Page 32 of Revenge

Sheridan Quinn clearly wasn’t important enough for her to be introduced to his son. Gerard had treated her atrociously so Anton had explained; hence his involvement in Gerard’s downfall.

Kai walked out from his position and leaned back against the table, perching himself on the area where I had been minutes ago. I longed to wrap my hands around his thickly muscled neck but who was I fooling? I didn’t want him dead, not really; just no longer in my life.

“The obvious reason being when Hamish turned up at your apartment?” Kai said as he folded his arms over his chest. The material of the suit pulled tight over his shoulders and biceps.

I stopped fidgeting and faced him. “Yes. I would have been stupid to have gone back there.”

“From what I heard, you fought well, bringing down one of my men,” Kai said sounding impressed.

I hated that his proud smile made me want to smile back, no matter how upset he made me. Just like he used to.

Shoving my hands on my hips I pointed out, “It wasn’t hard. Your standards are slipping Kai. I’d sack him, the guy is a liability.”

Kai glanced towards the vacated doorway, “So, I’ve been told. At least he’s loyal,” he replied, suggesting I wasn’t.

I released a huff, “So are golden retrievers. But they make lousy attack dogs.”

The tension in the room was suddenly suffocating.

After a stretch of silence, the sound of Kai’s phone filtered into the space. I held my breath as he withdrew it and looked away, swiping the screen.

I stood there staring at his perfect profile, wishing things were different between us.

As Kai repocketed his phone, he dashed a hand across his face and I saw his guard drop. He was stressed, something was wrong and the message he’d just received was important.

“What’s wrong?” I said, suddenly worried.

Scooting a hand through his thick hair, he shot me a penetrative look. “Nothing for you to worry about. But this will have to wait until tomorrow. There is trouble at the casino.”

Relief jetted through me and I lowered myself back onto my chair. I felt exhausted, trying to keep your wits about you when you’d been unconscious for half the day was no easy feat.

As I raised my eyes, I caught Kai watching me with a hooded expression.

“You should go and get some rest.”

“How do I know you won’t kill me in my sleep?”

Kai’s sensual mouth twisted in amusement, “You don’t.”

My face must have shown how I did not welcome that reply and he rolled his eyes and added, “For fucks’ sake Ava. I’m not going to hurt you. Irrespective of your betrayal, you are a Kinlan and disgraced family members are handled differently. You have nothing to fear inthatrespect.”

“Sounds ominous,” I grunted with a head tilt, wondering why he’d called me a Kinlan when I’drefusedto change my name when Mom married Gerard. But I believed him; in respect of the threat of violence anyway.

I knew he wasn’t the same Kai but wewereconnected (maybe that’s what he meant by calling me a Kinlan). We had a past even though it was a train wreck and I didn’t feel in danger anymore, not physically anyway. My reaction at Anton’s apartment had been over the top, I knew that now. If I had hurt him again, I wouldneverhave forgiven myself. I still deeply regretted that day at the vault; and how I had handled things. Even more so now my mother had told me how hard she’d had it after I’d left and how Kai had been there for her.

Kai must have seen my body relax with relief as he added, “But this isn’t over Ava. We have things to discuss. Air that needs to be cleared. You owe the family big time. Do you understand me?”

Feeling deflated I murmured under my breath, “You’re such a dictating tyrant.”

“You can call me all the names you like, Ava but have I made myself clear?”

“As crystal.”

But that couldn’t have been further from the truth. I had been saved by the bell and had been given a reprieve. In respect of what would come next, I had no fucking idea.

Now I just needed a plan for what to do. Should I attempt to tell Kai the truth about his father and would that be enough to keep Anton out of it?

Maybe I could get Kai to believe me and things could be different; if Kai knew what Gerard had done, Iknewhe wouldn’t be happy.

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