Chapter 24
Julian might’ve looked thinner these days–worn down, pale. But he still wasn’t the kind of man an average thug could take down.
With a swift, brutal kick, he knocked the man off Savannah and sent him crashing to the ground.
His injured hand clenched into a tight fist, blood still dripping between his fingers.
Expression cold and murderous, Julian strode forward and slammed his foot down on the man’s chest just as he tried to get up.
The guy let out a strangled cry, terror flashing across his face.
“H–Hey, man–look, if it’s money you want, I can pay!” he stammered. “Whatever it is, we can work it out. Just let me go.‘
Julian didn’t even blink.
“Money?” His voice was low. Dangerous. “Then let me return the favor.”
“How about I pay you for your life. Sound fair?”
He leaned down slightly, voice like a death sentence.
“You laid a hand on Savannah. You think you’re walking out of this?”
Panic hit the man like a tidal wave. It was only then that he realized–this wasn’t just some nobody.
He’d messed with the wrong person.
Tears streamed down his face as he begged, words tumbling over themselves, desperate and pathetic.
But Julian didn’t care.
All the rage, all the frustration he’d been bottling up for weeks–he let it out now.
Every blow he landed was a release.
A punishment.
A warning.
Behind him, Savannah slowly pushed herself up. Her knees shook, her breathing ragged.
She looked at the man crumpled on the ground, barely able to speak–and felt nothing but satisfaction.
But then her gaze shifted.
To Julian.
The one who had saved her.
And just like that, her emotions tangled into something messy. Complicated.
She didn’t want to owe him anything. Not now. Not ever.
Suddenly, someone pulled her into a warm embrace from behind.
>>
Ben.
His arms were tight around her, his voice hoarse with panic.
“Savannah God, are you okay?”
“I didn’t see your call. I wasn’t even checking my phone–I didn’t know… I didn’t know you were in trouble.”
His hands scanned her quickly, eyes searching for injuries. Only when he was sure she wasn’t bleeding did he finally breathe.
Chapter 24
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Julian turned, and the moment he saw their hands intertwined, something inside him cracked–jealousy, rage, and regret crashing
over him all at once.
He stormed forward, grabbed Ben by the collar, and shoved him back.
“You couldn’t even protect her. So why the hell are you still pretending like you deserve
Ben didn’t argue. He knew he was late. He knew he’d failed.
His dark lashes fluttered as he lowered his eyes, silent.
Savannah had had enough.
She stepped between them and shoved Julian back hard.
He stumbled, staring at her like he didn’t even recognize the woman in front of him.
“I don’t need any of you playing hero,” she snapped.
to
be
by her side?”
“You think I’m some fragile little thing you get to pass around? That you get to claim?”
Julian’s breath hitched. His eyes reddened, voice faltering.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said. “It’s just… he’s not who you think he is. He’s fake, Savannah. This time I But next time? He won’t be able to save you.”
Savannah’s laugh was cold and sharp.
“Oh, I see. So now you want credit? You want me to be grateful?”
She pointed at the man still groaning on the floor, bloody and barely conscious.
“Just because you saved me today doesn’t erase everything you did to put me in this place.”
“Let me remind you, Julian–it wasn’t Ben who drove me into this corner.”
That hit like a gunshot.
was
lucky–I was here.
Julian opened his mouth but no words came out. His lips trembled, eyes shattering with something painfully close to grief.
With his shirt bloodstained and his hand still dripping, he looked like a man on the edge.
But she didn’t soften.
Not anymore.
Savannah took a breath, steadying herself.
“Maybe it’s time I made myself crystal clear.”
“All of this–the evidence, the prep, the digging–I’m not doing it for closure.”
“I’m building a case.”
“I’m going to take you to court, Julian.”
“And the only time I’ll ever sit down and speak to you again.., will be across a courtroom bench.”
Chapter 24
