Page 38 of Blake

A History of Secret Societies

The Untold Stories of Female Trailblazers

A Woman's Place: A History of Women's Suffrage in the United States

As she dug through ancient tomes and uncovered hidden documents, she couldn't help but feel a connection to the women who had written or who were featured in these precious books. They too had faced adversity and challenge, and yet they had persevered. Savannah felt a surge of strength as she realized she was part of a lineage of strong, resilient women.

The time flew by as she delved deeper into the mysteries hidden within the library, her heart racing with anticipation. In the back of her mind, she knew that she was doing something very wrong, and yet, at the same time, she loved every minute of it. She was being true to her identity, being brave, exploring, and it was truly exhilarating.

But just as she reached for a particularly intriguing volume, a nagging voice in the back of her head reminded her that she couldn't afford to linger too long or Blake would realize she had gone missing.

"Okay, just one more book," she bargained with herself, selecting an aged leather-bound journal from the shelf. "Then it's back to the safehouse before Blake finds out what I did."

She began looking through the ancient volume, a fascinating text about ancient medicinal plants, but she was only a little way in when the heavy library door creaked open. Savannah froze,her pulse pounding in her ears as she spotted Jax striding into the room. Panic surged through her, and she quickly jumped behind a tall bookcase, hoping he hadn't seen her.

"Shit, shit, shit," she muttered under her breath, clutching the book tightly to her chest.

Peeking around the edge of the bookcase, Savannah watched Jax move through the rows of shelves, unaware of her presence. She knew she needed to slip away before he discovered her, but her body was rooted to the spot, paralyzed by indecision.

"Come on, Savvy, you've gotten out of worse situations than this," she mentally chastised herself, trying to muster the courage to make a break for it.

Taking a deep breath, she made her move, darting between the stacks as silently as possible. But just as she was about to reach the door, a strong hand closed around her arm, yanking her back.

"Going somewhere, Miss Sweet?" Jax asked, his voice low and dangerous. Savannah's heart sank as she realized she'd been caught.

"Jax, I—"

"Save your excuses," he interrupted, his grip tightening on her arm. "You shouldn't be here, young lady."

Savannah swallowed hard, trying to muster a defiant response. "I don't need your permission to explore," she said, lifting her chin in defiance.

"Maybe not," Jax conceded, his eyes narrowing. "But you certainly don't belong in this room."

"Look, I just wanted to check out the books," Savannah insisted, desperation creeping into her voice. "I wasn't planning on staying much longer."

"Doesn't matter," Jax said coldly, releasing her arm and pointing toward the door. Quietly, he told her: "You need to leave. Now."

Savannah hesitated. His words ignited a spark of defiance within her. "Maybe I don't want to go back," she retorted, her hands trembling at her sides. "I'm sick of being locked up in the safehouse like a baby. I want to feel capable.”

"Dammit, Savannah!" Jax hissed, looking around at the librarian to check they weren’t drawing attention. "This isn't a game! There are people out there who would love to get their hands on you, and I won't let that happen. My brother would killme."

Savannah chewed on her bottom lip, her resolve wavering. She knew Jax was right, but the thought of returning to the safehouse made her stomach churn.

"Please, Jax," she pleaded, desperation lacing her voice. "I just need some time to be myself, away from the safehouse."

Jax sighed. “Right. Come with me.” His strong hand on her shoulder guided her through a set of double doors at the back of the room, taking her into a dimly lit book storage area.

"Alright," Jax conceded, releasing his grip. "Let's talk."

Savannah took in the towering shelves surrounding them, feeling dwarfed by the endless rows of ancient books. The weight of history pressed down on her, but she found it comforting, like a familiar embrace.

“What’s going on, Savannah?” Jax asked, leaning against a shelf of books, his arms folded. “Is my brother not treating you right?” He paused. “He told me what happened between the two of you.”

“He told you?” Savannah felt the blush rising up her cheeks.

“Not the details,” said Jax. “But he mentioned that you didn’t have a contract.”

Savannah frowned. “A . . . contract?”

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