Page 89 of Unexpected Love

“I’ll talk to my dad, see if he can schedule an emergency hearing so you don’t have to stay longer than a few hours.”

“No. I know how much you hate asking your dad for favors. I can wait it out until Monday.”

“Gage—”

“It’s fine, man. I promise.”

There’s a reason Reid always gets uncomfortable when he has to go to court, and his father being a judge is just the tip of the iceberg. I know he wouldn’t hesitate to ask his dad for a favor, but I won’t put that pressure on him.

“Can I get a few minutes to talk to Ava?” I turn back to Lyle.

“Sure.” He nods toward Reid, silently telling him to get her. “Keep your chin up.” He squeezes my shoulder once before walking out the door.

I don’t wait long before the door opens again, and Ava plows through, straight into my arms. “What’s happening? I’ve been trying to get in here to see you for hours.”

“Shh.” I smooth her hair back and hold her face between my hands.

Her eyes are swollen and red-rimmed. I hate that she’s been crying and I haven’t been there to hold her, but I know Declan and Quinn haven’t left her side, and I know she’ll have the entire Marks family when she leaves here.

“How are you?” I can’t stop my eyes from roaming her body yet again. I know I took inventory of every inch of her at Murphy’s, but I need to see again that she’s okay.

“Physically, I’m fine. He didn’t have the chance to do anything other than pin me to the wall and undo my pants. Youpulled him off before…” Her words trail off, and I can’t blame her for not being able to say it. I can barely stand hearing it.

I slide one arm around her and cup the back of her head in my other hand, bringing her forehead against my lips. “You have to tell me what you need. I don’t know what to do here,” I whisper against her skin.

“I don’t need you to do anything more than this. Just being here is enough.”

My arms tighten around her. I hate what I’m about to tell her. I want nothing more than to be by her side until she’s sick of me, but that’s not in the cards for us, at least not right now.

Ava must feel the tension in my body. She pushes back, her eyes bouncing between mine. “What is it?”

“Brian’s awake, and he’s already told the police he wants to press charges.” Ava’s eyes fall shut. She’s a lawyer; she knows what happens next. “It’s late Friday, so they can’t set a bail hearing until Monday.”

“No.” Her eyes fly open, and she shakes her head in denial.

“Rebel.” I keep my voice firm, trying to instill a little bit of strength into this situation. “You know he’s a powerful man with a lot of connections. He’s already made threats that are making the mayor nervous.”

“Gage.” Her voice cracks, and my heart rips in two.

“It’s just forty-eight hours. I’ll be home by Monday, and I’ll be stuck to your side like glue. You’ll get so sick of me,” I tease.

“I’ll talk to him. I’ll get him to drop the charges.”

“No. Ava. Don’t.”

“Gage—”

“Ava, I’m serious. Just let everything run its course. If the charges stick—and that’s a big if—I’ll plead out and end up with community service. I don’t have any priors, and I’m an upstanding citizen. I won’t serve any time.”

“But you’ll lose your job over this.” Her eyes fill with tears, and I hate the stress this is causing her.

“So I’ll find a new one.” I shrug. “It’s just a job. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing; as long as you’re okay, nothing else matters.”

“I hate this.” Her head falls forward to rest against my chest as her arms snake around my waist, squeezing tight.

“I know.”

We stay wrapped around each other for a few more minutes, neither wanting to pull away. “Maybe stay at your brother’s this weekend. Or in the house with Scott and Max.”

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