jagged streaks of lightening racing across the sky.

  “This is your chance. Run!” Jade frantically whispered. “Don’t look back.” She pushed Lindy toward the door, the rusty chain around Jade’s ankle rattled. “Go!”

  “I’m not going without you, so shut the hell up,” the girl said, shoving the dark hair from her face. “Now, be still so I don’t hit your foot.”

  Fear trembled through her. Randal could come downstairs any moment now and catch them trying to escape. He would be furious. But God, she couldn’t stop the thread of hope from weaving through her. Maybe this time…maybe…

  With the next rumble of thunder, Lindy brought the hammer down hard on the chisel she held against the lock. It took three more times, three more rumbles of thunder, before the lock broke and Jade was free. She drew in a deep, ragged breath as she jumped to her feet.

  Lindy’s expression showed her fierce determination. “Now we go. Together, as we always said we would.”

  Jade nodded, bottom lip trembling. They crept up the stairs from the basement, Lindy still holding the hammer. Jade held her breath as Lindy pushed the door open, cringing when it squeaked.

  “Clear,” Lindy whispered.

  Her heart pounded so hard she could almost feel it banging against her chest, but a surge of defiance flowed through her as well. They would make it this time. One step at a time. Reach the back door, then ease it open, careful to be quiet. Randal and his wife would be upstairs, sleeping.

  They went through the living room, still afraid to take a deep breath. Then they were in the kitchen. Lindy snatched the loaf of bread off the table, then grinned at her. Jade smiled back. They were doing this, really escaping.