Page 112 of False Promises

“Savannah, please step away from these men. Let them work.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched two men wrapping the giant painting in the living room and carrying it away. I loved that painting.

Taylor led me to my bedroom. “Now pack your stuff. And if you cause another scene out here, you’ll have to evacuate the property with nothing. Trespassing is a serious offense.”

I shivered down to my toes.

Carter would pay for this. I’d make sure to give him a taste of his own medicine. If he thought he could get away by humiliating me, he had more coming his way.

Since his bodyguard had erased the data from my phone, I would formulate a plan to ruin him. I was a resourceful woman and wouldn’t scare easily.

My pulse spiked, and adrenaline coursed through me. I would find a way to ruin him. He just had no idea I’d come after him.

28

CARTER

I yanked the door open and slammed it behind me, storming to my truck, using the staircase instead of the elevator, to sweat off the remaining fragments of angst stirring in me.

I did it. I left. With a shake of my head, I failed at reeling my smile in. Wow. I had taken control of my life back.

Seated behind the wheel, I shot June a text.

Me: Leaving LA now. All set. I’ll keep you updated.

June: Drive safe. Riley will fly the rest of your belongings with him.

A little over three hours later, I crossed the Arizona state line, and my body relaxed. The more distance I put between Savannah Prince and me, the more tension left my upper back and shoulders.

I breathed in and out, relishing the freedom seeping through me. My grip around the steering wheel loosened. A new sense of peace invaded me. Turning the rock music down, I drove for twenty more minutes.

Adrenaline soon deserted me, and emotions were now raging a war inside me. Pride. Frustration. Anxiety. The cocktail was making me agitated.

Jittery, I dialed my best friend, the need to hear her voice strong.

“Hey Dah.” Exhaustion sliced through my words.

“Ohmygod, Carter, are you okay? How did it go? Did the plan work? I was thinking of you, pacing the kitchen for the last hour. Tell me everything.”

Moisture filled my eyes. The sound of Dahlia’s voice had never sounded so good as it did at the moment. The weight on my back dissolved bit by bit.

“I’m coming home. Alone. It’s over. I’m a free man. I thought I could be happy with her, that it could maybe be genuine. Instead, it turned out to be a fucking nightmare. Dah, I tried everything to make it work. I gave it my all, and it exploded in my face.” My voice quivered at the last word.

“Cart, you’re an amazing man, an amazing person. Savannah Prince has no idea how big she lost today, and I’m not talking about the money or the designer stuff. You are the most devoted and trustworthy person I know. You’ve been my rock all my life. You are a great man, Carter Hills. Never believe anyone who tells you the opposite.”

I used the sleeve of my shirt to wipe my teary eyes, dissipating the fog blurring my vision.

“All those people who wronged you and left you, they have no idea how unlucky they are. You are precious. To me. To Jack. To Riley and June. And all your friends. To everyone who has had the chance to know the real you. I’m sorry it took your going through hell for you to realize your worth. Never settle for less.”

I remained silent, my emotions clogging my throat. Today had been one crazy-ass ride.

Dahlia’s voice calmed the tsunami forming in the depths of me. “Where are you? Do you want us to come and pick you up?”

“On my way. In Arizona.”

“Is Taylor or Riley with you?”

“Nope. They’re both flying back. I requested some time alone.”