Page 75 of Aussie
Ava nodded, and he took her hand and led her over to the couch.
???
Ava took a seat on the couch, and Aussie sat down beside her. He was close enough that their knees almost touched. For a moment, he didn’t say anything. He stared at a spot on the floor as if gathering his thoughts.
“That was Derek,” he finally said, his voice low.
Ava’s chest tightened. Derek’s calls were rarely casual. “What did he say?”
Aussie exhaled sharply, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Barrett and Chase. They were found dead up near Hampton Roads this morning.”
Ava’s breath caught. Barrett and Chase, the two boys who had made Christian’s life hell, were dead? She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Relief? Fear? Something else entirely?
“How?” she asked quietly, her voice barely audible.
“Gunshot wounds.” Aussie’s tone was grim. “But that’s not all. Evidence was left at the scene—evidence that links them to all the recent crimes in the area, including the three murders.”
Ava frowned, confusion mixing with unease. “What do you mean? They were behind it?”
“That’s what it’s supposed to look like.” Aussie shifted to face her fully. “But Derek doesn’t think it’s that simple. He believes the evidence was planted. It was meant to frame Barrett and Chase and throw the authorities off the trail of whoever’s really in charge.”
The room felt colder somehow despite the warmth of the house. Ava’s mind raced, trying to piece together what this meant. “So the real culprits are still out there?”
Aussie nodded. “That’s what we think. We also think that whoever’s pulling the strings knew about the FBI tracking Barrett and Chase.”
Ava’s hands curled into fists on her lap. “What does this mean for Christian? For us?”
He leaned back, his expression softening as he looked at her. “I don’t know yet. Derek’s still piecing things together. But at least for now, those two won’t be bothering Christian anymore.”
She wanted to feel reassured, but she couldn’t shake the gnawing doubt in her gut. “You think this is over?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aussie’s silence was answer enough. He reached out, placing a hand over hers. “I don’t know. All I do know is that whoever’s behind this, they’re still out there. But we’ll figure it out. I’ll make sure you and Christian are safe.”
Ava nodded, but her unease didn’t fade. She had learned long ago that trouble rarely ended when it seemed to. And this felt far from over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Ava stood by the window in the living room, nervously twisting the hem of her red sweater as she glanced at the clock, waiting for Aussie to arrive.
Her thoughts drifted to the news he’d shared the day before and the shocking update about Chase and Barrett. It was a grim reminder of the chaos that had invaded her life.
But tonight wasn’t about that, she thought to herself. Like Aussie had told her last night, there’s nothing they can do about it right now.
So, she was determined that she wasn’t going to let the darkness of yesterday cast a shadow over her first date with Aussie. For once, she was allowing herself to embrace something good, something worth smiling about.
Pushing all the negative thoughts aside, she let her mind wander back to earlier in the day. Her lips curved into a soft smile. She and Aussie had spent the morning in town shopping for Christmas gifts.
She could still feel his hand wrapped around hers as they walked through the bustling streets, snow falling gently around them. Every time he introduced her to someone he knew, he’d say,“This is Ava, my girlfriend,”with so much pride it made her heart flutter. And he didn’t just say it. He showed it. The way he would lean closer, brush a strand of hair out of her face, or hold her tighter when the crowd pressed too close made her feel cherished.
Her phone buzzed, breaking her reverie. It was a text from Aussie.
Aussie:Grab your coat and meet me on the front porch.
Her heart leaped with excitement. She grabbed her coat, slipped it on, and checked her reflection quickly in the hallway mirror. She’d kept her outfit simple but warm. She wore black jeans and a soft red sweater that she had picked out while they were shopping. She opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. The air was crisp, and the snow glistened under the soft glow of the porch lights and Christmas lights.
A minute passed, and then she heard the faint jingle of bells. Her breath caught as a horse-drawn sleigh came into view, gliding up the driveway. A beautiful white horse pulled it. The sleigh was adorned with garlands and red bows. Ava’s eyes widened in awe as her gaze drifted to the sleigh’s seat, where Aussie was sitting, grinning at her.
He hopped off gracefully, his boots crunching against the snow as he approached. He was dressed in jeans and a cream-colored sweater that hugged his frame just right.God, he was freaking gorgeous, and he is all mine,she thought to herself.
