Page 128 of Revenge

"I'll check our kids."

"Ok." I kiss her. It's loving, gentle, but firm, just like her.

After checking on the kids, I leave the apartment. I want Ava to have what she is asking for. As I’m driving, I try to understand what my outburst was about. My anger was misplaced. It's not Oliver or her relationship with him that angers me. I trust the man with my life. The problem is her father. He crossed a line. I wanted to show him what happens to a man who lays his hands on a woman, on my woman. I've killed men for less. But I can't touch him, not without hurting her. Since I can't take my anger out on him, Oliver is the closest one I could.

I'm glad she sees him as a brother, and he sees her as a sister. I know there is nothing romantic going on between them. I need all this shit with the clan to be over. It has me on edge. I need our lives to go back to normal or as normal as our lives can be. But it’s more than that. I hate not waking or ending my day with Ava. I hate that she is carrying the weight of the world, of my world. I wish she could let go of the past and move on. It’s time for her to forget the past. Fiona is history. There is no point in holding on to the past. Ava has nothing to worry about. I will never hurt her again. I want to make things right. To give her the life she and the kids deserve.

Chapter Sixty

Viktor

I'm sitting in Manarch Industries getting ready for another board meeting. They bore me to death. I have no idea what possessed me to take the company public. To sit in a meeting listening to useless people make decisions on the future of my company pisses me off. Especially when I don't have the time to deal with them. My lawyer, John, says this is how public companies do business. But I don’t have time to deal with trivial things like Manarch Industries when Ava is still pissed at me because of the other night. She is giving me the cold shoulder. My phone rings interrupting my thoughts. The screen reads Oliver.

"Hello, Oliver," I greet.

"Where are you?"

"At Manarch Industries, why?" I hear noises in the background. I stand and start walking to leave my office. "Cancel the rest of my day and reschedule the board meeting," I order my PA. "Oliver," I start.

"Can you get away and come to Gotham?"

"Are Ava and the kids safe?"

"Yes."

"I'll be there in twenty." I end the call.

Things between Oliver and me have been weird since the argument. Neither of us has brought up the fight at the apartment. I dial Ava. She doesn't answer. I dial Marco. He answers immediately.

"Mr. Manarch, how may I help you?"

"I'm trying to get a hold of Ava. She isn't answering her phone."

"I believe she is in the nursery."

"Take the phone to her." Even though Oliver said they are safe, I need to hear her voice and make sure myself.

"Hey Marco, was up?" I hear her ask.

"Mr. Manarch is on the phone."

"Thanks. Viktor, is everything ok?" There is a slight concern in her voice.

"Yes, I just needed to hear your voice. I called your phone, but you didn't answer."

"My phone is upstairs, I think. Viktor, what is going on?" I hear a door open as I get in the car.

"Oliver called. He needs me at Gotham. I need to make sure you and the kids are safe."

"We are home, safe. Should I be worried?" There is that concern again.

"I don't know," I admit.

"Thank you," she says.

"For what?"

"For being honest. What do you want me to do?"

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