Page 6 of The Road Less Traveled By

“What did you forget this time? I can try and drop it off before—”

“Liv, he’s getting out. They’re letting him out.” I don't even know how I get the words out. I can barely breathe. I need to get out of my house, my body, my mind. I can’t handle this. I can't handle being back in the same place I was four years ago. All it took was one call to catapult me back to who I used to be. I hate this. I thought I was stronger, but maybe all the progress I made was an illusion.

“That’s not possible.”

“Connie just called me. It’s real and it’s happening. What the fuck do I do, Liv?” I don’t know who else to go to. Liv is the only person other than Teags who fully understands what I was like when all this started. My parents don't care—they made that clear when they kept the house I was assaulted in.

“We’llfigure this out, Bree. I’m calling Vince tomorrow to see if he’ll come back.”

Vince.Just hearing his name makes me feel a bit safer, but I doubt he’ll just drop everything and come back. He did promise me that if Ralph ever got out, he would be back, but he could be anywhere in the world right now. He’s probably on a job, and there’s no way he’ll get here in time. Plus, I can’t do that to him—especially because of those rules of his. “Thanks, Liv. I’ll try texting him later, but I have to go. I hung up on Connie as soon as she told me, and she’s calling me back.”

“It’s fine, sis. I love you.”

I don't answer her before I answer Connie. “I understand this is tough, but please stop hanging up on me. He officially gets out tomorrow. It’ll hit the news in the morning most likely.”

“I-I’m sorry. I had to call Liv. I had to—”

“It’s okay, Bree. I know this is a lot, but you still have an order of protection against him. He technically can’t come near you or contact you without being arrested again. You’re safe, Bree.”

I hear the words, but I don’t believe her. “No. I’m not.”

Two Hours Later

Bree: He’s getting out.

Bree: I don't know what to do. I don't even know why I’m texting you because I know you’re probably working on another case.

Bree: I need you, if you’re able.

Vince: When does he get out?

Bree: Tomorrow.

Vince: My current case has about a month left. Will you be okay until then?

Bree: Yeah. I’ll figure something out.

Bree: See you in a month.

Vince: See you soon.

Chapter three

— WALK ME HOME BY PINK

Fuck.

I didn'tthink that falling into our old patterns so quickly would hit me like this. She fell right into place as I escorted her from the building. Bree might be the best client I’ve ever had…but one I wish I never met.

A girl like her doesn't deserve to be going through this again.Again.God, I hate that word. I hate that this is happening, that I’m back here so soon.

If I could kill the fucker, I would. It would be much easier than watching Bree retreat into herself.

But I can’t. All I can do is hope that my team and I can protect Bree to the best of our ability and pray it’s enough. I’ve never lost a client, and I don’t plan on my first loss being Bree.

I look at her in the rearview mirror, her eyes glassy and staring straight ahead, as if she’s not really here. It reminds me of who she was when I met her—jumpy, scared, and very clearly traumatized. I still don't know exactly what happened, but I know enough. Bree never told me the nitty gritty details, and I never pressed. I knew enough to do my job,and that’s all I needed.

He assaulted her in her own home, and it got to that point because nobody in her life—besides her sister and manager—thought the threats were bad enough.

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