Chapter 20

CHAPTERTWENTY

Liv

For the most part, classes were calm and passed swiftly this week. Since I was dealing with a bitchy period, I mainly just went to college, and returned home, where at least one of the guys would always come over to spend time with me. We studied together, watched movies, and indulged in ice cream.

For Ryder, it’s been a fantastic week. His band signed the contract Monday, and they wasted no time getting into the studio to record some songs while their new manager tirelessly promoted their music, generating considerable buzz around their band. I am so fucking happy for him.

Today is Friday, and I’m finally feeling good again. It’s my day off from classes, and fortunately, there are no looming tests, so I can enjoy the weekend without the need to study. I took the morning to sleep in and catch up on some laundry, then, after checking the studio class schedule and finding that the dance floor should be available now, I get ready to go spend some time dancing.

I put on a white leotard with a high-cut design, an oversized beige sweater, and comfortable gray sweatpants that I can easily take off before I start dancing. After grabbing my bag and keys, I head towards the studio.

Chris is standing at the reception desk, talking to a customer. I offer her a smile before scanning the area for the guys, but I can’t seem to spot any of them. Shrugging, I walk towards the dance studio, where I set my bag down, remove my sweatpants, and begin stretching.

When Ryder was at my apartment earlier this week, he sang “Work Song” by Hozier to me, and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. I pondered which routine would work with the song, and during a sleepless night due to cramps, I crafted one in my mind. Now it’s time to put it to the test.

I take a deep breath as I step onto the middle of the dance floor. The hum of the song fills the studio, enveloping me in its soulful melody. As I let the music guide my movements, blending fluidity and strength in each step, I immerse myself in the emotions evoked by the song. The lyrics resonate with me, reminding me of the deep connections we form and the sacrifices we make for true love—true love I found with them. With each twist, turn, and leap, I pour my heart and soul into the dance.

By the time the song reaches its final notes, I find myself breathless. The routine feels like a perfect match with the lyrics, capturing the essence of the song’s longing and passion. I take a moment to catch my breath, a smile of accomplishment forming on my face.

“Liv,” I hear Jaxon call out, causing me to glance down the hallway, where he stands between the chairs. I beam at him.

“Just a minute,” I reply, quickly turning to get my phone, turn off the music, and gather my stuff before making my way back toward him.

As I approach, I notice the tension in his expression, and then my gaze shifts to his hand. He’s holding a yellowish piece of paper, and in that moment, my bag slips from my grip and falls to the ground.

* * *

Angel,

I see you’re still playing your little game, pretending that you can live without me, but I know the truth, Olivia. I know that deep down, you still crave me, still yearn for my touch. Those other men are just distractions, temporary replacements for what we had. You can try to convince yourself that you’re happy with them, but I know better. They don’t know you like I do. They don’t understand you like I do. They don’t love you like I do. None of them can compare to me, and you know it too. I’ve given you plenty of time to stop that nonsense, to make things right, but you’ve ignored my warning. Well, let me make it clear, Angel. The clock is ticking, and your time is running out.

I want you to remember the love we shared, the connection we had. You may think you can move on, but you’ll never get rid of our past. You have one last chance to change your ways, angel, one last chance to leave those men and return to where you belong. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can escape the consequences of your actions. I’ll be watching. Choose wisely, angel, because the price of defiance is steep.

I love you, be good.

* * *

Liv

Jaxon and the rest of the guys gather around me, forming a protective circle as I sit on the desk chair in Jaxon’s office. I’ve read the letter at least three times, its contents sinking in with each repetition.

“He’s escalating,” River states, concern evident in his voice.

“Now he’s outright threatening her,” Chase says.

“And us too.” Ryder’s words hang in the air, causing a sharp pang of panic to surge through me.

The threat extends beyond just me. It encompasses each and every one of us. Once again, I’m the reason my loved ones are in danger.

“I can’t go on like this. I can’t risk your safety anymore. I’m going back to Canada. Maybe once he knows I’m back home, he’ll calm down,” I say, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination as I rise from the chair.

“The fuck you are,” Jaxon responds, his tone forceful. “We can’t protect you if we’re not together. We stay together. Everything else is far more dangerous.”

“He only wants to get to you because of me!” I shout, frustration welling up inside me. “You won’t be in danger anymore if I’m gone.”

Ryder steps forward, taking my hand and looking down at me with sadness in his eyes.

“You promised, Liv,” he reminds me, and I deflate, sitting back down into the chair.

“Let’s focus on the facts,” River says prompting a collective nod of agreement. “What do we know?”

“Not much, but I’m going to change that,” I say. Taking out my phone, I dial Frank’s number and activate the loudspeaker.

“Hey, honey,” Frank greets me. “I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon again.”

I glance up at Jaxon, who visibly clenches his jaw at the endearment.

“Hey, Frank. I’m sorry to bother you again,” I reply.

“You never bother me, Olivia. What’s wrong?” he asks, genuine concern evident in his voice.

“There’ve been two more letters from Liam since we last talked, and now he’s threatening me,” I explain, my voice filled with unease.

“He is? Do you have it on paper?” Frank’s tone shifts to a more determined one.

“I do,” I confirm.

“Now we can go back to court,” he says, sounding satisfied. “Maybe they’ll finally lock him in something more secure than that institution,” he suggests, a hint of frustration in his voice.

“I don’t want to go back to court, Frank,” I say, shuddering at the thought. “I want to know if he’s still locked away and if these threats should be taken seriously. He’s also targeting my friends.” There’s guilt evident in my voice.

“I’m going to call your lawyer, inform him about the threats, and make sure he checks the security measures,” Frank assures me. “If there are any updates on Liam, I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you. Do you think it will take long?” I ask, a glimmer of hope in my voice.

“No, I’ll contact him directly after we hang up,” Frank replies. “You pay the guy enough that he knows he has to act promptly when you call.”

I hear Ryder snicker beside me, and I shoot him a glare, causing him to instantly sober up.

“Thank you, Frank,” I say.

“No problem, honey. I’ll call you right back as soon as I have something,” Frank promises before we end the call.

* * *

Jaxon

As we wait for Frank’s call in the office, we take the opportunity to share our locations with each other. It’s something we had already discussed wanting to do, and I mentally cuss myself out for forgetting about it earlier. Now we’re all set up and able to see each other’s whereabouts.

In addition to sharing our locations, River takes it a step further by installing a panic button feature on our phones. This way, if any of us are in danger, we can press the button, alerting everyone and automatically calling the police. It may seem like an extreme measure for just my safety alone, but considering the threat to my entire family, I’m more than willing to have as many safety nets in place as possible.

“No one is going anywhere alone anymore,” I say firmly.

“And how should we do this while still going to college?” Liv asks, letting out an exasperated huff.

“Our schedules nearly match,” Ryder quickly responds. “River and I can wait for you until you finish your classes, which means no one goes home alone.”

“And during your classes, you should be safe,” Chase adds.

“What about you guys?” Liv asks him. He looks at me intently, and I can already predict his response.

“We’ll go to the studio and return together, right, Jax?” he asks. I huff but agree.

“I think you should stay with us for the next few days, at least until we can be sure that he’s just trying to provoke us and doesn’t have anyone carrying out his threats,” I say to Liv.

“I see your point,” she replies, nodding.

“That’s it?” I say, my eyebrows rising. “You’re not going to fight me on this?”

She looks down at the desk, shaking her head. My girl is defeated. Just as I’m about to get to Liv and wrap her up in a hug, her phone begins to ring. She quickly answers it, pressing the loudspeaker button.

“Frank,” she greets.

“Olivia, I have some good news and bad news for you,” he begins.

“Hit me,” Liv replies, bracing herself.

“So, Liam is still locked up, but he’s been applying for authorized leave to visit his mother. Apparently, she has cancer again, and he wants to see her before it’s too late.”

“Madeline’s cancer came back?” Liv responds, seemingly shocked.

“It seems so. I had it confirmed,” Frank says.

“He just wants to visit her, and there will be caretakers with him, right?” Liv asks, her tone softening.

I have to bite my tongue to hold back my reaction. It’s infuriating that Liam has put Liv through so much pain and continues to do so, yet she remains concerned about his mother. I struggle to comprehend how she can still show empathy and compassion towards someone who has caused her so much pain.

“That’s what it appears to be,” Frank replies with a sigh. “You never know with those wealthy folks, but I don’t need to explain that to you. Just be careful.”

“Okay, thank you so much for looking into this, Frank. Can you please keep an eye on the situation and let me know if there are any updates?” Liv asks.

“Of course,” Frank assures her.

“Great. I’ll make sure to send you compensation for your efforts,” Liv says.

“Olivia, you don’t have to,” Frank protest. “You know I’m here for you.”

“Consider it a Christmas bonus,” she quips.

“It’s October,” he retorts with a huff.

“Thanksgiving, then. Take care,” Liv says, ending the call.

“I don’t like it. I don’t believe for a second that he would only use his leave to see his mother,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

The thought of Liam potentially taking advantage of the situation to harm Liv weighs heavily on my mind. Liv lets out an exasperated sigh, clearly sharing my concerns.

“I don’t like it either, but what else can we do besides wait until Frank gets back to us? Maybe the leave won’t be authorized, or if it is, we can find somewhere else to stay until he returns to custody, but for now, he doesn’t seem like an immediate threat,” she explains, trying to rationalize the situation.

“Let’s not take any chances and treat the threat as if it is very real,” River adds. “No one goes out alone, and we need to keep our phones with us at all times.”

Ryder moves towards Liv, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

“And my baby is going to move in with us now,” he says with a smile, planting a gentle kiss on top of her head, but Liv shakes her head.

“Hold on. I have some things to take care of and I’ll need to pack my stuff. I’ll come over tomorrow with everything and then stay with you. Also, Gunner texted me earlier and said that he’ll be home tonight,” she says.

I want to say something when Chase tugs on my arm.

“We can give her one more night,” he says quietly, and I nod in agreement.

“All right,” I respond.

Liv stands up and moves past us, saying goodbye to each of us with a kiss.

“See you tomorrow,” she whispers in my ear.

With that, she’s gone, leaving us all feeling worried.