Page 72 of Twisted Bonds
"Yes. I was hoping Laney and Heather could come as well," Castor responds.
"I'll talk to them, and we'll decide. When do you want to leave?"
"As soon as you ladies decide," he answers while his hot breath tickles my neck.
I'm uncomfortable with him being this close.I sigh, releasing the breath I had been holding, when another knock at my door causes Castor to stand up straight.
"I'm sorry to have bothered you," Liv says." I didn't realize you had company.
"Yes. Brant stopped by to ask if I could help him with a large mission," I tell her. He needs Laney and Heather's help, too."
"Oh, I see. So, do you need me to man the fort?" Liv asks as she walks into my office and shuts the door.
"Well, actually, I was hoping you had time to consider going into protective custody. We can talk to Castor right now."
"But what about the shelters and their tenants?" Liv asks worriedly.
"Liv, you don't have to leave. This is your choice. I just don't want you worrying about my responsibilities in your condition. I have people who come and fill in for me when I'm gone," I tell my friend. "I would never leave them to suffer by themselves while I'm off saving others."
"Oh, okay. Well, after talking to my parents, they think it would be safest if I went somewhere, just to be on the safe side, especially since they're halfway around the world." Liv glances at Brant and quickly looks away when she sees he's watching her.
"Agent Castor, meet Liv, a good friend since childhood." I smile.
"You meantheLiv?" He raises his brows.
"What do you mean by that?" Liv questions, looking back and forth between Castor and me.
I laugh. "It doesn't mean anything, Liv. I would tell Brant stories about us when we went on missions before. He knows all about me ghosting you, and all because of my fucked-up way of thinking."
"Ah, I see. It was pretty fucked up," Liv states with a slight grin.
"And I will be making up for it for the rest of our lives, I know." I shake my head, grinning.
"So, what's this about protective custody?" Brant questions.
I gesture for Liv to sit in the other chair in front of my desk as Brant sits back in the one he occupied before joining me at the computer. I start off by telling him what we need and then let Liv tell him her story. She neverwavers, one of the many signs that she is telling the truth—not that I've ever doubted her.
"You don't think he'll stop if you tell him about the baby?" Brant asks, and Liv shakes her head vigorously.
"Even if he did stop for the time being—" I chime in and say, "You and I both know it will start right back up once the baby is born. It could be worse. He will most likely shame her for the way her body looks after having the baby or demand things sooner than she's supposed to do them." I'm slightly perturbed that he would even ask Liv this.
However, he holds his hands up defensively. "I just had to be sure that she knows it won't change. It's a way that we question some victims to make sure that we aren't going to waste manpower and funds, helping someone who will just go back to the abuser after all is said and done."
"Agent Castor, I came here seeking help because I know that I will end up dying at the hands of my husband if I stay," Liv states.
"Okay. Give me an hour or so while I find out where we can take you," Brant says to my friend before turning to me. "Will that give you sufficient time to decide whether to come on this mission?"
"Yes. I'll have an answer for you by then."
"Great." Brant stands and reaches his hand out to Liv. "It was nice to meet you, Liv. I've heard a lot about you, and I promise it was all good." He grins and then winks at me before walking out.
Liv and I stare at one another as the room goes silent.
She's the first to break the silence, her voice filled with sadness, "I'm going to miss you."
Her eyes gloss over, and I go to her. She stands, and we hug.
"It will only be for a little while, and we'll talk every night using burner phones."
