Chapter Nine
Wade Cooper
I look at Ava, seated on the bench as she absentmindedly plays with the keys of the piano. I think the only time I see her so immersed in something is when she is trying to get the beat of a song right.
There is always this strain to her forehead which makes her look adorable, almost like when you catch a squirrel munching on its nuts. She occasionally bites her lower lip which drives me insane and then runs her hand over her hair in frustration.
I’m sitting by the counter now, just watching her after I had been a pain in her neck for the past hour, pressing down on the wrong keys so she would yell at me every single time. I guess I was paying her back for constantly being on my back since I became her bodyguard. I crossed my arms and stared at the sight in front of me. This beautiful woman trying to get the song in order while the sun bathed her with its glory, making her seem like the goddess that she is .
It’s times like this I capture to store in my head. Times where I wished time would stop and we could live forever. Times I want to cherish for the rest of my life.
“Ugh!! I give up!” she bangs on the keys before dramatically standing up from the stool and stomping towards me.
“Might want to refrain from tearing down the house? DJ just finally fell asleep.” I hand her a glass of juice as she settles down next to me.
DJ hasn’t been attending school ever since the threatening text was sent to Ava. She would never let him step out of the house after that horrifying image. No mother would.
It’s been a week now, but we still haven't seen any new attacks. It may seem like a relief, but my fear only grows the longer it takes. From the numerous cases I’ve investigated, if such a determined assassin delays his next attack, it can only mean one thing.
He is planning something bigger.
Of course, I haven’t said this to Ava because she is already going through more than enough. Her anxiety over her and her son’s safety triples each day, and the littlest sound is enough for her to rush towards DJ and hold him close to her chest.
Seeing her in such a state while knowing that the person trying to kill her is still roaming out there, and finding ways to end her life angers me. It makes my blood boil.
Today happens to be one of the days that she is less anxious and more eager to do something. And that sight is simply breathtaking to me. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, after I have warned myself countless times, but each time, she manages to break my resolve. Especially after the night we almost…
“Oh, you do not know the frustration when you just can’t get the right tone! It’s all in my head but to bring it out is another circus on its own.” she huffs and sips her juice.
“Well, certainly, destroying the piano won’t help but a little break might.” I clink my glass of juice with hers and drink the cool liquid.
Ava stays silent as we both rest by the counter and I instantly want to know what is running through her mind. That has been a habit of mine lately, I can not look at the woman without trying to figure out what her brain is working up again.
She is a marvel of her own.
“Wade.” She calls me gently and I hold back the smile threatening to spill from my lips.
“Miss Anderson.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“You just did.”
She rolls her eyes at me and gives me a death stare.
“Sure, go ahead.” I stopped taunting her.
“Where is your family now? I mean, you mentioned a bit of your childhood to me the other day and I would like to know more. Are your parents still alive?” she asks, and I feel my walls coming up again.
“Yes, they are.” I answer bluntly and gulp down the juice.
“That’s it?” she raises an eyebrow.
“What more do you want me to say?”
“Oh, come on, Cooper. It’s not really a crime to know about the man who has been in your house for weeks now and will probably be here for longer.” she sighs. “I just want to know more about you, your life and your family.”
I stare down at the empty glass silently, wondering if I should answer her questions or continue to be the way I have been. Cold and unyielding. I look up at her and she is smiling at me, eagerly waiting for me to say something.
“My name is Wade Cooper, and I am former military personnel, now a police officer, which you already know. My parents are very much still alive. My father, Nathan Cooper, is—”
I stop talking when Ava gasps, a reaction I was totally expecting. It is not the first nor do I think it will be the last.
“Wait, I’m sorry to interrupt. Nathan?” her eyes widens as she repeats the name like it belongs to a god. “I mean, Nathan, Nathan, the Nathan Cooper?”
When I nod, her face instantly turns blank, almost as though she doesn’t want her shock to offend the billionaire’s son .
“So your father is one of the richest men in NYC and you are his only son?”
“Yes.” I answer, slightly regretting telling her that bit of my life now. Each time I had let that fact known to anyone, they usually changed their behavior towards me. Either by being too friendly or just cutting ties with me abruptly. And I want neither with her.
“All right, what else?” Ava asks as she takes another sip from the glass.
“What?” I furrow my brows, wondering why she wasn’t asking what type of cars my father owns or how much money he truly has.
“Tell me more about yourself. What do you do when you are not doing police duties? Your hobbies? Favorite food? Favorite movie? Oh, and you must tell me if you are a fan of classical music.” she says all at once and I shake my head, chuckling under my breath.
“What?”
“Nothing, just surprised that you didn’t ask more about my family. Usually when I tell people about them, which are very few, by the way, the conversation always steers towards them and less about me.”
“Well, I want to know more about you and not them, and the only thing I am actually curious about is if you are from such a powerful family, then why don’t you just use that to get back into the Army?” she asks.
“I’m guessing you didn’t leave voluntarily, right?” She raises an eyebrow and I nod. “If you didn't, then why not try to get back in with your connections? I'm sure it would be a piece of cake for someone like your father. ”
“It sure would be a piece of cake for him, but I wouldn’t want it like that. In fact, I don’t want anything from him.” I put the glass in the sink and turn on the tap to rinse it.
“But why?” Ava follows me and sets hers in too. I wash both glasses before placing them in the drainer.
“Well, for one, I am a bit stubborn like you, so I do not require help from anyone to get my way in life.” she laughs at this.
“And two, doing that would be breaking a very crucial principle of mine.” We move to sit on the sofa now and Ava crosses her leg sideways so she can face me. I like how eager she is to hear what I have to say.
“And what is that?”
“I do not play foul.” I answer. “Everything I have done up until now has been due to my abilities, strong will and determination. I never back down from a challenge nor do I use the backdoor to get what I want in life. So, if I want to get back into the military, it will be because of my capabilities and not my old man’s money.” I say and she nods with a look of understanding.
“That’s pretty remarkable.” she utters.
“You think?”
“It is. It’s honorable of you. Most would definitely choose the easier way out, but you choose to make it yourself. Just like I did when I came to the city to pursue a dream. I felt like I was a thousand miles out of reach. ”
I am truly happy that she can understand my perspective. I’ve been told off by my closest seniors at work that I am too rigid or too stiff with life. It is refreshing to see how she understands me. Ava really is different.
“And look at where that led you. Your every move is being published in the biggest newspapers.” I take her hand and she looks up at me.
“Will I ever be able to return to that life?” she asks shakily, and I resist the urge to pull her into my arms and comfort her.
“You will. I’ll make sure of it.” I assure her.
“Thank you, Wade, for saving my life so far and for always being there for me.” Ava says sincerely.
“You are welcome, Ava Anderson. I am just doing my job.”