Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Ava

" T hank God," Oliver says from the kitchen.

"Oliver?" I look between him and Marco, confused.

"Marco, the doctor should be here any minute. You and Jimmy can wait outside," he shouts, looking angry.

"What's going on? Why do you look angry?"

"How are you feeling? Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Fuck." He runs his hand over his face.

"Oliver, I need answers, not questions."

"Let me get you water." He enters the kitchen, and I follow.

"Start talking, fast."

"You've changed," he says with a chuckle as he takes a glass and fills it with water. "Here. Drink."

"I don't want to drink. I want answers. Who were those men, and why am I here? Actually, where am I? And why are you here?" I ask, looking around.

"Those guys should have gotten nowhere near you," he mutters. I sit abruptly. "What's wrong?" he asks in a panic.

"Sorry, just a little lightheaded."

"The doctor should be here any minute. Drink some water, please." His tone is gentler. He takes a deep breath before he talks. "After we had dinner the other night, I decided to assign a security detail for your safety."

"I don't need security, and I thought Marco was a driver."

"He's a driver, among many things. After today, it's fair to say you need security."

He has a point. I can't imagine what would have become of me had Marco and Jimmy not been there. I would probably be dead right now.

"Who were the guys who attacked me?" I ask, hoping he will answer this time. The front door opens, getting Oliver's attention.

"Come on, the doctor is here."

"I don't need a doctor. I need answers," I demand.

"I'll give you answers once the doctor says you're fine." His voice is stern.

After thirty minutes, the doctor says I'm fine but not before warning me that I need rest. Because I'm almost six months pregnant, he mentioned I should be taking it easy. I want to snap at the doctor. Honestly, I feel fine. I'm just pregnant. Women in third-world countries can work and be active during pregnancy. Why am I so different?

The doctor hands me a laundry list of do's and don'ts, and we walk back to the kitchen where Oliver is waiting. I'm annoyed since I know the do's and don'ts. But I have more important things than tell the doctor. The minute the doctor is out the front door, I look at Oliver. I can tell he knows what is coming.

"Explain. Now!" I practically yell at him.

"They were Irish. Most likely sent by Cillian McIntyre."

"Fiona's father?" I ask, confused. "What does he want with me?"

"Yes. Somehow, he must have found out you're pregnant." I sit, rubbing my forehead. "What is it?" he asks.

"Fiona knows I'm pregnant," I mumble.

"Why didn't you call me? I told you to call me for anything," he says angrily.

"She found out before you did," I confess.

"Fuck." He paces. "You should have told me. This changes things."

"No, it doesn't. She said as long as I kept my pregnancy a secret and stayed away from Viktor, there wouldn't be any problems. She would let me be."

"I beg to differ, considering two men just tried kidnapping you. Or worse."

"What does this mean?" There's a rising panic inside of me. I hold my belly, protecting my baby. I have an idea of what it means, but I need to be wrong.

"I need to move you, hide you. Cillian will try again. He won't stop until he gets what he wants," he says, pacing the room.

"I'm not hiding. This is ridiculous. What can Cillian possibly want from me?"

"You told me the other day that it isn't about you or Viktor anymore. You said you would do anything to protect your child."

"I stand by that, but I won't uproot myself because of your family drama." There's an edge of hysteria in my voice.

He pinches the bridge of his nose and sits.

"Things aren't good right now with the McIntyres and the Manarchs. There's a lot of tension. The child you're carrying threatens the McIntyres and Viktor's future as the heir. I wish you had told me that Fiona knew when I asked." Something in his tone says this is worse than he is telling me.

"My baby has nothing to do with any of this. I'll not let him be drawn into the Manarch drama." I stroke my belly. He hasn't even been born yet, and his life is already in danger.

"He?" He smiles for the first time since I walked in, breaking the tension.

"You're going to have a nephew."

He's quiet for what feels like a long time.

"I know you don't want Viktor to find out, but with the McIntyres knowing, you aren't safe anymore. I can't hide this from him or go behind his back. He already suspects I'm hiding something."

"There has to be another way."

He's quiet again.

"I want my son to have a normal life, Oliver. Please," I beg.

"I'll double your security. But if this or anything remotely like this happens again, I'm telling Viktor."

I sigh. "This isn't going to get any easier, is it?"

"I'm afraid not. You just became the most valuable chess piece."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"You aren't safe. You're carrying Viktor's heir, the firstborn son. He has a claim to the clan. We need to be careful."

"But I thought Fiona was carrying the firstborn. Isn't she further along?"

"You're having a boy, and she isn't." He tells me like that should make sense to me.

"I didn't ask for this. Viktor and I are over. Why can't people just move on?"

"Our family has a reputation to keep, and the baby you're carrying is a threat. You have to understand and accept that. Even though he will be born out of wedlock, he has to be raised as a Manarch. It's our way. I'm living proof of that."

"I don't want that life for my son."

"It doesn't matter what you want anymore. It doesn't matter if they know you aren't with Viktor. Everyone knows Viktor would leave Fiona in a split second if he knew you were pregnant. The tides have turned."

Why is it that every time I'm close to taking a step forward, somehow Viktor pulls me back in? He brought me into a world I don't want to be part of. Now I can't escape it or him. I'll always be in some sort of danger. I can't help the tears. The reality of the truth drowns me in sorrow.

"Are you okay?" Oliver places a gentle hand on my arm. "What's wrong?"

"I should have never walked into that restaurant."

"It definitely would have made my life a lot simpler," replies Oliver, raising his eyebrows.

There's nothing funny about the situation, but Oliver's comment makes us both burst into laughter. It's the realization of the impossible situation we're in. It won't matter how far I go or hide. My son is a Manarch, whether or not I want him to be. This is a reality that will never change. How can I protect my son when I can't even protect myself? I just want to breathe peacefully again, to not live in fear. I'm grateful for Oliver, but I don't want to live my life running and hiding because of Fiona or her father. This is not a life a child deserves, especially mine.

I find myself wishing I had let Viktor be here with me, to see me through this. His warmth and words would tell me everything will be okay. I wish I could leave everything behind, but it's like I'm frozen in place. I can't imagine being a million miles away from Viktor. Am I masochistic, not wanting to truly disappear? Does part of me want the secret to get out?

Why the hell did I have to fall in love with Viktor Manarch?