Page 104 of Exile and Embrace

Brother or not, he is a dead man when I get my hands on him.

If I’m going to do everything I can to protect Ava, I’m going to have to take drastic measures.

I dial her number, already regretting the choice I’m about to make.

She’s going to hate me. I just hope her hatred will keep her safe.

28

AVA

Zoe’s car drives away, leaving me standing at the window beside my gate in the airport.

My heart aches watching her car disappear around the corner.

Heading back to Oregon is what’s right for me, but being away from her is going to break my heart.

I know that going back to Finn is what I need to do. I’ve missed him too much to stay away.

I move away from the window and pick one of the hard plastic seats on the other side of the room to settle into.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. As I pull it out, Finn’s name flashes across the screen, and my heart soars.

In a matter of hours, I’m going to be back home with him. For better or worse, I’ll know if we are done or if I’m going to get to settle down and start building a life with him.

“Hey.” I smile and cross one leg over the other. “I didn’t think that I was going to hear from you before I got on the plane. Aren’t you supposed to be driving back from Montana right now?”

“Nearly home, actually. Drive went faster than expected, even with having to drop off Dawson in Idaho for another run.”

He sighs, car horns honking in the background of the call. “That’s not why I wanted to talk to you now, though.”

“I thought you wanted to wait until I got home. It should only be a couple hours until I’m there and then we can talk in person. There’s a lot that I’ve been thinking about too.

“Ava, we need to talk about us.”

My heart skips a beat as I shift in my seat. “I know we do, but you’re right. Waiting until I’m back really is for the best.”

“That’s why I’m calling. I decided it’s best for us if you don’t come back.” His tone is sharp, and the words cut through me.

My stomach lurches as I sit forward. “What?”

I didn’t hear him right. I couldn’t have.

Why wouldn’t he want me to come home? I knew this was a possibility, but I don’t think I ever really believed it.

Finn clears his throat. “I don’t want you back. Our deal is done.”

“Excuse me?” My heart races, slamming against my chest.

I wipe my sweaty palm on my jeans. “What are you talking about, Finn? You told me that this stopped being just a deal to you, and now you’re telling me not to come home and that the deal is done? What happened between last night and this afternoon?”

“I woke up, Ava.”

Ava, not Aves.

My heart tears itself into pieces as I bite back tears. “You woke up?”

“I did. I thought that pretending that there was something between us would make the deal easier. I thought that you would be more willing to do what I wanted, and you were. I don’t need you anymore, though.”

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