Waving my hands around wildly, I try not to get too loud. “I’m being serious. We don’t want her to get caught and go to prison.”
“According to the Brooklyn PD, she’s killed eight men,” Rory states. “Well…now nine.” He tilts his head toward Mitchem. “And she hasn’t been caught yet. I’d say she has the leave-no-trace thing under control.”
Luke poses a valid question. “But what if?”
“Exactly. What if? Are you willing to take the risk that maybe this is the crime scene where she leaves something behind?” I argue with Rory.
“You’re right.” Rory concedes. “Okay. So what do you suggest?”
“I got this,” Luke chimes in.
Rory and I look at him quizzically.
A sense of resolve and determination comes over Luke. “Just trust me. Head outside, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Alright,” I respond, unsure. “You know where to find us if you need help.”
Rory and I are waiting next to the stoop for less than five minutes when Luke joins us again.
“Done,” he says, not even bothering to shut the front door.
My forehead wrinkles, and Rory scrunches his nose.
“Trust me,” Luke pushes again, walking away without waiting for us.
We follow him after a moment and head back to my car. We’re only a quarter of the way back when there’s a huge explosion. I duck my head, and Rory does the same, but Luke just keeps walking.
“What did you do?” Rory asks.
Luke acts as if this is any other early morning stroll. “It’ll be ruled as an accident. Don’t worry.”
Rory and I stare at each other, shock written all over our faces.
“Are you coming or not?” Luke shouts back at us.
The rest of the walk takes forever. The sun will be rising soon, and none of us has slept at all.
Outside Savannah’s apartment, Rory comes to a stop. “I need to talk to her.”
“Now?” I question, outraged and sleep-deprived.
Rory rubs his chin. “Earlier…she and I…”
“We’re going to let her rest. We’re going home and getting some sleep as well. There’s always tomorrow.”
Being the voice of reason makes me feel like the dad of the group. Not what I was going for, but here we are.
Rory sighs and gets into the car with Luke and me. Once we’re all settled in the car, I turn on the heat and head for thepenthouse. They’re both snoring and dead to the world before I turn onto the next street.
I know I told them that we need to leave Savannah alone. I have the feeling she needs some space, but giving Savannah space doesn’t mean I won’t be watching her.
CHAPTER 16
SAVANNAH
The aroma of linseed oil mixed with an earthy undertone fills my nose, just like it has been for the last few hours.
Blake texted me this morning and asked me to be her body double for the day. When she’s under a time crunch and needs to finish a project, I hang out with her in her studio located in SoHo while she works. I usually lie on the chaise lounge and read, situated next to the ceiling-high windows.
