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Don’t knohy I didn’t just go into the personal bodyguard profession, the wayout

Stalking her is my only resort What the fuck else can I do? Text her? That psychopathevery interaction she has without her knowledge

Ryan is just giving her the illusion that she has any semblance of privacy and independence Wouldn’t surprise e and taking it away from her as punishment—it’s exactly what happened with Alison

My phone buzzes in my back pocket Distractedly, I pull it out as I watch River and her friend get farther and farther away I decide not to follow her today any longer Approaching River is going to be like approaching a scared dog She’s going to bite, and she’s going to bite really fucking hard Best that I don’t put her in that position in front of other people Or rather, put h that in front of other people

Glancing down at my phone, my heart seizes As if I conjured her into existence, Alison’s na across my phone

She never calls me Not anymore at least We parted ways the same day her and Ryan officially parted ways As hther to safety, not picking up the pieces for her

“Mako,” I answer, keeping my voice professional

“Hey…” she trails off aardly “I’m sorry to bother you But uh, I’irlfriend, River?” she poses her name as a question, not sure if I had already met her or not

“Yeah, I’veand reason behind Alison’s call only reinforces my determination Feels almost like kismet

Alison pauses, and then clears her throat “I’ve tried talking to her She’s… she’s not a very approachable person” I crack a s stateot her under his spell, and even though I’ve coet someone else to”

It’s nice knowing that I’m not the only one wants to try and help River escape Alison is kind—inherently kind She’s not the type of girl to go into a jealous rage when her high school sweetheartsure there’s a slad it’s not her anyirl suffer when she’sto her behind closed doors

I wait I already knohat she wants Little does she know I’ve already stuckthat probably shouldn’t havenose in it

“Can you talk to her, Mako? Maybe try to convince her that she’s gotten into so pretty… pretty brutal? The only reason I survived that relationship is because of you You got me out You saved me I need you to save her, too”

I sigh I hate when she says shit like that

“You saved yourself Alison, not ave you the push to do it You were the one in the relationship, and you were the only one that was able to claw your way out of it That was all you”