Page 53 of Battered Moves

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.”

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