Battered Moves: Burning Bridges Duet Book 2, page 1
BATTERED MOVES
BURNING BRIDGES DUET
BOOK 2
BLAKE BLACK
Copyright © 2023 by Blake Black
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in written form from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is entirely coincidental.
Blake Black
Editing done by Bookish Dreams Editing
Proofreading done by Cass Thomasson, Chaotic Creatives
For Matt Rife,
who was the visual inspiration for the twins.
You’re a great guy, but I’m already in a relationship.
I think it’s best if we just stay friends.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Battered Moves Playlist
Six months ago
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Epilog
The End
Want more?
About the Author
FOREWORD
Thank you so much for coming back for the second book in the Burning Bridges Duet. You have no idea how much I appreciate you!
Before you go on and find out if Liv gets back with her guys, this is your trigger warning. We are still struggling with Liv’s past, which is filled with trauma, but now the present is going to get dangerous too.
The triggers include physical and psychological abuse, graphic violence, harassment, and murder as well as attempted suicide. The murder of the child you read about in the first book is mentioned again. Knives are mentioned, and guns are now an active part of the story. The FMC has PTSD, scars, and nightmares. If you are triggered by any of this content, this one is not for you.
This is a reverse harem, where the FMC will end up with three or more love interests, but there won’t be any cheating.
This series is intended for readers aged 18 and above. While there are no MM scenes, there are a few instances that come close.
If you come across another trigger you’ve found that isn’t listed, please don’t hesitate to email me.
If you find any mistakes within this book, please email me a screenshot.
hey@blakeblackbooks.com
BATTERED MOVES PLAYLIST
Unsteady - X Ambassadors
FIGURES - Jessie Reyez
I Lost Myself - Munn with Anna Clendening
Take you down - Chris Brown
Buttons - The Pussycat Dolls
Miami - Will Smith
Beautiful Soul - Boyce Avenue
Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
Forever & Always - Written by Wolves
Tell Me The Truth - Two Feet
Work Song - Hozier
Until I Found You - Stephen Sanchez
Just Pretend - BAD OMENS
I Feel Like I’m Drowning - Two Feet
Look Who’s Cryin’ Now - Jessie Murph
Chop Suey! - System of a Down
Titanium - Boyce Avenue
Listen to it on Spotify
SIX MONTHS AGO
Dear Liam,
I’m so relieved to finally hear from you again. I’ve been worried sick about you since I heard what happened. I can’t believe they would accuse you of something so horrible. You’re my best friend, the person I look up to the most. I know you would never do anything like that, and I know that you would never intentionally hurt anyone. Now that you’ve explained, everything makes much more sense. That’s why it hurts so much to see you in this situation. The media has painted you as a villain, a monster, but I know that’s not who you are. You’re kind, compassionate, and loving. I want you to know that I’m here for you, no matter what. I’ll keep writing to you, sending you updates about what’s happening on the outside. The last thing I saw was an article about Olivia getting out of the hospital after her last knee surgery. That poor thing.
I hope she feels better soon and that you’re able to contact her to explain everything to her too. You guys just belong together. I’ll do everything in my power to help clear your name, to prove your innocence.
Please don’t lose hope, Liam. You’re not alone. You have me, your biggest fan, your loyal friend. We’ll get through this together.
I love you,
Foxy
CHAPTER ONE
Jaxon
We’re finally done putting the new heavy bags in place, even though Ryder complained the whole time, but it was necessary. The old ones were already worn out, and we want the best equipment for our customers at all times. We head out to the reception area to find Chris and three coffees waiting for us.
“Well, look at that. They’re for us?” Ryder smiles at Chris, but she looks concerned.
“Yeah, Liv brought them over for you guys.”
“That’s nice of her,” River says, turning his head in search of her. “Where is she?”
Chris frowns. “She left. She was agitated and crying, telling me that she had to leave and that I should tell you guys she’s sorry.”
“What? What happened? Why didn’t you come for me?” I ask her, maybe a bit too aggressively.
“Calm down, Jax. It just happened a minute ago. I haven’t had any time to—”
She doesn’t finish her sentence as I run out of the studio, searching the parking lot for Liv’s car, but it’s not there anymore. I come back to the others, shaking my head.
“Already gone.”
“What exactly happened, Chris?” River asks her, while Ryder holds his phone to his ear, apparently calling Liv.
“I don’t know. She came in with coffee for us, smiling and asking for you guys. I told her you were busy with the heavy bags and that Chase was already in the studio, so she went to bring him his coffee but came back quickly. I gave her a letter that was sent here for her and asked if she found Chase, but she was already crying.”
I feel a knot in my stomach. What did Chase do?
Chase
I can’t believe Tyler did that. I’ve told her multiple times over the past few weeks that I’m not interested in her anymore. We had some quick fucks in the past, but she was just a convenient hole to stick my dick in. I was a fucking player, and looking back now, I regret being so careless. My past actions are haunting me now.
Since I met Liv, no other women have interested me anymore. At first, there wasn’t anything between us. She just intrigued me, so much so that all the others lost their appeal. I didn’t even go on that fucking date I’d arranged to get her out of my head. I just rode my bike for hours. Now, after last night, nothing compares to her anymore. I had a taste and became addicted.
That’s why I’m even more concerned about how she left last night. I wanted to bring her home, maybe even to my bed. I know it was after three am, and she was clearly dancing that late because something was bothering her and she couldn’t sleep. I was inclined to leave her alone when I saw her come in, but after watching her dancing so seductively on the camera feed in my office, I just couldn’t stay away.
As soon as Tyler comes onto me, I push her off. “You can’t do that, Tyler. I told you our fling is over. I’m not interested anymore. I have a girlfriend.”
“Chase Miller doesn’t commit. At least not really,” she retorts.
“The fuck I don’t, and even if I didn’t, I’m done with you. Consent goes both ways, Tyler. Keep your hands and mouth away from me,” I say before storming out of the studio, not giving a damn about the class that starts in a few minutes.
As I reach the door, I nearly trip over a coffee cup left carelessly on the ground.
“Who the fuck leaves their coffee on the floor?” I mutter to myself, trying to contain my anger.
I make my way to the reception desk, finding Jax and the twins standing there with Chris.
“Jaxon, I’m done playing nice with my students if they abuse it like this,” I say, my fists clenched. He senses that something is off and immediately approaches me.
“What happened?” he asks.
“Tyler, one of my students, kissed me without my consent, but I pushed her away immediately,” I say, my tone still agitated.
“Locker room Tyler?” Ryder asks, getting to the point.
My frustration increases at the mention of her name. Chris,
“Liv may have seen this when she brought over the coffee earlier,” she says, concern etched on her face. The guys exchange a worried glance, while Jaxon paces back and forth, his anger building.
“I can’t believe this is happening. We need to find Liv and make sure she’s okay,” he says.
Ryder ends his call, looking at the others. “Her phone is off. I tried to call her a few times, but it just goes straight to voicemail.”
“I mean, I get that she’s hurt, but why would she leave like this? You guys are still in the friend zone, right?” River asks me, and I stifle a groan before answering.
“I may have fucked up last night.”
Jaxon
“In my office, now,” I command, and they all file in with bowed heads like naughty schoolboys. As soon as the door is closed behind us, I turn to Chase and ask, “What do you mean you may have fucked up last night?” I try to stay calm, but my words come out between clenched teeth.
“I was staying late, going over the books, when she came in to dance again,” Chase explains. “She wasn’t dancing like she does normally. It was hot and seductive, and I couldn’t stay away from her. One thing led to another, and…yeah.”
“Chase,” I say, struggling to keep my cool. “I’m trying really hard not to punch you right now.”
Chase lifts his palms in a gesture of surrender. “I know we said we’d take it slow, but I’d like to see any of you say no to her when she’s coming on to you.”
“She started it?” Ryder asks.
“I mean, I wasn’t discouraging it…” Chase admits sheepishly.
I ignore that and ask, “You did it in the studio, where anyone could have walked in?”
“The cameras,” River says, swiping a hand down his face, and I curse under my breath. He goes to my computer and tells us, “I need to delete the files before they get uploaded to the security server.”
Chase’s eyes widen. “I didn’t even think about that. I swear. Fuck, I’m so sorry. Can I help?”
River frowns at him. “No, I’m going to do it as quickly as I can, and I’m not going to let any of you look at the footage. I’m trying to protect her privacy, not stalk her like a perv.”
The room falls silent as River works to delete the footage. Chase is leaning against the wall on the opposite side of my office when River jumps up from the desk chair and charges towards him, landing a punch on his face.
I’m impressed. I’ve never seen River hit someone, but his form is perfect.
“What the fuck, Riv?” Ryder asks, now holding his twin back after reacting too slowly, while Chase just holds his jaw in pain.
“You didn’t use protection! You’ve slept with half of the city’s female population and didn’t use a condom! Does her health mean nothing to you? Is she just another one of your fucking conquests? If you ruined this for us, you are dead to me, Chase,” River yells at him, angry as fuck. I’ve never seen him like that before.
Chase’s face falls. “I know, man, I messed up. I realized it right after she left me standing there. I’m so sorry. I’ll do anything to make it right,” he says, his voice heavy with regret. “Believe me when I say I’ve never slept with anyone without a condom before. I just forgot, but that’s not an excuse. I forgot because she’s not just a conquest. She means everything, and I couldn’t think about anything else. I’m going to get tested right away to make sure I haven’t fucked up even more.”
I believe Chase, and honestly, I don’t think he would have intentionally done anything to hurt her. We should all go get tested to make sure we are careful with her.
“We get it, Chase,” I say. “But now we have to think about another potential problem too. Is she on birth control?”
“We don’t have to worry about pregnancies, just STDs,” River spits out, frowning at Chase.
“Why?” Ryder asks.
“She has an IUD,” he says.
“And how do you know that?” I ask him.
“She told me when we talked about her period,” he says, shrugging.
Ryder barks out a laugh. “You talked about her period with her?”
“Shut up,” River says, pulling himself out of his twin’s grasp. “I was concerned about her well-being, like all of you should be. It’s the twenty-first century. Men can talk about periods. Get a grip.”
My eyes widen. I like this new River, but we need to get Liv back to keep him.
Ryder
I’m still reeling a bit from the realization that Chase slept with my girl and River punched him in his face for it. Well, that wasn’t on my life bingo card, but we still have the problem of Liv being gone.
“What do we do now? Does someone have a plan?” I ask.
“River, can you check the security footage for the section where Tyler kissed Chase?” Jaxon asks. “Maybe if it’s clear that he didn’t consent to it, it would be good to show Liv.”
River gets to work, and after a few minutes, he lifts his head.
“I’m sorry bro, I wasn’t fair,” he tells Chase.
Chase just nods, and we all gather behind Riv to see the footage. It’s clear that Chase didn’t do anything to encourage Tyler’s advances, and he quickly pushed her away. We can also see Liv standing near the entrance, watching. She turns back to the doors so quickly that she just didn’t see Chase rejecting Tyler.
“Fuck,” Chase mutters. “In her eyes, not even six hours after we slept together, I’m kissing another girl in the same place like she meant nothing to me.” He buries his face in his hands. “Fuck!” he yells, kicking the desk.
Jaxon puts a hand on Chase’s shoulder, trying to calm him down. “Hey, it’s not your fault. Liv just misunderstood the situation. We need to find her and talk to her, explain what really happened.”
River nods. “We need to make things right with her, and, Chase, I’m sorry I punched you earlier.”
“No man, it’s fine. I deserved it,” Chase replies, shaking his head.
“So, any idea where she could have gone?” I ask.
“Let’s check her apartment first,” Jaxon orders.
CHAPTER TWO
Chase
Ryder and I are lounging on the couch while the TV plays in the background, but my mind is elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of her. It’s been three days, and she’s just gone. Her apartment seems empty, her phone is off, she didn’t go to class, and I have no idea where we could find her. This is all because of me.
We searched every possible place and approached some of her classmates, but had no luck. We even knocked on that Gunner guy’s door since the others said he was a good friend of hers, but he didn’t know where she was either, and I could see the panic rise in his eyes when he tried to call her and didn’t get through. Meanwhile, the guys and I got tested to ensure that my recklessness didn’t put her at risk, and thankfully, we’re all good.
I’m still amazed at how Riv has stood up for Liv. It’s comforting to know that we all have her back, even if it means standing up against our family.
Jaxon comes in with some groceries and heads to the kitchen to put them away. He can’t stand doing nothing, so he’s been cooking this whole time.
