Chapter Five #4
Ryan wanted to throw up. His mind was about to snap as he watched Annie deteriorate because of his father’s actions.
He knew he needed to help Annie, but he wasn’t sure how.
This time, Marco was at Annie’s side, and Ryan appreciated it.
He knew Marco was protecting him from any further unwanted physical contact with Annie.
“Did you go to the police?” Marco asked her. “If not, we can take you.”
“I can’t,” Annie said. “I can’t. Now that you know, I’m sure we’re all in danger too.”
“In danger?” Marco questioned.
“Look at what they did to Damian.” Annie cried. “It’s my fault. I asked him to help me.”
“It’s not your fault,” Marco assured her.
“I broke the non-disclosure!” Annie confirmed. “They said I’d be next if I told again. They’ll come after you, too, now.”
Annie started to panic. She looked like she was about to run out of the apartment or jump off the balcony.
Marco exchanged a look with Ryan, and they were both thinking the same thing.
If they left Annie alone, she would likely hurt herself.
Whatever she was on was making her erratic and unpredictable.
“And your cousin!” Annie was panicking now.
“Amanda?” Ryan asked.
“She collected the evidence,” Annie continued. “She knows what happened and has photos and DNA.”
“Annie, we’ll keep you and everyone else safe,” Marco tried to reassure her.
“And we can take you somewhere to get help again,” Ryan continued. “I know a place. We can take you there now if you want. No one will find you there.”
“I’m not worth saving,” Annie said. She began to sway, barely aware of what she was doing or saying.
She had stopped crying and looked defeated. Ryan pulled a throw blanket off the sofa and wrapped it around her.
“Yes, you are,” he said. He lifted her into his arms and carried her out.
Ryan and Marco dropped Annie off at a facility a couple of hours outside the city.
They registered her under an alias and paid extra to ensure the facility spoke only to Ryan or Marco about her.
They also instructed that she not be allowed any visitors unless Ryan and Marco permitted it.
The nurses and doctors seemed to understand this was for Annie’s protection and quickly grasped her circumstances.
Ryan assured Annie that if she wanted to leave, they would come get her, but she was not to leave on her own.
The instructions sounded harsh, but they were necessary to protect Annie.
Callie had messaged several times, concerned.
Ryan knew his vague responses weren’t helping, but he wanted to tell her in person what had happened.
By the time he returned to Callie’s apartment, it was three AM, and Callie was asleep in bed.
He was careful not to wake her and quietly slipped into bed beside her, but he couldn’t sleep.
Everything that had happened that day came crashing back, and the panic attack that had started earlier was quickly returning.
He tried to breathe deeply and focus, but his mind kept circling.
His father had hurt Callie, and now he had almost killed Annie.
It terrified him to think what could have happened to Callie if Nathan hadn’t interfered.
And Damian was still fighting for his life, likely because he knew things he shouldn’t.
Marco had agreed to go to Amanda’s place to warn her and stay with her until they could make other arrangements to ensure her safety.
Marco had messaged that Amanda wasn’t too impressed to be woken up at that hour, but she eventually agreed to let him stay.
Callie stirred, and when she saw he was back, she rolled over and rested her head on his chest.
“You’re back,” she said sleepily. “Where have you been?”
Ryan hesitated; he knew that telling her would ruin her sleep, but she deserved to know, since he had disappeared for almost the whole day.
“I was with Annie,” he started, and Callie suddenly sat up in bed.
“With Annie?” she questioned.
“Maybe we should discuss this over coffee,” Ryan suggested.
He didn’t want to talk about it. He just wanted to stay in bed, holding her and praying for sleep, but he knew he needed to tell Callie what was happening.
Her safety could be at risk. As he made them coffee, he began to explain, starting with his conversation with Edward.
He left out the part about having a breakdown.
He assured her that Annie would be safe at the facility where he had left her.
“And you think the Service is responsible for hurting Damian?” Callie asked.
“That’s what they suggested to Annie,” Ryan replied. “I’m not taking any chances anymore. Annie is safe, and starting today, Marco or I will always be with you.”
“Ryan, I don’t think that’s necessary,” Callie protested.
“Callie, please don’t fight me on this. I’m not taking any risks,” Ryan replied.
Callie sighed and looked at him with a sad smile. She got up from her seat and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around him.
“I love you,” she said, then kissed him.
He loved her too, but it terrified him. What he told Edward was true. He couldn’t survive losing anyone else, and he would make sure those he cared about were protected.