Chapter 25
ALEX
Alex’s muscles slowly started to release as they pulled into their driveway in Ava’s pink SUV. The ordeal with his detainment had left some lasting marks, but he hoped to move forward now that he was back with Ava. “Ahhh, home, sweet home.”
“It wasn’t the same without you, babe,” Ava said as she eased the car to a stop and shifted into park.
“Right,” Kyle chimed in as they slid out of the car. “I had no buddy to complain to when she went to see Sebastian. I just had to sit here while the entire thing happened to me. It was awful.”
Alex wrapped an arm around the man, patting his shoulder. “I can’t imagine the horror you endured.”
“Yeah, totally,” Kyle said. “And you were just comfortably sitting in a cell.”
“Right,” Alex said with a nod. “Comfortably.”
They pushed through the door, and a wide-eyed Julia appeared in the doorway leading to the living room. “Oh my goodness, Alex!” She twisted to call over her shoulder. “They’re home.”
Grant appeared next to her along with Sierra. The woman’s eyes went wide. “OMG! Kyle lived!”
“Thanks, sis. Really glad that’s shocking to you.”
“He did great,” Ava said with a pat on his shoulder. “We couldn’t have gotten Alex back without him.”
Grant grinned at her. “Well, I’m glad that he could help. I was a little nervous there.”
“Thanks to everyone who helped Ava through this,” Alex said as he wrapped an arm around her, a shiver snaking down his spine as he recalled the terrifying time he’d spent stuck in that cell.
“We’re really glad to have you back, Alex,” Julia said. “It was terrifying to come home and find you missing, but…gosh, it must have been so much worse for you.”
He forced a grin on his features. “Well, it’s all behind us now.”
“Ace, would you mind coming with me for a second?” Ava asked.
“And I will regale you with tales of my bravery,” Kyle said to the others as Ava led Alex upstairs.
“I assume this has to do with the angry architect?” Alex asked when they reached the landing.
She glanced up at him, concern etched into her features. “Actually, I’d like a minute alone with you first.”
She dragged him down the hall to their bedroom and flung her arms around him once they were in the privacy of their shared space.
He wrapped her in a tight embrace. “I didn’t think I’d see you again,” she sobbed.
“It’s okay, Avs. I’m harder to get rid of than that.”
“Don’t be so cavalier, Alex. This isn’t funny. I meant everything I said when we stopped earlier. I love you. I can’t live without you.”
He wiped at her tears with his thumbs. “I feel the same way, Ava.”
She offered him a smile through her tears. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m okay, Avs,” he said, his voice soft and reassuring.
“Did they hurt you?”
He pulled her closer with a shake of his head. “No, not really. I just…have one injury, but that was self-sustained. I tried to get out of my cell for medical attention.”
She leaned back, her eyes going wide. “What? What did you do?”
He lifted his shirt with a sheepish glance, revealing the puncture wound in his side.
Ava squinted, leaning closer to him. “That’s it? That’s what you thought would get you medical attention?”
With a frown, he lowered his shirt and shook his head. “Well, it felt way worse when I was doing it.”
She clicked her tongue, her features melting again. “Oh, Alex. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
“Yeah, I’m going to try not to. Believe me, I don’t want to spend any more time with The Board than I have to. Nor do I want to give them any programs to alter the state of affairs in the world.” He shuddered at the thought of it.
“Well, at least you thought to grab the laptop before we left, so they won’t have any of your genius.” She grinned at him.
“Right,” he said, remembering he needed to remove it from the backseat of Ava’s SUV. “And I’m never getting kidnapped again. We’re getting a bodyguard. And you are never seeing Sebastian again after what he did to you.”
“He’s the reason I could rescue you though, so we really should thank him,” she said coyly.
Alex tugged his lips back in a wince as he tapped his chin. “Ohh, good point. It’s really a matter of politeness, isn’t it?”
“It sort of is,” Ava agreed with a lift of one shoulder.
“Hmmm, are we thinking fruit basket? Assorted chocolates? Ohh, maybe a StonePhone with all the bells and whistles.”
“Ohhh, nice, babe. But I think chocolates for the win.”
He bobbed his head. “Good point. A StonePhone may be unappreciated given his nefarious ties. “
“Bingo,” she said, poking a finger at him.
“Chocolates it is. I’ll make sure they’re imported.”
Ava winked at him. “Classy, babe.”
“Nothing but class when Alex and Ava are involved.”
She grinned up at him before she kissed him. “I’m really glad you’re okay, Ace.”
He pressed his forehead against hers. “Me too. Let’s never be apart again.”
“Sounds good to me.” They stayed wrapped in each other arms for a few more moments before Ava leaned back. “We really should deal with Chris.”
“Yeah, I have a few choice words for him, too.”
She patted his chest. “Try not to have too much fun with the role reversal, babe.”
He grinned at her as they made their way down to the hall to the guest bedroom. Ava swung the door open and flipped on the lights. Chris squinted against the sudden burst, his eyes going wide as he spotted Alex, his exclamation muffled by the gag still in his mouth.
Ava tugged it loose, letting it fall around his neck.
“Seriously? How did you get out?”
“Really?” Ava asked, crossing her arms. “That’s what you’re going to lead with?”
Alex tilted his head. “Yeah, because you weren’t exactly nice to me the last time I saw you.”
“I wasn’t…awful,” Chris answered. “I was…cordial.”
“I was stuck in a cell, and you did nothing but taunt me about how Ava was going to go with Sebastian.”
Ava scoffed. “Just goes to show that you never really knew me, Chris.”
“I don’t know, Ava. Sebastian seemed right up your alley.”
Alex’s stomach twisted into a knot at the words, and his nostrils flared. “Hey! He is not.”
“Keep telling yourself that, buddy. How’d you get out anyway?”
“Well, we tried to trade you but…Sebastian didn’t want you back. Sorry, bud.”
Chris’s jaw clenched at the words.
“I’m not even sure Miranda wants you back,” Ava whispered.
Chris bobbed his head up and down. “Mmmm, sure, have your fun.”
“Anyway, when the trade didn’t work. Ava just…busted down the doors and rescued me.”
Chris’s features turned incredulous. “Ava broke into the facility you were being held in and freed you?”
Alex lifted his chin, a grin on his features. “She’s pretty bad ass, huh?”
“Impossible.”
“Apparently not,” Ava said, sliding her eyes from side to side as she motioned toward Alex. “Proof is right here.”
Alex raised a finger in the air. “Oh, uh, spot of bad news, Miranda got shot during the whole thing, so she probably won’t be coming to rescue you anytime soon.”
Chris’s features pinched at the words. “Seriously?”
“Yes, he’s serious,” Ava said. “I’m sorry, I know you were…seeing her or whatever it is you’re doing with The Board.”
Alex slid a hand onto her shoulder, squeezing it.
Chris jimmied around in the chair, tugging against his restraints. “You shot her on purpose.”
“That’s not true,” Alex shouted back.
Ava licked her lips as she shook her head. “I didn’t shoot her. Alex didn’t shoot her. Even Kyle didn’t shoot her, sorry.”
Chris scoffed. “Well, then who shot her? Friendly fire?”
“An associate of ours,” Ava said.
Chris slid his eyes closed. “Raven. Raven shot her. You went with Raven?”
She puckered her lips, refusing to answer.
“I’m pretty sure you haven’t earned the right for any information being shared,” Alex said.
“Oh,” Chris said, “yes, but you were just more than happy to gloat that Miranda had been shot during your little mission.”
Ava crossed her arms. “This isn’t gloating, Chris. This is…a warning. An attempt to stop you from self-destructing even further.”
“Let me go, Ava. I don’t need your lectures on my life choices. You’ve done a bang-up job with your life so far.”
She twisted to pat Alex’s chest. “I think I have.”
Alex smiled at her sentiment, his mind returning to the moment she’d finally said those three little words. They were stronger than ever now. And as soon as The Board was destroyed, they could begin to enjoy their lives.
They just had to achieve that last bit. And maybe Chris could help with that.
“Well, you keep thinking that, Ava. I mean, here you are…with someone tied to a chair in your guest bedroom, but yeah, your decisions been really good lately.”
Ava dug into her pocket and flicked open a pocketknife. “Not for long.”
Chris’s eyes went wide as she crossed closer to him. She circled around and cut the zip tie around his wrist before she freed his ankles. She rose, closing the blade. “You’re free, Chris. Go.”
He climbed from the chair, stumbling on legs that he hadn’t used for hours. He caught himself on the edge of the dresser, his nostrils flaring again.
“You’re going to pay for this, Ava.”
Alex crossed the room to slide his arm around her.
“Do what you have to do, Chris,” Ava said. “But keep in mind that this isn’t who you are. This isn’t you, Chris. Think about that before you do something really stupid.”
“I’d argue he already has. I mean, dude, you knew they were holding me hostage. Come on!”
Chris shook his head. “They wouldn’t have hurt you…you just had to give them that program.”
Ava crossed her arms, shaking her head. “You are really naive if you think these people aren’t out for blood. Miranda nearly shot both of us tonight. Chris, stop this before you get hurt.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about, Ava. No idea. Stay away from me. Stay away from Miranda.”
He grabbed hold of the door and yanked it open before he disappeared from the room.
Ava heaved a sigh as he left before she twisted to face Alex. “Well, that went well.”
“Did you actually think he’d admit he was wrong?”
She settled her arms over her chest again with a shake of her head. “No. I guess not.”
He rubbed her cheek with his thumb. “Sorry, Avs.”
She shifted her gaze to him. “It’s fine. I got you back. It’s all fine.”
“And you said those three little words to me. Which…I mean I kind of knew but…” He grinned at her. “Hearing you say them was…pretty darn magical, babe.”
“Well, get used to it. Because I’m going to say them a lot. I can’t believe I said them to Chris.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. You were just confused about how great your husband is.”
She grinned at him. “I’m not confused anymore, Ace. I love you.”
She wrapped her arms around him, filling him with a sense of warmth.
“I love you, Ava,” he whispered.
The chiming of her phone broke the silence between them.
“Ugh, please don’t tell me that’s Sebastian texting you to see if you still want to hook up.”
She grinned up at him as she checked her phone. “You’re in luck. It’s not him. It’s Raven. He says we need to talk. And I agree. We’ve got to step things up with The Board. This can’t end soon enough.”
Alex bobbed his head, the reality of their still dangerous situation crashing down around him.
He pulled her close, kissing the top of her head.
This situation needed to end before it got even more out of control.
He’d been afraid of losing his life and Ava when he’d been held in that cell.
He never wanted to face that fear again.