Chapter 2
AVA
Ava’s grin faded as she stepped from their office, leaving Alex behind to search for information on The Board. Their coup with PharmaTech was quickly fading in the rear-view mirror, and they needed to capitalize on the chaos to dismantle the rest of the organization as quickly as possible.
While she’d tried to reassure Alex, everything he said was true. She’d make sure they didn’t lose their relationship, but there were no guarantees that they’d both make it through this alive.
The constant threats against them worried her. Could they hang on long enough to get through the next and hopefully final round with The Board?
Ava snaked her way through the halls of their beachside home, her thoughts racing with angles to try as they searched for the final pieces to the puzzle that would kill off The Board.
At least after their most recent conversation, Alex seemed more confident in their relationship, though he still seemed to worry that everything she felt would come crashing down the moment the Neuroprisol-X was out of her system.
She shook her head as she dismissed the idea, but something in the back of her mind warned her that there was trouble ahead.
Would her feelings change? Were the drugs affecting her more than she was willing to admit?
As she turned the corner into the wing containing the Harrison’s bedrooms, she ran into Kyle.
“Hey, I was just coming to find you,” he said with a grin. “You ready?”
“More than ready,” she replied with a nod. “I’m really hoping this stuff is completely out of my system.”
“Let’s go,” he said as he squeezed her shoulder.
“Do we have to go to the hospital? I just…after the whole flu thing I would really rather avoid it.”
Kyle chuckled as they descended the stairs. “Yeah, I hear you on that, but I’d also like to get a quick MRI along with the blood test. It won’t take long.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “MRI? Why? Are you worried about some kind of permanent damage or something?”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head as she swiped her keys from the bowl by the door, and they stepped into the bright Hamptons sunshine. “I’m not worried about permanent damage. I just want to see what’s going on inside that beautiful mind of yours.”
She slid into the driver seat and fired the engine before she twisted to face him. “Doc, you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
“I’m not lying, Ava. We really should have done this earlier, but I just wanted to get a baseline measurement, that’s it.
Once the Neuroprisol-X consistently doesn’t show up in your blood, I want to wean you off the meds I have you on now.
And I just wanted to see what we’re working with so we can make a solid plan. Okay?”
She flicked her eyebrows up as she eased the car down the driveway. “Okay. As long as that’s all it is.”
“There’s nothing else, I promise,” Kyle said. “Just being overly cautious. I really don’t want your husband ruining my credit score or putting a warrant out for my arrest if something goes haywire with these meds.”
Ava chuckled as she navigated the short distance to the local hospital. “Fair enough. So, umm, can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” he answered.
She pulled into the parking lot and threw the shifter into park before she killed the car’s engine. “Alex is super worried that whenever I do go back to normal, I’m suddenly going to realize I’m not actually in love with him. That’s…not possible, right?”
Kyle shifted in his seat, his eyes flicking to the hospital building.
Ava arched an eyebrow as she stared at him, aware of his avoidance. “Doc?”
“Look, Ava, anything is possible, okay?”
Ava let her head slam into the headrest behind her, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the wheel. Ava let out a shaky breath, feeling her chest tighten. She tried to swallow her frustration, but it settled like a lump in her throat. “So, in other words, you think that could happen.”
“No. I do not. But if you’re looking for a definitive is my marriage going to be a happily ever after, I can’t give you that.”
“That’s not what I was asking,” Ava retorted.
“Wasn’t it? Because it feels like that’s what you were asking about. Not the effects of the Neuroprisol-X.” Kyle shot her a questioning glance.
She shook her head. “Of course not. I was asking about the drugs. That’s what Alex is worried about, and I’d like to reassure him. I mean, I have reassured him, but I’m not a medical professional.”
“There is nothing that has happened that suggests you’ll suddenly fall out of love with Alex because of the Neuroprisol-X wearing off.
It should be mostly out of your system, and I believe the changes you exhibited while under the effects of that drug were mostly during your blackouts.
” Kyle raised a finger in the air. “And if I could point out that you also still loved Alex during those periods.”
“Are we sure? I can’t remember anything.”
“You went to Miranda’s house to protect him.
You seemed to recognize him during the Monaco blackout.
And you tried to save Miranda. You were still fundamentally you during those periods.
Just…way, way bolder. Which is also not that out of line with your character.
You’re honestly pretty bold, sometimes frighteningly so. ”
She snapped her gaze to him, her eyes narrowed.
“See what I mean,” he answered. “You’re kind of terrifying me right now.”
“Sorry,” she answered with a shake of her head. “I’m just…after everything that’s been going on, I’d really like something to work out.”
“It will, Ava,” Kyle said as he rubbed her shoulder. “Now, come on. Let’s get these tests done and make sure you’re all good.”
She bobbed her head, grabbing her purse and keys as she climbed from the car. Her mind continued to whirl as she entered the hospital.
“How did you get these tests scheduled here, anyway?” Ava asked as he led her to a private exam room.
“You’d be surprised what a few calls from my dad can do.
He scored me hospital privileges as long as I’m here,” Kyle said, pulling on a pair of gloves as he readied to draw her blood.
“Which is good because I’m thinking of staying around for a bit after the whole Board thing is done. I mean, I’ll get my own place.”
She shrugged, shaking her head. “Not necessary. You’re welcome at Alex’s for as long as you’d like.”
“Kind of feel like that’s going to wear thin as you try to start your marriage once this is all over.”
She chuckled at him as he probed her elbow for a vein before inserting the needle. “It won’t. Alex and I aren’t the conventional type. Plus, that house is huge. We could go days without seeing each other.”
“It’s a nice offer. I’ll think about it.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You know you want to stay.”
He flicked his gaze up to her as he slid the needle from her arm. “Yes, I do, so thanks.”
She nodded in response as he labeled the blood and prepared it for the lab.
“Okay, let’s get you into that scanner and take a peek.”
She grimaced but gave him a reluctant nod. Within twenty minutes, she was being shifted into the hospital’s MRI, her fingers curling into fists in the tight space.
The machine whirred to life around her, and she closed her eyes, trying to block it all out and focus on heading back home to learn more about Alex’s progress.
The painless process was over sooner than she expected, and the table shifted her out of the machine. “How’s it look, Doc?”
“Perfect,” his voice said over the speakers as he sat behind the window, staring at the screen. “It looks good. Now, we just need to wait on your blood tests.”
Ava swung her legs over the table and slid to standing. “How long will those take?”
“A few hours. We’ll have answers soon.”
“Good. Let’s get back home. Alex was searching for a way to take down The Board, and I’d really like to know if we have a direction to move.”
“Sounds good to me. The lab will call the minute they know anything.” He poked a finger at the hallway.
They met there and left the hospital behind, heading back to the house.
“I’m just going to drop my bag off in my bedroom. We meeting in the office?”
“Yep,” Ava said with a nod. “See you there.”
As they parted ways at the top of the stairs, she headed for the office when Chris stopped her progress.
“Chris,” she answered. “Still here?”
“Of course, I am. You still need my help.” Chris stepped closer to her, a grin on his features.
Ava rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as he approached. “Need is a strong word.”
He scoffed. “Come on, Ava. You don’t just need my help with The Board, but you need me period.”
Her eyes widened at the ridiculous statement. “What?”
“Alex is not the man for you, and you know it. I know you want to play this game that you two are meant to be, but you’re not.
He can’t make you happy. In fact, you’re probably already realizing that.
Every time he whines about something, every time he cries about how he’s not enough for you, a little part of your cringes inside. Admit it.”
“That is not true at all,” Ava said with a shake of her head. “And soon, we’re going to end all of this with The Board, and then your services will no longer be needed.”
“Ava…” he began, his voice a warning.
“Don’t,” she said with a wag of her finger.
Every word that left Chris’s mouth felt like a jab at her already fragile confidence.
She wanted to scream that he was wrong, that she and Alex were solid—but a small voice in the back of her mind whispered doubt.
What if he was right? What if she wasn’t as in control of her feelings as she thought?
“I don’t want this to turn bitter, but I’m not going to let you try to undermine my relationship with Alex. Once this is finished, you need to go back home. I’m staying with Alex. I love Alex.”
The words came out of her mouth with all the firmness she could infuse, though she second-guessed it all as she waited for the Neuroprisol-X results.
Chris seemed so sure.
Before she could question it any further, Alex turned the corner. He raised his eyebrows as he spotted them, licking his lips.
He cleared his throat, and she twisted to face him. “Hey, babe. Everything okay?”
“Uh, not really,” he answered, his eyes stuck on Chris. “How did things go at the hospital?”
“Fine. We’re just waiting on the results.” She kissed his cheek.
“That’s good.” He pulled her closer, rubbing her arm as his eyes went to Chris again.
“So, what happened here? What’s not okay?”
“Oh, uh, I found something. All the Board Kings are somehow connected to VoltTech. And after a little digging, I found a very dangerous project in their files.”
Ava’s features pinched as she glanced up at him. “Another Project Reaper?”
“Similar, yeah. It’s called Project Eclipse, and, by their own words, it’s designed to ‘take out the entire Eastern seaboard.’”
Ava’s lips parted as she stared at him, her mind raced as she processed Alex’s words.
“Take out the entire Eastern seaboard.” The enormity of what they were facing hit her like a wave, leaving her momentarily breathless.
She needed to act, and quickly, before time ran out for millions of people. “What?”
“Yeah. I tried to get a hold of the code, but I couldn’t. It’s listed as being on a secure server that is not connected to the internet. Apparently, that’s how dangerous this project is.”
“Wow,” Ava murmured. “So…what’s our next step?”
Alex fluttered his eyelashes as he winced. “I think you and Shadow are going to have to do a little on-site reconnaissance.”
Ava bobbed her head, her mind already swirling with the danger involved, the risks they’d need to take. But it had to be done.
They needed a way to take down The Board Kings—and they needed it fast..