Chapter Fourteen
Wade Cooper
I stare out the window in silence, as I watch the scenery sipping the hot tea from the cup. What Jordan told me yesterday has been ringing in my mind, and even after reporting it to the police, I still haven’t heard anything from them.
I would have gone there myself to catch that bastard, but I couldn’t leave Ava and DJ all alone. I know they will be safer with me. I’ve already called the station twice since this morning, but I keep getting the same response over and over. That they haven’t returned. I wonder how difficult it is to catch just one guy.
“Any calls yet?” Ava asks as she moves to stand next to me.
She appears to be calm, but I can feel the anxiety from the way she has been pacing, unable to find something to keep her busy. DJ is still asleep in his room, so she has nothing to take her attention away.
“No.” I shook my head and returned my gaze to the window.
We haven’t spoken much since last night, and technically, I don’t know what to say. I can’t say I regret what happened because that would be lying to myself, but it might not have been the best thing, especially in the situation we are in.
I don’t want my actions to lead me to getting kicked off this case, just as I had to leave the army four years ago. I needed to protect Ava, and the only efficient way to do that was to keep this burning desire I have for her away from our interactions.
I know she wants something more, and I do too, but for now, her safety is the most important thing to me, and I should be focused on doing just that. Keeping her safe.
Ava remained next to me, and I noticed her shifting on her feet. She wants to say something, but she finds it hard to do so. She probably wants to talk about last night, and why I have been indifferent this morning.
“Wade, I—” When she finally garners the courage to speak, my phone rings and I drop the tea on the coffee table before I pick up the call.
“Yes, Marcus. Tell me you’ve gotten him.” I say as I place the phone in my ear. Ava motions for me to put the phone on speaker and I do so.
“Wade.” Marcus’s voice is hesitant, and he sounds anxious.
“What is it?” I grit out in annoyance, already expecting him to drop the bad news. The culprit is still out there, roaming free .
“He must have gotten a whiff of this. We got to the warehouse but found no one.” I feel Ava sigh out loud beside me, and she moves to sit on the sofa with a dejected look.
“What we did find were several monitors on a desk, all watching outside of Miss Anderson’s house. He must have set up cameras in nearby locations, which explains how he managed to cut her brake lines and the explosion of the car too. We are on our way to take them down.” I exchanged a worried look with Ava.
“What else did you find?” I asked Marcus, running a hand through my black locks.
“We also found documents on Miss Anderson and her son. Very detailed accounts of her routines, her schedules, the people around her, and her son’s school. The person we are dealing with isn’t just some random killer who kills for fun. He is determined to get Miss Anderson. His thoroughness is beyond me.” Marcus scoffs.
“All right. Thanks, Marcus. Keep in touch with me for any updates.” I ended the call, not wanting to agitate Ava even further.
Ava covers her face with her hands, and I move slowly towards her. She had been waiting for the police to catch the person behind all the murders so she can finally return to her daily life only to be disappointed.
“Ava.” I rest my hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
“I am just—” Ava sniffs as she wipes the tears from her face. “Tired of all this. Lynn is dead, and my closest friends died in that horrific accident. I can’t even step out of my house in fear that I will be shot dead, and my son hasn’t gone to school for a week now. Nothing is normal. Nothing is okay. ”
“Ava, you need to have faith in the police. They will get him, no matter what.”
“Clearly, the police are not doing enough!” She yells in frustration. “Sometimes, I just feel like taking a gun and placing it to my head—” I cut her off by embracing her tightly.
I don’t want her to finish her horrifying sentence. I had no idea she had thoughts like that. All I have been concerned with was keeping her within the house to ensure she is safe and well taken care of.
She must feel like a bird trapped in a cage, unable to flap its wings in the air freely. For someone who had such a vibrant social life and presence, this must feel like hell to her.
“Shhh, say no more.” I pat her head gently as I whisper into her ear. “Don’t think or say such a thing. You are all DJ has, and you need to be stronger at times like this.”
“I just want it all to end.” She cried on my shoulder. “I just want this to end.”
“Hey, look at me.” I pulled away from her and wiped the tears from her face. Her red-rimmed eyes looked up at me and my heart shattered to see her in such a state.
“You need to get a grip on yourself. You have to be strong, and not fall apart now, when we are so close to catching this guy. This is what he would want, for you to be devastated and never being able to live your normal life again. He wants you to be drowned in your drama, and you shouldn’t give him the satisfaction of that. ”
“I will be fine, right? Nothing is going to happen to DJ, right?” she asks in a small voice, and I nod eagerly.
“I will protect you both. That’s a promise from the best bodyguard in town.” I smile at her, and a slight chuckle escapes from her lips.
“Good. So much better.” I pat her head before sitting next to her on the sofa. She rests her head on my shoulder, and I rub her arms as we sit in silence.
“What can I do for you to forget about this? Even if it’s just a for a while?” I ask quietly but she says nothing.
After a while, she speaks up. “Read to me.”
I frown a little at her request, not at all expecting that from her. “Read? What do I read?” I look down at her.
Ava points her hand to the table, and I see the colorful book on the coffee table at the center of the living room. It was one of DJ’s storybooks. I can’t believe she actually wants me to do that.
I stare at her with a look of disbelief, and she raises her eyebrows at me. “What? The great bodyguard can’t do that, huh?” she huffs under her breath.
“I never said so.” I stood up from the couch to get the book and settled back beside her.
Opening the book, I cringe at how everything is so colorful and bright. Ava chuckles from next to me. “You look like you have been asked to do the most impossible thing ever! Just read the words. ”
“Petty the pig went out to the farm. Petty the pig was a good girl. Petty the pig–Don’t they know the use of pronouns? Why are they repeating Petty the pig like fifty-nine times?” I scowl at how ridiculous the book was and Ava kept laughing.
I keep my eyes on her as her face turns red from laughing too hard. It was quite interesting to see how the littlest things can amuse and entertain her. Just a few minutes ago, she was concerned about her safety, and now, she is laughing her whole heart out.
I reach out to brush her hair from her face and she stills, her eyes glancing up at me nervously. She takes a deep breath and I lean down slowly, her scent drawing me in and reminding me of last night, when she was cuddled in my arms.
“Wade.” she calls my name softly, and I look down at her red kissable lips.
Without hesitation, I close the distance between us and draw her in for a passionate kiss. Ava wraps her arms around my torso as I bite down on her lower lip, igniting a moan from her.
My hand reaches under her shirt as I knead her breast. Her skin is so delicate that I just want to kiss every inch of her body until she is mine.
I push my weight down slowly and Ava slides to her back. I move my kisses to her slender neck, revisiting the spots where I left hickeys last night. I smile against her skin, proud to see my mark on her.
Her fingers tangle in my hair, and I reach to claim her lips again .
A sound came from somewhere in the house which made me pull away instantly. I look down at Ava and remember that I had promised to keep my desires away from her. I failed again.
A look of understanding dawns on Ava, and I walk out of the room without saying anything.