Page 84 of Battered Moves

“Well, well, well, look who decided to show up,” he sneers. “One of her four newboyfriends.” 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 yourgirlfriend. 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?

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE

Liv

Jaxon grunts and collapses to his knees, then falls to the ground, his hand pressed against his ribs. I scream and drop to my knees beside him, pushing him to lie on his back and placing my hands on top of his to apply more pressure to the wound.

“Jaxon!” I sob.

“Sunshine,” he whispers, voice full of pain. “I’m so sorry.”

I turn to Liam, who’s still standing before us with his gun raised.

“Liam, please stop. Let me get him help. I’ll do anything, but please don’t let him die,” I plead.

“You think I still want you, after everything you’ve done? After how you treated my love and threw it away? I would’ve done anything for you, and you got me locked up while you slept around with anyone who wanted a piece of you. The disrespect!” Liam spits his words out with venom, his eyes filled with rage.

I feel Jaxon’s blood on my hands, warm and thick. He’s getting paler by the second, and I know I can’t save him. Liam points his gun at me, tears forming in his eyes.

“We could have been so happy. I would have given you the world, angel,” he says, but then his expression turns cold and his finger moves to the trigger. “Tell Theodore hello from me.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, thinking of Ryder, River, and Chase. I hope they can move on without Jaxon and me.

“I love you. I’m sorry,” I whisper, letting go of my life for a second time within a year, hoping I will see my family soon.

I wait for the inevitable, but all I hear is Gunner screaming “NO!” and bodies falling to the ground.

My breath leaves my lungs on a whimper, and I open my eyes to see Gunner still restrained but on top of Liam. It looks like he body-checked him. I hear a gunshot, and there’s more shuffling while Liam tries to get Gunner off him. In the struggle, the gun falls to the ground beside them, and I quickly pick it up and point it at Liam.

“Gunner, I’ve got it. Get off him,” I say, my hand with the gun shaking but my finger on the trigger.

When he rolls off of Liam and gets onto his knees, I can see blood spilling out of his shoulder.

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