Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Viktor

" I 'm your wife. You can't do this to me," Fiona screeches for the third time.

"You're more than welcome to move out," I mutter, annoyed at the entire situation.

"As your wife, I should be in the same bed as you."

"This isn't an actual marriage. This is an obligation. If you're looking for love, go elsewhere." I walk toward my office.

"We're married, and I love you, Viktor. We're having a baby." She stands in front of me like it's going to change things.

"I don't love you and never will. We're having a child. It's the only thing keeping you here." I step around her.

"I don't want to be in the bedroom downstairs. I want to be with you. At least let me stay in the bedroom across from yours."

"No." I continue to walk.

"It's that fucking whore, isn't it? That's why you're acting like this. She's inside your head. Aren't you over her already?"

"Fiona," I bark, making her take a step back. "I'll not repeat myself. You will stay downstairs or get the fuck out of my house." I open the door to my office, tired of arguing with her.

"You won't get away with this. I'll tell my father, and he'll tell yours. We'll see what happens to…." I don't let her finish. Grabbing her, I push her against the wall.

"I don't do threats. You know this."

"There's my dominant man. Things can just go back to how they were, baby."

Letting her go, I immediately enter my office and slam the door. She's only been here a week, and my patience is running thin. I comb my fingers through my hair. It's a never-ending fight with Fiona. She makes me miss Ava even more. I wish I'd done things differently. Oliver still hasn't found her, and I'm beginning to lose whatever hope I might have left. There's so much I want to tell her. I can't believe she's hiding from me, of all people.

Viktor: I miss you. Come home. I'll make things right.

I wish I could hate Ava. Get her out of my head permanently. It would make things easier for me. But I barely sleep, knowing she's alone somewhere unprotected. She hasn't reached out to her father either. I've been monitoring his daily activities. Tina claims she hasn't heard from her either. It's like the earth swallowed her.

"Where are you?" I mutter to myself.

My cell beeps.

Ava: Who is this?

I can't believe she answered. It's about damn time.

Viktor: Ava, it's me, Viktor. Come home.

Ava: I don't know any Ava. You have the wrong number.

It has to be a lie. I dial her number.

"Hello," the voice says. The voice doesn't belong to Ava.

"I want to speak with Ava."

"Dude, like I said, there's no Ava here. I just got this number. Stop texting me," a man says.

"You're lying," I say, my rage growing.

"I'm in Ohio. Is this Ava in Ohio?" I end the call. No point in entertaining him. All I have to do is trace the number. Come to think of it, why hasn't Oliver done that already? I dial Oliver.

"Oliver, trace Ava's cell number. I want to know where she is today." He's quiet. "What is it?"

"The number is no longer hers. She must have changed it."

"Fuck, why didn't you tell me?"

"The same reason you won't let anyone speak of her."

"Fuck you, Oliver." I end the call.

My father continues to pressure me about Fiona even though we're already married. Every day he's making more deals and moves without discussing or telling me. He's keeping me in the dark, and that's bad for business and the clan. The clan is barely being held together. Something has to be done. My father is destroying the clan, and I can't stand by and watch it happen. I might not be able to make a move now, but I can be prepared for when the time comes. I text Oliver.

Viktor: Investigate who is loyal to my father. I want to know where we stand. I expect a list in the morning.

I've been in my office for a few hours, but it's a waste of time. I can't concentrate on Manarch Industries or the clan. All I can think about is that Ava changed her number. If I felt she was far away before, now it's like she never existed. She's slowly erasing herself from my life. If that's what she wants, then so be it. I don't need to beg her to come to me. I'm a fucking Manarch. I don't need her in my life. I should have heeded my mother's warning that first night. Ava doesn't really love me. She loves what my name brings. It's the only logical reason she would leave without a trace. It's better I realized the type of woman she is before we'd married. I'm so pissed off now that I'm talking recklessly. Of course, Ava loves me. My life is a fucking tsunami without her. I'm slowly losing my mind.

"Mr. Manarch, you have a call on line one," my PA tells me.

"Who is this?" I answer.

Your father-in-law," Cillian answers.

"What the fuck do you want?"

"Now, now, that's no way to speak to family. I have speed dial one set for your father. You wouldn't want me calling him and telling him about your behavior."

"I don't give a fuck what you do," I snarl. I'm about to end the call when he speaks, stopping me from doing so.

"I'm sure you wouldn't want something to happen to your precious little toy," he sneers.

If I could wring his neck through the cell, I would. "If you touch a hair on her head, I swear I'll gut you like the pig you are."

He laughs. "I wouldn't be so quick to let those who aren't your friends know she's your weakness. Who knows what they might do with such information," he taunts.

"What the fuck do you want, Cillian?" I know he's trying to bait me. Get a reaction out of me.

"Your job is to keep my little girl happy." I'm going to say something when he ends the call. I dial Oliver.

"Hi, Viktor."

"How the fuck does Cillian know where Ava is, but you can't find her?" I bark.

"What are you talking about?"

"He just called with another threat against Ava."

"He's bluffing. No one knows where she is."

"That's not the answer I want. Find. Her. Now !" I end the call.

I don't understand why it's so hard for people to do what I order. If I could look for her myself, I would. But I won't put her in any more danger because of me. For the first time in my life, I'm cursing the fact that I'm a Manarch. My loyalty and dedication to the clan has never wavered. But how can I live by a code that could get Ava killed?