19. The Forever After
The warmthof the teacup radiates into my palms. Sarah’s home, a haven of lavender-scented candles and soft blankets feels good, familiar. Raindrops tap a melancholic rhythm against the windowpane.
Sarah bustles around me like a mother hen. A fresh cup of tea, her expertise gleaned from her recent learn-your-tea retreat evident in the aroma wafting from the mug. She drapes a fluffy blanket draped over my shoulders, a presses a soft kiss to my forehead. I offer her a tired smile, grateful for her, a lighthouse in the storm that has passed.
My gaze drifts to the window, where Mendel moves silently through the courtyard below. I raise a hand in greeting, but he only offers a curt nod in response. His eyes, hidden behind mirrored sunglasses, meet mine for a fleeting moment, a void that chills me.
I’m being paranoid.
My thoughts linger on Dexter; I almost pity him. I remind myself to talk to Alexander about it all later.
“I’ve missed you, Sarah,” I murmur, breaking the silence that has settled between us.
I have missed her.
“I’ve missed you too, Ava,” she replies, her green eyes reflecting concern. A beat of silence lingers before she speaks again. “I’m sorry for going behind your back with Tyler. He said you were in danger, and I-I just wanted to help. Can you forgive me?”
I nod, understanding what must have fueled her actions.
“Of course, Sarah. I forgive you.” A playful smirk tugs at my lips. “Doesn’t mean I like it, though. You’ll have to make it up to me with many more rounds of tea and cookies. And maybe a bulletproof vest. You know, for when I’m hanging out with my Eastern European mafia friends.”
A smile blooms on her face. “They are Eastern European mafia, huh? Seriously, Ava?”
We talk, the words tumbling out in a torrent as I recount the horrors of the past few days, trying to inject some humor into the retelling, making light of my near-death experiences and the twisted love triangle I’ve found myself in. With each shared detail, the burden on my shoulders seems to lighten.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through all that, Ava,” she whispers, her hand squeezing mine.
“It’s alright. I’m just glad it’s over,” I reply, sipping the soothing tea.
“Ava, I promise, from now on, I’ll always have your back,” she vows. “Even if it means learning some Russian to blend in with the mob.”
I burst out laughing. “It’s Polish, and deal,” I say, raising my teacup in a mock toast. “To friendship, cookies, and maybe a little bit of international espionage.”
We share a smile, and I know that no matter what looms on the horizon, we will face it with a healthy dose of sarcasm and a bottomless supply of tea. And for now, that knowledge is enough.
“Did you hear about Tyler?” I ask, breaking the comfortable silence that has settled between us.
“Yes,” she replies with a sigh. “Maybe getting out of the city will be good for him.”
I nod in agreement and look at my watch. “I’ve got to go. I’m meeting Alexander.”
A knowing smile curves her lips. “Of course you are.”
“I love him, Sarah.”
“I know,”she replies. “Just— be careful, Ava. Know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Sarah’s right. I don’t know who I am anymore. Am I inherently good, just drawn to the dangerous allure of men like Alexander? Or is there a darkness within me, a shadow I’ve been denying all along?
All I know for certain is this: Alexander is my addiction.
“He’s changing, Sarah,”I say, hoping she’ll see the truth in my words. “He really is.”
I stand to leave, my gaze lingering on a framed photo of Sarah and me, our faces beaming with youthful optimism, a reminder of a time before Alexander’s world consumed me. The photo sits on a shelf beside a stack of self-help books, titles promising inner peace and mindful living.
Maybe we can find peace, I think. Maybe Alexander and I can build a life free from the shadows of the past.
* * *
The black marble kitchen of Alexander’s mansion is bathed in the sparkly glow of the chandelier, casting specks of light on the polished floor. The aroma of his prepared dinner fills the air, spices, and herbs awaken my senses. He pours me a glass of red wine. It is deep crimson.
“You’ve spoiled me,”I murmur, taking a sip and savoring the smooth, velvety texture.
“Only the best for my love,”he replies, his lips curving into a playful smirk.
“Oh, stop it,”I feel a blush creep up my neck.
His gaze softens, the blue depths of his eyes holding me captive. “Ava—”he begins, his voice a low rumble that sends chills through my whole body.
“Alexander,”I interrupt. “I want to know more about your past. The good, the bad— all of it. I want to know you.”
He sets down his cutlery, his expression turning serious. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything. The truth.”
He chuckles. “Well, it’s a long story.”
“We have time.”
I don’t care if we talk now, tomorrow, or next week. I just need him to be honest.
“I talked to Dexter, you know,”I say.
His jaw clenches, his eyes hardening. “Yeah?”
“Why did you never tell me about him and Michelle?”
He hesitates. “I had been away from crime for years, Michelle, too. Then he showed up, feeding her drugs. Flashing his father’s money in her face. She was weak, took the bait, and got hooked on drugs,”he confesses. “I left that life behind, but it still found a way to haunt me through her.”
He pauses, a flicker of self-loathing crossing his features.
I take a bite of the food. The flavors taste bland. Alexander reaches over, his fingers brushing against mine as he takes the next bite from my fork.
“What do we do now?”I ask. “What happens to Veles?”
He hesitates for a moment, then reaches across the table to take my hand. “Well, it’s over now. Dexter’s in prison, Kovacs is going away for a long time, and Michelle— she’s safe. That’s all that matters.”
“But what about you, Alexander? What about us?”I ask.
He sighs. “I’m done with that life, Ava. I am selling EverBlue Group, I talked to a potential buyer today. The deal is almost finalized. It felt—good. Like cutting ties with a ghost.”
He pauses, his gaze meeting mine. “I’m investing in something new, something legitimate. A chain of boutique hotels here in the city and across the country. I’ve always loved architecture, design, creating spaces where people can feel— at home.”
His words tug at my heartstrings. This is the Alexander I’ve always glimpsed beneath the surface.
“And I’m setting up a foundation,”he continues. “To support people struggling with addiction..”
The man I fell in love with is finally breaking free from the chains of his past.
Mendel’s sudden intrusion startles me, shattering the fragile bubble of intimacy we’ve created.
“Mendel, are you hungry? We have leftovers,”I offer.
“We don’t eat with the help,”Alexander interjects, his voice clipped.
“Well, some things are going to change around here.”
Mendel mumbles something unintelligible, and I quickly pile food onto a plate, placing it before him. He sits down in the corner, devouring the meal with an intensity that borders on desperation. His expression remains unreadable, his lips pressed into a thin line that could be interpreted as either a smile or a grimace. Mysterious Mendel. Perhaps he and Sarah— The thought flits through my mind before I push it aside, focusing on the more pressing matters at hand.
“Where’s Michelle now? Is she safe?”
Alexander’s eyes darken, his jaw clenching. “Yes.”
His vulnerability and the raw concern etched on his face draw me to him even more. The darkness within him is undeniable, but so is the love and loyalty that burn beneath the surface. He leans in, his lips brushing against mine.
The food remains untouched as he dismisses Mendel with a curt nod, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss. His hunger is insatiable, just like mine.
“I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you, Ava,”he whispers against my lips, his voice husky. “I want to show you that I’m not the monster you think I am.”
In that moment, I choose to believe him, to embrace the darkness alongside the light. As he lifts me into his arms, I know this is only the beginning.
“Ava,”he whispers, his breath hot against my ear. “I love you more than anything in this world.”
“I love you too, Alexander,”I whisper as I wrap my arms around his neck, clinging to him as if he were my lifeline. “Forever.”
He carries me up the grand staircase; his eyes shine with hunger. Reaching the top, he gently sets me down outside the bedroom door.
His hands cup my face, his thumbs brushing away the happy tears that stream down my cheeks.
“I know I’m flawed,”he murmurs. “I don’t know if I’ll ever escape the darkness, Ava. But I’ll try. For you.”
I gaze up at him. He is a beautiful monster, an enigma that has captured my soul.
“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow,”I say. “But I’m not going anywhere. I’m yours, Alexander. Always.”
Alexander’s smile, usually so confident, fades for a moment. He brushes a stray strand of hair from my face, his touch gentle. “There’s something you need to know, Ava. Something I should have told you before.”
“What is it?”
He hesitates, his eyes drifting to the city lights twinkling beyond the windows. “Dexter, Kovacs—they weren’t the only ones. There’s—someone else. Someone who was calling the shots from the shadows. Someone they never caught.”
“Who?”The room feels cold as I shiver.
He turns back to me, his eyes dark and troubled. “They call him The Raven. I don’t know who he is, Ava. But he’s out there. And he knows about you.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. The sense of relief I’d felt moments before, the belief that the nightmare was finally over, shattered. The Raven. The name sent a chill through me.
“What does he want?”My voice trembles.
Alexander shakes his head. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”He takes my hand, his grip tight. “I won’t let him hurt you, Ava. I promise.”
The Raven.
His revelation fuels my fears, but also my passion, as I move towards him. His lips meet mine in a hot kiss, a promise sealed with fire and passion. As we break apart, a glint sparks in his eyes, a flicker of the darkness that both terrifies and entices me.
“There’s just one thing,”he says. “Being mine comes with a price, my Ava.”
He pushes open the bedroom door, revealing a scene that sends my senses into overdrive. In the center of the room, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, lies a brand-new four-poster bed adorned with silken sheets and plush pillows. And on the bed, spread out like an offering, is an exquisite collection of lingerie - lace, silk, leather, each piece more daring than the last.
“Tonight,”he whispers, his voice husky with desire, “you become mine. Completely.”
A thrill of excitement courses through me. This is a surrender, a submission to the darkness that promises both pleasure and pain. But with Alexander, I know I will find ecstasy in the shadows.
And as he leads me towards the bed, his eyes burning with a possessive hunger, I know there is no turning back. I am his, forever bound to the intoxicating world of Alexander Bourne, a queen in his dark empire of desire.