Chapter 17
ALEX
Alex stared down at the blank phone in Miranda’s hand, his lips tugging into a grimace as he wondered what fresh hell she planned to taunt him with this time.
“I don’t want to watch whatever you’re going to show me,” he said with a shake of his head before he strode to the cot and collapsed onto it.
Miranda smirked at him. “You really don’t get a choice. Besides, I think you’ll want to see this.”
“I don’t,” Alex replied flatly. “Just…get out of here and leave me alone.”
“Can’t do that. First of all, you’re not making enough progress with your program.”
Alex clicked his tongue as he stared at her, his features incredulous. “Are you serious?”
“Uh, yeah. You’re supposed to be a genius, but this is taking forever.”
“First of all, I am a genius. Second of all, this is a massive request. And third of all, I’m programming this with my hands tied behind my back. I have zero access to anything to test. I’ve got to handle everything on my own with no way of cross-checking anything.”
Miranda stared at him for a minute before she burst into laughter. “If this is a ploy to get access to some form of the internet, no. I wouldn’t even give you access with parental controls set for a three-year-old, Alex.”
“Well, then don’t complain when I’m slow. I literally cannot do what you’re asking with these limitations.”
Miranda rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe you actually expect me to give you some sort of access to the outside world.”
“Maybe you could monitor me when I use it,” he suggested with a shrug.
“Monitor you. Right. I’m supposed to trust that what you’re doing is work on our program–a program you wanted no parts of creating–and not…say, sending a message out to Ava to rescue you.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Alex said, pressing a hand over his heart. “Now, about the access.”
Miranda frowned at him. “No. No access to the outside world.”
“Then you’re making this impossible for me to do. I can’t move forward unless I have it.”
“Then I guess you’ll end up getting the wrath of The Board. Or maybe your little friend, Ava, will. You can’t protect her forever. In fact, that’s what I wanted to show you.” She held up her phone again. “Care to see?”
Alex’s stomach twisted into a tight knot. What was she about to show him on that screen that had to do with Ava?
He didn’t want to feed into playing her game, though, so he shook his head. “You’re lying.”
“Am I? You don’t think it’s going to be Ava on this video feed?”
“No, I don’t. I don’t think you have access to Ava. She’s too smart for that.”
Miranda snorted a laugh. “Is she now? Let’s just test that theory, shall we?”
His breath caught in his throat as Miranda typed her password into her phone. His heart pounded so hard it echoed in his ears. When he saw Ava sitting next to Sebastian, his world tilted on its axis. “Ava! No!” he whispered, his voice filled with desperation.
“Oops, looks like Alex Stone was wrong.”
Alex’s heart dropped as he spotted Ava sitting next to Sebastian on his chaise lounge. “Trouble at StoneCorp? Maybe he got in over his head with something,” Sebastian suggested.
Alex’s nostrils flared, and he curled his fingers into fists.
“No, Alex would never do that.”
His head bobbed up and down in a nod. “Thank you, Ava.”
Miranda’s smirk widened as she leaned closer to Alex. “It’s only a matter of time before she gives up on you, Alex. People break, and she’s no different.”
“Ava would never give up on me,” he shot back, though doubt gnawed at his insides. What if this stretched for months? Would she assume he was dead? Would she move on?
On-screen the conversation continued with Sebastian continuing to comfort her by suggesting Alex had done this to himself.
Alex’s breathing turned ragged as Sebastian mentioned Ava’s recent appearance. What if he suggested that their marriage was fake? Would she have to tell him the truth?
Before she gave him any answer, he added, “What if I told you I could clear up this entire thing?”
Ava didn’t miss a beat. “I’d ask you straight out if you kidnapped Alex.”
Alex’s breath hitched. “Atta girl, Ava. She’s smart, see?”
Miranda’s smirk returned. “Smart enough to play into our hands.”
Alex’s grin faded as he considered the consequence of her sharp words.
“Spoiler alert: it’s not going to go over well with a man like Sebastian Bancroft. He likes to be in charge.”
Alex grimaced at her before he shifted his gaze back to the ongoing conversation on the screen.
Sebastian slid his hand around Ava’s. “I think you know I’ve been interested in you.”
Alex’s eyebrows arched at the development as Ava pulled away, telling him she wasn’t interested in a one-night stand.
But the man wouldn’t let up, assuring her that wasn’t what he was after, and promising her a level up.
This time Miranda lost her coy expression. “What?” she whispered as Sebastian promised a partnership before revealing his tattoo.
Her eyes went wide, her jaw dropping open. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
While Alex didn’t love the direction of the conversation, he did chuckle over Miranda’s reaction. “Aww, what happened, Miranda? Sebastian not playing by the rules you expected?”
“Shut up,” she snapped. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s just playing her so she’ll fall right into his trap.
“We’ll see,” Alex taunted, feeling the power shift a little to his corner.
On-screen, Sebastian promised he could make sure Alex remained alive, but his next words cut Alex deeply.
“What is it that you want from me in exchange for your help?” Ava asked.
“You,” he said with a grin. “And your help getting Alex’s cooperation.”
Alex held his breath, worried that she may take the man up on his offer. “Don’t do it, Ava,” he whispered.
Miranda’s smirk returned. “Why wouldn’t she? He’s got it all over you.”
“Says the person who couldn’t keep her hands off me in my office,” Alex retorted.
“Oh, please. If you bought that, you’re more of an idiot than I thought. That was all a show to get you and Ava apart. To isolate you.”
“So you say now. Easy to say that after the fact.”
He returned his attention to the drama unfolding between Ava and Sebastian. “I’m married to Alex,” Ava said.
“See, I heard that was fake,” Sebastian answered as he closed the gap between them.
“Let me guess…you heard that from Miranda Vale.”
“Ouch, Ava is selling you out to the boss man,” Alex said. “I wonder if he’ll be mad that you fed him false information.”
“It wasn’t false. You two aren’t in a relationship at all.”
“Not true. Ava and I decided to make a go of our marriage. So, joke’s on you.”
She bubbled out a laugh. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”
Ava and Sebastian continued their discussion with Ava asking if becoming a board member was a requirement of her cooperation.
Sebastian answered, “It is. You bring a wide variety of skills to the table, Ava.”
“That’s new,” Alex said, his voice bitter.
“I thought I wasn’t welcome,” she shot back.
“As you mentioned, Miranda often works with flawed information. So, what do you say?”
Alex winced as he glanced at Miranda. “Oh, ouch. Looks like Bossy Bancroft agrees that you’re a weak link.”
She sneered at him. “He’s playing her. You’ll see.”
Ava set her jaw, crossing her arms. “No.”
Alex pumped a fist, a grin crossing his face as Sebastian warned her she was making a huge mistake.
“Noted,” Ava answered. “Now, mind returning my husband?”
“I do mind, actually. And I’d like to suggest that you visit with Alex first before you make your decision. You may find it illuminating.”
The knot in Alex’s stomach twisted tighter as he shook his head. “No, don’t do this, Ava. No.”
Sebastian thrust out a zip tie and a dark hood, telling her she could see Alex now.
Alex’s heart ached with every word he heard.
The idea of Ava being manipulated, of her falling into their trap, was unbearable.
His mind conjured images of Ava in Sebastian’s clutches, and it took all his strength not to break down.
“Please, Ava, don’t fall for it,” he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.
Miranda giggled. “Do it, Ava. I’d love to see you in a cell next to Alex. And even if she declines, he can overpower her. Looks like you may be getting a cell buddy.”
“Ava, don’t!” Alex shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
Miranda’s chuckle turned into a full belly laugh as Ava pressed her wrists together, accepting the terms of the deal.
“No!” Alex’s heart sank as she gave in.
He watched, agony sweeping through him as Sebastian removed her earpiece, the brooch with the camera he’d given her, and then let his hands wander her form until he pulled what looked like a small luggage tracker from her pocket.
His lower lip began to tremble as Sebastian roughly tightened the zip ties around her wrists, then tugged the hood over her head.
He struggled not to vomit up the sandwich he’d just eaten as the man led her offscreen.
Miranda clicked off her display with a smirk. “Looks like you’ll be seeing hashtag wifey soon.”
“Looks like hashtag wifey may be your boss soon,” he shot back, desperate to cling to anything he could from the conversation that gave him the upper hand despite the idea making him sick to his stomach.
Images floated unbidden into his mind of Ava on Sebastian’s arm at the next summer party, of a tattoo on her wrist, of their marriage falling apart.
He struggled to keep his eyes free of tears, desperate to stay clear-headed.
“I don’t think so. Sebastian was merely playing her so he could get her to play by his rules.”
His mind recalled the way Sebastian’s hands had traveled over Ava’s form, his nose wrinkling in disgust. “I’m not so sure about that.”
He wasn’t certain what frightened him more: Ava being in the same position he was or Ava being with Sebastian.
“Well, we’ll find out one way or another very, very soon. Now, in the meantime, let’s talk about your progress on this program, and your punishment for that escape attempt.”
He ran his hand through his hair, licking his lips. “I told you, I’m limited in what I can do because I have no access to the web. I need that.”
“How far along are you with the program? Is it ready for a test yet?”
“Ahhh…” His mind stretched in a thousand directions as he tried to figure out a response. His second program, the one designed to call for help, wasn’t anywhere near ready, so getting access to the internet now wouldn’t help him.
He scuffed his shoe against the concrete floor. “No.”
She flicked her eyebrows up. “The great Alex Stone doesn’t have a working prototype yet? Maybe The Board shouldn’t have placed their faith in you.”
Alex heaved a sigh. “I’m the best there is. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“Well, then I guess we’ll just have to wait on that access, won’t we.”
“Guess so,” Alex said with a sigh.
Miranda cocked a hip. “Now, about the punishment...hmmm…”
“Stop trying to be dramatic. You’re not going to do anything to me.”
“Won’t I?” Miranda asked. “You may be dumber than you think, then.”
She stalked around the room. “I mean, a well-placed bullet, maybe a beating, maybe something to do with Ava now that she’ll be joining us here.”
His feature twisted with anger. “You leave Ava alone.”
Miranda smirked. “Well, I know which I’ll choose.”
The door to his cell burst open, and Sebastian shoved a hooded Ava inside. Alex’s heart leaped into his throat. “Ava!” he shouted, rushing forward only to be yanked back.
Sebastian ripped the hood off Ava’s head, revealing her frightened face. “Alex!” she cried, trying to reach him, but Sebastian held her back, his grip cruel and unyielding.
Miranda’s voice cut through the tension. “Now, let’s talk about some concessions on your part.” She drew her gun and pressed it to Ava’s temple, her eyes glittering with malice.
Alex’s heart hammered against his ribs. “Don’t hurt her! Please!”
Miranda’s smile was icy. “You leave me no choice, Alex. Do as we say, or watch her suffer.”
Alex’s heart pounded as he took in the scene. Was Miranda right? Would they hurt Ava to ensure his compliance?