Chapter 24
AVA
Apiece of Ava’s heart remaining with Alex as Sebastian led her away from him to join him on the dance floor.
She could read the look in his eyes, but they needed to get close to the Bancrofts; they couldn’t afford to look a gift horse in the mouth.
A quick glance at Alex showed his displeasure with the current situation as Sebastian slid an arm around her, pulling her a little too close on the dance floor.
He grinned down at her. “I see I’ve failed to capture your attention fully.”
She pulled her eyes away from her husband, content that Julia had the situation well in hand, focusing on her dance partner. “Alex isn’t very fond of parties.”
“Perhaps he should have stayed home.”
She offered him a soft laugh as he wrapped his hand around hers, pulling it closer to his chest. “You said you had some business to discuss?”
This time, he laughed. “I did. But I may not have been entirely truthful.”
Ava raised her eyebrows, pretending to be surprised. “Really?”
“I wanted to dance with you, and I didn’t want you to decline.”
She licked her lips, careful to walk the tightrope between offending him and allowing him to walk all over her. With the delicate situation unfolding, she didn’t want to slap him across the face and risk the Bancrofts’ favor if they needed it. “Mr. Bancroft–”
“Uh-uh,” he said with a wag of his finger. “Sebastian.”
She offered him a soft smile. “Sebastian, I really do need to remind you that I’m a married woman.”
“Marriages can be tricky,” he answered.
“Mine isn’t. We’re happy.”
He tilted his head as he studied her. “Then I suppose this will have to be enough for me.”
“I’m glad we can agree on that. I’m committed to my husband.”
“He’s a lucky man,” Sebastian said as he carefully turned her away from Alex.
“I consider myself equally lucky,” she answered.
The fleeting smile on his features betrayed his displeasure with the trajectory of the conversation. “Actually, I suppose there is a piece of business we should discuss.”
“Oh?”
“Your portrait.” The devilish grin returned to his features. “I’m eager to get started on it.”
“We have a lunch scheduled to discuss that.”
“We do, though…perhaps we should forego it in favor of me putting my brush to the canvas. I’d very much like to begin.”
Ava struggled to keep up the facade, plastering another smile onto her features. “Well, we should discuss a start date then.”
“Actually, I’d love to show you some sketches I’ve already done.”
Ava drew her chin back. “Of me?”
“What else? Since we made the agreement, I’ve been able to think of nothing else.”
Ava sucked in a breath. “Well, we will have to work that date out so I can see them.”
“You can see them now.”
“I really should be getting back…”
“He won’t miss you for another few moments. And I’d very much like you to see them.”
Ava held back the sigh building in her. If she’d been any other woman, she’d have been reluctant to follow the man, but with her training, she felt confident enough to put a stop to anything that went too far on his part. “I think you just want to get me alone.”
“Can you blame me? Honestly, though, I’m very interested to see what you think of my sketches. We artists can be a needy bunch.”
“All right,” she said, allowing him to take her hand and lead her from the dance floor.
They snaked through the other partygoers until they reached a grand staircase sweeping up to the second floor. He wrapped an arm around her as they ascended it, and she forced another smile onto her face.
He led her to a set of double doors, pushing them open to reveal a studio, and drawing her inside.
In the soft lighting, he gazed at her, sucking in a breath. “You know, now I’m not very certain I’ve truly captured you.”
“Well, perhaps we should wait until–”
He held a finger up, cutting her off as he crossed to a desk and picked up a sketchpad. “What do you think?”
Ava stared down at the many images of her filling the pages as he filed through them. Uneasiness crept over her at the many pictures. “I think…you have been working very hard.”
“I don’t consider it work, really.” He flipped to another page, her face filling it. “This is my favorite.”
“What do you like about it?” she asked.
“The face,” he answered. “So beautiful, vulnerable, yet strong.”
She smiled at the compliment. “I’d say you captured me, then.”
He stood for another moment with the book in his hands.
Ava narrowed her eyes at his wrist, spotting the rook tattooed on the inside. “What an interesting tattoo. Are you an avid chess player?”
“No,” he answered as he adjusted his sleeve to cover it. “It’s a family tradition.”
“Interesting. What are the origins?”
His expression turned playful. “That may be a story you earn from me.”
“Earn it?” she retorted. “That sounds…”
“Intriguing, I hope.”
“I was going to say provocative, but let’s leave it at intriguing.”
“Ava…” He began as he tossed the book away.
Before he could continue his sentence, the nearby chatter of gunfire interrupted them.
Ava snapped her gaze in its direction, her heart stopping, her first thoughts going to Alex’s safety. “That sounded like gunfire.”
“Yes, it did,” he answered as he skirted around her. “Wait here.”
“I’m coming with you,” she said with a shake of her head. “My husband is down there along with several friends.”
“Who are potentially in danger. A danger I won’t expose you to. I think he would agree.”
“Sebastian–” she started as he pulled the door open.
A booming voice reached their ears. “Everybody stay where you are. This party is now under the control of the Brotherhood of Liberty. Comply with our demands or face the consequences.”
Her heart stopped, and she tried to push past Sebastian, desperate to reach the party and find Alex.
“Ava…” He grabbed hold of her, pulling her back. “It’s not safe.”
“I have to get to Alex.”
“He’s a grown man,” Sebastian argued as she fought him, her dress hampered her ability to properly rotate to land a kick that would have sent him spiraling across the room. “I’ll look for him. But for right now, I want to keep you safe.”
“I’m not going to sit here while he’s in danger.”
“That’s exactly what you’re going to do,” Sebastian answered, concern etching his features as he grasped her arm tightly and pulled her down the hall.
He turned a corner, pushing into a bedroom and dragging her to the closet. After shoving aside a set of clothes, he tapped a code into a keypad.
A hidden door slid open, revealing a panic room. “I want you to stay inside.”
“No!” she shouted as he shoved her in.
“I’ll be right back,” he promised.
“Sebastian!” she shouted as the lights flickered on overhead, illuminating the small but comfortable space.
She raced toward the still-open door, but he caught her, his grasp firm around her forearms. “Stay here. I’ll find Alex.”
Her features twisted as she prepared to disagree.
“Ava, I promise,” he answered.
Her heart hammered against her ribs as she took a step back, her chest heaving with shaky breaths. Sebastian stepped from the room, and the door slid shut, engaging a lock that couldn’t be opened without a code.
Ava stared at the keypad. “Alex would have hacked this already instead of being stuck in here.”
She twisted to study her space, working to memorize the surroundings in case she needed to orchestrate an escape. Monitors glowing from the opposite end of the room caught her attention. She hurried to them, noting they captured several security camera angles of the house.
Her stomach plummeted as she spotted several armed men surrounding the party. She searched for Alex among the crowd, but didn’t spot him. “Where are you, Alex. Please be okay.”
Seconds later, the door across the windowless room opened again. A pale Vivienne, her eyes wide and lips parted, stepped inside with Sebastian.
Her features crinkled when she found Ava inside.
“Vivienne…”
“Mom, stay here. I’m going to find Dad.”
“Is that who they’re after?” she asked, her voice breathy.
“I don’t know. But I’m going to find him.”
She flung her arms around her son, pulling him into a tight embrace. “Please be careful, Sebastian.”
“I will,” he answered as he returned her embrace.
Ava closed the gap between them, sliding an arm around a trembling Vivienne as Sebastian ducked from the space, locking it behind him.
“Why don’t you sit down, Vivienne,” Ava said softly.
The woman started, shooting Ava a glassy-eyed look before she nodded. “Do you have children, Ava?”
“No,” she answered as Vivienne eased into a chair across the room.
Vivienne bit her thumbnail, her gaze distant. “Then you may not understand my consternation now, but if anything happened to Sebastian…”
Ava’s features pinched the statement dangled between them. “I’m certain he’ll be careful.”
“Are you?” The words sliced through the tension in the room.
“Do you know the code to the room?” Ava asked. “I can go find him for you.”
Vivienne’s red-rimmed nostrils flared. “We should stay inside. I don’t want to be a bargaining chip, do you?”
Ava licked her lips. “Do you recognize the organization they identified as?”
“No,” Vivienne answered with a shake of her head.
Ava narrowed her eyes at the woman, wondering about the veracity of her statement. If they were involved in some sort of shady organization and its schemes, it was entirely possible they’d have ties with a terrorist group like this. Had there been a falling out?
Was Vivienne’s worry over her son borne of guilt or genuine fear of him being made a tragic example of?
Ava returned to the cameras monitoring other portions of the house. Gunmen herded guests from one area to another, crowding them into a small space and closing the doors to lock them inside. She scanned the many faces, hoping to find Alex, but she didn’t.
Her eyes darted to the other screens, but she didn’t see him anywhere. “Where are you, Alex?” she whispered.
Beeping echoed from beyond the room, and Ava whipped around to face the door, hoping Alex would be the next to walk through it.