Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Viktor

" A ny news?" I ask, pacing in my home office.

"Nothing," Oliver tells me.

"It's been a week. You should have found her by now. There are a million ways to track her. How hard can it be?"

"I have men looking for her, but nothing yet. She doesn't want to be found. You know I need to be careful. If I can find her, so can our father's hitman."

"I refuse to accept that. I want results. I can't sit around and wait." I run my fingers through my hair.

"You don't have a choice. The goal is to find her before our father does. I have to be smart. You are not helping, and I cannot be reckless. I know you've been texting her. You need to stop."

"Are you going to tell me how to live my life? Because last I checked, I make the calls, not the other way around," I snarl.

"All I'm saying is to be smart. It's not just your life, and you know it."

If Ava had given me a chance to explain myself, I would have told her Fiona tricked me into sleeping with her by pretending to be Ava. Ava is everything to me, and I would never do anything knowingly to hurt her.

"I want her found," I demand.

"Viktor—"

"Fine. I'll stop trying to contact her. But I want her found." I glare at him through narrowed eyes.

"Have you thought about our other problem?" Oliver asks, changing the subject. He means my father and Fiona.

"I'm not marrying Fiona," I growl, rubbing my hand across my chin.

"I'm going to tell you something. Please don't bite my head off." Oliver rests his hands on the desk. "You'd better sit for this."

"I don't want to fucking sit. If it isn't about finding Ava, I don't give a fuck. I don't want to hear it."

"Brother, Bobby called this morning." I stop pacing. Oliver only calls me brother when something bad is coming.

"What does he want?"

"Our father gave the kill order. Half a million if Ava reappears anywhere near you. This isn't an assumption anymore. He wants her dead and is looking for an excuse to pull the trigger."

"Fuck, Oliver. Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I'm filled with hatred toward my father.

"That's why I came to talk to you."

"You need to find Ava. She isn't safe."

"I'll find her. But for her sake, you need to stay away from her."

"I won't allow my father to dictate my life."

"He's put a death sentence on her. It doesn't matter what you want. As your brother and advisor, I have to tell you, you need to marry Fiona. At least until things cool down." This isn't what I want to hear, and I see in his eyes that he knows.

"Did you confirm Fiona's pregnancy?" This is what started this mess I'm in.

"She's pregnant," he confirms apologetically.

"Schedule a meeting with our top men. I'm seeing my father. This ends today. I'm tired of his bullshit."

"Don't do something stupid. You need to be smart."

"He'll be at the restaurant. I want everything ready to go."

If Oliver wants to argue, he doesn't. I've made up my mind. Oliver is right, and I have to accept the fact I need to marry Fiona for Ava's survival. Even if I don't want to, I have to buy time. Short of putting a bullet in my father's head, I don't have a choice. A bullet is not exactly an option at the moment, so I have to do whatever it takes to keep Ava safe, even if it means not having her with me.

I keep calling Ava, but she doesn't answer. It's the same thing every day, but that doesn't stop me trying. She doesn't have anyone but her father, and he's fucking useless. I've had men watching him in case she reaches out to him, but I'm not that lucky. My cell rings, and I think she's finally calling, but I'm disappointed when I see it's Tina.

"What do you want, Tina?" I ask, annoyed.

"Hello to you, too." Her tone is sassy.

"I'm not in the mood."

"I spoke to Ava."

This gets my attention. "Tell me where she is," I demand.

"I don't know. She wouldn't tell me."

"You should've demanded the information."

"She won't respond to that. You know how she is."

Ava has always been headstrong.

"How did she sound?" I sit, feeling exhausted.

"She found a job. She's pissed at you for sending her money, and there was sadness in her voice," she replies.

"Why is she working? I sent more than enough money for her not to work." I'm pissed. It isn't safe for her to be out in the open. She should be home with me.

"She has a mind of her own."

"Did she tell you anything else?" I'm wondering if she asked about me.

"No. But I made her promise to call if she needs anything." It brings me pleasure to know Tina has talked with Ava. It means Ava is alive and well by the sound of it. "I have to go. Just wanted you to know."

"Thanks, Tina. Keep me posted."

"I will. She'll be fine."

I end the call feeling despair. If it were only true. Ava has a target on her head, and it's there because of me.

Checking my gun for what feels like the tenth time, I know I probably shouldn't see my father in the state of anger I'm in, but I don't care. I need to get this over with. I'm temporarily going to give him what he wants. My priority is always going to be Ava's safety. If this is the only way for me to keep her safe, then I'll do whatever is necessary. I have my top men with me. Men who are loyal to me over my father. If anything goes sideways, I won't be outnumbered. Outside the restaurant, there are Irish men mixed with men from the clan. If my father thinks he's going to intimidate me, he has another thing coming. I'm not intimidated by his tactics. He forgets I'm not a boy anymore.

"For what it's worth, you're doing the right thing," Oliver says as we pull up. I don't answer. My father always gets exactly what he wants. To think this time would be different was ignorant on my part. For a moment, I forgot his true colors.

"The prodigal son has arrived," my father announces from the central table in the restaurant as I walk in. Cillian is sitting beside him like he's at home. My father is so far gone.

"If you have a minute, I would like to speak with you in private," I demand.

"You aren't in any position to demand anything, boy. Sit." I stand defying him. "I wasn't asking, Viktor." I sit. "Have you come to your senses, or do I have to remind you who has the last word?" I take a deep breath. He's baiting me but I won't give him the satisfaction.

"I want confirmation of Fiona's pregnancy," I say, even though I know the answer. I have to show him I won't just jump because he demands it.

"I've seen it with my own eyes, and even if she isn't, the marriage still stands." His voice is full of threat.

"Let's get this over with," I tell him.

"Glad to hear you're aboard," my father tells me with a smirk on his face.

"You didn't exactly give me a choice." My father is a ruthless man. If I don't do as he says, he will kill Ava. Ava is disposable to him. An object that stands in the way of what he wants. He isn't a man I can just dismiss. My father is bigger than my enemies.

"I beg to differ," he observes with a smirk. "You had a choice. Marry Fiona or see your girl die."

I feel my fists clench and want to stand and put a bullet between his eyes to end this. I almost do, but I feel Oliver's grip on my shoulder.

"Make the arrangements," I hiss between gritted teeth. I have to think about what is best for Ava, and right now, this is it. Until I find another way—another move, I need to marry Fiona, even if Ava might not understand. I'm marrying Fiona to keep Ava alive.

"Great," Cillian chimes in, beaming. "Fiona will be over the moon. She's always wanted to walk down the aisle in the church her mother, and I married in."

"I'm not marrying her in a church. We'll marry in two days or not at all." I'm not playing any more games. I won't give them any opportunity to harm Ava. Because if they do, they're as good as dead.

"But—" interjects Cillian.

"It's a great idea." My father interrupts. It guarantees the union, which is the only thing he cares about. "There's no need to wait. We'll make the preparations. The wedding will be at my house. We can even have the press there." He doesn't care about the press attention. To him, it's about getting the word out quickly. Letting the other families know he controls everything. All five families are under the control of my father. The Irish, Italians, Asians, Lebanese, and our men will bow down to him.

"Let me know the time." I stand to leave.

"You've done the right thing. Your girl gets to breathe another day," my father adds. I'm about to turn to respond, but Oliver pulls me. I swear, I just want to deck Oliver. His constant need to control me it's getting old.

"Have Ava's things packed and stored," I order once we're outside. I haven't let anyone touch her things since she left.

"Consider it done," Oliver replies. "What else can I do?"

"Find her." With those words, I get in my car and drive off. Leaving him standing in front of the restaurant.