Chapter 18
LINCOLN
Leaning against the kitchen counter, coffee in hand, I stared at her. Ava sat at the island, cross-legged, one foot bobbing as she listened to Alex. She had abandoned her tea to listen intently. I tried to pay attention to what Alex was telling her, but I was too distracted by her presence.
She was here, in my home. I never thought this would happen. I took a slow sip of coffee, watching her tuck her hair behind her ear and nod to something Alex said. She still got that glint in her eyes when she was listening to something intriguing.
I found her utterly captivating. My gaze dipped to her cute nose, which wrinkled when Alex mentioned something about not getting anything on someone yet.
I used to kiss the dusting of freckles across the bridge every time she said she hated them.
God, we were good together back then. We’d be good together now…
Alex rambled on about encrypted messages and something about geotagged photos. All my brain could process was that Ava was in my kitchen, barefoot, and comfortable.
We hadn’t gotten around to talking about our passionate night.
Was it a one-time thing? I certainly hoped not.
She spent the night in my arms. Did that mean I had a chance with her?
It was hard to tell right now. I apologized for the way I ended things years ago, but she never said the words I forgive you.
Should I apologize again?
Would she stop fighting the chemistry that was clearly still between us?
I felt like I was still treading dangerous ground. Should I try to broach the subject?
Jesus. So many questions.
Inhaling sharply, I scrubbed my face. I had to stop mentally torturing myself like this.
At least there was a sliver of hope for us. She hadn’t looked at me with skepticism since we slept together. That was two nights ago. Progress.
“Your gut was right, Ava.” Alex’s words finally cemented in my brain. “That girl is more than just a rising pop star. She’s caught up in something dark. No one is simply friends with Dorian Vauxhall.”
I snapped back into focus, the haze from my thoughts about Ava evaporating like steam. I walked around to look at Alex on the laptop screen.
“Phoenix is friends with who?”
Alex lifted an eyebrow at the urgency in my tone.
“Not Phoenix,” Ava clarified. “Her manager is acquainted with this Vauxhall character. But someone is missing from the chain. The manager controls Phoenix, but who controls the manager? He’s the major link to Vauxhall, who seems to be the head of the snake.”
“Vauxhall isn’t listed on any official documents, but he’s always hovering around the edges,” Alex continued. “Private jets, closed-door meetings, untraceable wire transfers… You know, all the shady stuff.”
I swallowed. Dorian Vauxhall was rumored to be the guy behind half the shady deals in the entertainment world.
Drugs, coercion, laundering. But no one touched him.
Too many celebrities and executives owe him favors.
Hell, not even law enforcement risked going after the man.
There was no way Ava was touching anything remotely close to him.
“Phoenix is connected to him…” I murmured.
“There’s no proof,” Ava said. “Just a connection with the manager.”
I glanced at her with worry clawing at my chest. She already felt protective of the girl she’d just met.
As much as Ava put up a tough, no-nonsense journalist front, she was all soft and compassionate on the inside.
She was determined to save a stranger. She was made of pretty special stuff, but I was going to have to rain on her exposé parade.
I stepped away from the counter, heart thudding. “No. Absolutely not. Ava’s not going anywhere near that man.”
She turned to me, startled. “Lincoln—”
“I’m serious.” My voice came out sharper than I’d intended.
Alex’s eyeballs swiveled from me to Ava. “I’m gonna let you two have a chat. Ava, you know where to find me if you need anything else.”
She forced out a smile. “I do. Thank you so much, Alex. You’ve been super helpful.”
“No problem.” Alex gave me one last wary look before logging off.
The silence that ensued made the air heavier than it should be.
Ava stared at the blank laptop screen before letting out a small sigh. She then slid off the stool and faced me. I stayed where I was, arms crossed and jaw tight.
“You’re overreacting,” she finally said.
I snorted. “No, I’m reacting exactly how anyone who gives a damn about you would.”
Her eyebrows snapped together. “You don’t get to pull that card, Lincoln. Not after everything.”
There was the answer to one of my questions. She hadn’t forgiven me. I stepped closer and dropped my arms, hoping to seem less like I was demanding she drop her story, so she’d actually listen to me. “Yeah? Well, I’m pulling it anyway. This story—this guy—it’s too risky, Ava.”
“If this man is as dangerous as you say, that’s more reason to help Nyla.”
Nyla. The fact that she was calling the singer by her real name told me she was already too invested.
“You think I don't know I’m treading a dangerous line here?” She shrugged.
“I mean, I’m a nobody-journalist with no backing.
My boss doesn’t even know what I’m pursuing.
But I’ve weighed the risk, and it’s one I’m willing to take.
If I’m going to become a serious journalist who people respect, when I’m chasing the truth, I can’t back down. ”
I stifled a groan. I could practically see all the progress I’d made with her evaporate into thin air. She’d likely hate me more after this. That caused an ache in my chest. But better she despise me than get in over her head with dangerous people.
“Back down, Ava. It’s for your own good. Be smart about this.”
Her disgusted scoff echoed, practically slapping me in the face. I hated telling her to give up on something important to her.
“I can’t believe you. You said you’d help. You said you wanted to help that poor girl.”
I swallowed the guilt clawing at me. “That was before I knew just how much danger you’d actually be in.”
She harrumphed and snapped her laptop closed. “You can’t tell me what to do. Thanks for getting me this far. Goodbye, Lincoln.” She slid her feet into her sandals and grabbed her bag. “I’ll take things from here.”
“The hell you will,” I growled, following her as she marched to the living room.
We reached the foyer when I gently snagged her wrist, forcing her to stop.
She spun around with fire in her eyes. However, it wasn't her fury that got me—It was the look of betrayal. I felt awful. I’d encouraged her to trust me enough to help her, only to backtrack.
I could feel the rift we had just started to mend getting wider.
“Ava, please. It’s not that I don’t want to be supportive.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“Finish Jaden’s feature and go home.”
“So you’re running me out of LA now?”
I gritted my teeth. “You know that’s not what I meant. Leave this thing with pop stars, corrupt managers, and criminals alone. I’m sure you’ll get your chance at another big story.”
“If I leave this alone, then I might as well quit journalism.”
“Ava…”
“Goodbye, Lincoln.”
“You won’t get far without me. I’m going to cancel that meeting with the insider. The one close to Phoenix.”
She glared so hard at me, I should have exploded. “Are you serious?”
I steeled myself against the hurt and disbelief dancing across her face. “Forget the goddamn story.”
She wrenched out of my hold. “I’ll find another source.”
“Ava—”
The door she stomped through slammed shut.
“Fuck!”
I ran both hands through my hair. What did I do now? I couldn’t throw her over my shoulder and take her back to Massachusetts, where she’d be safe from fucking Dorian Vauxhall. Not only had I failed to protect her, but I’d also failed miserably at earning her forgiveness.
“So… how did it go?”
I glanced at Alex, whose face took up my phone screen, with a scowl.
He nodded. “Enough said.”
“If she resented me before, she loathes the very air I breathe now,” I sighed and gulped down my drink.
“Sorry, man. I kind of feel like this is my fault.”
“No. I asked you to help. I wanted to win Ava over, you know? Show her I could use my connections to help her. I knew the whole thing was risky, but I wasn’t expecting Dorian Vauxhall.”
Alex peered at the screen, studying me intently. “Linc, I know damn well you’re not afraid of some Hollywood gangsters.”
“I’m not.” I took another gulp. “I’m terrified for Ava. I can navigate just fine in the underbelly of this town, Alex. But I want her nowhere near those people or their mess. She’s…”
“Fierce and is going to continue without you,” Alex said.
“Dammit,” I groaned, massaging my forehead. “I know.”
“You might as well get on board, man.”
“I know.”
Alex chuckled. “You get used to it—running behind a stubborn, independent, courageous woman. You learn to go with the flow and protect her in any way you can.”
“Speaking from experience?” I asked.
His lips twisted wryly. “Olivia has gotten it into her head to take down another corrupt biomedical company. I think I created a monster after I helped her take down the last one. She’s determined to clean up Boston, one biomedical criminal at a time.”
I smiled. His wife kept him on his toes, alright. Knowing Alex, he probably enjoyed every minute of it.
“I’m sure you’re concerned about her, though, as I am for Ava.”
He blew out a breath and leaned back in his office chair. “I worry about her safety, of course. But I’d never refuse to support her with something important to her. Besides, the way she looks at me in the end, when I’ve loyally stood in her corner, is worth the stress.”
“How does she look at you?”
A huge, satisfied grin lit up his face. “Like I’m her hero.”
I let out an amused huff, but a fist squeezed around my heart. I wanted Ava to look at me like that.
“That’s great, but how do you cope until it all ends?” I asked. Could my heart take watching Ava go toe to toe with dangerous people?
Alex smirked. “I let Olivia fight her battles because she’s fully capable. But I stand behind my woman, offering advice, resources, and ready to burn down the entire goddamn city to keep her safe—that’s how.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “You’re crazy.”
“I’m crazy about my wife. I support and protect Linc.”
“Support and protect, huh?”
“Nothing more to it,” Alex drawled. “You said you still love Ava.”
“I do.”
“Then I know you’ll burn down all of Hollywood for her if you have to.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t need to. I sure as hell would let the city burn to keep her safe, whether she still loved me or not. Now, I just had to get my head in the game, keep my worry under control, and… support and protect.