Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“Oh, I think you know,” I reply, pulling out my phone and scrolling through the pictures my private investigator snapped. “This looks just like you and a very prominent state judge trading payment, doesn’t it?”
“You can’t prove anything,” he says, but the beads of sweat forming on his head are telling me something else.
“I can prove enough to cause suspicion and enough to take you to court. I can make an entire jury have doubts on your credibility when I drag out your tax evasion and the stack of regulations you’ve broken by taking money from lobbyists.”
His face pales and he takes a step back as I pull Savannah closer to me. He lives in a house of cards. No wonder he was gasping for the Clark’s family money.
“You were right, Mr. Matthews. I was trouble for you from day one. And I plan on being for the rest of your life.” He swallows and I lean in closer to him. “But I’ll leave you and your illegal business deals alone if you learn how to speak to my wife with respect.”
“Wife?” He nearly chokes on the word as he looks between us.
“Oh yes, I didn’t waste a second getting her tied to me. And congratulations. You’re going to be a grandpa.”
He’s unsteady on his feet as he stumbles back and falls into the nearby chair. Savannah steps around me so she can look down on him.
“I’m finally going to live the life I want without a say from you or Mother. You can’t control me or my trust any longer because I don’t care. I’m with the man I love and if you both want to be a part of that then you’re welcome to try, but I’m done doing what you think is right.”
She looks back at me and I nod, letting her know I’m here when she’s finished.
“Take me home, Wyatt,” she says and I’m by her side instantly.
I turn to her father and lean in close to him. “If you ever try to interfere with her happiness I’ll do more than expose you as a fraud. I’ll fucking end you,” I whisper. I straighten and take Savannah’s hand.
We walk out of the room without a backwards glance but once we get to the front door Savannah stops. She turns and looks back at the staircase and I follow her line of sight to see her mother standing at the top of it. For a brief moment I think she’s going to come down and talk to her daughter, but with a sad look in her eyes she turns and walks away.
I put my arm around Savannah as we walk out to the truck and I get us out of there as fast as I can.
“I’m so sorry,” I say when we’re almost home.
“I am, too. They’re going to miss out on their grandchildren's lives because they’ve decided that controlling me was more important than loving me.”
I pull her to me and kiss the top of her head as I drive. “Do you want me to cause problems for them?” She laughs and it warms my chest. “You know I’m serious, right?”
“I know, and that’s why it makes me so happy.” She sighs as she looks up at me. “Not yet, but maybe one day when I’m feeling extra petty.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
When we pull up to the house I put the truck in park and turn to look at her. Her bright emerald eyes are so soft right now and all I want to do is take her to bed. But I need to make sure that she’s okay and that this can’t touch her anymore.
“I know I didn’t go about it the traditional way,” I say, reaching over to open the glove box. I take out the small black box. I take her hand. “I got this ring after I won my first case.”
“The Salinger trial?” she asks, and my chest swells with pride.
“You remember?”
“I followed all your cases,” she says, her cheeks blushing.
“I didn’t have much in the way of a home, or really anything other than a win under my belt. But I’d been saving for a while and I wanted to get you the ring you deserved.” I open the box and inside is an emerald surrounded by diamonds on a platinum band. “I looked at it every day and it reminded me of your eyes.”
“It’s so beautiful,” she says as she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Savannah. And I promise to give you the family and the life that you’ve always dreamed of. I promise to make sure that you never know a day without love, and acceptance, and all of your dreams made into a reality.”
I slip the ring on her finger and then kiss it before I look up and press my lips to hers.