Chapter 34

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

Chase

I check my phone and notice that Liv’s last text came in almost an hour ago, and they still haven’t shown up. A sense of unease grips my stomach as I wonder what could be taking them so long, but then I remind myself that Gunner is with her, and he’s like a machine when it comes to protecting Liv. I saw it with my own eyes, how he kept her safe from those journalists. Despite my own struggles with trusting him, I trust him with her life, and that means a fucking lot.

I leave the studio and get to the reception desk, where Ry and Riv are talking.

“Where’s Jax?” I ask.

“Getting groceries,” they respond in unison, and I can’t help but smile at their synchronicity, even after all these years.

“Has anyone heard from Liv?” I ask.

“I was just about to ask the same thing,” Ryder says, his brow furrowing. “It shouldn’t take her this long to get here. The drive from the college is only fifteen minutes with traffic.”

“I just tried calling her, but she’s not picking up,” River chimes in.

I pull out my phone and call Jax, putting it on speaker. He answers on the second ring.

“No, I didn’t get your fancy hair shit. You have to go buy it yourself,” he grumbles into the phone, causing Ryder to chuckle.

“Is Liv with you?” I ask.

“She’s not at the studio?” he responds after a pause.

“No, she still hasn’t got here,” I say, furrowing my brow. “I thought maybe she met you on the way.”

“Fuck, track her,” Jax urges.

“On it,” River says, quickly opening his phone.

“What’s wrong?” I ask when he frowns.

“This can’t be right,” he mutters.

“What?” Jaxon, Ryder, and I all ask in unison.

“It says her phone is in a parking lot in the warehouse district, forty minutes from here,” River says.

My heart sinks. Something’s wrong.

“Send me the location,” Jax demands through the speaker, and I hear it ping on his end. After a pause, he says, “It’s only twenty minutes from where I am. I’m going to check it out.”

“No, Jaxon, we should call the police and go there together. What if it’s dangerous?” I plead with him.

“Even more reason to hurry the fuck up,” he nearly yells at me. “Call the police, go there with them, but I’m going there now.”

He hangs up on us, and I turn to River, who’s already calling the police.

Ryder sprints into my office and returns with his car keys.

“Let’s go,” he says urgently, ushering us out of the studio.

What the hell happened, Liv?

* * *

Jaxon

I get to the location River sent me, and spot Gunner’s Land Rover parked in the lot, but there’s no sign of anyone inside it. Looking around, I notice three abandoned warehouses around the lot, and a gut feeling tells me that Liv is inside one of them, but which one? I scrutinize all three and decide to check the warehouse on the right first. I enter and scout the first floor, but there’s no one there. As I climb the stairs to the second floor, a bloodcurdling scream echoes around the building, and I freeze in terror. Sunshine.

The scream came from the warehouse on the left side, and I curse myself for not choosing it first. Without any hesitation, I sprint down the stairs and head towards the warehouse from where the scream originated. My heart pounds in my chest, I’m panting, and I know I should wait for the police. I’m alone and have no weapon to defend her or myself, but I can’t ignore the fact that my girl is in danger and I need to get to her.

As I reach the second floor of the warehouse, I hear another scream, much closer this time, coming from one of the rooms on the left side of the hallway. I pick up my pace while trying to remain as quiet as possible. The door to the room is slightly ajar, allowing me to peek inside without being seen. I spot Gunner at the back of the room, sitting upright on the floor, propped against the wall. His head is bowed down to his chest, he seems to have a bloody wound on the back of his head, and his wrists are secured in silver handcuffs. Although I can’t see his face, I know he’s out cold.

“You don’t want to do that, Liam,” I hear Liv say. “Gunner never did anything to you. Leave him here. You can take me, and we can just leave.”

Over my dead fucking body.

“All of this, Olivia, it’s your doing!” Liam shouts. “You accuse me of being a psychopath, but you’re the cause of all of this! It was because of you that I was forced to hurt them, and it was you who made me hurt him now too!”

I can hardly wrap my head around how unhinged he sounds.

“You’re right, all of this…it’s my fault.” Her voice quivers as she tries to soothe him. “Let’s just leave this place, okay? We can talk things through. I’ll make it right.”

Nervously, I edge closer and slowly push the door open a bit farther, desperate for a better look. There’s Liam, with a gun aimed at the unconscious Gunner. Fuck, I hate guns.

“You took everything from me, Olivia. Even my closest friend sided with you in the end. He sided with…with some whore who can’t keep her legs closed!” He spits out his words with a mix of disgust and despair. “He was my only friend, the only one who was left after what you made me do! And now, he’s tainted…just like you.”

Liam grips the gun with both hands, pivoting slightly as if preparing to aim at Gunner. Liv surges forward, trying to disrupt his shot, but he’s ready for her move, shoving her aside. She crumbles to her knees, and he steps in front of her, pressing the muzzle of the gun against her forehead.

“I would’ve preferred you to see him die first, you know. There’s a certain poetic justice in everyone you hold dear dying because of you, while you’re forced to watch, but I don’t mind speeding things up a bit.” He pats her head in a disturbing gesture, making her shudder.

I have to think quickly. I see a metal rod on the ground next to me and pick it up, intending to use it as a weapon. I slowly push the door open and step inside the room, holding the rod in front of me. Liam turns around and sees me, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Hey, dickhead!” I shout.

“Well, well, well, look who decided to show up,” he sneers. “One of her four new boyfriends.” He spits out the word. “Where is the rest of her whore posse? You see that, angel? Only one of them loves you enough to come and get you. I never would’ve left you if you hadn’t forced me to.” He caresses her face with the barrel of the gun.

“Jaxon,” Liv sobs, but I don’t take my eyes off Liam as I walk towards them.

“I thought I made myself clear—Oliva belongs to me,” Liam says, backing away from her.

“You don’t own Liv. Let her go, and we can talk this out between men,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.

“Talk? What is there to talk about?” Liam says with a laugh. “She’s mine, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her away from anyone else.”

I stand in front of Liv, who’s staggered to her feet, and push her behind me, the rod still in front of me. I know that piece of metal is no use against a gun, but I only need to buy us some time. The police are on their way.

Gunner groans behind Liam, which makes him turn his head to look at him. I take my chance and jump forward, swinging the rod. Liam dodges it easily, and the momentum from the swing makes me lose my balance. He takes advantage of my vulnerable state and pushes me backwards, causing me to lose the rod. I try to grab it again, but Liam points his gun at me.

“Uh-uh, don’t even think about it, buddy,” Liam says. “Be a good boy and stand beside your girlfriend. You should enjoy the time you guys have left together.”

What a prick.I stand next to Liv as tears flow down her cheeks, but she stands tall, with fierce eyes and clenched fists. Despite the danger we face, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride at her strength and resilience. She’s a fucking warrior.

Our time together has been short, but even knowing the potential outcome, I’d choose her again and again. Regret floods me for not expressing my feelings for her sooner. I can’t leave this world without telling her how much she means to me. These last words must be significant, whether they become memories or our final moments. She needs to hear them.

I take her balled fist in my hand and squeeze it gently. She looks up at me, her fierce gaze softening.

“I’m so sorry I got you into this mess, Jaxon,” she whispers, but I shush her.

“I’d stand by your side no matter what, sunshine. I love you.”

Her eyes widen, but suddenly, I feel a searing pain rip through my chest, making me grunt, followed by a loud bang that echoes in the room. I put a hand over my chest, and when I look down at myself and pull it away, my palm is red. Blood is pouring from the wound, so I place my hand back over it, trying to stop the bleeding. Is this what déjà vu feels like?