Consequences Hit Harder Than I Thought

Pain.

That's the first thing I registered.

A dull, persistent ache spreading through my body, like I had been hit by a freight train.

And in a way, I had.

I forced my eyes open, blinking against the dim lighting.

I wasn't where I was supposed to be.

I wasn't anywhere I recognized.

The memories came rushing back like a flood.

The fight with Tessa.

The phone call.

The shadow behind me.

The hand over my mouth.

And then—

Nothing.

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself upright.

Everything hurt.

Because the truth was settling in now.

Whatever had just happened?

I wasn't walking away from it unscathed.

I was in a room.

No windows.

A single light overhead.

And the door?

Locked.

My pulse skidded.

This wasn't random.

Someone had planned this.

Someone had taken me.

And there were only two names that came to mind.

Ethan.

Jax.

And I didn't know which was worse.

The door creaked open.

I braced myself.

Prepared for Ethan.

Or Jax.

Or someone else who would remind me that my life was no longer my own.

But instead—

Tessa walked in.

My breath caught.

I blinked; half convinced I was imagining it.

But no.

She was real.

And she was furious.

Tessa shut the door behind her, her hands clenched into fists.

Her eyes were sharp. Unforgiving.

"You really don't know when to stop, do you?" she bit out.

I swallowed hard.

"Tessa—"

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" she snapped.

Her voice shook.

With anger. With something else.

"You think this is just about you and Ethan? You think your little war isn't dragging everyone else into it?"

I clenched my jaw.

"You have no idea—"

"No, Liv."

She exhaled sharply.

"You have no idea. Because you don't get it, do you?"

I stayed silent.

Because I didn't know what she was about to say.

And I wasn't sure I could handle it.

Tessa took a step closer.

"You're not the only one Ethan made a deal for."

My stomach dropped.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

I shook my head. "That's not—"

"Yes."

Tessa's voice cracked.

"He didn't just trade you, Liv."

My breath caught.

She exhaled, looking away.

"He traded me too."

Everything inside me stilled.

The words didn't make sense.

They couldn't.

"Tessa…" My voice was barely a whisper. "You're lying."

She let out a bitter laugh.

"I wish I was."

Her eyes flashed, sharp with anger and something else.

"You think you were the only one Ethan wanted to protect?"

The room tilted.

"You think he didn't make sure I was part of the deal too?"

I felt sick.

Because this?

This was worse than anything I had imagined.

Worse than just me.

Because I had stayed.

And in staying—

I had dragged her down with me.

I shook my head.

"No, he wouldn't—"

Tessa scoffed.

"Of course, he would. That's what he does, Liv."

Her voice turned sharp, bitter.

"He makes choices for you. He tells himself it's for your own good. And then?"

She took another step closer.

"Then he makes sure you have nowhere else to go."

Tears burned at the back of my throat.

Because I had known.

I had always known.

But I had let it happen anyway.

I had let him control me.

And now?

Now Tessa was paying the price too.

Tessa exhaled, shaking her head.

"You don't get it yet, do you?"

I looked at her, my chest tight.

"Tessa, I never wanted this for you."

She laughed, but it wasn't kind.

"I know," she murmured.

And then—

Her voice hardened.

"But that doesn't change the fact that you let it happen."

Silence stretched between us.

Heavy. Unforgiving.

And then—

Tessa took a slow breath.

"I have one chance to get us both out of this."

I blinked.

"What?"

She nodded.

"But I need to know something first."

I swallowed hard.

"Anything."

Her gaze locked onto mine.

Sharp.

Serious.

Deadly.

"Are you ready to let Ethan go?"

The words hit me like a bullet.

I opened my mouth.

But nothing came out.

Because I knew what she was really asking.

This wasn't just about leaving.

It was about destroying him.

For good.

For both of us.

And the worst part?

I didn't know if I could do it.

I wasn't sure if I could let him burn.

Even if it was the only way to save myself.

I inhaled sharply.

Met her gaze.

And whispered—

"What do I have to do?"

Tessa reveals Ethan's deal wasn't just about Liv—it was about her too.

Liv realizes the damage she's caused by staying.

Tessa offers Liv a way out—but it means taking Ethan down for good.

Liv makes a choice that could change everything.