20. Ava

TWENTY

AVA

The guesthouse was visible from my old bedroom. I'd watched Kyle and Marissa clean it and take fresh linens and towels down to it. Blayne had said he wouldn't be gone long, but he'd been gone a while.

I'd taken a two-hour nap. Exhausted from the events of the day, my brain had had to shut down. Being unconscious had been a nice respite. Thankfully, my sleep hadn't been filled with nightmares.

I'd asked Dad whether he knew when Blayne would be home, but he'd been non-committal, saying that once my uncles briefed him, he'd be back. That didn't make me feel any better. I picked at the dinner Marissa made for me and sat around, waiting for Blayne to get back.

I finally saw a flash of light sweeping around the back side of the house. Leaping up, I could see Blayne's truck pull into the garage attached to the guesthouse.

Before I could run downstairs and across the backyard to see him, a knock came at my door. Glancing at the clock and seeing how late it was, I was surprised to see Dad standing outside my door when I opened it up.

"Dad?"

"Hey, kid. The light was on in your room. Figured you weren't asleep."

He stepped in and walked over to sit on my bed. I joined him. "Is everything all right?"

He chuckled. "I was coming to ask you the same thing." He patted my leg. "How you doing?"

"Still a little shaken up. Today was terrifying. Honestly, I've never been so scared."

Dad looked down at his lap for a few seconds. "I am sorry about that, sweetheart. This was all because of me."

"What do you mean?"

"Sam called me after he questioned that asshole who tried to take you. It sounds like Antonio knows I'm helping Blayne and the others. He wanted to use you against me. Apparently, helping shifters was one step too far for him, and he sent the word out to take you." His face fell, and he seemed to shrivel in on himself. "I've never let my work touch you. My brothers and I have always shielded you from our dealings. I know you know, but I always prided myself on letting you have a fairly normal life. I really never thought anyone would be crazy enough to go after you."

That was the truth. He had done everything he could to keep me shielded from the life he led. Until I was thirteen, I'd assumed he was just a normal businessman. It wasn't until right after Mom died that he'd had to tell me what he really did. I'd made my issues known, spent years of my teens rebelling and acting like he was this evil person for doing all the things he had to do. That had faded, though. Dad had only ever loved me, protected me, and given me all the things he could.

"It's fine, Dad, really. I'm safe. Nothing actually happened."

"But it almost did," he hissed. The look in his eyes was one of savage worry and regret. "It almost did. Antonio is dangerous, but I'm more dangerous. I hate saying things like that to you, but you need to know the truth. I'll make him pay for what he tried to do. For what he's already done to Blayne and his friends. He needs to know he can't mess with us, or them. Especially…" He finally grinned and raised an eyebrow. "Especially now that it looks like Blayne is smitten with my girl."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. "It…well…it's not what you think."

"It looked like something in the living room."

"Crazy day, Dad. Lots of emotion and stuff. It's nothing, really."

He stood and waved a hand at me. "I've been around a long time. I know the look of a man who's falling for a woman." He stopped at the door and seemed to think hard about what to say next. "You should know Blayne looks at you differently than Liam did. He also handles you differently. I can understand you having a hard time with this, but you need to understand that these are two different men. Don't…don't lose out on a chance at happiness because you're chasing a ghost."

I sat, stunned and unmoving, after he left. Everything he said reflected all the self-talk I'd been doing over the last few days. He was right, though. I had to let go of all the guilt I'd been carrying for what happened to Liam. It had been long enough. It was time. It was the only way to get on with my life. I'd held on to a lot of guilt for breaking up with him the night he died. I had to move beyond that. I had to push forward if I ever wanted to be happy.

Would I be happy with Blayne? Who knew? Hell, no one would know until I put myself out there and tried.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I was out the door and heading down the stairs. The rear exit at the end of the kitchen led straight to the guesthouse.

Of course, the minute I stepped into the room, I found Uncle Sam making a sandwich. He glanced at me as he layered turkey on his bread.

His gaze slid to the back door, then back to me before a mischievous grin spread across his lips. "Thinking about going somewhere?"

"Uh…um…I was just…"

Sam tilted his head back and laughed. "Just go, kid. Jesus. No one cares."

Oh, great. It was obvious to everyone what was going on. I didn't know if that made it better or if I should be even more embarrassed. Pressing my lips into a thin line, I headed out the door.

I made it a total of ten feet before one of Dad's guards saw me. He pressed a hand to his ear, then nodded at me to pass. I had to assume Sam had radioed to let them know I was clear to go to the guesthouse.

By the time I reached the door, Blayne was pulling it open before I could even work up the courage to knock. He must have seen me coming. His eyes locked on mine like a predator sighting its prey. It should have made me nervous, but that look only sent a tingle to my core.

"Ava? Has something happened?"

I pushed past him and barged into the guesthouse. I couldn't get caught up in pointless chit-chat. Whatever I said next would dictate where all this went. I was terrified to speak. For some reason, it felt like the most important words I'd ever say.

I inhaled deeply and waited for him to follow me inside. He didn't even take the time to close the door. It stood wide open to the world beyond, like a gateway back to a world that was rapidly slipping away.

Blayne stood before me, confusion and concern clashing in his eyes. "Ava, what's up?"

"Okay," I said. "Blayne, I don't want to keep chasing your brother's ghost. I think there's something here. Between us, I mean. When I rejected you, I thought it was for the best because you felt nothing but hatred for me. But now I think it may have been the worst thing I've ever done, because I've regretted it pretty much since the moment I did it?—"

"Ava—"

"No! Shut up, and let me finish. I came over here to see if, maybe, there was still a chance, however small, that I might still have a chance with you. If you want me at all, I mean. So…what do you have to say?"

The words poured out of me in a rush. I stood before him, a panting mess.

He said nothing for what felt like an eternity. Then he cleared his throat. "If you stay here with me, everything changes between us."

"Are you okay with that? If you are, I am."

Blayne turned and closed the front door. My breath caught as he turned the lock. It was as though everything in the past had been pushed aside. Like I was finally leaving Liam behind. I found it both exhilarating and sad. I had no way of knowing what would happen next.

Butterflies swarmed through my stomach as Blayne turned back to face me again. To my surprise, he turned off the light and took me by the hand, leading me to the bedroom. My heart threatened to hammer right through my ribcage. Excitement, worry, lust, and everything in between raced through me.

Blayne took me to the bed, and gently nudged me to sit on it. He knelt and removed my shoes. My hands trembled and my breaths came in short little bursts as he me lay back and pulled the covers over me.

He stripped off his shoes and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it to the side. Next, he clicked off the bedroom light. The anticipation was very close to killing me as he slid under the covers next to me. We wouldn't be having sex. The understanding filled me with an immense relief, but also a deep disappointment. It was a strange feeling to have. To want something, but to also be happy not to get it.

He kissed the top of my head and wrapped an arm around my waist. "Relax. Get some sleep. It was a long day for both of us."

It only took a moment for me to relax and melt into his embrace. In moments, my eyes were drifting closed as sleep came to claim me.

From behind me, I could hear Blayne whispering to himself. "I promise I'll take care of her."

I had no way of knowing if he was talking to himself or to Liam. Regardless, the words brought a faint smile to my lips. Seconds later, I slipped into a deep and restful sleep.