Page 69 of Rescuing Nathaniel

Ava made him want that to be different.

Before he could speak, they both heard her front door open.

“Typical, Chelsea,” Ava said with an eye roll. “Would forget her head if it wasn't attached to her body. I swear, more days than not, we wind up having to wait for her while she dashes back up here to grab whatever she forgot. I wonder what she …” her words trailed off as the kitchen door swung open, only it wasn't Chelsea who stood there.

It was Ava’s parents, and they weren't alone.

With them was a middle-aged man who had to be pushing fifty, dressed in a crisp black suit, staring at Ava with a sense of ownership that had Nathaniel’s gut churning with a sense of unease.

CHAPTER18

March 8th

8:16 A.M.

What on earthwas going on here?

How were her parents and the man they wanted her to marry in her apartment?

They didn't even have a key.

Well, at least Ava hadn't given them one. But considering they were standing there, looking completely unrepentant, and neither she nor Nathaniel had heard them break down the front door, it was clear that they must have a key.

Which meant only one thing.

They’d stolen her key and had a copy made. More than likely while she was vulnerable in the hospital.

Instead of coming to support her as she dealt with a major trauma, offering comfort, reassurance, and love, they’d come only because they thought they saw a weakness. They thought they could use her abduction to their advantage and convince her to give up the life she’d built for herself and come crawling back home to take up the one they’d planned.

Anger flooded her system, and Ava shoved away from the table. “Mother. Father. What are you doing here? I thought I told you I didn't want to see you again.”

At the time, she hadn't known whether she meant she just didn't want to see them anytime soon, or whether she meant she never wanted to see them again in her entire life. Or even if the lingering parts of the hopeful little girl she’d once been meant she hoped she didn't see them again until they learned to be actual parents and love her rather than always trying to manipulate her and play her like a chess piece.

Now she knew the answer to that question.

If they could use her like they had when she was at her most vulnerable, she didn't want to see them ever again.

They weren't going to change, and it was time to stop pretending that one day they would. If her being kidnapped by an organ trafficking ring and barely escaping with her life wasn't enough to make them care about her then literally nothing else would.

“We thought you’d have finished having your little tantrum by now,” Mother said as she strolled into the kitchen like she owned the place.

“Tantrum? Mother, I almost died and you thought it was a good time to play matchmaker. Then when I had a panic attack, you couldn’t even summon up one iota of compassion.”

Beside her Nathaniel stiffened, and she was so glad she hadn't been alone when she was ambushed by her parents. Just because she’d been handling them on her own all her life, and knew what to say and do, it was so nice for once to have someone who was on her side.

“You were being childish, Ava. Carrying on about the food cart like it was going to kill you.” Mother huffed.

Telling her mother that in her mind there was every chance that the squeaky sound heralded her impending death would be pointless. The woman didn't have it in her to understand what she’d been through, nor did she care to try.

“You need to leave. Now. All of you,” Ava added, looking at her father and Bentley Jones. “Otherwise, I’m calling the cops and having you all arrested for breaking and entering.”

“It’s not breaking and entering if you have a key,” Mother singsonged as she dangled her keychain, which Ava had no doubt also contained the key they’d used to enter her home without permission.

“It is when you weren't given the key. Did you steal mine from my purse while I was in the hospital and have a copy made?” The smirk on her mother’s face said that was exactly what they’d done, and that she wasn't the least bit repentant about it. “That’s low, Mother, even for you. I can't believe you would do that to me.”

“If you would just stop being so childishly stubborn then you would see that the life we’re trying to provide for you is the right one. One where you would be provided for and cared for.”

Glaring at her mother, she clenched her hands into fists so she didn't do something stupid. Ava might be mostly bluffing about calling the cops and having her parents arrested—although it would serve them right if she did—but she knew for certain that her mother wouldn't have any qualms about doing it if Ava let herself lose control.

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