Page 9 of Blake

She blinked up at him. He had to be at least a foot taller than her. “The Lucifer Club.”

His jaw tightened. “Why there?”

"I'm not willing to share that information just yet," Savannah replied cautiously, licking the melting ice cream from her cone. "It's my story, and I need to be the one to break it."

Blake furrowed his brow, clearly displeased with her answer. "I don't care about stealing a story from you. You hired me for protection. The more I know, the better I can help you."

Savannah hesitated, the weight of her investigation bearing down on her. She knew he had a point, but divulging too much information could jeopardize her story. Finally, she relented, giving him a small piece of the puzzle.

"Fine," she sighed, wiping a stray drop of ice cream from her chin. "Something's happening at that club aside from the usual illegal activities. People go in, but not everyone comes back out."

"Sounds dangerous," Blake mused, finishing his ice cream and tossing the empty cone into a nearby trash can. "But it's still not much to go on."

"Trust me, I'm aware," Savannah snapped, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "That's why I need to get back in there and find out exactly what's going on." She paused, looking at the trash can. “You don’t bother eating the cone? Isn’t that the best bit?”

Blake studied her for a moment, his intense blue eyes searching her face. “You interested in how I eat ice cream or are you trying to deflect?”

Savannah took a deep breath. “I’m the one paying, aren’t I?” she said bravely. “But you’re acting like you’re interviewing me for a job.”

Blake didn’t say anything for a while. She couldn’t help but steal glances at him. If he wasn’t so freaking scary, he’d be hot.

“I'm a professional and I'm assessing the situation. Let me tell you what I think," Blake said at last. “You’re putting yourself in too much danger. Your intentions are good, but the benefits outweigh the risks. You’re dealing with some real bad guys by the sounds of it. You want my help for one night. But . . . what then? You think the bad guys are going to lay off you? Give you an easy ride? They won't.” He stopped walking, an d gripped Savannah’s wrist just as she was about to take another lick of ice cream. “Little one, the minute they realize you’re trying to expose them, they’re going to kill you.”

Savannah swallowed. “I might be small,” she said quietly, “but I’m fierce.”

The ghost of a smile played on Blake’s lips. "Is that so?"

She nodded, feeling yet another blush creep up her neck. "People are getting hurt, maybe even killed. And I'm going to find out why."

"Even if it means putting yourself in danger?" Blake's voice was low and steady, like the rumble of distant thunder.

"My life is no more important than anyone else's," she retorted, her jaw set stubbornly. "Someone has to stand up to the bad guys." As much as she was enjoying her ice cream, she threw it into a trash can, cone and all, and crossed her arms. “See? I can throw away my ice cream too. I have willpower. And just so you know, I’m doing this with or without you.”

Blake let out a long sigh. “Stubborn little thing, aren’t you?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Alright," he conceded, his gaze never leaving her face. "But if we're going to do this, we do it my way. You follow my lead, and you stay close."

"Deal," she agreed reluctantly.

"Alright,” said Blake. “I’ll walk you home so you can get ready.”

“Get ready?”

“Yeah,” he said, looking down at her clothes. “If you’re going to this club, you’re gonna have to wear somethin’ . . . sexy.”

She scowled. “I don’t think so, buster.”

Blake raised his palms. “Not for my sake, sweetheart. I think you look plenty sexy just as you are. You have to blend in with the Lucifer crowd.”

Savannah couldn’t help letting out a small giggle. “You think I look . . . never mind. Okay. Sure. I guess I’ll walk home via the shopping mall, then. I don’t actually own anything like that.”

“You don’t live anywhere near the mall,” replied Blake. “I’ll drive you.”

“You know where I live?”

Blake grinned. “I know all kinds of stuff about you, babygirl.”

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