Chapter 30
The interrogation room was cold, but that wasn’t the reason my hands were shaking.
They were cuffed to the table, the chains making a faint rattling sound, barely audible over the hum of the fluorescent lights.
Agent Becket had been going at me for hours, chipping away at what was left of my soul, to the point where I was about to crumble into dust on the cold floor.
“Take the deal, Ava. Or you will rot in jail. For them. Are they really worth your life?”
“Yes,” I answered automatically.
Shit. I didn’t mean to say that. I couldn’t take much more of this.
I clamped my eyes shut, rolling back my aching shoulders and letting them slouch down again. “I mean, I don’t know anything. I was a hostage.”
“We protect each other at all costs,” Grayson’s voice echoed in my head. His number one rule.
Agent Becket slumped back in his chair, staring at me; the pity in his eyes making me want to die.
He was wrong. It wasn’t like that. Grayson was coming back for me. He loved me.
Grayson loved me.
There was a knock on the door and the agent walked out. He came back a few minutes later, with a tablet in his hand, looking conflicted.
“We were able to unscramble some CCTV footage from a nearby building. We can finally see somewhat of their faces. They’re not ghosts anymore,” he exhaled tiredly, rubbing at his neck. My failing heart skipped yet another beat. That wasn’t good.
“I think you should see it. I think it’s about you.”
He sighed and placed the tablet in front of me, his finger hovering hesitantly over the screen, but then pressed play.
It was far off, grainy footage of Hunter and Grayson, leading Charles to the black van. The side door opened, and Gemma jumped out. My friends loaded Charles into the van. Gemma pointed at the building. Grayson was the one who replied. He talked and she listened.
Gemma suddenly lifted her hand and slapped Grayson, his head jerking to the side.
My heart shattered instantly. I knew. I knew why she did it.
She silently started screaming at him, shaking her head. His hands were up, trying to calm her, but she pushed past him and ran for the building’s door.
I heard a gut-wrenching cry. I looked up to see who had made that sound. But Agent Becket only stared at me.
It was me.
I looked back at the footage. Hunter had caught Gemma before she could reach the doors, she was struggling against him. Fighting hard. Fighting to get to me.
Another eerie sound escaped me as I helplessly watched the footage play out but I already knew what happened.
Hunter threw Gemma over his shoulder and ran to the van as she kept fighting. Grayson opened the side door, then closed it behind Hunter again.
My heart bled out as Grayson pulled a hand through his hair. My soul shattered as he looked up towards the tenth floor.
Then he turned his back and walked away. From the building.
From me.
I stood from the chair as I watched Grayson get in the van and drive off. I flung the tablet away as I heaved for air, as my body had finally had enough, shutting down completely.
What did I expect? It couldn’t live on without a soul.
My body doubled over in agony at the loss. My knees hit the ground and my stomach emptied all over the floor.
I was lucky to have my hands handcuffed to the table, I thought to myself. Or I would’ve fallen in my own vomit. At least I still had that tiny speck of dignity left.
There were hands on me. I tried to see past the humming in my head, but I was lost.
He left me. He locked me in that vault and left me.
“I love you, Ava.” The memory of us on our bed flooded my senses.
I felt the brush of Grayson’s lips again. Or was it air finally moving into my lungs?
“I’m sorry, Ava. I’m so sorry, baby.”
I howled my agony as someone restrained me, rocked me.