Page 42 of Battered Moves

We get to Tanner Fitness shortly after, and the guys get to work while I head to the studio and begin my stretches, contemplating which routine to work on for the day. Eventually, I settle on a sequence of movements that I need to evaluate for an assignment. Since I’m still feeling tired, I don’t want to push myself too hard, and this routine is perfect for just getting moving a bit.

After an hour, I make my way to my locker, change my shoes, and head over to the weight section. I’ve barely sat down at the leg press machine when Jaxon appears in front of me, and I smile up at him.

“Hey, in the mood for some assisted pull-ups?” I tease, and he smirks.

“Only if we’re naked while we do them,” he says.

“That’s a great way to ensure some membership extensions, when word gets around that Mr. Tanner helps his customers in such a thorough way,” I say.

“Oh, I’m going to help you, little brat,” Jaxon says as he gets down to my eye level, gripping my chin. “Just us, you hear me?” he whispers while swiping his thumb over my bottom lip.

“Yes, sir,” I murmur, and he pushes his thumb into my mouth.

I suck on it before he mutters a quiet “Fuck” and pulls it back out.

“You’re tired. Don’t overdo it,” he says in his trainer voice before walking away. I snicker as I see him adjust himself while walking.

After my shower, I change into the clothes I packed in my sports bag that morning. Despite feeling good, I’m exhausted as I make my way to the reception area.I need a nap before I eat Jaxon’s delicious food.

Jaxon, River, and Chase are standing at the reception desk, but they all look worried as I approach them.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I ask. That’s when I notice Chase holding a yellowish letter with the familiar scrawl on the front. “No,” I whisper.

* * *

Angel,

It’s been too long since I last saw you, too long since I last held you in my arms and felt your warmth against my skin. I know you think you’ve moved on, that you’ve found happiness with those other men, but you’re wrong.

You belong to me, and me alone. Stay away from them. They don’t deserve you. They don’t know how to take care of you like I do. They don’t know your deepest desires, your darkest secrets, your wildest fantasies, but I do. I remember everything, Olivia. I remember how you used to moan when I touched you just so. I remember how you used to look at me with those green eyes, full of longing and desire. You can’t hide from me, angel. You can’t run away from what we had. I won’t let you. I’ll come for you, and when I do, you’ll see that you’ve made a mistake. You’ll see that you belong to me, and me alone. Those other men? They’ll learn to stay away.

I’ll be waiting for you, always.

I love you.

* * *

Jaxon

Liv is finally asleep on the couch with her head resting in River’s lap while he strokes her hair. She cried for nearly half an hour, but it seems like River is her Xanax, and although I thought something like this would make me jealous, it doesn’t. I’m just grateful that he can help her like this and that she’s being taken care of, even if I can’t do it for her. My emotions are in turmoil, and I want to punch that Liam guy so hard.Who the fuck does he think he is?

He seems unhinged, and I shudder to think about what kind of hell Liv went through with him. She completely broke down when she saw the letter but still demanded to read it. We hadn’t opened it, trying to protect her privacy, but I swear if another one of those letters arrives, I’ll check it first before I give it to her.

We had to talk her out of her instinctive need to run away again to protect us, since now the threat is clear as day. Liam knows about us, and he doesn’t like it. What’s still unclear is how he gets his information and what he can do from inside an institution in another country.

Ryder storms into the living room, frantic.

“Where is she?” he demands, and River shushes him.

“She just fell asleep,” he whispers, and Ryder sits down near her feet, pulling them into his lap and holding them.

Chase called him on our way home, updating him on everything. Even though he told him that we had it covered, he rushed here to be with her. I’m proud of the little dumbass. He’s never put anyone before his music besides River, not even Chase or me. Now he’s discussing a record deal and still prefers to be by her side when shit gets real.

“How did she take it?” he whispers, andI huff.

“How do you think? She just wanted to up and leave,” I reply, andRyder looks at me with big eyes.

“She promised,” he hisses.

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