Broken Rules: A Stand Alone Romance

by Baldwin, Lily

  “I’m worried about business.”

  Joe’s eyes widened. “Worried? Are you serious? We had a wait most of the night.”

  She wasn’t thinking—she was panicking.

  A moment later, Brandi appeared at her side. “Just wanted to say goodnight before I head out.” Then she reached down and gave Savannah a hug. “Give him hell,” she whispered.

  Give him hell? What was she talking about...

  And then she understood and squeezed Brandi with all her might. How could she have forgotten that she had a real bone to pick with Joe?

  After Brandi hastened away, Savannah looked Joe dead on. “I know about the camera in the office.”

  He put his fork down and gave her an assessing look, but then he shrugged. “It’s my right to secure my business.”

  “Not with hidden cameras. Brandi and I change in there all the time as I’m certain you know by now.”

  He lifted his shoulders. “My job comes with some pretty great perks.”

  She leaned forward. “You’re such an asshole,” she hissed.

  A cocky smile curved his lips. “Don’t think about telling anyone, or else your own seedy truth will come out.”

  She froze. “What are you talking about?”

  He reached across the table and slowly trailed his fingers down her arm. “I saw the man in the mask. I didn’t know you were so kinky. Listen, if BDSM is your thing, then I’m your man. I’ll tie you up—”

  She jerked her arm away. “You really are a pig.”

  Suddenly, sirens blasted. Joe turned away from her to look out the window. Colorful flashes of blue and red could be seen over the balcony. “What the fuck is going on?” he blurted, coming to his feet. Then he crossed to the balcony door and stepped outside.

  Savannah sat in her seat, frozen, her heart pounding while sirens blared.

  Joe barreled back into the restaurant. “Every cop in Rye is pulling up to my fucking house. Fire engines, too.” He sped across the room and disappeared down the stairs.

  Coming to her senses, she leapt to her feet and rushed after Joe, following him out the back door.

  When she glimpsed the scene at Joe’s house her heart sank. “Oh God!”

  Police cruisers filled Joe’s driveway and the surrounding yard. Officers in SWAT gear circled the perimeter. Despite the late hour, the spot lights aimed at the house were so bright, it looked like midday.

  Gun shots rang out from somewhere inside. “No,” she screamed. On tremulous legs, she stumbled after Joe as he raced through the sand.

  “Hold right there,” a cop said, blocking Joe before he could cross into his yard. She came to a stop behind him.

  Joe pointed to his palace on posts. “That’s my house!”

  The cop mumbled something into the dispatch radio on his vest.

  “Wait here.”

  Savannah could barely draw breath. “Please, no,” she whispered, her eyes glazed over with tears as she scanned the windows for a glimpse of Damien. There was no way he could have made it past so many officers. Was he still inside? Did they have him on his knees with guns aimed at his head? She looked at the many cruisers dotting the road and yard. Was he inside one of the cars in handcuffs? Could he see her?

  She swallowed hard as the unthinkable question came to her mind. Was he still alive?

  Joe turned to her. “Savannah, what the hell is going on?”

  “I...I don’t know,” she stammered.

  Just then the lean silhouette of a man started walking toward them. The harsh light from the police car headlights behind him obscured his face. He moved in a familiar, effortless way.

  Her heart lifted. “Damien,” she whispered and started forward but the officer next to her grabbed her arm. “Stay where you are, miss.”

  Heart pounding, she nodded and held her breath, watching the approaching figure. But then the police car backed up, shifting the light and the person’s lesser height and thicker waist came into view, and her mouth dropped open.

  “Holy shit,” she blurted.

  “Hi Savannah.” Skeevy Stevie stood in front of her, but he looked different. His hair was no longer plastered to one side. It was loose and softly curled. His thick, plastic frames were gone. An edgy, vintage pair of wire rims were in their stead. He was almost good looking and in no way skeevy.

  Steve thrust his hand out toward Joe. “Detective Edward Hastings. I’m in charge here. You’ll need to come with me.” Then the former Skeevy Stevie turned to her. “Savannah, you need to head back to the restaurant.”

  She shook her head, desperate. “No, I can’t.”

  Joe turned to her. “I appreciate you coming out here with me, but I need you back there. You have to close up.”

  Her stomach twisted. Her eyes darted everywhere, hoping for just one glimpse of Damien.

  “Savannah,” Edward said, coming forward. He looked at her pointedly. “You don’t want any part of what’s going on here.” He gently put his arm around her shoulder and led her toward the parking lot separating Joe’s restaurant from his house. “A good girl like you doesn’t want to get mixed up in nasty business like this. Trust me.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Savannah stumbled back to the restaurant, the pathway blurred through her tears. Her heart sat heavy in her chest, weighting her down.

  “Savvy,” she heard Brandi call. She looked up and spotted her friend up on the balcony with what appeared to be most of The Cove’s staff packed like sardines into the small space.

  Savannah pushed forward despite how her heart screamed that it was all too much for her to bear. She wanted to collapse.

  “Savannah!”

  She looked now at Heather who stood in the doorway waving her over. “I need you to void something off someone’s check.”

  “Ask Brandi,” she muttered as she passed through the door.

  Heather shook her head. “Joe took away her access code tonight when he caught her deleting a round of drinks for her friends.”

  Numb, Savannah followed Heather to one of the computers. She reached out her hand. In that moment, it felt as if someone else was moving her fingers. She tapped the screen, imputing her code. Her finger highlighted the drinks, then touched the void button. A comment box appeared. “Why am I deleting these?” she asked, her voice robotic to her own ears.

  “Their meal came out way late because everyone but William left to go watch the action up at Joe’s. What’s going on anyway?”

  Heather’s question sent her spiraling. “I don’t know,” she cried and fell to her knees.

  “Holy shit,” she heard Heather exclaim before her footfalls receded away.

  Savannah felt paralyzed, bent over on her knees. And then a few moments later, she was flying. She looked up and met Roger’s warm, chocolate-brown eyes.

  “Girl, you need a vacation,” he said before pressing a kiss to her forehead and cradling her tighter in his arms.

  “Savvy,” Brandi said breathlessly, arriving at Roger’s side a moment later. “What’s going on. Heather said that you just flipped out!”

  “Tact, Brandi,” Roger snapped. “You don’t tell someone in the midst of a mental crisis that they’re crazy. It’s simply bad form.”

  “Right,” Brandi said. “Let’s get her up to the office.”

  To Savannah’s hazy senses, everyone’s words and movements seemed to drag in slow motion. She vaguely registered what was happening, but she felt as though she was somehow removed from it all, hovering above like a spectator of her own life.

  “Heather, start the closing duties, and give everyone at the bar last call,” she heard Brandi say.

  Roger swept her through the kitchen, then up the stairs and carefully placed her down on one of the office chairs. Straightaway, Brandi squatted down in front of her and gently tucked Savannah’s hair behind her ear. “Talk to me, Savvy. What’s going on?”

  A sob rushed to Savannah’s lips. Her hand flew to her lips to squelch the noise, forcing the emoti
on back down into her heart. She shook her head, unable to speak.

  “Whatever is going on, I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”

  Savannah locked eyes with Brandi. Slowly, her hand dropped to her lap.

  “What did you say?”

  “It’s never as bad as anyone thinks. No matter what is going on.”

  Maybe Brandi was right.

  Maybe Damien hadn’t been caught. Right at that moment, he could be waiting for her at the mill. What if he was hurt? He couldn’t check into a hospital. He would need her help.

  She sat straight.

  Anything could have happened, but she shouldn’t assume the worse and panic. “You’re right, Brandi.” Her gaze took in the worried expressions on her friends’ faces. There was no way they were going to let her rush off on her own to search for Damien if they thought she was still having a ‘mental crisis’.

  “I’m sorry everyone,” she began, fighting to keep her voice calm. “I received some bad news just a little while ago, but I think Brandi could be right. I don’t think it’s as bad as I fear.”

  Brandi squeezed her hand. “Is it Nonna?”

  “No, Nonna is fine.” She wiped her wet cheeks. “And so am I. Come on. Let’s get the hell out of here.” She looked at Brandi. “Get me the servers cash-outs so I can finish the money.” Then she turned to Roger. “Go light a fire under everyone’s ass to get the closing done.”

  “You got it, boss,” Roger said, following Brandi out the door. Then he stopped and leaned back into the office. “Hey, what was happening up at Joe’s anyway?”

  Savannah forced away the fresh dread that entered her mind. She lifted her shoulders. “I’m not sure. The cop only let Joe through. There were some firefighters, so maybe it’s a gas leak or something.”

  “Yeah, or maybe someone made a play for that painting the moron posted on Facebook,” Roger said. “He should really put it in a safe or give it to a museum or something.”

  Tension bit into her shoulders. “I don’t think the word donate is in Joe’s vocabulary.”

  Roger laughed. “You’re right about that. His idea of a good deed is dropping his change into the penny dish at a convenience store.” He flashed her a smile before he left.

  When Brandi arrived with the cash-outs, Savannah seized the pile and started checking the numbers. “Does anyone need cash?”

  Brandi shook her head. “Nope. They’re all gone. And Roger has taken on the role of wicked queen of the damned. He put the fear of God in everyone. The kitchen guys are just finishing the floors. They should be gone in the next ten minutes.”

  “Good,” Savannah said absently as she finished the final tally. Then she turned the computer off and stood up, grabbing her bag.

  “Let’s go,” she said to Brandi.

  “Hey, Savvy, why don’t you let William and me drive you home.”

  Savannah shook her head. “No thanks, I’m good.”

  Brandi gently grabbed her arm. “Savvy, you started sobbing on the restaurant floor. You’re not okay.”

  “I totally lost it for a moment, but I’m just run down. And like I said, I had some bad news, but everything is going to be okay. I just need some time to think. You go ahead with William. I’m sure you had other plans in mind for tonight other than taking me home.”

  Brandi smiled. “He does have a surprise for me.”

  Savannah forced a smile to her lips. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

  Brandi kissed her on the cheek. Then she shot down the stairs.

  Savannah remained at the top of the stairwell, her heart pounding, her stomach twisting, as she waited for the restaurant to empty out. After she heard the cooks leave, she rushed down the stairs and checked to make certain the front door was locked. Then she raced out back, set the alarm, slammed the back door, and sprinted toward her car.

  She pulled out of the backlot and headed down the main strip, but instead of turning left to wind through the maze of narrow beach streets to her cottage, she stayed straight. Waves swelled and lapped the shore on her right as she headed out of town.

  Fear tore through her, twisting her stomach into tight knots. Soon, she was surrounded by old mills. Her heart raced harder when she spotted Damien’s Harley and not the van. She pulled off to the side and parked. Then she raced to the door and threw it open. Her heart soared when she spied a soft light coming from the loft in the back. She quickly picked her way across the rubble strewn floor.

  “Damien,” she burst out when she reached the ladder.

  But it was Detective Hastings’s face that suddenly peered down at her.

  She cried out and stumbled back.

  He rushed down the ladder, coming to her side. “Savannah, are you okay?”

  She shrugged off his help. “Where is he?”

  His eyes filled with what seemed like genuine concern. “Listen, you can’t be here. My team is on the way. You have to get out of here.”

  “Just tell me,” she cried. “Where is he?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t do that. Listen, Savannah, I’ve been watching you for a while now, ever since I saw you sneak into your boss’s house.

  “You’ve been following me?”

  He nodded.

  “But...but...how can you be a cop when you’ve always been such an asshole.”

  He lifted his shoulders and grimaced apologetically. “I’m sorry for that, but one way to move under the radar is to make the people you need to get close to dislike you. You had no idea I was trailing you, because you couldn’t wait to take your eyes off me.”

  She grabbed his suit jacket. “None of this matters. Where is he?”

  “I’m not going to tell you.” He straightened, standing tall. “Why don’t you go home and read your books and forget all about this.”

  She stood up. “Please, he’s not a bad guy. He’s not in this for the money.” She motioned to the loft. “You’ve seen how he lives.”

  Edward took off his glasses and rubbed the palm of his hand across his brow. “Savannah, I’m trying to keep you out of this.”

  “But—”

  “I know about your parents and Nonna. What will your grandmother do if you’re convicted of aiding and abetting a known thief and are sent to jail for the next 10 years? Walk away, or face the consequences.”

  She swallowed hard.

  His face softened. “Listen, I’m not the asshole you think I am. I really don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “Too late for that,” she muttered.

  “Two minutes more and my team walks through that door. You have to go.”

  She forced her feet to walk away. Stepping outside, she shivered despite the hot, muggy air pouring off the river. She looked at the wharf where she and Damien had walked together. The tears she had been fighting back, teemed to the surface and she opened her mouth and let her anguish pour out.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Savannah opened her door and walked into her cottage. Without bothering to turn a light on, she dragged her body over to the couch and collapsed.

  She spent the night there, bunched in a tiny ball. In the morning, she still couldn’t move. Morning became afternoon. Her phone rang, forcing her eyes to open. It was Brandi. She let it ring. Hours passed by. Someone knocked on her door. She only moved to use the bathroom. But when evening approached, she got a call she couldn’t ignore.

  “Hi Ellen,” she rasped.

  “Savannah, honey, I’m so sorry, but I can’t go to Nonna’s tonight. I’m not feeling well, and I don’t want to risk getting her sick, not in her condition. Do you want me to call Janet, and see if she can fill in for me?”

  Savannah shook her head before she remembered Ellen wouldn’t be able to see her answer. She had to force herself to speak.

  “No, this is her night off. She always watches her grandchildren. I...” Savannah took a deep breath. “I will go. You rest up and feel better.”

  Her hand shook as she fit the key into Nonna’s front
door. The evening nurse would have left for the night. She knew she would find Nonna sitting up in bed watching an old movie. She crossed to her four season room that had been turned into a first floor bedroom.

  “Oh dear,” Nonna said when they locked eyes. “Someone has broken my gal’s heart. Come here, my darling.” Her nonna patted the side of her bed.

  Savannah released her breath. Her shoulders slumped, and she padded across the room and curled up next to her grandmother.

  She couldn’t do what her heart craved, which was to release it all and spill her guts completely. She didn’t want to risk distressing Nonna, especially right before bed. She was fragile. But in that moment, Savannah closed her eyes and breathed in her Nonna’s familiar, comforting scent. Within that smell, she could find her parents and the days of youthful security when she was the one allowed to be vulnerable.

  “What is his name?” Nonna asked while she rubbed Savannah’s back.

  “Damien,” she whispered, choking her sob back.

  “Well, what did this Damien do?”

  “He stole my heart,” she cried.

  “They’ll do that sometimes. Do you love him?”

  She sat up and looked at her nonna.

  “Ah,” the old woman said knowingly. “I can see that you do. Now, take it from this old lady. If you truly do love him, don’t give up. Never give up on true love.” Pain filled her eyes the instant before she dropped her gaze. “I did and I’ve always regretted it.”

  Savannah sniffed and swiped at her wet cheeks. “Are you talking about Tony?”

  A glint shone in Nonna’s faded blue eyes. “No, Tony was just a fling. There was someone else. Someone I loved so deeply.” She closed her eyes. “I can still see his face the moment before our first kiss, the smile playing at his lips, the way he smelled.”

  “What happened?”

  Nonna’s eyes opened. “My story doesn’t have a happy ending.” She patted Savannah’s hand. “Run upstairs to my room and bring me the blue velvet box from my unmentionables drawer.”

  Savannah crossed to the stairwell and ascended to her grandmother’s old bedroom that was nearly empty but for a few cardboard boxes. She no longer had an unmentionables drawer. Her turn-of-the-century bedroom set had been sold along with most of her other possessions to afford her medical care. In a cardboard packing box, Savannah dug out her old jewelry box. Lifting the lid, she found the small blue velvet box and hurried back downstairs.