Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Viktor

M y wedding is scheduled for three hours from now. I've been sitting at my desk for the last hour trying to figure out how it got to this. I'm supposed to marry Fiona, but I should be marrying Ava. Oliver hasn't found Ava either, which isn't helping. My father and Cillian are up to something, and I can't figure out what.

As I wait, I stare at a picture I took of Ava. She's sitting on the couch reading a magazine. It was a Tuesday afternoon, she was wearing leggings and a sweater, and she looked so happy. It feels like I took the picture a lifetime ago. Life will never be that simple again. Not that I think it ever was.

"Viktor," Oliver calls.

"What?" I bark.

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Have you found her yet?" I question.

"Not yet. But it's not what I was telling you."

"I don't give a fuck about anything other than her."

"We have to leave in an hour. Ava's things have been moved to storage. Fiona has moved in, and her things are in your bedroom."

This gets my attention.

"I want her things out of my bedroom immediately."

"Where do you want them?"

"Bedroom downstairs. I want her as far away as possible."

"She isn't going to like that," he tells me, like it matters to me. I could not care less what Fiona likes or wants.

"I don't give a fuck what she likes. Have Mary move Fiona's things before I get back from the wedding." I stand and pour myself a drink. I might have to marry Fiona for the sake of Ava's safety, but it doesn't mean I have to have Fiona in my space.

Oliver puts his hand on my shoulder.

"I wish there was something I could say or do for you."

"Find her. She's on her own. Her life is in danger, and it's my fault." I close my eyes and rub my temple. I think this is what is killing me most.

I leave my office without letting him answer. All this is making me want to kill someone, kill them all, but I have to keep myself level-headed. For Ava's sake, I need to proceed with this pretense. The irony is not lost on me. Not so long ago, Ava and I were living in a pretense of our own. I should have done things so differently then.

Ava's scent no longer lingers in my bedroom. I take the key to the bedroom across from mine. Ava's old bedroom. It doesn't have any of her things, but the faint scent of her lingers. Lavender. It's the only trace left that she was ever in this house. Despite her things not being in the bedroom, everything reminds me of her. I should never have let her go that night, but I have to keep believing this is temporary. I leave the bedroom and lock it. Besides my office, it's the only other room in this house I have chosen to keep locked while Fiona lives here. She doesn't know it yet, but I'll divorce her once my child is born. I'll find Ava and make her my wife, as she should be.

"Mr. Manarch," Mary greets me.

"Hello, Mary."

"I want to let you know Ms. McIntyre's belongings are being moved to the guest room downstairs, as you requested."

"Thank you."

"Will you be needing anything else?"

"I've locked Ava's bedroom. I expect it to remain locked at all times."

"Of course, Mr. Manarch."

"Mary…" I feel like I should explain to her what is happening and why. But I'm not that man. I won't show anyone anything that might be perceived as a weakness, not even Mary, who has shown great loyalty.

"Yes, Mr. Manarch?"

"Nothing. Take the evening off. I'll be home late." I walk toward the stairs.

"If I may, Mr. Manarch," I stop. "I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now. It can't be easy to marry someone out of duty."

"Mary…" I start, unsure what I want to say.

"We all came to love Ms. O'Brien. The tides can turn at any moment. Don't lose hope." She gives me a motherly look.

I want to tell her how inappropriate she's being. Everything happening doesn't concern her. Her job is to keep this house, not me. I already have a mother. Yet, I find comfort in her words, anything to make sense of this mess I've made. This house without Ava is empty. It's no longer a home.

"You can at least pretend you're happy," Fiona says.

"There's nothing to be happy about," I say, annoyed, looking around.

"We have guests, and as of twenty minutes ago, I became your wife. Get over that whore and smile."

I turn and glare at Fiona. "You will not speak of Ava again."

"Daddy," she says as Cillian approaches.

"You look beautiful. Congratulations, Viktor." Cillian holds out his hand. I'm going to refuse to shake it until I spot my father looking at me. It's an icy stare that, at another time I would dismiss, but there is too much to lose.

"Thank you." I shake his hand. "If you'll excuse me." I leave before he starts a conversation.

Loosening my tie and unbuttoning the top of my shirt, I head to the bar in desperate need of a drink. There are almost three hundred guests, a mixture of all five families. I'm surprised a fight hasn't broken out. Then again, we're at my father's house, and everyone fears him, even Cillian. The bartender pours a drink, which I finish in one shot. I ask for another and do the same. I'm on my third when Tina touches my shoulder.

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm not in the mood." I drain half of my third drink. She looks around, and I follow her gaze.

"What is it?" I ask her.

"I spoke to her earlier. I told her you were getting married today." I turn to her, anger rising. Her hand drops, and immediately she takes a step back.

"Why the fuck would you tell her I'm getting married?"

"Because I didn't want her to find out from someone else."

"Why the fuck did you do that?" I comb my fingers through my hair.

"Because she's my best friend and deserved to know."

"What did she say?" I finish my drink and ask for another.

"Nothing. She sounded like she was going to cry. She ended the call before I could say anything else."

"You didn't have the right to fucking tell her." I turn to leave, and she tries to stop me. "Don't," I spit at her "You've done enough damage as it is." I keep walking before I do something I will regret.

A million things must be going through Ava's head. This is a truth that even the strongest person might not handle. I'm sure she thinks I've betrayed her, but she needs to give me a chance to tell her what happened. If she knew the danger she's facing, she'd understand why I had to marry Fiona. I don't love Fiona. She means nothing to me. Ava needs to know the truth. It's always been her, even before I knew it myself. Ava gives me the strength to go to war if I have to, and I will. I love Ava above everything. Without her, nothing matters, not the clan or my life. When this is over, me, Ava and my unborn child will be a family.