Page 100 of Tempt Me (Dark Odyssey 4)

Ava just got back from seeing Mark.

I haven’t been able to get all that stuff about Mark out of my head since I spoke to Gibbs.

I wondered if she knows what the secrets are, and what hers are too.

This isn’t anything to do with me. Digging around like this is the last thing I should be doing.

But if I’m honest, this part—the extra looking around I told Gibbs to do—is mostly because of her. I want to make sure she’s safe.

I guess too I want to make sure I cover all bases and make sure Mark didn’t have some hidden agenda.

There are so many fucking possibilities. With all the shit that can happen to people like me and my family, I’m surprised I haven’t gone crazy with paranoia, believing everyone is against me.

Ava’s sitting across from me at the dinner table. She looks pretty in her little navy summer dress. The chefs have just brought out the food, and once again, they’ve done a great job.

I wanted to take her to The Dark Odyssey again tonight, but it doesn’t feel like the night I wanted it to be with her. We’ll go tomorrow.

This news of Mark hasn’t changed what I want to do to her.

I’ll also be dropping in to see Mark tomorrow. The best way to get answers is to hear it from the horse’s mouth. I think I’m entitled to know something since it was me he stole from.

Feeling my gaze on her, she looks my way after the chef pours her a drink and leaves.

“Hey,” she says. “What? You’re looking at me.”

“I’m just thinking. Your father okay?” I ask, and the light leaves her eyes. It’s replaced with caution.

“He’s okay. He’ll be going to counselling starting Monday,” she answers.

I narrow my eyes at her and don’t answer. “Ava… what did your father do for work before he worked for me?” The question throws her.

She just stares at me and blinks. “He worked at the supermarket.”

That’s what it says on record. My files say he worked there for over fifteen years, as does the reference, but I think that’s a lie.

“Why? What’s happened? Has something more happened?”

“No… it’s nothing. I’m just curious.” I won’t tell her about it. This is where I’m drawing the line to exclude her. She would have been eighteen when Mark started working for me. Maybe she didn’t know.

Marguerite brings Timothy in. He’s fussing. He’s had his last tooth come in this week, and he’s been miserable.

“I’m sorry to disturb you guys,” Marguerite says. “I think I’m going to stay over tonight. I do not have the heart to leave with him so upset.”

God, it’s times like this when I’m grateful for her. I’m tense and wound up, and not knowing what to do with him would make me feel worse.

“Are you sure, Marguerite?” I ask.

“Yes. I’m just going to get my room ready.”

“I’ll take him for a few minutes.” I reach for him, and she hands him to me.

“I’ll be back down in five minutes,” she says and saunters away.

Ava watches me with Timothy. I’ve liked how she looks at us. I know she wants to know what happened to Sorcha. It’s understandable that she’d have questions after the incident with the room upstairs and the video.

I think it was obvious that Sorcha died.

Timothy rests his head on my chest and starts mumbling.

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