Chapter 14
Savannah’s expression turned to ice the moment she saw what was happening.
She stormed forward, her voice sharp and commanding in the local
language ”
hit a woman. Ever.”
your issue is, it doesn’t give you the right to
The woman who’d just been slapped looked up at Savannah, eyes filled with fresh hope. But before she could even speak, the man yanked her back roughly into his arms.
He shot Savannah a mocking grin. “And who the hell are you? This is between her?”
me and
girlfriend. We had a fight. So what if I hit
“You gonna play hero now? Meddling in other people’s business?”
The woman shook her head desperately, tears streaming.
“No–no, I’m not his girlfriend. He’s lying!”
The man’s expression twisted into something dark.
‘Oh really? Not my girlfriend, huh?” he sneered. “So what about that kiss? Or those photos I have of us? You really wanna of that happened?”
“If you won’t be with me, fine. But don’t think for a second I won’t show the whole damn town what you’re really like.‘ Her face went pale. She backed away, trembling.
“You forced me,” she cried. “You tricked me- -none of that was consensual!”
“I’ll call the police. I swear I will.”
That only made him laugh harder, the sound brittle and cruel.
”
pretend none
“Sure, go ahead. Report it. Who’s gonna believe you? Maybe you didn’t fight back because you liked it. Maybe you were begging for it.”
Their voices blurred into a sharp, droning buzz in Savannah’s ears. Her head swam.
All she could see was Emily–drugged, terrified, violated.
Not this again. Not another girl destroyed by someone like this.
When she came to, her hand was already in motion–slapping the man across the face, hard.
The sound cracked through the street like a whip.
She stepped in front of the woman, shielding her with her own body. Her chest rose and fell, breath catching with rage.
Savannah’s voice shook, but her words were firm.
“You know damn well she didn’t say yes. And don’t you dare twist that into consent.”
“Trying to control a woman by weaponizing her past—that’s not love. That’s assault.”
Then she turned to the trembling woman behind her, her tone softening just enough.
“You’re safe now. I promise, I won’t let him hurt you.”
What happened to Emily wasn’t just a tragedy–it was a scar Savannah carried in her bones, something she could never forgive herselt
for
And today today she wouldn’t stand by and watch it happen again.
The man lunged toward her with a furious roar.
Chapter 14
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But before he got close, a shadow swept past her shoulder–a gust of wind and the scent of something clean and sharp, like cold pine.
Savannah flinched instinctively and raised her arm, bracing for impact-
Only to realize someone else had stepped in.
The man was already on the ground, groaning, one cheek swelling from the punch he’d
The one who threw it stood tall and silent, his hat pulled low over his brow, casting his face in shadow.
But his sharp jawline and pale skin, the curve of his lips–there was something familiar there. Striking. Effortless.
Then a voice rang out from down the street.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!”
It was Carol’s voice.
She rushed over, exasperated, and gave the man in the hat a few solid swats on the arm.
“I told you to behave! First day back and you’re already causing trouble?”
“And in front of Savannah and her mother? What are they supposed to think?”
The man gave a soft, almost boyish chuckle as he tugged off his hat.
When he looked up,
his eyes met Savannah’s. There was warmth in them now, gentle and calm,
His voice was deeper than she remembered–smoother, but still unmistakable.
“Sorry about that, Savannah,” he said with an easy smile. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
And just like that, she understood why he’d felt so familiar.
રે
It was him–the boy who used to protect her and Emily from every scraped knee and cruel word.
Her childhood neighbor.
The big brother who always stepped in when no one else would.
Ben Carter.
