Page 93 of Burning Bridges Duet

Jaxon wraps his arms around me tighter and plants a soft kiss on the top of my head.

“He didn’t mean to hurt him, but when I wanted to call for an ambulance, Liam refused to let me or help him. Theodore bled out in my lap. It all happened so fast.” Tears are now streaming down my face.

“After that, he told me we needed to leave and that I would get over everything. I refused to let him take me, so I tried to get to my phone, but he was faster. We struggled for it, and he cut my shoulder and forearm in the process. He went to get some bandages to patch me up so we could leave for wherever he wanted to take me, but I’d rather die than go with him, so I jumped out of my window.”

I feel Jaxon inhale sharply as I continue with my story.

“The jump didn’t kill me, obviously, it just shattered my knee and caused some other minor injuries. Our neighbor saw me jump and called the police and ambulance. I needed three surgeries and physical therapy to walk again. Liam’s trial was sped up because of his father’s connections. The Harris family is old money, and they own half of the health institutes in Canada, including the hospital my father worked at as chief of cardiology and the facility Liam is locked up in.”

“How could they do that?” River asks, his voice laced with disbelief. “Locking him up in a facility his dad owns? How is that fair treatment for his offenses? And how did he even get away with pleading insanity?”

“You guys have no idea what money can do,” I reply, letting out a bitter laugh. “I witnessed a few times how Mr. Harris made Liam’s life easier by dropping their name and throwing around some money. It’s all just rich privilege.

“After what happened, I was left alone in the big house. I started trauma therapy, which I’m still doing online, and just tried to survive, but the media was relentless. There were people in front of my house all the time, journalists and fans of Liam, telling me I destroyed his life and career and that I should be the one locked up. It got so bad that I couldn’t leave the house anymore without being harassed, even months after everything happened. On top of that, Liam wrote me a letter at least once a week, and his parents called and knocked on my door regularly. I couldn’t handle it anymore. One day, while I was at my therapist’s office, someone sliced my tires, smashed my windows, and spray-painted a message on my car, telling me I should go kill myself. That’s when I decided I’d had enough and needed to disappear.”

Jaxon is shaking, and I can see the rage building in his eyes. I turn my head to look at River and Ryder. Ryder is furrowing his brows and playing with his lip ring, while River’s eyes have a glassy sheen. Chase hooks his pinky finger with mine.

“You did the right thing, Liv,” he tells me gently. “You needed to get out of there.”

I nod. “I knew I wouldn’t have survived that hell any longer, but now it seems he’s found me, and it’s all going to repeat itself,” I say, my voice breaking.

“It won’t,” Jaxon says, his voice firm. “You’re not alone anymore. We’ll keep you safe and figure out how he found you. You’re not going out in public alone until we know how dangerous this situation really is. We don’t know if it’s just a letter to spook you, or if he has someone near you who could hurt you.”

“I don’t think he would want to hurt me. In his strange view, he did all of this because he loves me,” I say.

“That’s not love,” River says.

“It’s not, but he doesn’t get that.”

Jaxon nods his head in agreement. “We will figure this out together. You don’t have to go through this alone, Liv. We’re here for you.”

“We’ll make sure he can never hurt you again,” Ryder says, reaching out and squeezing my foot.

I give them a small smile, relief washing over me. For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel completely alone and helpless. They know everything now, and they’re still here.

“Thank you, guys. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Chase pulls me from Jaxon into his own lap and gives me a tight hug.

“You don’t have to know,” he whispers in my ear. “We’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

For the first time since Liam ruined my life, I feel like I might have a chance at not just surviving, but living.

SIX

I wake up to the sound of rustling and need a second to orientate myself. After Liv finished her story, we all squeezed onto the couch and continued watching our show, cuddling and trying to comfort her. But my mind was still reeling, my thoughts consumed with what she endured. She’s incredibly strong, and I can’t imagine going through what she has. Being abused by the one you love, watching him kill your family, and then having the public turn on you when you already have nothing left… It’s all so unimaginable and unfair.

As I reflected on our previous conversations, I realized that there were things along the way that didn’t add up or made me question her story, but I never would have guessed something as horrific as what she revealed. Despite that, she never outright lied to me, and that means everything. Honesty and loyalty are the traits I value the most, and I admire the fact that she wasn’t even capable of lying to me while hiding a whole identity.

I hear the rustling again and turn my head towards the other end of the couch, where Riv and Ry are cuddled up with Liv. The TV is on, but the streaming service is asking us if we’re still watching. I glance at the digital clock on the surround system and see that it’s just after three am. When Liv untangles herself quietly from the twins and stands up, I assume she’s just heading to the bathroom. But I soon hear the alarm panel beep and the front door open. My hackles rise. Where does she think she’s going, alone, at this time of night?

I grab my keys, wallet, and a hoodie from beside the door, then put on my shoes before following Liv out. I see her getting into her car and run to the passenger door, open it, and sit down beside her. She jumps in surprise but then breathes a sigh of relief when she realizes it’s me.

“So, where are we heading?” I ask her, and she pulls her shoulders to her ears.

“I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“Yeah, I gathered that,” I say.