Page 86 of Living with Fire
“If you’re going to break his heart and leave us to pick up the pieces,” Liam says from behind me, his words cool and calculated, “At least explain why before you do it.”
Hurt flashes in her eyes, and I throw a warning look over my shoulder at my best friend. When I turn back to her, the pain is gone, resolve meeting me instead.
She steps away from me, wrapping her arms around herself and addresses the two men. “Let’s sit in the kitchen and have a beer.”
It’s not confirmation that she’ll stay, but it gives me more time to convince her not to go. I’ll take it.
CHAPTER 29
NATE
By the time she’s told them everything, I’ve finished one beer and I’m almost done with my second. I know I’ve got to stay sharp, but I needed something to take the edge off. With Liam and Brody here, I know I can relax a little more than I probably would otherwise.
I’m surprised at how much detail Savanna went into. It’s nothing compared to what she’s told me, but she gave them more than I thought she would.
It was tough listening to it all again, but I can’t deny a weight has been lifted from my shoulders to be able to share this burden with my brothers. The more people that know, the safer I feel Savanna will be, which is my number one priority. With Vincent in town, I need as many eyes as I can get on the situation. If she stays.
Liam is the first one to move once she’s finished. He and Brody opted to stand on the other side of the island while Savanna sat at it, and I stood behind her, rubbing her back to give her strength and comfort while she talked. Now Liam comes around and she turns in her seat, sliding off it when he moves in to hug her.
It moves me. My best friend is completely accepting of the woman I love, and is there to support her in whatever way she needs. I’ve always trusted him with my life, and I know I can trust him with hers.
Brody follows suit, engulfing Savanna in his big arms, pulling her into his massive body. She looks so tiny against him that I can’t help but smile. Even though he’s a gentle giant and hates to hurt even a spider, I can count on him to keep her safe as well. Brody might not be the guy that will fight someone, but he’ll step in front of something and take a blow meant for another.
“You’re one of us,” Brody says when he releases her, and Christ, if that doesn’t choke me up. “We take care of each other.”
I meet his eyes over Savanna’s head and nod my appreciation. Then I look at Liam, and he claps a hand on my shoulder, nodding in understanding, which I’m grateful for because I don’t think I have the words right now.
Liam moves back around the island, crossing his arms over his chest. “I suppose I’ll forgive you for lying to me earlier.”
Savanna grimaces, returning to the chair. “I’m really sorry about that.”
“You can make it up to me by shoving this bullshit of you leaving to the side,” he says coolly.
While he may protect her, I know he’s also trying to protect me. But there’s a warning in my voice when I say, “Liam.”
“Nah, man. Fuck that.” He crosses an ankle over the other, his casual stance contrary to his words. “Nate might stand there and be all noble, putting what you want first, but I’m going to tell you right now, Sav, that if you left it would destroy him. And if everything I know about you is true, it’ll destroy you too. You might as well stay and fight if you’re both going to be miserable.”
“Liam,” I say again, glaring at him.
Before I can say another word, Savanna looks over her shoulder at me, shaking her head. “No, he’s right. I—” She cuts herself off, catching her bottom lip between her teeth as she rotates the stool around to face me. “I could have been gone before you got here, but I couldn’t… I couldn’t leave. Even when every instinct keeps telling me to run, my heart says stay. Stay and fight. Stay and be with you.”
“Sav…”
“I hate the thought of you—any of you—getting hurt because of me. It kills me to think about, just like it killed me with my family.” Pools fill her eyes, but she takes a deep, steadying breath, one that I mirror, and continues. “I can’t go through that kind of heartbreak again.”
Something inside my chest stitches back together. Stepping between her legs, I slide my arms around her shoulders and pull her into my chest. Her own arms wrap around my waist, and I press my lips to the top of her head, taking in her scent. My eyes lift to my two best friends across the island, and I mouth my thanks to them. They both bow their heads in return. Maybe I could have convinced her to stay on my own, but I know having the support of my brothers made it easier.
“So what now?” Liam asks when Savanna and I have released each other and she’s turned back to face him and Brody.
I slide my arm around Savanna’s shoulders, pulling her into my side to press a kiss to the top of her head before I answer. “I’m not sure. We hadn’t gotten that far when you two scared the shit out of us.”
“You were scared?” Savanna asks, surprised.
I look down at her, perplexed. “Of course I was. I thought you were in danger and that was terrifying. But it’s like running into a burning building; just because it’s scary doesn’t mean I’m not going to do it. I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“We all are,” Liam adds.
When I look over at him, he’s looking seriously between the two of us, and Brody is standing beside him nodding his agreement.