Page 30 of In His Veins

“Sorry?” I demand, watching in horror as tears slip down her cheeks. I can’t stay still anymore and stride around the counter. I pull her into my arms, carrying her to the living room before settling on the couch with her on my lap. She’s curled around me with her arms wrapped around my neck. Her small body shudders with sobs and I pull her back to look at her face, smoothing back her hair and brushing my thumb under her eyelids.

“What on earth are you sorry for, Ava?” Her bottom lip quivers and she sucks in a rattling breath.

“What he did—the whole thing was so vile, and I’m sorry you had to hear about it. And that you had to deal with him.” She screws her eyes shut as more tears overflow. I hold her cheek in my hand.

“Ava,” I demand, “open your eyes.”

She obeys. I’ve never felt more lost and yet so sure when she meets my eyes.

“How can you even stand to look at me after knowing that?” She croaks, A horrible aching feeling erupts in my chest.

“I’m going to tell you this plainly, and I expect you to listen. There is nothing that could happen to you, nothing that you could say, nothing you could do, nowhere you could go, that could ever stop me from coming for you. Do you understand?” She nods her head slowly, but I can tell she’s not entirely convinced. I try again.

“I wish I could take this hurt away from you,” I whisper and lay one hand over her heart. She holds it in one of her own. “But I can’t. All I can do is promise you that I made him suffer, but not nearly enough to ever equal what he did to you. He writhed, screamed, and begged for mercy, of which I had none to give. He died horrifically, and one day if it would make you feel better, I’ll tell you what I did. But he’s gone and you never have to fear him again.” She nods her head. This time, I know she believes me. A spark of her fire reappears in her eyes.

“You can’t stop everything that threatens me,” she whispers soberly. I study her and consider my words carefully.

“Things happen to us that we can’t predict or control, that’s true. But I vow to you, anyone who’s foolish enough to threaten you will know my wrath.” Ava, to my infinite surprise, smirks.

“You’ve got a bit of a god-complex, don’t you?” A laugh escapes my lips and her remaining tension melts away.

“Maybe a bit. But I suppose I get it honestly.” She quirks an eyebrow at me. I adjust her position on my lap, so I’m holding onto her thigh, my thumb making slow circles while I talk. She relaxes against my chest.

“My father was a pastor. I never really bought into it, but there are some things you can’t help but pick up in a setting like that.” She’s silent for a moment.

“Is that why you have a cross tattooed on your side?” I’m surprised she had noticed it considering it was so dark in the room at The Restriction. I shake my head.

“No, I got it for my mom. My dad spouted a lot of bullshit, but her version of the religion seemed okay to me. I never really got it, but it brought her a lot of comfort.” I feel her eyes on me, but I keep my gaze forward.

“How did she die?” I continue to trace circles on her thigh.

“My dad killed her,” I say bluntly. She sucks in a gasp and sits up in my lap.

“Cal, oh my god.” She searches my eyes, looking for evidence that she hurt me.

“It was a long time ago.” We’re both lost in thought for a moment, and she breaks the silence.

“And your father?” Her voice is mild, but I think she already knows what I’m going to say.

“I killed him.” She nods, as if she’d guessed as much, but I throw her a curveball. “Chase helped me.” She sits upright again, her lips parted in shock.

“Chase? My brother, Chase?”

“Yeah, we’d become fast friends after basic. I hadn’t been stationed long when I got the news about my mom, and I knew my dad had done it. He’d beaten her for years, but she ran away when I enlisted. I wouldn’t have left her, but she promised that she had a plan, and I had to leave first. Dad found her. Her death was ruled an accident, but he admitted the truth to me when I came back for the funeral. I told Chase everything when I got back, and he vowed to help me. It took a few years to arrange everything, but we pulled it off.”

She looks at me in shock. I can’t believe how easy it is to tell her the story. Thoughts of my mother still haunt me, and I can count on one hand the number of people who know this story.

“I can’t believe my brother helped you kill a guy.” I cut my eyes to her, hoping she’s not serious.

“Sweetheart, you know what he started his career in, right? He’s done far worse.” Realization dawns on her face.

“I never thought about him killing people like that, I guess. Any of my brothers, really.” A strand of her dark hair has fallen in front of her shoulder, and I brush it away, so it falls down her back.

“They all have, I’m afraid. As have I, but I suppose that’s not news to you.”

She snorts and slides off my lap, turning to face where I’m still sitting on the couch. I raise my eyebrows, but say nothing when she steps between my legs. I place my hands on her hips as she smiles at me, slow and seductive.

“Don’t I get a house tour?” There’s a brightness in her eyes as if she’s playing a game but hasn’t told me the rules. I gesture vaguely to the rest of the room as she steps back. She walks toward the built-in bookshelves and I turn on a floor lamp. The room is partially bathed in warm light, casting her shadow onto the wall.

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