Page 60 of Revenge

I pulled out my phone and messaged Hamish who was still at the casino.Prepare Quinn to see the Doc.

Yes, boss.

I then turned to Nico, who was watching me with deep interest in his eyes. “What do you need?”

“Take Farmer to see Quinn. I want him patched up as soon as possible.”

“Tonight?” he said, taking a huge drag on his cigarette.

“Tonight,” I confirmed, pushing to my feet, and sliding open a drawer on the desk. Quinn’s phone was exactly where I had left it. I lifted the device and slid my thumb across the screen. My tech guy Miles had unlocked it within seconds. My eyes narrowed as I saw a missed call from an anonymous number.

Ava.

“Make sure he has food and water and the usual shit.”

Nico also stood, smiling at me from across my desk. “Do you want me to read him a bedtime story too?” Cheeky fucker.

“Just do it,” I replied.

With a nod, Nico turned and left and I released a sharp breath.

My humanity hadnothingto do with Quinn andeverythingto do with Ava. I didn’t want her hate,notany more.

Having Ava back had fed a hunger inside me. She was now the closest thing I had to a family. But I still couldn’t allow my feelings to cloud my intentions.

I was Kai Kinlan and I had no qualms about anything. I could overpower Ava and bully her into doing what I wanted, but I knew that was no longer the way.

I needed Ava on my side but to get her there, I would have to become more of the man and less of the monster.

Ava

The kiss kept me awake that night. I had dreams of Kai. Sweating limbs, twisted bedsheets. I woke upcoveredin sweat to the point where I had to shower. I partly wondered if the drug was still in my system. Either that or I was losing it all over again to a man I wanted to be immune to.

Over the next couple of days, I didn’t see Kai. He was out on business. Nico had also done a disappearing act, leaving me and Suki to rattle around the house.

I didn’t return to the gym, knowing it would only remind me of how Kai’s mouth had felt against my own. I couldn’t lie to myself, the feelings I used to harbour towards him were returning, slowly pushing through the baggage that came with him. That underhand kind that I wantednothingto do with.

The burner phone in my room had also run out of battery, it wasn’t an iPhone and Suki didn’t have a charger. It was complete radio silence and I couldn’t see if Anton had messaged. That constant feeling of dread rose to the surface. I knew Anton wasn’t safe.

It was Friday evening and Nico had returned to the house with a package for me. Inside it was a new iPhone. I wondered if Suki had mentioned that I was moaning about not having a mobile phone.

As I removed it from the box, I noted that a glass protector had already been placed over the screen and the phone was set up. Kai’s number was programmed in, as were Suki’s, Dr Farmer's, and Nico’s. I wasn’t stupid, I knew the thing would have a tracking device attached to it somewhere.

Once Nico left, I changed the screen lock from the code he had given me to facial ID. It was pointless, as Kai’s tech man Miles could probably access the phone anyway.

After another round of Sex and the City, a TV show I was now coming to hate, Suki excused herself and explained that Cillian was taking her to dinner.

I was checking the perimeter of my prison for weak spots when the phone vibrated. I pulled it out of my jeans pocket and saw a text from Kai.

Have dinner with me tonight. We need to talk.

After a smug look between two of Kai’s security men, as I tried one of the kitchen patio doors, I gave in. It was useless, I was watched everywhere I went and the place was locked down like a fucking fortress.

Heading to my room, I pursed my lips, staring at the text. I wanted to rebel, the bastard had left me alone for two days and hadn’t responded to the first message I’d sent him asking where the fuck he was. Talk about cooling my heels.

As I got to my room, I keyed in,Fine. What time?

Be in the kitchen at eight.

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