Page 24 of Freeing Savannah

Henry laughed under his breath. “Right. Just a job.” He leaned a little too close to Savannah, his voice dropping. “And here I thought I’d be the one protecting you from all this chaos.”

Kandy, meanwhile, had leaned back into Voodoo like a stage-five clinger. “You know,Voodoo,if you get bored while you’re stuck protecting Savannah, I could always use a strong pair of hands.”

He looked at her then, full on, and the temperature dropped.

“I don’t protect people for fun,” he said. “I do it because someone’s life depends on it.”

Kandy huffed, clearly irritated at being dismissed, but Savannah? She finally looked at him—really looked—and in her eyes was something like gratitude.

Or maybe it was relief.

Either way, things became abundantly clear as he sat surrounded by false smiles and dangerous undercurrents.

He didn’t trust Henry.

He didn’t like Kandy.

And whatever this tour was shaping up to be, it sure as hell wasn’t going to be simple.

But Savannah was his to protect.

Dinner dragged on. Kandy flirted like it was her job. Henry made pointed comments that felt just a shade too familiar. And through it all, Savannah sat with her quiet strength, holding herself together like she always had.

Sawyer knew how to read a battlefield. This one just had chandeliers and fine wine instead of smoke and bullets. But it was no less dangerous.

Throughout the evening, Savannah smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She shifted subtly in her seat, pulling back just slightly. Voodoo noticed and he didn’t like it.

And he liked even less the way Henry kept leaning in, kept finding reasons to touch her arm, her shoulder, as if boundaries were optional.

Kandy leaned closer, her breath warm near his ear. “Isn’t it adorable how he thinks he’s charming? I mean, I’veperformedwith the man. No rhythm and all ego.”

Voodoo didn’t laugh. His eyes stayed locked on Savannah, her discomfort written in the tension of her shoulders, the forced curve of her lips.

Something wasn’t right.

And if Henry touched her one more time, Voodoo wasn’t sure he could stay seated. Savi was still the girl he’d sworn to protect all those years ago. Time and distance hadn’t changed that.

Kandy huffed, clearly annoyed her spotlight had dimmed. “You’re sotensetonight. I could help you loosen up.”

Voodoo pointedly ignored her, stubbornly refusing to relax or show any sign of loosening up. Not when Savannah’s fingers fidgeted under the table. Not when Henry kept stealing glances like she was something to possess. And not when a creeping instinct deep in his gut whispered that this job wasn’t just about guarding a woman on a tour.

It was about guarding the girl he’d sworn to protect a lifetime ago.

And the wolves were already circling.

CHAPTER 8

Savannah adjustedher gown with trembling fingers backstage. A pale dove-gray silk dress clung to her slender frame, chosen by someone far more concerned with optics than comfort. Her hair was pinned into soft waves with the crescent moon clip Sawyer had given her. Every part of her had been polished for tonight’s audience.

She peeked out from behind the curtain. The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées stretched out before her like a dream from another life.

It was one of the largest venues she’d ever performed in, but it was perhaps the most dignified. There was a quiet, reverent kind of luxury to it. With subtle gold leaf accents, soft ivory walls framed by classical columns, and a ceiling that held more stories than sound. From her vantage point, she could see the elegant slope of the auditorium’s orchestra seating, and the three curving balconies rising like delicate tiers of a wedding cake.

The hall was full. Rows upon rows of dignitaries and politicians sat under the glow of chandeliers. Finely dressed ambassadors, cultural ministers, and a famous French composer she’d idolized as a girl were present. She noticed the French president’s wife, a striking figure in a simple black gown, seatedbeside the mayor of Paris, who was gesticulating animatedly. Their expressions were unreadable.

Warm stage lights cast a golden glow across the polished wood floors, and for a moment, the entire room looked like it had been dipped in candlelight.

She swallowed, her throat dry.

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