Page 72 of Revenge

Some of Ava’s hair had come free from its hairband and was stuck against her smeared face. I shook her slightly, attempting to get her attention as she stared at a space on the wall behind me.

“Ava, look at me,” I whispered gruffly, raising a hand to push a chunk of hair away from her face.

“Lookat me,” I repeated, scanning her beautiful, pained features. Fuck me, seeing her like that left a sick taste in my mouth. Ava’s weakened state, made the beast in me roar. I so wanted to take out my anger on someone else.

Ava stared up at me, her eyes bloodshot and watery and I longed to kiss away her tears, hold her close and tell her it would all be OK. And it would be, eventually. Quinn had seen sense and had confessed. I wouldn’t end his life. I knew if I did that Ava would never forgive me and I couldn’t live with that.

Once we were done here, I would make things right.

“Please Kai, please don’t kill him. I’ll do anything you say,” she panted. The fact that she was so protective of the prick injected jealousy into my veins like a hypodermic full of fucking acid.

“I’d already decided I won’t kill him,” I said gruffly. It felt like there was something caught at the back of my throat.

Keep your fucking cool Kinlan!The level of emotions storming through me was unmatched.

Moving Ava’s damp hair, I cleared a path for her to see me better, her eyes were wide and fearful, and I hated that I was responsible for that expression.

But Ihadto get the message across. She wanted to be my wife and in the loop.Welcome to the fucking loop princess!Ineededher to see how wrong that request was.

Turning Ava in my arms, I made her face the glass window where Quinn was being held. He was conscious but his face had taken a beating. I could see what appeared to be a couple of fresh wounds. No doubt Cillian’s alarm clock.

If Ava had seen what men in his positionusuallylooked like, she would have realised just how lucky her partner in crime was. Cillian usually started with delivering a broken jaw before moving on to debilitating fingers and kneecaps.

Yes, Anton Quinn was one lucky motherfucker and all because of Ava. After I had questioned him early that week for going after my father, he earned my respect. He was protecting Ava. I had thought he’d sob like a baby and point the finger elsewhere but he’d done the opposite. That is the only reason he was alive now and would see another fucking day. His feelings towards Ava were genuine and he’d taken his punishment like a man. It turned out that hehadn’tbegged for his life as Nico had suggested. That type of man I could get on board with.

“No, please, no more,” Ava sobbed as I secured her against my body and moved us closer. Her back was flush against my chest and I slowly positioned her so she could clearly see Quinn. He was still tied to the chair and his head had lolled forwards.

Releasing one of her arms, I lifted her head slowly by the chin, needing her to see what happened to the people who attacked the family. Her skin was almost porcelain white in the fluorescent light; a contrast to my tanned fingers.

“Keep your eyes open and look at him,” I whispered gruffly.

“I can’t, it’s too painful to see. I feel sick,” Ava sobbed.

“Please baby, stay with me, I just need you to take one more look and then this will all be over,” I whispered, my thumb caressing the side of her face where I held her. Fuck me this whole situation blew. I had done more bad than good in my life but this was hands down the hardest thing I’d ever dealt with.

“I hate you,” Ava said weakly. I felt those words like a fucking bullet but what could I do, my hands were tied.

That’s what you wanted wasn’t it?

Releasing Ava, I stepped back and withdrew my phone, watching as she placed her palms against the glass, leaning against the surface for support.

Dialling Cillian who was standing in the corner of the room waiting for his next instruction, I drew in a breath.

Cill stared at the mirrored glass, almost like he knew we were there. As he reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone, Ava turned to glance back at me, her expression a mixture of torment and shock.

“Enough, untie him and have Farmer check him out,” I said, my eyes locked on hers. Ava’s mouth dropped open and she closed her eyes with a sigh of relief.

As Cill started to assist Quinn, her head flipped back around. I moved to stand behind her, as Cillian pulled Quinn’s head back before he untied his hands. I nodded to Lester and Sean for them to assist and they moved past us and went in through the side door.

We both watched as the three men, helped Quinn to his feet. As he swayed, Ava placed her hand on the glass of the window and I heard her moan.

Fuck! She was losing it and I lunged toward her.

The sight of Quinn’s bloodied face was too much for her to bear. As she sank low, I bent down and lifted her into my arms. She didn’t struggle and allowed me to pull her towards my chest as her eyes fluttered close.

Gone. Asleep. The pain I had caused now numbed.

She was like an angel among the demons of hell in that basement and she didn’t belong there.

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