Page 73 of Revenge

“She asked a question. What am I supposed to do? Lie?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not like you or Viktor. She deserves to know what is happening.”

“I am not going to argue with you. Keep shit to yourself,” I warn her.

“How are Viktor and Aisling? Are you two still fighting?”

“You know the answer to that, and they are both fine.”

“You shouldn’t be fighting. He needs you even if he doesn’t say it.”

“We are fine,” I say, annoyed.“I have to go. Keep shit to yourself. I won’t tell you again.”

“Fine. Tell me if she needs anything.”

“Ok.” I tell her.

“Bye.” I end the call.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. My father is taking a path that is headed to self-destruction. But it’s not just him. He will bring the clan down with him. This shit with Viktor isn’t making things any easier. I text Freddy to pull funds from the reserve. I still can’t believe it has come down to this. We are slowly creating a shadow clan. My father is forcing the clan to split.

I’m afraid we are at a point of no return. As a Manarch, we all take an oath. An oath my father has chosen to forget because of Cillian. We have to call a spade a spade. We can't pretend that what is unfolding in front of us isn't happening. Dougal Manarch will be the end of the Manarch Clan.

Chapter Thirty Five

Ava

I’ve been home for a few days and I haven’t told Oliver I’m back. I am afraid if I do, he will ask questions that I don’t want to answer. He will know something is wrong. I asked Max to give me some space. He continues to tell me he is good with just being friends. But I know how he feels. I wish I could try it with Max. It would make my life easier being with a man like him. But I don’t even want to imagine what Viktor would think or how he would react if I got with Max.

My life is not what I pictured it would be by now. I’m twenty-four years old, not married, and pregnant. Let’s not forget that my son’s father is married. Talk about being a statistic. Looking out the window, I think, how did it happen? How did I get here? When did I get pregnant? We have always been so careful. I haven’t thought much about it, but you know how it is when you have too much time on your hands. Your brain gets away from you. I bet it was the day he whisked me to his hotel. He had been stressed, and I wanted him to reset. We had such a fun-filled day. I wanted him to forget for a moment the weight of the world he carries.

“Put me down.” I giggle.

“You said you wanted to take a swim.”

“I’m not wearing a bathing suit, and people can come to the jacuzzi.” I can see him take his phone out.

“Have the jacuzzi area closed for maintenance for the next few hours.” I’m not sure who he is talking to, but he doesn’t wait for a response.

“Viktor put me down.” He slaps my ass, waking my libido. He sets me down and walks over to a towel rack.“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to claim the woman I’m marrying.”

“You can’t be serious?”

“Have you not learned anything, baby girl?”

Those are the moments I miss the most. The quiet ones. The ones that might seem small and insignificant but mean everything to me. He made love to me over and over again that day. After the jacuzzi, he took me to a room, and we were in bed until the next afternoon. I am pretty sure I forgot to take my pill that day.

“Your daddy can make me forgetful. Wow.” I feel a sharp pain. I take a deep breath and go about my day.

I have been sitting on the couch trying to take it easy reading a magazine. Suddenly the sharp pain starts again. There is a knock at the door. I can barely get up. The knock gets louder. It takes me forever, but I make it and open the door.

“Are you ok?” Max asks in a panic walking inside the apartment.

“Why are you here Max? I told you I needed space.”

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