"Where the fuck have you been, Richard?"
Richard exhaled sharply, rubbing his cheek as he met her furious gaze.
"Livy, I've been searching everywhere for you. I'm sorry it took me so long." He took a step closer, reaching for her hand.
She yanked it away so he could touch her. "Don't fucking touch me."
"I get it, Livy, You're angry. You have every right to be. But, I'm just happy I found you alive."
"Alive?" she scoffs. "Just because I have brain activity and my heart's pumping means I'm alive."
"Baby, please, don't do this. Not after everything we've been through, please."
He inched closer, his voice softer now. "I love you. I'm damn proud you're still standing. Don't push me away, Livy. When I promised you forever, I meant it."
Her fists curled at her sides, fury loosening its grip, but fear was taking its place. She wanted to run into his arms, but what if being touched by him triggered flashbacks? What if everything had changed, and she couldn't bear being near the man she loved?
As if sensing her battle, Richard slowly lifted his hand and brushed away a tear slipping down her cheek. He gently tilted her face toward his.
"I know things won't go back to what they were overnight. I'm not asking for that. I'll wait. Just let me help you through this, okay?"
Olivia gave a small nod, her lips trembling. A flicker of hope rose in her chest.
The same flicker she'd felt three years ago, right after the death of her abusive husband, Jordan Washington. The man who had kept her from attending her own parents' funeral.
Olivia had noticed Jordan at a medical convention and he immediately caught her eye. He was six-foot-one, had shaggy brown hair, and a smile that made her go weak in the knees.
She was ecstatic when he made his way over to her and struck up a conversation. They hit it off right away, so when he asked her out to lunch she didn't hesitate to say yes.
After that first date, they kept seeing each other. He had a sense of humour, was a great listener, bought her flowers, opened her car door, and never let her pay for anything.
Before she knew it, she was head over heels in love. He had even transferred to the hospital she worked at so they'd be able to spend more time together.
He was a neurosurgeon, the best in his field, and he was welcomed with open arms by the rest of the staff. Six months later, they tied the knot.
That's when it happened.
The charming, doting person she had grown to love vanished and was replaced by a dangerous man.
Jordan became possessive, forbidding her from speaking to other men, even her co-workers. He refused to let her have a password on her phone or laptop and never allowed her to hang out with her friends unless he tagged along with her.
Behind closed doors he was a monster. But, in public, he was still the charming man she had married.
Things got worse when one night she came home after a grueling sixteen-hour shift. Without warning, Jordan beat the hell out of her, accusing her of being late, as if she had control over emergency cases at the hospital.
He knew how unpredictable her job was since his was the same way. He knew she couldn't just walk away from patients in need. And yet, none of that mattered to him.
The next day, he apologized, made her dinner, and swore it would never happen again. But it did, again and again. And every time, he showered her with gifts, and begged for her forgiveness. And every time, she believed him.
Sadly, at the time, she still loved her husband and clung to the hope that the man she fell in love with would return to her.
After a year and a half of marriage, Olivia finally got pregnant. She hoped the news would be the turning point they needed in their relationship, that Jordan would finally get his anger under control.
But, instead, that night turned out to be one of the worst nights of her life.
When she told him the news he was furious, telling her she was a dumb bitch for allowing herself to get pregnant. He flat-out told her to get rid of it. She pleaded with him, saying she wanted her baby, their baby, and she didn't want to have an abortion.
Without another word, he got up, went to the closet and pulled out a baseball bat. He told her since she didn't want to get rid of it, he'd do the job for her. As he chased her around the house she had barely managed to call 9-1-1 before he smashed the bat into her wrist, breaking it and sending the phone flying.
Desperately, Olivia threw anything she could at him to ward him off. In a final attempt to protect herself, she grabbed a frying pan, but he easily overpowered her. Using the bat, he hit her repeatedly about her body, as she shielded her unborn child.
She was on the verge of unconsciousness when a gunshot rang out. Jordan collapsed with a heavy thud next to her, his lifeless eyes staring at her.
Richard dropped to his knees in front of her, blocking Jordan from her view. He stroked her hair and told her she had to hold on, that help was on the way.
When the paramedics arrived, he didn't let go of her hand as they sped toward the hospital. Somewhere along the way, she lost consciousness.
She woke up to devastating news, that not only had she lost her baby but her parents were in a fatal car accident. Olivia made Richard swear not to tell Dwayne anything about Jordan's abusive nature or the loss of her pregnancy. When Dwayne flew in to help plan their parents' funeral, she lied, saying she was on vacation trying to work things out with Jordan.
Thanks to Richard, the records from that night were destroyed. No one else knew the truth. And with Jordan having no family, it was easy to keep it that way.
That night her relationship with Richard had shifted. She didn't care that he was Dwayne's friend, sixteen years younger than her or that he was living with a woman who had three children. She felt a connection to Richard and had zero regrets about being his secret lover.
She knew he loved her and him being there proved it.
"I'm guessing you're undercover and can't break me out of this shithole just yet?" she asked softly, eyes searching his face.
Richard sighed. "I wish I could. I'm just here to confirm the tip about your location. Thank God it was right."
"I can't stay here," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You have to get me out."
"Trust me, baby. The second I leave, we're putting together a team to get you the fuck out."
He reached out, his finger brushing the edge of her blouse along her chest absentmindedly, Olivia flinched under his light touch.
Richard froze. Then stepped back, his brows furrowed with concern.
He didn't touch her again. Instead, he met her eyes. Can I?
She gave a small nod.
Carefully, he lifted her blouse. His jaw clenched the moment he saw the reddened gashes.
"Baby…" His voice dropped, hardening. "Who the fuck did this to you?"
"Alejandro," she said, her tone flat. "And it would've been worse if the warehouse hadn't gone up in flames."
Richard's fists curled at his sides. Rage radiating off him in waves.
"That son of a bitch will pay with his life. I swear it," Richard snarled.
"At least we agree on something," Olivia muttered, bitterness laced in every syllable.
Richard lifted an eyebrow. "Baby, I'll take care of him."
"Do you know where he is?" she asked, her voice sharpening, ignoring his statement. "Is he here?"
Maybe, she'd be able to kill him if the opportunity presented itself.
"No. Alejandro doesn't own this brothel. Matteo Leone does."
"Wait, what?" Olivia took a step back. His words knocking the wind out of her.
"How did I end up in Matteo's hands?" she asked breathlessly.
Olivia's head spun.
Matteo Leone.
A man she once loved.
Olivia knew what Matteo was capable of and when he wanted something he moved heaven and earth to get it.
But, why did he want her here? Was it because she walked out on him all those years ago?
She had paid his price and he promised to let her be.
Had he gone back on his word? But why?
"Olivia, did you hear what I said?" Richard's voice pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts.
She blinked, then swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, babe. What did you say?"
Richard met her eyes. "It's about Dwayne."
Her heart stuttered. "Did something happen? Is he…dead?"
"No. He's alive."
But something in Richard's tone made her stomach twist.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He's working as Matteo's lawyer."
Her entire body went cold. "What? Why? Did Matteo capture me and force him to…what the hell, Richard?"
"Nothing like that." He reached for her, gently holding her hands in his. "Matteo was caught smuggling Jasmine in one of his shipping containers. Dwayne agreed to represent him in exchange for Jasmine's release."
Her vision blurred. Angry tears spilled before she could blink them back.
"There must be some mistake!" Her voice broke. "My brother is saving Jasmine while I'm being tortured every fucking day?"
"I tried to talk him out of it, Livy. But you know how stubborn Dwayne is when it comes to McKenzie and Jasmine."
She did know. And that just made it worse. After all these years, McKenzie still had a fucking grip on him.
"They're at his place now," Richard added quietly. "Planning to leave the country. Trying to get as far from Alejandro as possible."
Olivia's knees gave out. Richard caught her before she hit the floor and held her close.
Being in his arms didn't trigger anything, so she clung to him, needing him, needing his comfort as she tried not to fall apart.
"I-I can't believe…my brother isn't looking for me," she whispered, devastation hollowing her chest. "He chose them…over me…"
"I've got you," Richard murmured, he slightly tightened his grip around her.
"Please," Olivia choked out. "Just get me out of here."
All the fire she'd carried moments ago was gone, snuffed out by one truth: Dwayne didn't care enough to come for her.
Richard ran a hand through her hair, voice low and steady. "I will, baby. I promise."
A knock echoed through the door, and a voice on the other side barked, "Time."
"Okay, she's coming out!" Richard called back.
Richard helped her up and put on her blouse. He kissed her gently on her lips.
"I'll get you out of here. Be strong, baby," Richard whispered.
As she walked towards the door, two names were engraved onto her death list: McKenzie Tanner and Alejandro.