Page 7 of Soaring Free
“I’m not getting you a lion.” Shit, that’s not what I expected him to say. “I’m getting you a fucking army.” Oh, okay, that’s what I expected him to say. A relieved sigh escapes and my shoulders relax for the first time in what feels like weeks. “Savannah, how exactly did he think this was going to turn out? You would just roll over and let him run the show? Did he forget who you are? You are Savannah Callahan. You have our entire family behind you, and the net worth of The Cavalry makes him look like a hobo on the street. Idiot.” The Cavalry refers to our sibling group: Jack, Liam, me, Ryan, Finn, and Vivian. The nickname came from Mama, and she hoped if any of us ever needed something, that each of us would always come running for one another.
I pull my phone back and put it on speaker as our sibling group chat explodes.
Jack
Shane’s an asshole. Froze Sav’s bank account, cut off the girls from Netflix. I’ll fix the money part, but Liam, I think this counts as permission for us to get involved.
When Shane initially dropped the divorce bomb last month, I asked my brothers to let me handle it. I was trying to do everything I could to make it as painless as possible for our girls, and maybe there was a small part of me that hoped it was all a mistake and we would find a way back to each other. I knew if The Cavalry got involved, everything would be burned to the ground and there would be no reconciliation, so I read them the riot act to back off—specifically two of my brothers, Jack and Liam.They made me promise to let them know if I changed my mind, and in turn, they promised not to do anything until I gave them permission to do so.
Liam
On it. What a douchebag. You ok, Sav?
Finn
Release the hounds! I may not be a super-secret spy guy, but I’m more than happy to go punch him in the face. I know I’d feel better.
Ryan
Sav, check your email. I added you and the girls to my streaming services. But also would love to join Finn on his fun plan.
Me
Thanks guys. Yeah, I’m ok. I know I told you all to stay out of it, but I’m stuck if I can’t access my bank accounts. If y’all get arrested on my behalf, call Jack or Liam. I can’t bail you out.
“Shit! The girls’ tuition comes out in two days from that account!” I realize if that payment bounces back, it not only will mess up the girls’ ability to attend Forrest Falls Academy, but it will also make them the talk of the school because nothing stays secret in a small town. The last thing I want this divorce to do is touch their social lives any more than it already has.
“I will take care of that first thing in the morning, Savannah. Go ahead and make a list of anything that’s urgent that could bounce like that, okay? I also want to know whatever expenses you need to cover in the next six months or so, just to be safe. I’ll have my private banker set up a new account in your name alone in the morning. I’ve already sent her a text, and we will get this all taken care of, I promise.” I can hear Jack typing away in the background. “Text me when you think of anything else you or the girls need,and I mean anything, okay?” I promise to make him a list and we disconnect as I receive more notifications from our sibling group chat.
Jack
I’ll handle any financial concerns. My attorney in New York is calling me back in fifteen, and we will hire the best damn legal team out there.
Liam
The Cavalry is going to handle him.
“Savannah?” Vivian calls out as she walks around the bend of the path between the main house and our guesthouse. She and her daughter Eloise have been living there since they moved back to Forrest Falls last year after her husband was murdered. I know she will be moving in with her boyfriend Walker sooner than later, and while I’m happy for her, I’m glad that day is not today. “I saw your texts. What the hell was numb nuts thinking?” She sets the video monitor with Eloise sleeping on the screen on the table next to her as I explain to my sister everything that happened.
Jack
Asshole might have fired the first shot of the war, but he made the mistake of releasing The Cavalry.
Ryan
We ride at dawn!
Liam
Speak for yourself. I’m not waiting that long to put things in motion.
Finn
Since you aren’t going to explain what that means Captain Vague and Mysterious, what else can us mere mortals do, Sav?
“They may all be crazy but they’re the best.” Vivian reaches over and squeezes my arm. “I can’t believe he would mess with the girls like that. I thought he wanted them to come out unscathed from all of this, wasn’t that the whole idea of going through the mediator in the first place?”
“Yeah, well I think he also wanted to go through the mediator to try and control the outcome, and get it done as quick as possible so he could go have his freedom that he claims he needs so bad. Oh!” A loud laugh escapes me as I realize something. “Daddy’s going to flip a shit when he finds out!”
